King Killer

Chapter 3

With the first light, Adam woke me. "Today you are joining the assassin's guild."

I could feel my face contort into disgust. "Like murdering people for money?"

Adam only chuckled. "Yes and no. There are many places in the guild besides a straight assassin. There are healers, weapons smiths, drug alchemists, translators, and many others. I am sure you will learn all of them over time. I'll train you in all of them. Once your training is complete, you will be able to choose where you will go."

"Oh. So I never have to kill?" Except Prince Argong, I added in my head.

"I am hopefully training you to take my position as head."

"Why?"

He smiled and cupped my face, "I cannot bear my own children. You and Eve are my only children. You girls will be officially adopted and will earn your place as head of the guild. I started training you since you were shorter than my knees and now it's time for formal training."

I paused. Adam had been there as long as I could remember. He had always come by and been so sweet to us. "Oh," was all I could manage.

"Wear these." He tossed me black clothes before leaving the room. A pair of pants, a tight leather bound top and gloves that didn't cover my fingers. With that he was gone leaving me alone with a pile of clothing in a new place on my new bed.

I dressed in confusion. When I left the room I was greeted by a daymon. Adam was long gone.

"Adam left to do his duties." I looked her up and down. I was clearly in her spare clothes. We wore the same uniform. Her long black hair was tied back and her glowing yellow eyes watched me closely. It was hard to tell how much Daymon she was with the clothing she was wearing, but her eyes glared at me in sucha a way that I naturally flinched.

"I heard you're half demon."

"Quarter," I was taught to lie about this a long time ago.

"Half according to Adam."

I shrugged.

"I'm hardly an eighth. Which for a Daymon is a lot."

"Most barely have markin's," I added. I knew this all too well.

"Yes," she paced around me, "This means you'll have strong Magicka. Do you know the type?"

"Shadow." She looked pleased.

In elvish, she continued, "Adam says you know multiple languages."

Being cocky, I responded in orcish, "I can read, write, and speak in seven."

She continued in common, "Good. Today we train. Tomorrow we train. We train until you cannot stand and then we train more. Do you understand?"

I did not. "Yes." This felt like the kind of distraction I needed.

"To you from now on I am Master. Come." I followed her past where we came in, and down deep underground into a dirt floored room with a high ceiling. The far wall was lined with weapons.

"Pick one." I looked over the weapons. Some I knew: knives, axes, bows, arrows, and swords of various sizes. Some I didn't: a flail, mace, caltrops, spears, and a wall of egg shaped stones.

"How are stones weapons?"

The woman laughed. "Which stone calls you?" I pointed to a pure green one, unlike the others it lacked a shine. She picked it up. "Good to know. Let us start with weapons, you know."

I grabbed a light short sword and she grabbed a sword as well. "Get the stone from me and you will have one free day outside."

I swung at her like the knight taught me. She dodged easily. I relentlessly went after her, but she was faster and smoother than the knight. After a bit of playing she nicked my side.