Assassin

Assassin

                Tadyel sat by herself in the furthest corner of the inn from the entrance, poking at her eggs and bacon idly. Eggs and bacon wasn't much around here, but for her it was an amazing luxury.

                It was two days since she had come to the town, and she had yet to develop a plan to kill Ormgus. She hadn't managed to learn much more from the driver; he'd outright refused to answer any questions about the Magi. She'd managed to fish one minor detail out of him - they were building an army (and stepping up their operations) to push back any Thrath that came through the pass.

                At her drop-off point, the driver (still masked) had pointed out a small pouch carefully placed in a tree. Inside it Tadyel had found a small grey stone and a short note that described the stone's use.

                When dropped into water, the stone would 'connect' with another in possession of Tadyel's contact. If the contact was available, a connection would be made and through it Tadyel and her contact could converse. Tadyel had given the stone a try then and there, dropping it into a small pool of water nearby.

                "So you've arrived," said the pond, rippling as a female voice came from it. "Hm, yes, you look as expected."

                "You can see me?" asked Tadyel. Within the pond, the stone had begun to glow.

                "Yes. Allowing you to see me would be... A mistake," replied the voice. "Welcome to Green Creek. Make your way into town, and take lodging at one of the inns. Ormgus will be giving a speech tomorrow morning - make sure to catch it."

                "Okay. Are there any limits on when I should contact you?"

                "You'll most likely get a response in the evenings, such as now, or the early mornings. But you may attempt to make contact as you will - communication on my end is different than on yours. Oh, and though I doubt it will happen, do not trust direct communications of 'orders'. If the stones fail, you are dead, unless I deem it necessary to release the spell."

                Tadyel nodded. "I'll do as asked."

                "Thanks. Check in at least every three days. Do you have any questions?"

                "No."

                "Then good luck."

                The stone stopped glowing. Tadyel plucked it from the pool and rolled it between her fingers. Apart from being very round, the stone was unremarkable. It'd be easy to pass off as a pointless keepsake from home, if anyone asked. She pocketed it, and turned to the driver who was nearby.

                "So which way is the town?" she asked.

                "That way. You'll find a road, turn right and follow it. You'll get to town in about forty minutes, roughly mid-evening," the driver replied.

                "Thank you for your help," said Tadyel.

                "It's my job," he answered. "You've got everything you should have, I reckon, so I'll get on my way. May fate smile on you."

                "Bye," said Tadyel with a wave. As the driver returned to his 'wagon', she had headed off in the direction he had pointed.

                Tadyel burped loudly, which brought her back to the present. With her stomach no longer full of air, she saw to the remaining bacon and eggs in a matter of moments. Despite their deliciousness, Tadyel was instinctively frugal when eating publically. It had allowed her to gain everyone's favour (while her stashes of food hidden from the Thrath kept her well-fed). It'll be a while before I kick the habit, she thought. She'd already eaten a decent portion of the supplies she'd brought with her as part of her cover.

                She wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin she'd been given and nodded friendlily to the barman on her way out. He - and everyone else she had met - believed her story without much of a care. Even if it wasn't fully true, she was obviously a refugee and obviously from the peninsula - her accent and looks marked her as such. There had been very few who asked, and she'd told them her family were once nobles and that she'd fled with gold from a hidden stash (of which very little remained).

                As she walked through the town, she remembered the one exception. A man wearing a sash with an unusual symbol (she'd discovered since that it was the symbol Ormgus was using for his group; the man was one of his minions) had approached her and asked a few questions. Her name (she simply used her real name), where she was from (again receiving the truth), how she had found the road (truth once more), and weirdly whether she knew a specific individual, Malnat, who lived 'in that area'.

                After she replied with curious look and a no the man seemed to lose interest, but did ask her to come to Ormgus's speech. Tadyel had been quite pleased to avoid having to pretend to 'discover' the speeches, or something else contrived. The convenience made her curious about whether the man was another agent of the Magi (possibly looking for someone other than Tadyel). The right hand might not know what the left hand is doing, Tadyel thought wryly.

                The journey through town to the square Ormgus gave his speeches in was quite long. Tadyel had wandered through town and - on the advice of a local - taken lodging at an inn on the side of town opposite the road most refugees made their way along. It was higher class, and out of the way - precisely the kind of place a former noble might take lodging. The relative (and possibly actual) luxury had also appealed.

                Once she was told where Ormgus gave his speeches, she almost openly grumbled (and covered herself with a comment about how it was 'quite far'). Tadyel felt that she'd done more than enough walking for a lifetime. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked around. Green Creek was, at least, far more interesting to walk through than the desert.

                Although a 'small' town, Green Creek was much larger than the village Tadyel had lived in for most of her life. The refugees had made their way around a city on their journey (though it was apparently almost empty), so Green Creek wasn't the largest settlement she had seen. It was, however, the largest settlement she had been inside.

                Truthfully she wasn't really impressed. There were a lot of buildings, and seemingly tradespeople who did everything possible (including many trades she had never enjoyed the fruits of, such as a tailor or a 'restaurant'). But it was... What she had hoped she would find, up in the north. The kind of place she had really just heard about from those older than her. There had been some such places, where not completely necessary trades were handled, when she was younger; but she had never visited one. Too much work.

                Green Creek was a nice town to look at, though. The houses were painted - most in nice dark green shades, with dark tiled roofs capping them. On her way in she had seen a few under construction; apparently some refugees had decided to stay on and found a place in Green Creek. Not many, though.

                Tadyel had seen a couple of tent clusters on the way into town. When she asked about them, she was told that most of the refugees were unable to pay for shelter in town, but they had been pitied and allowed to camp in the free meadows to rest for a few days. As they were not corralled into one area, there was a scattering of camp sites all around the town (though mostly along the roads leading in and out).

                Most of the refugees left quickly, but some stayed on doing odd work around town. In turn, some of those found proper work - especially if they had a trade or were willing to work the surrounding farmland. The only refugees given anything but kindness were those following Ormgus - their number, and demeanour, did not sit well with some. Tadyel had been quite interested to learn that peace had only been preserved due to the group camping in a farmstead some distance out of town (owned by a sympathetic former refugee, who had come from the south a full decade ago).

                The square she sought came into sight up ahead to Tadyel's great relief. Ormgus was not yet there, but quite a few refugees had already gathered. Some were newcomers, but she recognised many from the day before (especially those who were Ormgus's people - she'd been paying much attention to their faces). Tadyel wandered over to a lamp post at the far end of the square, and leant against it as she had done the day before.

                The previous day's speech had been as fiery as the driver had said it would be. Ormgus had taken the stage, backed up by his top people (or assistants? Tadyel was unsure), and quieted the crowd. He began by talking about the bravery they had all shown by traveling across the desert in defiance of the Thrath. Of how strong they were for surviving their cruel reign.

                Tadyel had found herself sympathising and agreeing, but that had changed when Ormgus mentioned a 'dark threat that hounds us'. Remembering why she was there, and what she was to do, had kicked her away from feelings of unity with the other refugees. It was a good thing - it allowed her to see how well Ormgus had played on the whirlpool of there-but-rarely-acknowledged feelings she had for the peninsula, the escape, the Thrath.

                The rest of the speech expounded on the threat the Magi posed - initially to other refugees, but Ormgus whipped up fears of them coming after everyone. He made them out to be a threat (and people) as terrible as, or worse than, the Thrath. He finished up with a resounding declaration that he - and those who chose to stand with him - would fight the Magi, and save the north from the threat they posed.

                Reflection on her emotions allowed Tadyel to know that she would probably have felt much as Ormgus obviously intended the crowd to. She was one of those he was targeting - the younger refugees, those who still had some fight left. It was mostly those about her age (apart from Ormgus's people) who had cheered as the speech finished. Tadyel was pretty sure some had signed up that very day - in fact, one of those who had been about yesterday was there with a sash marking allegiance to Ormgus today.

                She was pretty sure she wouldn't have fallen for it. Whatever reason Ormgus had to hate the Magi it was a fight better left alone. Far better to flee further north. That would have been the decision of her village, and thus what Tadyel would have done. Or so she hoped - Ormgus was... dislikeable. To someone who was non-sympathetic to his aim the methods he used seemed very exploitative. I'm almost glad I'm in a situation where I'm forced to do things, rather than manipulated, she reflected.

                The square was mostly full, now, and Tadyel could see Ormgus approaching from one of the lanes that led to the square. He was surrounded by a coterie of followers, each armed (unfortunately). He himself had a sword sheathed at his waist, and wore a suit of clean leather armour. It made him look like a leader - especially to the dishevelled refugees.

                Leaving all but two of his entourage behind, Ormgus made his way onto the platform stage that dominated the far end of the square. It had been built some time ago for performances, Tadyel had been told, but was rarely used. There was no reason to bar Ormgus from using it, and so he did. It allowed him to be above the crowd, something that likely helped the gravity of his speeches.

                As Ormgus began making his speech, Tadyel half zoned-out. She was too busy thinking of how to kill him.

                The speech lasted for twenty minutes. Though Ormgus used different words, it was more or less exactly the same as it had been the day before. The agitator did make one useful comment within it; "As of today, we number fifty brave souls!"

                It was good to know exactly how many people would stand between her and Ormgus, if she was forced to make a desperate attack. If it came down to it, she was going to die trying to complete the mission. The alternative - 'betrayal' by inaction - was unthinkable; especially as she would wind up dead regardless.

                A grimace wriggled across her face as Ormgus began making his way off the stage. I've still got no clue whatsoever, thought Tadyel. I could try a bolt from one of the neighbouring buildings, I guess, but I'll need to dedicate time to get in. And... I know nothing of archery.

                The 'bolt from a window' plan was the best she had. She'd never get close enough to Ormgus in time to stick a poison knife into him (in either sense: a blind charge or infiltrating his group). Via the window, she'd at least have a shot.

                Ormgus made his way off the stage, resting one hand atop the railing beside the steps as he went. His right leg seemed to be weak. It would have been a great advantage were he not always surrounded by supporters and Tadyel capable in combat. Unfortunately...

                Quite suddenly, Tadyel had a flash of insight. He slid his hand along the railing to pull himself up, too, she thought. And it's wooden... She was barely able to contain the smile that threatened to explode across her face. A simple splinter, coated in deadly poison! No-one would know, and all I have to do is get here in the early morning when the town is asleep.

                Tadyel stood and watched Ormgus go, then lingered a bit as some of his people hung around to chat. Turning around somewhat imperiously (she was having some fun with being 'noble') she left the square, a spring in her step.

                She made it all the way back to the inn before she came to the sobering realisation that she was excited about getting away with killing someone. It did solve all her problems, but... Someone who probably was a good person would die.

                But she had to do it.