Apprentice of Darkness

4. Winter's Claw

I journeyed back to the Sanctuary after escaping Skarad undetected. That wasn't as easy as you may think. I had used the rooftops as my escape route, but guards were swarming everywhere down below, searching for Morina's killer... searching for me.

News had spread fast, and many civilians whispered and gossiped in hushed voices. I heard one woman suggest the Dark Assassins had played a hand in it, but her friend had dismissed the thought, questioning why such a powerful and near-mythical guild would have any business with the young barmaid.

It was almost humorous, really.

I did make it out without much trouble, of course. But I ended up having to kill two guards simply to make it to the town entrance, and it was around dawn when I began my calm travels back home.

Nix had received word of my success long before I arrived back at the Sanctuary, but it was Hunter, Fallen's mentor, that awaited me in the main room.

"Ahh, CD. Good to see you home safely," he greeted, his voice quiet, but approving.

Although I wondered why Nix was not the one to acknowledge my completed contract, I did not question him, simply nodding in response. "Thank you, Hunter. 'Tis nice you see you are well."

"Here is your reward," he spoke, handing me a rough leather pouch of gold coins, "and your bonus. It is the Winter's Claw, a blade that has not yet tasted the flesh of mortals, and lusts for blood. Use it well."

He held out a sword still in its sheath, and  I nodded in thanks before taking it. Placing my hand on the pommel, I realized it felt icy cold to the touch... true to it's name, I thought.

Slowly removing the blade, I held it up to see it reflected the light of the torches brilliantly. It felt lighter than my other sword, though not lacking in the damage it could do in the right hands. It looked entirely silver, though I knew the blade was made of a more reinforced material, and the pommel was traced with elaborate patterns. It had touches of black in the design, which I thought simply pulled the beauty of this blade together.

It also had a symbol on it that I was unfamiliar with. Still, the sight of this amazing sword made me genuinely smile.

"I see you have taken a liking to it," Hunter spoke, causing me to nod quickly. "Nix is out on a mission, but she has her own bonus for you when she returns. I simply felt I should reward you myself, as I enjoyed everything I have heard of your last contract. I personally found it... exciting."

I had thought he would enjoy my work, but still... not so much as to give me such a bonus. "Yes... I heard whispers that they believed an animal was responsible for her death. It made me think you would take an interest in it."

He simply chuckled, and as I finally sheathed Winter's Claw, he advised I should get some rest while I await Nix's return. We said our formal farewells before I headed to my sleeping chambers.

I finally felt the exhaustion of my travels and being awake for two days straight, and quickly fell asleep.

My dreams were... odd. There were whispers and eerie sounds coming from all over. I stood in the middle of a dimly-lit, medieval-style hallway with Winter's Claw in my grasp. The blade was dripping with deep crimson blood, and for the first time I realized I was looking at the scene from above. The walls looked as if someone had been bleeding out, rubbing the dark liquids coming from their body over the once-gray wallpaper.

My form, the one standing in the hall, looked up, and I noticed the blood-splatter across my features. I was soaked with blood as well, just like my blade and the walls. Though I looked unharmed, it was impossible to tell how much of the blood was my own.