Take Note : It's All Different

38. Interruptions

Before I took the syrup to The Assassin I made a circle of the house checking all the windows and collecting my bow and arrow for safety. I returned to The Assassin as he was standing at the window watching them. His stature was that of an old frail man. But he could not possibly be that old. He must be sick. That would explain the syrup. He was a really bad stomach sick.

"They cannot enter Drouin."

"No?"

"To those who are not invited it is an empty shack. Or at least that's how the theory remains."

"I fear they can see."

"The King has seized magic. Or the strongest magic in the realm has been caged," he paused,"Or at least the holders of it."

He sat back down into his chair and had the syrup.

"What's illness have you contracted?"

"The same as my father, dying early." He chuckled but there was an element of seriousness and from spending so much time with him I knew his different tones.

"And how does this become a disease."

"No males in my family have lived past 42."

"And you are?"

"Prefer not to disclose."

"Fair enough."

"Back on the original topic of magic." He redirected me and I raised my eye brows as he continued. "Do you still get visits from Peter Pan and River?"

"How did you know about them?"

"I know everything."

"In this state I'm not so sure."

"Whispers in the streets of Angel Ambrose being killed by the two of them."

"Fair enough but obviously the King is not convinced."

"He thinks its possible but won't take any news for granted until your dead and your head is held before him."

"What a lovely picture that would be painted?"

I helped the assassin walk slowly back to his chair by the fire. His body was skinny. He was losing weight and colour in a matter of weeks he seemed to go from healthy or dying.

Shots were fired but the house wasn't touched. As the arrows hit the imaginary shield they dropped instantly. But the guards and Kings' men watched the sky as if it were still flying into the distance. As they lost sight of that one another as fired and so the line continued until they gained closure. It was after six arrows had been "lost" in the distance when they moved on scouting the area.

"Amazing stuff magic. When you believe in it, it strengthens. When you wish for it not to exist, it weakens. Almost like a person with feelings. Similar in that the fact it is a person controlling this or at least empowering the magic. All magic comes from a source. Surely you remember this."

"I do."

"The Enchantress is chained. That's obvious."

"I have reasons to support it but she travelled to the King on her own will."

"She plays on your mind to think that. She wasn't actually."

"So some things she can get through my mind others she cannot."

"Yes, you have a tough mind so a simple opinion is all she could slip through."

"That's a good thing right."

"We shall know with time."

With the guards gone he closed his eyes.

"My dear you shall out live me by far but remember you'll always be second."

"It's my rightful place really."