War of Faeries

Chapter 32

I was in the hospital for two days. I wasted two days in there.

I was finally back in my room, and my maids weren't. I guess they haven't received the message that I am out of the hospital yet. Its just a matter of time before them come in here.

I strip out of the clothes that I have been wearing for the past two days straight. I made my way to the bathroom.

****

I slipped into a long-sleeved black crop top, and high waisted black shorts. I put the straps around my waist and thighs on, and sit on my bed. I stare at my door. I was supposed to leave soon. My days were winding down. My time here was almost up, and I had a mission to complete.

I reached a hand under my bed and grab the knives I had stored there. I put them into their places in the straps on my legs. I glanced at my mirror and the woman I saw staring back at me looked ready to kill.

She was the woman I needed to be. She is the woman I have to be. Always.

The maids come into my room after I have finished getting ready for the mission. They take one look at the bow in my hands and shut the door. They knew that any conversation that is to be had is a conversation no one else can hear.

"I am going out." I tell them, throwing the bow over my shoulder.

"What are we supposed to tell Henry? Wont he come looking for you?"

"If he has the courage to come looking for me after what he put me through in the ring the other day- then you can tell him the truth."

"Won't he-" Shannon starts.

"I will be back soon." I mutter heading towards the balcony.

One thing I hated about being an assassin was the sneaking around. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in the shadows, still do. I just hate the fact that I can't enter and leave through the front door. I glance down making sure I can place my foot on the castle wall without slipping and falling to my death.

I land with a small thud, I glance back up at my balcony. From down here it was a long ways up, but not as long of a ways as the top of the palace. I take my bow off of my back and head towards the palace walls.

I was once again disappointed in the protection of the palace. Henry let his guards have too many holes along the fence. If I was in charge there wouldn't be that problem. But if I was in charge of the guards then so would someone else, and someone else would be sitting on that throne.

I hug the wall until I am in the clear. I glance up to make sure there are no guards standing above me. I take off for the cover of the forest, I clutch my bow tighter and and follow the wall to the entrance.

I watch the guards standing at the gate for a few minutes, wanting to learn their patterns. If I timed this right I should be getting back to my side of the wall when these guards are on watch over there.

The sounds of the guards at the gates slowly turns into silence. It wasn't too long now. I would be at the nearest town in a few minutes. I go deeper into the woods, there is no need for me to be close to the road. Not when there are dangerous people on the road, waiting, lurking for a perfect target to take advantage of.

I wasn't a perfect target for anyone. But I am short on time. I don't have time to waste taking down a few people that are just trying to get enough money to feed their families. I see a few men from my position in the forest, and I shake my head.

I used to be one of those people. I used to be one of the people doing the wrong thing to provide for my family. If they were here now, I might be in that position now. That's the thing about living on the road, you never know where it will lead you. You never know what you will have to do just to survive.

****

The office was messy. Worse than the last time I saw it. I open a drawer on his desk looking for the list. The list of missing people. Sebastian was clear I needed to solve his problem, but what he wasn't clear on was who I am supposed to be looking for.

I close the drawer when I come up empty handed. I go through several more coming up empty handed each time. I move to the book shelves where he tends to hide money, and other items he finds important.

I run my fingers along the book spines, looking for one book. Just one. I keep looking even when I hear someone standing outside the door. It wasn't Sebastian. I knew that much. Whoever it was, they were waiting for him to show up.

I have about three minutes to find the book and take it, or hide and wait until he is done with his conversation. I take a deep breath and slip into the closet he keeps tucked away in the corner of his office.

The assassin in me wanted to stay and listen to his conversation, but the princess in me wanted to grab the book and leave. The only problem is I have been thinking like an assassin longer than I have as a princess. Besides I haven't found the book yet, so if I leave now I would have to come back tomorrow or even later tonight.

Time.

Everything lately seems to boil down to my lack of time.