Collector of Oddities - A Stormlight Archive FanFiction

(12) Night

[???]

Night had finally fallen on Kholinar, leaving the entire city cast in the sparse Light from Stormlight lamps and the occasional oil lantern. The streets were empty, save it for the handful of urchins that wandered about, looking for food.

A shadow shifted among the streets, avoiding the light cast from the various sources. A shifting shade of black clothing in darkness. Beyond the flash of a single silver dagger, they were as invisible as the blackest night.

The shifting shade darted across the walking path, almost teleporting from shadow to shadow with ease. When they had arrived at the correct building, they deftly scaled the outside wall and quietly flung themselves over and onto the banister. The inn was quiet—both by sound and by light—the perfect place.

Why they would hold a Brightlady in an old inn in Gaval without guards posted outside? They certainly didn't know.

The spy slipped a small, thin tool from their pocket and began toying with the lock of the window. With a faint thud, the tumblers released, and the window became loose against the sill it sat upon. They slipped the window up slowly and carefully; and climbed through one leg at a time.

There were two beds in the room, strangely enough, but the assassin knew that the Brightlady would be staying in this room. Both beds were occupied, but it was all too dark in the chamber to recognize one from the other.

They'd just have to kill both.

A shame.

They skulked around the farthest bed, but only after shutting and locking the window. The bed closest to the door would be first, then if the second awoke they'd have to go out the window or through the assassin. Both unlikely.

The dagger is spun around in the assassin's fingers and caught with the blade facing downward in her hand—a stabbing position. They bring the blade down—

And a bright light fills the chamber, unlike Stormlight or the brightest of fires.

"Drop it," someone barked. A cold something touched the back of the spy's neck. Cold and sharp. The dagger fell from their hand and landed softly on the bed.

-

-

[Zez]

A blinding light forces Zezilia awakes—still wearing the same outfit she had been wearing for the entirety of that day. When her eyes finally returned to her, she looked to Captain Heral, who had been standing near the door, also wearing all of his plate armor.

Heral had explained how there was a story of a man in Gaval, a man that would kill any Brightlord or -lady that came within his reach. They also explained how she wouldn't be used as bait to catch the traitor... but she would be.

None of them had slept or even thought of sleeping, knowing that the man would come and attempt a kill—whether that be her or one of the others of Seven.

"Well done—" She exasperated, breathing heavily and bringing her safehand-sleeve to her heart, which was beating furiously. "—Captain."

Jal and Qork now stood at the doorway, both of them holding goblets filled with all of the Infused spheres that they could get their hands on. They had filled the pitch room with an array of colored lights in hopes of blinding the murderer when or if they chose to come. It was all a risk, and a potential night's loss of sleep, but all to catch a thief and a murderer.

Qork, standing at the doorway, wore all of his armor except his chest piece.

With the Light now filling the room, they could get a better look at the assassin, although they still wore all black with a white mask over their face. Baggy, loose black clothing, gloves on only the left hand, and a bandana beneath the mask to hide their face and hair.

"The Assassin of Gaval is a woman. Jasnah was right, again." Jal said, yet everyone in the room had been thinking it. Jasnah Kholin, daughter of Gavilar, had made an educated guess of this fact based on the cleanliness of the kills across Gaval.

Xe grunted, pulling the covers off from on him and pulling himself up using the table beside the bed. He was the decoy, the one that was to take the dagger if worst came to worst. The soldier of Squad Seven said very little—in fact, Zez had never heard him say anything. He had a scarred face that looked like it had seen too much, was missing his right ear, and had a plume of silver-grey hair that seemed to defy gravity and wave in the air. And now, he wore two chest-plates in case he got stabbed.

"It's over, Silencer of Gaval, we have you backed into a corner. We recommend you stand down and think over your actions. You have much blood on your hands, all of which shall be taken into account by—" Captain Heral began, disgust written across his face.

"There is still work to be done," The words, almost like a song, cut the captain off. She spun around, another dagger appearing in her hand. She turned around quickly, smacking the spearhead aside with the back of her hand.

Zez shot out of bed, watching as the Silencer dashed forward toward the only unarmored target.

Qork.