Goodbye beautiful // King Roan

Chapter 6

I listened closely but the sound of rain hitting the ground was distracting. Thunder rolled over the pitch black sky. At least the storm would drown out my footsteps. With a deep breath I climbed up in the window and spied inside the room. A long dining table stood there with all kinds of food. Empty. But not for long. Silently stepping inside I made sure not to make any footprints on the floor. The further wall was covered in floor to ceiling curtains and I hid behind them, waiting for the target to enter the room. A few seconds later two people entered, speaking urgently and quietly. The target, a man called Zanto, was planning a riot against the King and it was my job to bring him in for questioning.

My hood was pulled up and a scarf shadowed the other fall of my face. My breathing was slow, my heart beat slow, everything to be as quiet as possible. The men sat down at the table and began eating. I could barely make out what they were saying, they both had an accent I did not understand. After a while their conversation turned more harsh and violent. Anyone who walked past the house would clearly be able to hear what they were saying, even with the thunder. At last the other man slammed his fist into the table and angrily left the room. Zanto only sighed and continued to eat. Making sure that the coast was clear and that my shadow wouldn't be visible I slowly emerged from the curtains. Silently creeping up to the man who had his back to me I wrapped my arm around his neck and put my other hand against his mouth to silent his cries. His eyes widened in panic and he began struggling against my hold, but the lack of air made it harder. It didn't take long until he was out like a light. Taking a deep breath I let him go and pulled a bag over his head. I then lifted him up on my shoulders. Years of carrying deer or other game had made me used to it.

I began making my way out of the house. Luckily not many were out now and it would be easy to hide in the shadows. But the tower was at least a 10 minutes walk away. Keeping the target steady on my shoulders I slipped out of the window and began walking down the deserted road. At the end of the road I watched all directions for any soul but found none. Crossing the street I walked through an abandoned building that lacked most of its walls and roof. Scrunching up my nose I almost gagged at the disgusting smell. Rotten meat and trash. Shaking my head I was relieved when I exited the building. Crossing another couple of streets I stayed away from the market and other crowded places. The rain fell heavily now, soaking my hair and clothes. The streets turned into mud and clung onto my shoes as I walked. It didn't help that an icy wind blew past me. I felt like a drenched cat.

Once by the tower I used a backdoor to get inside. The guards didn't care about me, they were used to me coming and going as I pleased. Didn't stop them from spitting curses and other foul names at me though. Since they couldn't hurt or kill me that was their way of showing their disapproval towards me. But I just ignored them.

Pushing open the doors to the throne I dropped the man on the floor. He had yet to wake up. Roan looked up at me before ordering his men to take him to the dungeon. A shiver passed through my body as ice cold water dripped down my neck.

"You'll go back to the city tomorrow." Roan said dismissively but I wasn't done talking. My eyes coldly staring at him, arms crossed. I was cold, pissed and tired of him.

"Why are you so hellbent on keeping me here? I'm doing shit here! Just roaming around the city, trying to find something that isn't there." I stated. He only gave me a glance before turning to sit down on his throne again. But I wasn't done, I took a few steps closer to his throne. "What do you want with me?"

"I want a fighter that isn't afraid to kill, I want an unstoppable guard." he spat out, eyes flashing at me, jaw clenching. Realization struck me and I tilted my head to the side, almost smiling. How hadn't I been able to figure it out earlier? He wanted me to be a part of his security detail, wanted me to make it unstoppable. That's why he made the deal, to make me loyal to him if I wanted my friends to live.

"You want the Westari fighting technique." I said. The Westari were known to have the best army, the best fighting style of all the clans. Compared to the other clans we were trained to use the environment around us, that's why forests and cities were our best battlefield. We were teached how to hide and use the moment of surprise to our advantage. But what made the Westari style the best was because it was based on the individual. For example, I wasn't the strongest and biggest warrior, but I used my agility and speed to my advantage. I was teached a lot of takedowns, using my whole body as a weapon, calculating my opponent, figuring out its weakness and parkour mixed with fighting. But mostly I used my trident, I was fast wielding it, it was a weapon for distance and close combat. "It's not something that you can just achieve. It's an instinct, a feeling that you get after years of hard training."

"I don't care. Once Praimfaya has passed you'll begin teaching." he growled. "Now get out." Giving him a last glare I turned on my heel and left the throne room. My angry steps echoed in the silent corridor. I didn't know how but that man always succeeded in making a furious flame burn inside me.

The doors to my room slammed against the wall as I opened them. A growl ripped through me as I grabbed my trident. Swinging it around and cutting through the air for several minutes I let out the anger in the moves. Waterdrops flew across the room, my drenched hair slapped against my face and neck. I was tired of being used, tired of being a pawn in his game. Twisting around I swung the trident as if someone was standing there, I could imagine the blood spraying everywhere and the shout of pain. I kicked and struck the air until my muscles were tired. Standing in the middle of my room, my heavy breathing was the only thing I could hear. The blood pounded in my ears, my heart racing, sweat and water covering my skin.

The trident was more than just a weapon. Ever since my people was slaughtered I had had anger issues. Small things would set me off and I didn't care who I hurt. But now I had learnt whenever I felt that anger I had to find an empty space and just let the anger out. Anger made me impulsive and uncontrolled, which was dangerous because I always needed to be alert.

Letting out a sigh I put the trident back in my holster.