Hellborne

Coffee

I waited one day before setting off for the coast to escape the clutches of Lord Raji and to not make Nox suspicious as to why I would suddenly leave. During that day, I patiently bided my time, going to market to get some more supplies and water because it was so scarce out in the desert. As night fell across Gildeeran, I shimmied my way down the wall of the inn and went over to Hellborne who was packed and ready to head out. I used the back entrance to the town so that the same guards wouldn't see me and be able to report to Nox if he questioned them.

I burst out of that city like it as infected and I didn't want to catch its plague. It felt incredible to be out in the open air again, just me and Hellborne, him lazily trotting through the sand and stepping lightly to not leave heavy hoof marks in his wake, just like I taught him. It was only me and my thoughts now and for the first time in a long while I had time to think over everything that had brought me to this current moment.

Growing up in an assassin's guild had taught me two vital things to survive in life. One, always have a plan to everyone in the room with you and two, always have a back-up plan. These two rules are what got me through my childhood and early teens. At the age of five, I was already learning how to wield and conceal a knife in my cloak. I didn't have one designated teacher growing up, I was thrown from one pro to another and in my time as a student to each one of them, I learnt a new skill.

I was thirteen when Lord Ruji finally noticed a girl learning the ways of the shadows and how to gut a man in fifteen different styles. Oh yes, I had a very normal childhood. Lord Ruji requested my services to kill a brother of his that was getting too comfy in his control over Heru. His brother was my first kill and oddly enough I enjoyed every second of it. I knew I was a monster from that moment on and honestly, I couldn't care less. Even now I still know how much of a monster I am with every man I gutted on my knives and every woman's throat I sliced while they slept. I knew I wasn't a normal child and that was fine by me because that was the way I had learnt to view the world. If some lord or lady got too bored of their position, it was my job to take them out.

Lord Ruji, after my first successful kill, hired me full time and became my new master. I never did particularly like the bastard but he held my name and soul in his hands and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. I still didn't like him, he always looked bored or annoyed at something or someone. I'm pretty sure Lord Ruji was born annoyed. I snorted at that thought.

Hellborne's ears perked up at my snort of amusement and he angled his head at me as if to say, What's so funny? "Don't worry about it Hellborne, I am fine and you are fine and we are finally on our way to freedom" I chirped gleefully.

I still couldn't believe I was getting away. I didn't let my mind linger on the thought of Lord Ruji finding me and what punishment he would concoct up especially for me. Those thoughts depressed me and I didn't at anything to ruin my current good mood.

Off in the distance, I saw a glimmer of something yellow far away. It was a campfire by the looks of it. Should I stop by and let Hellborne rest for the night or continue and not let myself be discovered? I pondered quietly to myself. I decided not to risk it and guided Hellborne around the veil of light that surrounded the strangers camp.

A little way on I decided Hellborne had carried me enough for one day and stopped to make camp. Early the next morning I stumbled out of my tent and stared at the sun like it had offended me. "You freaking sun, thinking you're so high and mighty, well one day you will burn up and be blown out like a candle!" I angrily yelled at the offending ball of light. I had lost my marbles, I realised with a small amount of horror. Oh well, I had probably lost my sanity growing up in a place where death was talked and tossed around casually.

Hellborne was looking at me as if he too realised I had gone insane. I silently gave him a vulgar gesture he probably didn't understand and started to make coffee. I need coffee in the morning or I would be a wreck for the rest of the day. If I stopped drinking cofree, I stop doing the standing and the walking and the words-putting-into-sentence doing. Maybe I really do have an addiction to coffee. I'll stop tomorrow I tell myself that every other day.

Finishing off my mug of coffee and realising me and Hellborne needed to head out right now if we were to make it to the coast tomorrow. I hastily stuffed everything in sight into the satchel bag connected to Hellborne's saddle and made like the wind to the coast where a boat was waiting to take me to freedom.