I sat in the dark corner of the tavern, hidden in the shadows, watching the patrons as they laughed and drank. The tavern was crowded and the noise was deafening, but I didn't mind. I was used to it. The smell of ale and sweat filled the air, and the sound of clinking glasses and raucous laughter echoed through the room.
I sipped on my ale and scanned the room, my eyes trained on the patrons. I was an assassin, and I was always on the lookout for trouble.
That's when I saw her. She was sitting alone at a small wooden table in the corner, fidgeting nervously with a knife in her hand. Despite the chaos around her, she looked out of place, like a delicate flower in a field of thorns. I couldn't help but be intrigued.
I got up from my seat and made my way over to her table, my footsteps muffled by the din of the tavern. She looked up at me with wide eyes as I sat down across from her.
"Can I help you with something?" I asked, my voice low and gravelly.
She jumped at the sound of my voice and quickly tucked the knife into her sleeve. "Oh, um, no, I'm fine," she stammered, her eyes darting nervously around the room.
I arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? You look like you could use some help."
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Actually, yes. I need your help."
I leaned back in my chair and studied her for a moment. "What kind of help?"
She took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye. "I need you to help me find someone. Someone who can help me with a mission. A dangerous mission."
I raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I'm the one to help you?"
She glanced around the room nervously before leaning in closer to me. "I've heard about you. You're the best assassin in the land, and I need the best if I'm going to succeed in this mission."
I narrowed my eyes. "And what is this mission exactly?"
She hesitated again before finally speaking. "I need to find a man named Rorik. He's a smuggler, and he's been causing trouble for a lot of people. I need to find him and make sure he pays for what he's done."
I leaned back in my chair and thought about it for a moment. It sounded like a dangerous job, but it also sounded like a challenge. "Alright, I'll help you," I said, finally. "But first, tell me your name."
She smiled, relieved. "My name is Lyra."
And so, my journey with Lyra began. Little did I know what I was getting myself into, but I knew one thing for sure: it was going to be a wild ride.