Blood and Gold

Mud and Jewels

"You must be Seph." I put my hands behind my back.

"Observant, or were you given a description?" She spun the knife under her finger.

"I heard a few people mutter it." I explained, staying put until she gestured towards a chair on the opposite side of the table.

"Sit." I did as she ordered, her glowing golden eyes locked onto mine. "So, Hawthorne told me good things about you."

"I had no clue he was watching. I didn't see him once." I admitted as she scraped her gold coins into the pouch that she then tied to her belt.

"He's good at his stealth missions." She sipped the ale in her mug. "If Dorian hadn't let a kid eavesdrop on his conversation, he would've been completely unnoticed."

"That's certainly impressive."

"Impressive is an understatement." She said sternly. "Hawthorne's skills make Dorian look like a child." She stood from her spot at the table. "Onyx asked to meet you in person, I was sent to fetch you. So follow me."

She led me outside where two horses were tied to the railing of the tavern's porch. One black steed with a white diamond on its forehead, the other, a tan horse with a black mane and tail. I watched Seph jump onto the black horse, so I followed her. She didn't hesitate once we were out of town to send her horse into a full sprint, I struggled keeping up.

I had a horse when I was young, one similar to this one, if I remember correctly. I followed silently as she led me into a clearing on the North side of Westhaven. She jumped off of her horse and tied him to a tree. A chill went up my spine.

Soros, I think someone's watching me.

"I can't see anything from above the trees. You're on your own for this one."

Thanks so helpful. I thought sarcastically, scanning my surroundings.

A slight shift in the wind made me whip around, my concealed blade unsheathed played as a decent way for me to redirect the attacker that jumped from the tree behind me. I pinned her down, grabbing her wrist and setting a foot between her shoulder blades.

"What is this?" I demanded, staring Seph down.

"So you are sharp. That is Felix, she's one of our best assassins."

"They don't look very special." She muttered to Seph from her spot.

"Well, they just took you down, didn't they?" Seph turned her attention back to me. "You can release her."

"How am I supposed to know this isn't some sort of trap?" I pulled Felix's arm back farther, she winced from under me. "I already had doubt's about blindly following you."

"It's okay Theron." Seph raised her hands, "she isn't even armed."

I scanned Felix for weapons, sure enough, her weapon holsters were empty. "People don't need blades or bows to be dangerous."

"Okay Theron. You can let her go." A smooth, deep voice sounded from the forest as a man dressed in black stepped forward.

He had one eye, a patch embroidered with a dark gem covered the other. A cape hung around one of his shoulders, a shoulder pad rested on the other. His black hair streaking with grey and a few creases around his visible green eye, was a hint at his age. He put a hand out, covered in leather, as an order to release her.

"Who are you supposed to be?" I tightened my grip around her wrist as she tried to jerk her body away from me.

"My real name is irrelevant. You, and everyone else, will address me as Onyx."