[On Hold] The Assassin's New Beginning

20

Celaena yawned as she stretched across the rooftop. It was going to be mid afternoon soon and the sun was at its pique. She really should have worn something...not black. But how else was she going to blend among the dark shingled rooves?

And the messenger. He wasn't anything unusual save for the bulbous nose.

He was on schedule. Sort of. He had been having a conversation with the baker across the bakery for the last twenty minutes.

She propped herself up on her elbows and watched.

This isn't so bad after all....

She sighed as she watched the messenger bid farewell to the baker. Time to move again.

She grabbed out the parchment. Next stop: Clarissa's.

Celaena reflected back to her last encounter with Lysandra. She winced. But it wasn't as if she was going to knock on the door and stare at her cold in the face; that was the messenger's job.

Reluctantly, she pushed herself off and began to run. She leapt back and forth from the roofs, keeping the messenger in view. Too engrossed in their own lives and talk, no one noticed the lean dark shadow that casted over the sky.

A left, then a right and down two blocks. She pulled back the memory of the path the carriage took on her night to the place. Finally, she was perched on to the roof across the courtesans'. All in the while with the bold red cap in the corner of her sight.

She watched the door bell ring. From a far, she imagined the stampede of girls rushing down the staircase to greet the door. Suddenly, the door opened, and by the door frame were the girls. The messenger bowed and gave them the package of mail. One by one, the girls gave him a letter, curtsied, and returned inside. Finally, came Lysandra, who curtsied lowly. As she handed him a letter, she leaned in and whispered something into his ear. Then she closed the door behind her.

What was that? Celaena's eyebrows knotted. A love letter? Or . . .

She shook her head.

Lysandra? Impossible. A shallow minded person like her couldn't possibly be part of whatever Arobynn had been worried about.

But was he even worried about? As much as Celaena wished to ask, she knew she wasn't in the position to do so.

* * *

It's been hours...

Celaena groaned as she crouched low. Maybe she'll take a stroll below. It's not as if anyone will recognize her.

She slid down the shingled roof into one of the outer stairwells that lead to the alley.

But when she got to the bottom, the red cap of the messenger was no where to be seen.

Celaena's temple began to drum. It was only a second. She only took her eyes off for a second. Where the hell was he?