Ahmed ran down the corridor with all the power his legs could muster. He had been free from the search last night as he was only the children's teacher, but he knew that Tumna was not so lucky. Arriving at her door he felt his hand shake but overcame his nerves.
"Tumna. Are you inside." Silecne lingered but he didn't give up hope. Once again he assaulted the door, his weak arms threatening to knock it down. "TUMNA!" His voice shouted. Once again silence lingered.
Fearing the worst he grabbed the handle, gently opening it. "tumna?" His voice was quiet, quivering. With the small crack in the door, the smell of blood assaulted his nostrils.
With the smell, he threw the door open. His heart quickened as he fell to his knees. Tears fell from his eyes as his hands shook. "tumna?" Once again his sad voice spoke calling to the woman's lifeless body on the bed. Her face was unrecognisable. Her eyes were swollen double the size of her face, so bloodied it covered the deep black they had gone.
Her naked body was littered with bruises and gashes that spoke of the pain and horror she had been put through. Her nails were ripped off and thrown across the floor and her teeth were taken out one way or the other.
Slowly getting off the ground he walked over her body, his eyes cold. Combing what was once silky hair. "Khors. Is this what you mean by the puppets of Sol? Does your father's hate for our existence burn so bright that he would inflict such suffering on your beautiful daughter?" He went silent awaiting an answer.
"Khors tell me. What do I have to do, to make things right? What must I do to create a world where this unjust cruelty no longer exists." Going silent again he waited for an answer. "TELL ME!" His voice echoed throughout the room.
'caw.' The sound of a raven from the window above the bed screeched. Ahmed looked up at its eyes, the black beads staring back at him. 'caw'. Speaking again it flew off. Ahmed seeing this took one last look at Tumna covering her body with a cover before running out the slave huts.
The raven flew high in the sky but Ahmed didn't lose sight of it. Heading towards the back of the Manor, the crow landed on a tree overlooking a river. Hiding behind it he looked down at the river, at two guards wearing silver armour with red capes. In their hands, the bodies of the two children.
With rocks tied to their feet, they threw the children into the water joking and laughing. Ahmed felt his heart break once again. He hadn't been with them for long but they were the only innocent people in the manor who gave him an ounce of love and respect who wasn't a fellow slave. It wasn't much but for someone like him, it meant the world.
The raven once again took off with Ahmed quickly following behind. His eyes were already had lost all the light in them. The raven landed one last time looking at Phill who laughed as he took his wife into his arms. The hate in Ahmed's eyes turned into flames as he held himself back.
The raven flew off and Ahmed walked away, taking one last look at the giggling couple. Landing on a carriage, Ahmed opened up the back curtain. His eyes opened wide in shock seeing the butler. His face was cut and bruised and he held himself in pain but it was obvious he had been attacked by Phill's forces.
The butler looked at him with great sadness in his eyes, replacing the usual look of disgust. "He killed them all." He spoke in a quiet voice that held a deep resentment. "They took me in. Fed me and gave me everything. And now they are dead, not even the children spared the blade." The man broke down into tears as the carriage rode off.
Ahmed looked at the man with sympathy. He could hate him all he wanted but he understood that just like him the butler had lost his most precious family. Grabbing the man's knee he spoke in a low voice. "It is not over yet. Our precious family may be dead but the man who did it is alive. Whilst he lives, I will not let this hate inside of me die." The butler looked up at Ahmed's eye that held the seed of madness. He could tell that he meant every word of what he had said.
"This revenge. It's impossible. We are not nobles and we have no money." The butler's shoulder fell as he sunk back into his depression. Ahmed grabbed the man's face with a power he didn't know he had. Raising his eyes to look at him he spoke.
"Then we get what we need. If we have to crawl through shit and filth for a gold coin we do. If we have to beg and bend the knee we do. If we have to stain our very soul we do. Be denied by our God's, then we do it." His words laced with hate struck deep into the butler's soul. He knew how he treated the man before and the fact he was willing to forget it just for his revenge spoke volumes to him, giving him hope it was possible.
"Then we must head to the capital. This dukedom is cursed and will soon find itself in turmoil. To make the money we need, the only place is there." Two nodded at each other. Their partnership; created for the sole purpose of revenge.
Four years passed. Ahmed sat in one of his many safe houses. He looked around the brothel in disgust but knew that it was one of his major sources of income. The butler walked in now a changed man. Gone was the small man from before, replaced by a seasoned veteran who carried scars all over his body and a missing eye.
Ahmed was the same. His frail appearance now carried muscle over it. His once hopeful eyes were now that of a dead fish that carried nothing inside of them. The butler took a seat opposite Ahmed chasing away all those surrounding the two. "The day has come. Tomorrow we will finally be in the damned Duchy."
His smile was cruel as he looked at Ahmed. The years they had spent with one another had built a deep bond, finally finalising with him becoming a Follower of Khors. "Praise Khors for his eyes will watch over us."
"Praise Khors." The butler and Ahmed tapped glasses before gathering their forces. Their reach was deep with the two having become influential in the background of the Kingdom, creating a deep guild for assassins knowing it was necessary for the coming days.
Phill sat in his office, opposite him was a man in a suit. "My old friend, have you got what I asked for," Phill said with a lust-filled smile. The man smiled.
"When have I ever done you wrong? I just hope you won't be too rough with these ones. They are quite expensive."
"Please. I always make sure to reimburse you for any damages. That's why you keep coming back." With a hearty laugh, Phill took a drink before quickly catching his breath. The man just smiled taking the bag of gold on the table and leaving.
Ahmed and the Butler sat in the side room with a bunch of lightly dressed women in veils. "Whatever happens, kill anyone. Any and all casualties that are not the target are allowed and tolerated. Leave him alive until we arrive but have fun. He is a piece of shit." Ahmed said with a cruel smile getting understanding nods from the five dancers. "Go. He will lead you to the destination."
The butler left leading the five women away as Ahmed went into the side room. Tied up were five women and the man in the suit. Putting his finger on his lips to silence the panicked muffled voices. "You will all wait in here, quiet and unnoticed. You will not make a sound no matter what you hear outside. When we have finished what we wish to do I will let you leave and you will never talk about what you saw. Understood." His cold words put fear into all of them as they rapidly nodded. "Good."
The butler walked into a room. Phill sat with many men by his side, all wearing disgusting smiles as they looked at the bodies of the dancers. "I've never seen you before, where is your boss?" Looking at the Butler, Phill questioned, not really caring just feeling disrespected in front of his friends and vassals.
"An urgent matter came up that he had to attend to, so he sent me. Besides you are not here for me or him anyway, please enjoy." Giving a bow, the Butler struggled to hide the hate and anger on his face, quickly scurrying away to complete his side of the mission.
Ahmed walked through the corridor sword in hand. He looked at the door at the end of the corridor which had a guard on it. Seeing Ahmed walking towards him he drew his blade not bothering to ask questions. Swinging down, Ahmed dogged the strike and lightly cut the man's hand. He moved backwards and waited again.
Stabbing he tried to kill the unarmoured Ahmed but found he couldn't, being countered with light wounds on his body every time he attacked. His moves slowly became sluggish and his eyes drowsy. Ahmed seeing the man's state stuck his foot out as he swung. Tripping him up he plunged his sword through the back of his neck.
Inside the room, he saw the sight he was hoping for. In bed covering her baby with a blanket Phill's wife sat shaking. Her eyes looked at him in horror. "G-g-gold. J-jewels. There over there." Tears fell from her eyes as she cowered, pointing at the nightstand on the opposite side of the room.
Ahmed walked towards them, picking it up. He looked at the gold coin that carried Phill's face and bitterly smiled. "Worthless." His smile fell as he walked towards the bed. "I'm not a bastard like your husband, it will be quick."
"NOOOO!" She lunged at Ahmed with a knife she hid under her blouse. Her arm was quickly caught by Ahmed who chuckled.
"Sneaky bitch." With those final words, he stabbed her through the chest, blood staining the white bed sheets. Looking at the baby next to her Ahmed didn't hesitate. The image of the kids being thrown into the lake flooded his mind. With a quick stab, the scream of a baby resounded throughout the room.
On the opposite end of the manor, the butler looked at the four-year-old in bed. His face contorted in a smile brimming with insanity. The boy had been the cause of the entire massacre all those years back and it was time. Walking next to him he stroked the boy's hair, awakening him. The boy looked at the butler. Before he could scream a hand fell over his mouth.
Taking his dagger he placed it on his throat. "All those years ago. He couldn't breathe or call for help. His wife died reaching for her babies and the children tried to cry as their troats closed." He said in a sad tone as memories of his saviour and his family filled his mind. With one quick motion, he dragged his blade across the boy's throat. Releasing his hand the boy reached for his neck and tried to call out. With the light fading from his eyes, the butler smiled peacefully, turning to leave.