A Game of Destiny: The Immortal Star

3 Jaeson

I strut down the long cobble stone street, a charming smile masking my face. Women blushed as I tossed them a leisurely wink. It was all really a game, nothing was real anymore. At least for me it wasn't. I had decided that this would all be a game, and so far I was in the lead. Leaving behind all those rich snobs that looked down on me. Giving a dry laugh I kicked a stone that lay at my feet.

A man walking down the same road as me walked stiffly with his shoulders pulled back and an air of pretentiousness to him. He stopped next to me allowing his face to look around as if admiring the street itself.

"My lord wishes another exchange," He murmured nearly under his breath.

I tucked my hands into my pants pockets, giving a dry laugh closing my eyes as I considered what he offered. I leaned back a little rocking onto my heels turning my face up to the sky squinting my eyes at the bright sun.

"He knows my costs have gone up?" I asked glancing sideways at the man.

He didn't so much as flinch at my rather bold demand, he only nodded his head. His face staying a dark sober grey. His black-brown eyes seemed like stones in his head, heavy dark bags sat under his eyes showing how sleepless he had been. So the dogs were starving without the hand to feed them, did they regret the death of their beloved King and Queen now?

"My lord understands. You will meet him tonight at the castle. The kitchen's door will be propped open to let out heat."

My forehead creased in frustration, "Her crowning ceremony is tonight isn't it?"

He actually seemed to be surprised by my question, "That is true, But his request has nothing to do with your future Queen."

I let out a heavy breath. Of course, it was of no concern to a murderer such as myself. If she had nothing to do with this request then I had nothing to worry about, as long as she didn't get involved. Knowing him though, she could get caught up in it quickly. Either way, I nodded my head to the messenger. Raising my hand I pat his shoulder roughly, making him grunt suppressing a curse.

"I'll be there before sunset" I walked away with that continuing on my stroll through the street.

So, the noble had something else up his sleeve did he? It didn't surprise me that he would come crawling back, but I never expected it to be so soon. Not after his outrage at my last "mistake".

I turned down the street that led straight to the outskirts, looking up at the greying sky. I smirked. It would be a dark night tonight.

The street was almost empty, making for a quiet walk home. My shoes tapping the ground with each step. I looked up at the enormous noble houses with iron gates surrounding them and stone statues on either side of the entrance. That's where I was headed. Someday soon I would be living in one of these monsters. My dice were rigged and my hand was stacked. I had it in the bag, I could see my whole life ahead of me.

A man strolled out of one of the yards, passing by me and giving a nod of his head. I shook my head smiling to myself. Vague memories flying through my mind. God, I really had screwed over at least half of these nobles.

I picked up my pace as my house came into sight. It was at the end of the long street. It was small, but not too small. My father was a fisherman and he had earned a decent wage back when he bought it. Of course, that was before the turn of the seas. The fishing business just wasn't the way it used to be. The sea had gone bottom up. For the past three years my father had been returning with merely two or three fish in his nets. It was pitiful and it looked like our family would be forced to sell the house. That was when I decided to start up my own business.