A Tale of Traitors

The Assassin

          He was nervous. Really, really nervous. He repeatedly opened and closed the pocket watch on the chain. It was only a habit; he wasn't really checking the time. He paused for a few seconds, then opened the watch once again, this time to make sure the meeting would take place as scheduled. He had a large box in his other hand, and he guarded it with his life. He needed this plan to work. Tormod's kingdom depended on it.
"Sir," a secretary came out of one of the dozens of offices doors that lined the hallway. "The crafter will see you now." He rose, mumbled gratitude, and followed the secretary further down the hallway, deeper into the mountain. They went down at least four flights of stairs. The secretary led him into a large, open room that had no light but the fire in the furnace. He had expected darkness. Darkness meant secrets that resided there. Secrets that would tear apart those affected. This was the perfect place for the stranger to obtain what he needed.
"What will you pay me for?" The dwarf's rough voice pierced the darkness. "A fancy bracelet, a shield for your next joust?"
The stranger cleared his throat, and the dwarf turned to face him.
"Well?" The dwarf stroked his beard.
"I need a Mind Seeker," the stranger responded coldly, sliding the box into the dwarf's hands. The dwarf raised his bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows, which nearly covered his faded and useless eyes. He opened the box and felt the contents. The stranger held his tongue; though the dwarf was blind, he was excellent at his job, and the man just needed to let the dwarf do his work.
"I can't do this for a common boy, especially an elf," the dwarf spoke quickly.
"Well, this one's rich," the stranger pulled a thick envelope from the pocket of his leather jacket. The dwarf felt it and smirked.
"Royal seal? Now this is special." The dwarf opened his hand, and the stranger handed over the watch.  The dwarf set to work. "Might I ask who you want this for?"
"Anyone. I need my whole team to be able to see it, if need be." The stranger turned to leave.
"Is this all of it?" The dwarf pulled out the hair Willow had left behind.
"Mostly."
"Do you need the most recent memories?"
"I'm working on it," the stranger slipped out the door and left in a hurry. The dwarf would notify him when the Mind Seeker was ready. Until then, the stranger had to track down Willow. He was enraged that she got away the first time--her desperation was shocking. She must have been terrified; he never thought she'd lose her mind. Not like this, anyway.
          He mapped out the portals leading out of Realm One. No one is guaranteed to make it out of the realm alive, and Willow wouldn't have even known it was possible to leave the realm. Only those with high-security clearance like him would have known. He had spies in the human realm, and none of them reported seeing her come through. Since the major entrances had been covered, that meant she could be in one of few safe houses across Earth. He thought of all of these; since she hadn't been seen yet, desperately needed medical attention, and couldn't remember much, she could be one of two places. She could have been captured and waiting in a cell of his father's, or she was hiding with the infamous Professor Cain.
          The man knew that Cain had re-entered the human realm mere hours after Willow crossed over--the professor could definitely be harboring the fugitive. The man didn't know Cain very well, but knew enough not to trust him. Cain hated the king, and therefore hated the king's most valued assassin. Cain would oppose them by any means necessary. He sighed and sipped the rest of his beer as he waited for the dwarf's message. As soon as he had the Mind Seeker, he would track Cain down. This should be easy, the assassin thought. The only issue would be border bouncing, or traveling between realms. Seven main realms, and Earth is the melting pot of them all. Getting to Earth? Easy. If Cain was helping Willow and started to take her through multiple realms, the assassin would have to stay right on their heels, or they could be lost to the vast universe. He was waiting in Realm Two, the home of dwarfs and giants. The assassin had come to Marbeiden, a trustworthy and capable dwarf, and the Mind Seeker should be made in a day or two, which was much faster than any other dwarf could craft it. King Tormod had suggested Marbeiden, so the assassin trusted him. For now. For the next day, he would be alone with his thoughts.

He was still fuming.

How did he let her escape?

The king will be furious, he thought bitterly.