The sun had just started to bless the lands. Most people were still asleep, tired from the previous day's work. And most places were dark as well...
"uff, huff"
tap tap tap...
In an alleyway, a man was running for his life, looking back every once in a while for his pursuer. He looked spent, making one assume had run rather far, and that he was scared of something, something very dreadful.
Yet being scared couldn't help him escape from his dread. An small dagger with a black blade quickly made its way into the runner's skull, his temple to be precise, not stopping until it etched itself all the way upto its cross guard.
The man, with a thud, fell on the ground of the alley way with his back facing upwards. His blood leaving his body rapidly.
Unconcerned with the man's twitching body, a figure reached out for the dagger, yanked it out, only to stab the man, now a corpse, again where it's heart was supposed to be, ensuring that it would stay a corpse.
Then the figure, garbed in a black robe with a hood covering most of his face slipped back into the darkness of the secluded alley.
************************
Inside a dimly lit room view, the same black-clothed figure appeared again, walking towards one end of the room.
The Man , now close to the end of the room knocked on the walls in a intricate pattern.
"klink, ka-chunk "
Soon, mechanical sounds were heard as a hidden compartment , big enough to only hold 3 persons at best revealed itself along with a single figure equally or perhaps slightly more obscure than the original black figure.
"I have completed my assignment."
Hearing this, the figure behind the layers of walls, quietly noted down something, after he finished accounting for the assignment he looked up.
"Ok, I have recorded your work. Now you can go back. Payment will be done by the usual method."
The figure in the black robe nodded slightly before asking about his contract.
"So my contract ends here?"
"Yes Cat-43. You are no longer bound by the contract. And as per the rules you are now barred from our organization as you have completed your one time contract"
Once again nodding slightly, the figure turned back and made it's way forward as the clerk also closed the hidden compartment in the wall to resume his work.
******
Walking out of a hotel-like building, a young in his twenties whispered to himself as his hands felt a bulging coin pouch. This young man who was going by the name 'ray' had black hair, nascent beard and an overall sharp look to his face. This man was none other than that black robed figure from earlier, an assassin.
"Alright now that I'm finally free what should i do next? Go South? The sea is big plus, though they say the air is 'fishy', I think that's ok? if not people wouldn't flock there for no reason, would they?... Or Maybe North? hmmm ....but then again am I a fan of snow? so no... "
As his thoughts were all over the place, he slowly made his way over to the famous high end restaurant called "Ruchira Fine Dining", that had always been talk of the town.
"Whatever, first thing's first, I'm gonna fill my belly. Sleep a bit. Then 'relive' myself in that fancy establishment I've heard so much about. "
Thinking this he entered the restaurant and called for the waiter, who arranged his table in a quiet corner with a good view of the street. He got himself a plate of beef Wellington, foie gras, some honey glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, a bowl of mixed sallet and a fine bottle of wine along with an apple tart for desert.
Of course, he usually couldn't afford these as this establishment focused on the rich. But since today was the last day he would stay around these parts he might as well give himself a treat.
When all the food disappeared into his stomach, the waiter bought him a free speciality product -a candy like thing which supposedly ensure digestion and rids the mouth of odour , and of course ,the bill too. "That'll be 5 silvers, sir"
He thought it would cost quite a bit but didn't except the cost to reach 5 silvers. ' what the hell... that's like 6% of my savings? '
Taking out the sum and handing over he left the establishment and was wrought by his financial situation. '' I thought I saved up a pretty good amount for my travels but what the hell, did this guy scam me? No, these guys are too rich for that... "
Sigh!
Lamenting about his finances to himself, he made his way to the rented inn room and slept, waiting for the moon to show itself.
After that he got himself a young lass for 5 silvers, a premium. But boy did he last! After indulging in his fantasies he woke up under the warm gaze of the sun.
"I guess that's it, huh?"
Stretching his hand over his head while still in bed ,he started to plan his journey onwards...
****************
At the city gate, they were people and carriages hustling and bustling, the guards donned their imposing metal armour and iron spears, would warily look over and check everyone for barred items and wanted criminals.
A little away from the gate and soldiers, there was a caravan pulled by two horses, moving slowly towards the gate from inside of the town before being stopped by soldiers for investigating.
The soldier who stopped the caravan found five people inside, excluding the man who handled the horses.
There were four males, one female , young and vigorous ,still with baby fats here and there. She was with a white, blond young man, in his teens, probably the heir to a small business and set off to find their own place in this world after a marriage opposition in family or else how could a young girl travel so far without either being rich or being a refugee. And right now there were no refugees in the town so it could only be that . A classic romance drama story.
The other three were all grown men, with menacing muscles and accoutred daggers and spears , with only one with a sword. Ray was also part of this group. He had managed to find himself some travelling company who agreed to take him to his destination for 8 coppers, on the condition food and everything else will be brought by himself. Ray had no problem with this, he happily agreed to the deal as 8 coppers were a good price.
Depending on the situation the prices for traveling can hike up to silvers, even golds sometimes, if the path was infested by dangerous monsters of the night. But the kingdom's soldier would periodically cleanup the major paths. Otherwise merchants and travellers, like ray, would have to form their own party which is not only very expensive, but also dangerous as finding trustworthy companions who can defend you in the event of an attack will prove to be quite difficult.
After getting the green signal by the guards they set off, their destination far, their day young, with vigilance.