The soft sound of fabric against the steel of a dagger was music to Garin’s ears. He pulled the soft cloth against the freshly oiled dagger, and upon making certain the blade was clean, he slid it back into its leather sheath. He tucked the oil and cloth away, then finally took in the view of the landscape around him. It was dark, and well past nightfall. He’d waited quite a while for the lights of the neighbors’ homes to disappear, and especially for the home directly ahead of him. There would be a death here tonight, and in a few days he would be paid. Then, he would finally be able to take Javik out for drinks.
He stashed away the small pack he carried with him under the roots of the bush to his left before pulling the snug black scarf that lay around his neck up and over his nose in order to cover his face. He would grab his pack on the way back. He removed his cloak then, and after rolling it into a ball, left it with the pack. He stood then, tall, and thin. Unlike a few of his brothers of the guild, he needn’t wear anything to cover his head, as his hair was as black as the moonless night itself, and wouldn’t reflect any light.
Silently, he made his way down to the small house before him, as he’d grown too impatient to wait for the lights to be put out. She obviously was home, and dawdling wouldn’t help him any at all. He made his way to a window where he checked the shutters.
‘She trusts too easily..’ He thought as the shutters opened easily, and without a sound. Slowly, he peered over window’s sill and into the woman’s home. He didn’t know her name, nor anything about her, other than what The Order had told him. She was the concubine of the king… his favorite, or so was recorded… but the king was to be wed, and he wanted all of the concubines killed. That was easy enough. Concubines weren’t exactly difficult adversaries, but they did have their wiles.
The window had opened to a hallway, and he watched as she passed, cradling a cup in both hands. He thought he heard her sniffle. Did he? Did she? She was out of view, so he couldn’t tell. Still, he waited until it was quiet, and he began to climb through the window. He hadn’t even heaved himself onto the sill when a loud exclamation arose from inside the house.
Faster than lightning, he’d disappeared from the window, and had moved to the other side of the house, heart pounding. He’d thought she’d seen him, but as he thought better about it, he had to stifle a groan.
‘It was a sneeze… I am way too tense right now.’ Quietly, he made his way back to the window where he had been watching her in the first place. The lights were still on and he could vaguely see her pacing back and forth in that room. She sniffled loudly, looking as though she were breathing the warmth of her tea in through a clogged nose. He sighed heavily, trying to stay quiet and sneak up on her the best he could. Finally, she turned around and he was able to swiftly make his move.
In through the window when she was not looking, he made it up behind her and grabbed her, making her drop her tea cup onto the hardwood flooring.
She couldn’t scream, his hand was over her mouth, the dagger tip right under her chin. Garin already knew what her expression would be, he could hear it in her breathing, she was clearly shocked. This would be easy, he had her right where he wanted her and - no. She didn’t just... she did. She licked his hand. Shocked and disgusted, Garin pulled his hand away, while also pulling the dagger and himself away from her body. The former concubine turned around and glared at him, big tears in her eyes.
“What are you doing?!” She screamed, “Have you come to kill me?”
