Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter 7: The White

Alexandra's POV

Aaron walked out. "I guess we are done here," Elliot commented.

"Sir may I ask something?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"My father, did you know him?" I asked.

He took a deep breath. "I never had the honor, I worked in the shadows while he fought in the light."

"But you had heard of him?" I asked.

"Every man in the military has," he replied. "Why do you ask these things?"

"Is there anyone who wished for him to die?"

"Alexander, your father was a well respected and known man on both sides and on both he was feared, many people on both side wished for his death. Why do you ask this?"

"My father's death was no accident," I replied before I walked out of the room. I went to my room where my roomate was.

"Good evening Alexander," Joel said. I nodded once in greeting. "Look, we are going to be rooming together for as long as we are both alive, so we must make the best of it. How was your day? I heard that you were called in to see Elliot."

"I broke a rule," I replied.

"And you're still here? People do not break rules, here if they do they get thrown out," he said.

"Truly?" I asked.

"Yes, what did you do?" he asked in return.

"Assissted my mentor on a mission," I replied.

"And you are alive?" he asked.

"I am standing here and speaking with you so yes I live," I replied.

"Amazing, you must be something special if they are letting you stay," he said.

"You speak as if you have been here a long time," I commented.

"Only two years," he replied.

"I thought you were an apprentice," I commented.

"I am, I still have not graduated," he replied.

"Oh well we should get some rest," I said before I climbed into my bed and fell asleep and I woke up to a loud crack of thunder. I looked to my roomate who was fast asleep. I took a deep breath before I stood up. I changed my clothes and grabbed my bow since it was raining I knew I had to put something on over me so I grabbed my cloak which was a dark blue not black. I went out to the archery range and placed the targets randomly. I tore off some cloth from my cloak and put it over my eyes. I pulled out an arrow, took a breath, and shot. I heard the thunk of the arrow hitting the target. I pulled out several more and in rapid succession I let them fly moving each time before I let it go. After about my tenth arrow I heard footsteps. I stopped and lifted up my blindfold. I did not see anyone, but I could hear their movements depite the rain.

It was well past midnight, no one should have been awake. "Who is there? Show your self," I said. The moving stopped, but I could their breathing. I moved as sliently as I could towards where I heard the sound. When I knew I was close to him he ran and I persuded even though he was in a customary black cloak that all assassin in the guild wear, which made me suspicious.

"Stop!" I shouted at him and he spun around, the cloak flying in the air to reveal an all white outfit. He ran towards me and by the way he moved he was going to try to kill me and when I saw the shine of his blade I knew he was going to try to slit my throat. When he made his move to kill me I held up my arm to block my thoat, despite the obvious pain in my right arm I swung at him with my left which was still holding my bow. I hit him in the face, I glanced down at my arm to make sure it was not that bad. When I looked back up the man was gone.

I took a deep breath before I walked away. I went over to a lit torch to look at my arm, it was a pretty bad cut, but it could have been a lot worse. I ran back tp my room, grabbed a small pouch and an extra shirt and went back out. When I got back to the torch I quickly took off my shirt and bandaged my arm. I had to move quickly because despite binding my chest people would still realize that I was a girl. Once I finished bandaging the cut I put on the extra shirt. I sighed in relief and it settled around my waist.

An hour later Cecil, Joel. and Aaron arrived. "How long have you been awake?" Cecil asked.

"Not long," I replied.

"Rain in going to make it more difficult," Joel commented.

"Not for us," Cecil replied.

"Let's move," Aaron said.

"He does not like to waist time does he?" Joel asked.

"No," he replied. I put my cloak back on and put my quiver over it.

"You are not taking weapons," Aaron said as he pulled the bow out of my hand.

"I am not leaving unarmed," I countered and he stared at me, I stared right back without any fear. After last night there was no way in hell I was going anywhere without a weapon.

"Very well then," he conceded as he held the bow out, I took it back with a smile.

"Can I take my sword?" Joel asked.

"No," Cecil replied. "Bring a dagger."

We set out and none of us spoke a word. A forest was on both sides of us, I kept seeing Aaron stare at me eventually he stopped walking and grabbed my left arm stopping me as well.

"Joel, Cecil, continue on, we will meet up in a bit," he said.

"Okay, Joel let's keep moving," Cecil said without hesitation. Aaron did not let go of my arm, instead he dragged me into the forest.

"What happened?" he asked bluntly.

"Nothing," I replied.

"There is blood on your bow, pants, and boots, not to mention your cloak. What happened?" he asked again.

"Nothing," I replied. He grabbed my right arm right where the cut was and pushed his tumb down on it. I shouted in pain.

"Tell me," he stated.

"It's nothing," I replied and he dug his thumb deeper and this time I surpressed a scream, it would be near impossible to make my scream like a man's. He pulled up my sleeve revealing my bandage, the cut was bleeding through it.

"Who did this to you?" he asked.

"No one," I replied.

"Who? Joel? Someone else who?" he asked.

"I do no know!" I replied.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Last night I could not sleep so I went to shoot arrows, it calms me and helps me think. After a while I heard someone so I went to investigate, he was wearing a cloak for our guild but his clothes were white. He attacked me and I blocked with my arm, hence the injury, I hit him with my bow and then he was gone," I replied.

"Is this the truth?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Why did you not tell me?" he asked.

"You do not want me here, if I had an injury it would be a perfect excuse to leave me behind, so I did not tell you," I replied. He took a deep breath like he was going to lecture me, but then he sighed.

"Tell no one about what happened, make up a story about your injury, say anything just do not tell anyone else the truth," he said.

"Yes sir," I replied.

"Come Cecil will be waiting for us," he said.