The Assassin's Court

Chapter 4

In the Shalifenia forest, the Leader of the Knights rides on the back of a black stallion. Its eyes are of a fierce black that stays focused on what's ahead and not anything else. Even the strong winds that whistle in the air and the tiny snowflakes that land on its eyes, fail to distract it.
And much like the animal he guides, the Leader of the Knights is charged with determination. He will find Ansel Raven, and when he does, all hell will rise, dragging the dead along with it.

At least, that's what he aims to accomplish. No information, nor any clues as to where the damn bastard is, has yet to be discovered.

The Ravens happen to be one of the Assassin's Courts that The Knights have a bit of a difficulty in defeating. They're too skilled. Too scheming. And too damn smart. Not to mention that the Leader is adored. His members would do anything to please him. And that's why they're some of the best assassins in these lands. They've got something to come back to. Someone who loves them beyond the simple relationship of who's in charge of who.

Not that the Leader of the Knights doesn't have loyal members. No, they're loyal all right. The problem is that they've got nothing to lose if they were to fail a mission. After all, what's the point in trying when there's nothing that's driving that will? Most of them joined The Knights because they needed payment. And a place to live. And food. And shelter.

Bottom line, they needed a home.

And the Leader of the Knights has been working his ass off to provide that for them. To give them something to fight for, and not just for the benefits of being an assassin in a Court will supply you.

Though, he must admit that his Secondary Leader is the only member of the Court that is close to him and loves him in a way that only a fellowship could. He knows in the deepest part of his heart, that if it came down to it, he would die for his Secondary Leader, and his Secondary Leader would die for him. After all, they are family.

This led him to think that perhaps if he created more of a relationship with the rest, then maybe, just maybe, they would adore him, too. The thought sent an embarrassing grin on his face.

"What's with the smile?"

He swung his torso around, making the stallion twist in an unnatural way. He'd give it some extra carrots, later.

Before the Leader of the Knights stood Kaitlyn Winslow. At least, that's who he thinks she is. He tried not to look surprised or off-guard since that would be quite mortifying for a person that is supposed to be a Leader of an Assassin's Court. Silently, he cursed to himself that he hadn't noticed her following him.

"Just thinking of you," he purred.

It seems as though The Raven had dropped her shy girl facade when she said, "What about me?"

The Leader of the Knights was not expecting a response like that. Oh, different indeed, he thought to himself. If it weren't for the feast that awaited him back at the Knight hideout, he might have considered pursuing Ms. Winslow. The way her black hair that was once high-up, now flowed in the wind, and the way her dark, mysterious eyes hinted at something devious... by the Gods, it was a difficult temptation to resist. Even her midnight purple gown now somehow looked sultry. He swallowed.

•

While the Leader of the Knights appeared to be flustered, Vivian had no such vulnerability showing. She seems calm. But inside, it is quite the opposite.

He owns a stallion? That was all she could think about.

Only the richest of people own stallions! People of royalty or nobility. People with loads and loads of wealth to give. By the Gods, she didn't even own a stallion! And she was the Secondary Leader of a very prosperous Assassin's Court! She tried to hide her jealousy but she was sure that it was all over her face. She'd wanted one since she was just a child.