Private Tales The Mountains Ahead

[Aviana Sabel]

"Aren't we always?" She responded wryly, curling her index finger beneath his chin.

"We'll be fine. We've gotten through everything else the Arethil has thrown at us -- the Deep Roads won't be any different." Aviana continued shortly after, then she traced her fingers across his shoulder.

It was clear to her that the jester was preoccupied with the dangers that lay ahead. If he was worried, she knew that the threats were very real. He was a cautious man, and had a keen sense for trouble. Unfortunately for him, he was traveling with a walking magnet for complications.

If he hadn't approached her in that tavern when she'd first arrived on the mainland, she doubted that she would have survived for as long as she had. He'd gotten her this far.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Of course." He agreed with a smile.

In truth though, he wasn't entirely sure though. The Deep Roads were dangerous beyond all belief, and a part of him wondered if they hadn't made a mistake.

He wouldn't say that of course, not to Aviana, not now. Not ever.

"Alright." Kasim said as he pointed at the flame. "When that first log is burnt, we'll start to get ready to go."

It was a fair compromise.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"We should eat before then." She murmured, pulling just far enough away from him that she could reach her bag that was set off to the side.

They food they had brought along with them was plain, but it was full of nutrients and already rationed out for the both of them. Plus, they had the fish that she'd caught the day prior already preserved for later. It should hold them over for a week, maybe two. Rummaging around, she found some fruit for the both of them, as well as one of the baked rations bars and offered them both over to Kasim.

"You especially. I don't care if the magic isn't powered the same as runes... your body is healing, and you need your energy."

 

[Kasim Areth]

He tipped his head for a moment, perking an eyebrow as she pulled herself away from him. In truth she couldn't really argue her point. Though the magic had been a different sort, it was still weighing heavily on his body. He needed to heal, to eat, and probably rest a few more days.

Not that he would admit it to Aviana. "Alright."

The Jester agreed quietly with a grumble, deciding that it would be best not to fight her on this particular matter. They still needed to save their rations, but he figured that arguing would be pointless.

"This time." Kasim whispered quietly as he bit into the fruit.

His mother had always told him that one had to pick and choose which arguments to get into with women. Mostly because you could only ever win a small fraction. Kasim decided to heed that advice this time.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Content that he'd at least resigned himself to eating something, Aviana twisted around and leaned her back against his chest. It was a strange urge to be as close to him as she could, while she had the chance. They would be riding through the deep roads for Skies knew how long before they'd be able to relax again.

She ate in comfortable silence for a time, watching the flames dance about in the hearth.

Whatever faced them... she would have to be more prepared. Kasim was in no state to properly defend himself, and she didn't want him to feel as though he constantly needed to protect her. He'd come charging to her defense when he'd heard her laughing in the river, ready to use a rune on his chest to do so... what would happen if he activated one of those down here? She was worried that it would kill him outright. Not even taking into consideration the... other magic he was capable of.

She knew there was more to it than what he had told her, but pressing him further on the matter wouldn't accomplish anything. He would tell her when he was ready, if he ever was.

The thoughts turned her mind to her own secrets, and she glanced over towards the satchel where her dragon egg was still hidden away. Even though he knew of its existence, he had yet to actually see the thing.

 

[Kasim Areth]

As they ate the room remained relatively silent, though oddly enough he didn't really mind that silence.

It was not uncomfortable, it was not awkward or anything of that sort. Kasim couldn't have really explained it, but it was...pleasant in a way. They could have talked, but simply decided that it wasn't necessary. He liked that.

Eventually though the fire reached the point that he had decided, and just as he was finishing the last of his breakfast the log that he had indicated finally burned away. The Jester frowned, and then tilted his head back, slowly crawling forward to grab the tunic which he'd thrown away the night before. "I suppose we should go."

Kasim said quietly.

"We'll want to leave ourselves enough time to find a camping place before we get too tired." Another reason to leave now rather than wait. "I'll get the animals ready if you'll pick up here?"

Normally he would have said 'horses', but that didn't really count here.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Once Kasim started to move, Aviana reluctantly followed suit. Her body was stiff, but for different reasons that his.

"I'll take care of everything in here and meet you at the stables then." She murmured, already started to gather the supplies that had been somewhat scattered about the room.

Even if it was a chore, she still offered him a warm smile.

When he left her alone in the room to go tend to the animals and get them ready for a day's ride, Aviana stopped what she was doing and did a giddy little dance in front of the fire. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Pulling himself up and quickly dressing Kasim stepped out of the room and into the small Guard Outpost. As he had thought it was quiet, and from his pocket he pulled out a small sphere.

Upon it was carved a rune, intricate and complex enough that it must have taken him months to carve. His finger brushed over it, and suddenly the sphere filled with a bright light, cascading around the room and illuminating everything inside. Kasim smiled slightly. The sphere was something he had made, though it only worked for minutes at a time. The light was helpful, and far easier than igniting a torch.

It would last long enough to saddle the two beasts outside, but after that would need to rest for nearly an entire day before it could be used again.

Such was the nature of the rune.

Without hesitation Kasim unlocked the front door of the hold, another loud click ringing within the chamber as the great stone moved away. He smiled, and then headed towards his and Aviana's mounts to do as he'd said.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

While the jester was busy outside, Aviana scurried through the room and was packing up the last of their gear that she had brought inside the night before. Bedrolls were tucked away and cinched down. Food was stored. It wasn't a difficult task, but it was one that she made sure to get right. A bedroll coming undone and startling one of the animals was a recipe for a bad day.

She had nearly finished packing by the time she heard footsteps in the main room of the guard post. Thinking that Kasim had finished saddling the animals, she grabbed his bag, and made her way to the doorway.

As she rounded the corner, she heard the main door swing shut, and the sound of the lock as it activated quickly followed. The light of the fire didn't reach far enough into the next room for her to make out anything other than looming shadows.

"Kasim?"

There was no response.

Aviana felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end and she took a small step back into the officer's quarters where the fire was.

As she moved, the hidden figure launched forward. She could see the movement, but not what was moving. Dropping the jester's bag, she raced back into the room. Her sword was propped against the far wall, with the satchel placed next to it. The weapon was drawn and brought to bear as she snatched up the strap to the bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

Heavy footsteps pounding against the stone floor behind her, and she was pinned against the wall as she turned to face whatever it was that had gotten inside. A gloved hand clamped over her mouth to silence the cry that escaped her. In the light of the fire, Aviana could see the attacker: a man; a little taller than herself, and slender in build. She could also see the garb the man wore.

The buttons on his jacket bore the Minarisan crest -- a winged dragon with its long tail forming an intricate knot.

A flash of silver glinted in the firelight, and that was the only warning Aviana had that the man had raised the small blade in his other hand. "Sorry about this, my lady." He muttered through the cloth mask that covered the lower half of his face.

As dagger arced through the air towards her throat, Aviana drove her knee into the man's gut and she pressed forward to throw him off balance. Instead of a fatal blow, the blade sparked against the stone wall behind her.

The man grabbed at her, snatching for the satchel that hung over her shoulder. He moved with impossible speed, Aviana's eyes struggled to track his movements as he lunged towards her a second time. The clatter of metal clashing against metal filled the room as she kept the man at bay, but only just. He was stronger than her, and it felt as though every blow that connected left her feeling weaker, drained.

"Who the ...bloody hell ...sent you!" She gasped out the words through the relentless struggle of defending herself.

He gave no answer. His only retort was to drive her back towards the darkness of the main room.

Outside, another assassin lurked in the shadows and slowly crept towards the jester as he tended to the animals. The large elk made it clear that they had tracked the right pair, though the man was not the intended target. Still, it was likely he would try to interfere.

Erodin snorted, jerking his head up from Kasim's grasp, and his ears perked up. The beast had caught a scent.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The stone building was too far away for him to hear any of the commotion from Aviana’s fight with the assassin. The thick walls were too large and too dense for any sound to come through. Had he known he would have turned, he would have run to her and drawn his sword, but instead he simply frowned as the great Elk seemed to snort slightly.

Kasim wasn’t entirely sure of the animal just yet. He and aviana had been traveling together for quite some time of course, but...well he’d grown up with horses his entire life and this beast was something all his own.

He guessed that even among his own kind Erodin was somewhat unique.

So when the Elk grew agitated, Kasim did not know why. He did not know to turn around, he did not know the assassin was there. Had he been holding his families magic he would have felt the assassins blood, sensed his heartbeat and even heard the echoes of his steps, but that power was not with him now.

Instead he patted the elk on the face. ”Hey. Hey relax.”

Kasim said simply, frowning slightly. His blade was still upon his back, but he made no move to draw it, completely unaware of the danger bearing down on him.

Completely unaware of the danger already facing Aviana.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The assassin watched the man struggle with the elk, tensing up as the creature made it clear that it had caught his scent. Had there been someone more familiar with elks, the assassin might have been in trouble. But as it stood, the man just tried to calm the animal instead.

Taking the opportunity that presented itself, the assassin rushed out of the darkness towards Kasim's back with a blade in hand.

Erodin saw the threat before Kasim did. The elk jerking backwards and rearing up slightly onto his hind legs.

Having already committed, he had little choice but to follow through on the attack. His blade lashing out towards the back of Kasim's neck.

Aviana's first concern was keeping the egg away from her attacker. He'd made it clear that he wanted the satchel the moment he had lunged for it earlier. That meant, however, that she was trying to defend two fronts at once.

Fighting seemed pointless. Already, the assassin had scored a few glancing blows along her forearms. Aviana was breathing heavily and nearly exhausted; but her opponent seemed fresh and spry. It wouldn't be long until he had overpowered her outright. She knew that she shouldn't have been so drained already, but the magic this man pulled on was sapping her strength with every connection.

Gathering her courage, Aviana kicked the assassin back to give herself enough space to turn and bolt into the darkness of the main room. Shadows engulfed her.

The flickering flames of the fire could still be seen in the room, and she could see the assailant lingering in the doorway. His head was cocked slightly to the side, peering into the darkness.

She clamped her free hand over her mouth to stifle her heaving breaths; knowing better than to rush for the door that she couldn't open in the first place.

With his shoulders casually rolling, the man stepped into the dark room. His low voice echoing off the stone walls. "Come now, little Duchess. There's really no need for so much fuss." He cooed wryly.

Aviana could hear him moving towards the door, and she quietly stepped back towards the wall behind her. There was a corridor on this side of the room. She had seen it the night before... but she had to find it first.

Minaris did not have assassins. There was no trained group of assassins that were sent out to murder political opponents. That was a way of life for the mainlanders... so who was this man? Who had he been before he'd been sent to track her down?

 

[Kasim Areth]

As soon as Erodin reared up, Kasim moved.

It was a small thing, but exactly what saved his life in that moment. The beast moved to kick, and in that exact second the assassins knife slipped forward. The man had stepped downward, his blade falling, but as Kasim dashed to the side it missed it’s intended target and instead slashed over the Jester’s shoulder.

Cloth and flesh gave way to cold steel, cutting into him and freeing a splatter of blood onto the floor below.

Another strike came, but Erodin saved him. The great Elk’s kick forced the would be killer to move away and recover. Yet something else happened.

Immediately as the blade slipped through his skin Kasim felt something weigh on him, though he was not sure what. The rest that he had received last night seemed to drain a bit, as though someone had sapped his own strength. He twisted, a curse escaping his lips as he felt blood pooling down his back from his shoulder blade.

Half a second later a loud ring could be heard as his blade freed itself from his scabbard.

”Who the fuck are you?” Kasim cried, his blade reaching up just in time to catch the Assassin’s knife striking a second time.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The man in front of Kasim was shorter than him by a few inches, which limited his reach compared to the taller jester. This meant that he had to aggressively press the attack and keep Kasim on the defensive as he lashed at the jester with his blade. The assassin's face was largely hidden beneath the cloth mask, but the dark expression in his eyes was still visible.

"Doesn't much matter to a dead man." He growled back to Kasim, though his lilted accent was eerily similar to Aviana's.

She pressed her palm against the wall, slowly making her way down the length of the stone surface. It was cool to the touch, and she moved as slowly as she could to keep herself from making too much noise. Moving forward in the utter darkness was so terrifying that she was concerned the assassin would be able to hear the pounding of her heart.

As her fingers slipped off the wall and into the empty space of the corridor, a brilliant flash filled the room and temporarily blinded her. The assassin had cast a spell to emit a beam of light from his hand, which he used to illuminate the room in his search for the hiding duchess. Turns out, he didn't need to hear her pulse, when he could just see her.

"There you are, little bird." The man sneered, using the name her father used to call her; spinning his blade in his hand as he stalked towards her.

Aviana felt the color drain from her face, and she turned to flee down the dark corridor. The man followed.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim took a step back as the assassin's knife went slashing forward. He couldn't help but disagree with that assessement, mostly because he had absolutely no intention of dying any time soon.

His fate was sealed, his day would come, but it was not today.

The Jester's sword flickered forward, the half finished rune reflecting the bare light within the grand hall. Steel met steel, a bright spark flaring as the two combatants struck out against one another. A growl escaped the assassin, his body suddenly shifting, and then darting to the left.

Kasim swore, attempting to follow the man's path but unable to keep pace.

He was fast...faster than a man should have be-

The Jester felt the cut of the knife across his skin, blade slashing across his ribs and slicing into his skin. A grimace crossed his features, and once again he felt that odd sort of drain on his body. A heavy breath escaped him, though he had no idea where it came from. "Fuck it."

Kasim said quietly, reaching up through the torn shirt and touching a tattooed rune. There was a bright blue glow, and then he struck out.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

There was no light to guide Aviana as she fled down the dark corridor. The occasional beam cast off from the mage assassin's hand would momentarily extend a few feet in front of her; but it was no way for her to navigate. Each time she found a corridor, she would dart down it. Keeping track of where she was going was quickly rendered impossible.

After rounding around corner that had been briefly illuminated by the man's light, she was plunged into darkness once more. Her hand passed across the empty nothingness of another corridor opening up to her left and she quickly turned into it; in hopes of throwing her pursuer off her trail.

Unfortunately, Aviana had found a staircase without realizing it.

When she went to take the first step into the dark corridor, her foot did not immediately strike the stone floor, and instead, dropped through thin air. Her stomach lurched into her throat as she started to fall. When her boot did connect with a step further down the staircase, her ankle wrenched to the right. A sharp cry escaped her as her leg gave out beneath her and she tumbled down the stairs.

She slammed into a heavy metal door with her shoulder at the bottom, and she gasped in pain, dropping her sword. "Fuck..." She whimpered, grasping at her shoulder with her other hand.

The sound of the man's footsteps echoed down the curved staircase, and she could see the arc of his light sweeping across the wall as he approached. "You could just give me the egg, Duchess. Save yourself... and your friend, quite a bit of pain." His honeyed voice echoed down the stairs.

When she pushed herself onto her feet, her right ankle screamed in agony but she kept moving after picking her sword up once more. She hadn't broken the ankle, she knew that much, but there was definitely something wrong with it. The door was unlocked, it had been broken long ago; but Aviana didn't have time to question whether or not that was a good thing. She pushed through the door and shut it behind her.

The assassin would follow her, which presented her with an opportunity to put an end to this. There was an air current, where ever she was and when she touched the walls it was not the smooth, carved stones of the guard post that her fingers brushed against; but rough, uneven rocks. She was "outside" then.

The darkness was oppressing, but she tried to push that primal fear to the back of her mind as she hunkered down on the back side of the door.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The runes were dangerous on a good day. A fact that he had tried to impress upon Aviana while touching her, a fact that had been impressed upon him by the man who'd taught him. Fighting using the runes, especially ones on your own body, would have consequences that could not be ignored.

Those consequences were harsh on a healthy man, but one suffering injuries with his body already strained? Well, that was an entirely different story.

As soon as Kasim activated the Rune he felt it eat at him, biting at him like a parasite. Coupled with the odd slashes of those knives, the damage done to his body from his families magic...and Kasim knew that he was on a time limit. The Rune burned bright against his abdomen, fueling him, but also destroying him.

So he went on the attack.

His face contorted into a mask of rage. He struck out with quick repeated strikes. His sword slashed high, then low, then to the left and high again.

Each blow was faster than the last, each slice stronger. The Assassins seemed to gape, his eyes opening wide as The Jester pressed his assault. The blade fell again and again, the knife clashed against it, and then finally it didn't.

Rune marked sword met flesh, and like a viper it bit through. Blood went splattering against the ground as Kasim's sword cut through the man's forearm, severing his hand in one quick slice. A scream echoed through the grand hall. Tortuous pain that was quickly ended as Kasim twisted his blade, turning the handle and stabbing his blade through the man's torso and into the heavy marble floor below.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

It felt like an eternity, waiting in the darkness for the assassin to approach the shut door. She could see the soft light trickling through the bottom slit between the floor and the door. Holding her breath, Aviana tensed up and wrapped both of her hands around the hilt of her sword. She was only to get one last shot at this, as she was incapable of running any further.

The door slowly swung open, light flooding into the tunnel. It was the first look that Aviana had gotten at the cave around her, though she didn't have the time to properly take it in. As the assassin stepped out of the doorway, she rushed forward and slammed her full weight into the door. It swung shut, pinning the man between the wall and the heavy door. There was a sickening crunch, and she heard him howl in agony. One of his arms had been broken.

Aviana never thought that she would have to kill one of her own people. In fact, the only thing she had ever killed was a harpy. But there was no time for her to think, or to hesitate. This man would not pay her the same courtesy, he had already proven that. He strained against the door, trying to push free.

Using the last reserves of her strength, Aviana drew her sword arm back and thrust it around the door. She felt the sword puncture the flesh, cutting through muscle and then the sudden, jarring stop is the blade struck bone. A gurgling sound filled the cave and the light flickered out as the man choked on his own blood, gushing from his throat.

Darkness fell over Aviana's vision once more, and she was left alone with a dying man.

Hands shaking, she stumbled back to the wall and sank down to the ground. There was no light, and she had no idea where she was. Her ankle was swelling inside her boot and she felt so drained, as if she was going pass out at any moment. The cuts on her forearms were forgotten.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim let out a breath, and then quickly he pulled back his hand and grabbed the small dagger that rested at the small of his back. With one swift motion he drew the blade, then pulled his tunic up. The rune burnt bright blue in his skin, singing and calling out.

Another breath passed his lips, then another, and quickly he began to hyperventilate. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck Fuck."

The Jester stabbed the dagger beneath his skin. Instantly his entire body seemed to cringe, but before a wave of nausea overwhelmed him Kasim slipped the blade low. In one swift motion he flayed himself, drawing the blade beneath the skin but over his muscle.

In an instant the rune seemed to shrink and pull the skin tight, dropping to the floor and then bursting into a bright blue flame. Blood spilled from his wounds, the bare patch of muscle screaming in pain. Yet he gave them no thought. The dagger in his hand dropped to the floor, palm wrapping around the hilt of his sword.

Kasim yanked the blade free, turning on his heel.

"Aviana!" He called out as he broke into a sprint, rushing as fast as he could back to the outpost.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Kasim's call couldn't reach Aviana through the thick stone walls of the guard post. Even if the near silence that surrounded her was deafening. It was claustrophobic, even though she knew there was open space around her.

She pulled the satchel containing the dragon around into her lap and hugged it gently to her chest. The warmth that emanated from the egg inside was a small comfort.

A few feet away, she could hear the man still gurgling on his own blood. A wet, gasping sound filling the room every few moments. It was horrific. His body twitched occasionally, his boots scraping across the stone floor as he flailed for every last bit of life that was left in him.

And then there was utter silence.

"Okay... okay. Back up the stairs... first thing's first." She coaxed herself, trying to urge herself to her feet. She needed to move, to try to find herself back up to the main room. "You can do this."

Weakly, she tried to push herself to her feet with the satchel in place over her shoulder. When she tried to take an actual step forward, her sprained ankle refused to carry her weight and she dropped down to her knees. A warm liquid splashed over her hands and soaked into her trousers. She went rigid and took a sharp breath, realizing that she'd just landed in a pool of the man's blood.

Grimacing, she hobbled onto her feet and limped a few inches forward. When she kicked the dead man's corpse, she nearly toppled over again -- only catching herself on the heavy metal door, the right side of her face slamming into the metallic edge. She saw stars and she cried out in pain, stumbling inside to the stairs and she sank down onto the first one she could find.

The sword was tucked away into her belt and she sighed heavily, wiping the blood off her hands on the tunic as best she could. Using her hands to guide her, Aviana found the step above the one she was seated on and pulled herself up onto it. That seemed the safest option. To stay on the ground and crawl.

"Fuck..." She groaned and started the long process of hauling herself up the stairs.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim ran.

He did not care about his own injuries, he did not care about what happened to him. He knew that the assassin had not come for him, knew that Aviana had been the target.

His family knew, but they wouldn't have been able to send someone that fast, even with the portal stones. On top of that they would not send someone to kill him, no, his father would want him alive. Aviana would die if his father sent someone, but not him. That meant they had to be after her, after the egg, and that meant she was in danger.

So he ran. ”AVIANA!”

His voice bellowed through the empty rooms as the stone door to the dwarven outpost opened. His clothes were slick with blood, his palm maddened with sweat, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was that she was alive.

”Where are you?!“ He called out to her again and again. ”Aviana!”

 

[Aviana Sabel]

By the time Aviana had reached the top of the stairs, she was beyond the point of exhaustion. Her arms trembled; her shoulder that had bashed against the door was swollen and stiff, screaming in agony each time she lifted herself onto another step; her ankle pounded, straining against the leather of her boots; and the magic that had drained her energy had left her weak.

She collapsed when she realized that there wasn't another stair in front of her, gasping for breath and moaning in pain.

Then, the unrelenting silence was broken.

"Aviana!"

It was Kasim.

He was alive, and he was trying to find her. Relief flooded over the half-elf, and she leaned her back against the wall behind her. That was all that had mattered. She had needed to know that he was okay.

She licked her lips, took a breath and called back to him. "Kasim! I'm here! I'm okay."

The last two words were softer, weaker. "You're okay..." She repeated to herself.

 

[Kasim Areth]

He heard her voice within the dark. It was a quiet echo, but loud enough for him to find her. The empty halls seemed to run on longer than they had the night before, and though his eyes adjusted to the pitch black quickly he could still not find his way. A tightness grew in his chest as he stalked forward, his blade in front of him.

”Aviana!” He called out to her.

Kasim knew the basic layout of the outpost, at least some of it. That was how he'd gotten them to the officers quarters. Yet Aviana had gone were he had not, and as he walked forward he realized that he'd entered a maze of marble and granite. His fingers tightened on the blade, ready for another assassin that might come.

”Aviana.” His voice was softer, but still loud enough to carry. ”I need you to call out to me.”

It was the only way to find her.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Instead of just calling out his name, she tried to ask him a question. If she kept talking, he should be able to follow the sound of voice. The problem was that she was so exhausted she could barely speak.

"Are you hurt? I'm... I'm by a stairwell." She called back to him, not sure what else to say. "I think... I think I sprained my ankle."

"I can't... I can't see anything." Her words were broken and her breath heavy.

She knew that Kasim would find her eventually, it was only a matter of time. But already she had come to despise the darkness.

There was a dead man at the bottom of the stairs, and she'd be the one to kill him. His body would lay there and rot. Alone. Her stomach knotted and she grimaced, suddenly feeling sick.

 

[Kasim Areth]

The sound of her voice was guide post enough that he could draw closer, though he wished that he'd taken the globe of light with him earlier.

His own eyes could see well in the dark, a fact of his heritage, but down here even his own vision was but a bare fraction of what it was supposed to be. Slowly he crept forward, his sword still drawn but lowered slightly. ”I'm alright.”

The words were not a complete lie.

”I'll be there soon.” Kasik rounded a corner, the echo of Aviana's voice leading him. ”Just hang on”

As he spoke again she would hear him more clearly now, his voice not a distant echo, but almost right in front of her.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"Wait... There's a staircase, I don't want you to fall. I'm right in front of you, down on the floor against the wall." She guided him, reaching a hand out towards him in the darkness. Now that he was so close, she realized that she should have authenticated that he was who he claimed to be. It was impossible to tell in the pitch darkness, and a good mage would have been able to mimic a voice. It was even possible that Kasim was being forced to find her. What if there was another assassin that was with him?

There wasn't much choice now, she would just have to trust that Kasim was alone or that he was who he said he was.

Her voice trembled slightly when she spoke, and she knew that was the first indication that she was close to breaking down. She couldn't even pull on the mask to grapple with the fear, the pain, or the shock of killing a man.