Spoiler
*"the Antivan crows send their regards".
Caius gazed at the assassin standing in the loft above him. He wore a well tailored black leather armor with sword and daggers. Several masked crow archers were positioned in strategic positions around the hall with their bows pointing at him from the elevated positions. The entrances to the hall had also several armed crows in positions. His guards lay around him with a expanding pools of blood under them, several arrows stuck in their bodies.
Caius didn´t care about them, they were just meaningless losses. The only thing he cared was Miriel. She was on her knees before that assassin tears in her eyes. A gleaming dagger on her throat had Caius complete attention. He stared at the assassin with cold eyes. A small muscle twitched in his cheek, it was the only sign of the murderous rage storming inside him.
"I must apologize for this unorthodox method my lord", the assassin said with honeyed voice. "Your reputation as a dangerous and powerful Magister forced us to rely on this secondary method on which we usually do not do". He relaxed his grip on Miriel mouth just enough to let her scream, "dad! Help me!".
"If you hurt my daughter crow I will show you what true pain means" Caius growled.
"Now now, there is no need for that tone my lord" the assassin said regretfully, "she will not be hurt if you comply. She is not the target". He raised his eyebrows, "you are".
The assassin gestured towards a spot before Caius. "If you please just take one step forward on the glyphs prepared for you". Caius could feel the emptiness of that place, there was no magical energy present. "I assure my lord. She will be not harmed. In fact I will release her the moment you do as I say. I give you my word".
"Your word?", Caius said with a wry smile. "A word of an assassin?".
"My lord, you wound me" the crow smiled softly, then his expression turned grim. He crouched down, closer to her. There was a dark promised in his voice, "do not test me".
Caius concentrated on Miriel. He could see her panic and fear, she had always been so kind and gentle girl. This ordeal had probably run her out of her mind with fear. He needed to assure her, to make her understand. "Miri, the moment he releases you, you start running. Do you hear me?". She nodded frantically tears in her eyes, her smothered sobs echoing from behind the assassins pawn.
The assassin placed his cheek against Miriel´s with a revolting smile, "yes, fly little bird, fly...".
Caius took a step forward. He released his grip from his staff letting it fall down on the floor with a faint thump. And then his connection to the fade was cut. It was the oddest feeling to hear the call of his power but not being able to reach it. Magister Florus had really fallen he thought, endangering his gran-daughter in his revenge plan. Caius was sure this was his doing. At least Nazlik was not here. He closed his eyes.
Time slowed down. The moment Caius stood inside the glyph the assassin released Miriel. He raised his hand with exultant smile to signal the archers. Miriel rolled away from him and stumbled on her feet ready to run.
A arrow flew from the ceiling beams just a moment before the signal was given, it struck the glyph breaking it´s structure. Caius opened his eyes when his power returned to him in a massive flow, crow arrows flew at him whistling through the air from all around him.
A massive energy pulse expanded to all directions from him destroying all the arrows shot at him mid air. Caius raised his hands and massive chain lightning arcs shot from his extended arms striking both to the archers and swordsmen around him flashing around the hall with deafening strength. Screams and cries filled the air. Second volley crackled around the hall silencing even the last cries.
The assassin saw how Caius opened his eyes looking directly into his, there was a dark promise in the Magisters eyes. When the energy started to flow around Caius the assassin knew something had went wrong. He knew all was lost. One thing remained still a possibility, and he was a man of his word. The assassin turned around to see Miriel with his dagger ready while the hall behind him was filled with massive lightning arcs.
On the hallway, before him stood a young mage. He had a striking resemblance with Magister Vaellanius, and he was already casting.
Assassin turned around in a split second decision. So he was dead now, but he could still try to finish the contract. He bolted over the loft railing to the hall. While flying through the air he threw the daggers he had at the Magister. They were massively enchanted expensive pair of daggers, he had put his whole fortune into making them. And now it payed off. He could see the surprised look on the Caius face when the blades penetrated his shield striking him in the chest and shoulder.
He landed on his feet in the hall before the Magister pleased with himself. For his own surprise and shock the Magister just smiled at him daggers stuck in his upper body. A vortex of red mist rose from the dead bodies around him, the mist spiraled right into the Magister and the effect was instant. Assassins daggers fell off from the Magister falling on the floor. He walked slowly towards the baffled crow with a cold smile on his face.
"I believe I promised to show you what true pain means..."*
*"the Antivan crows send their regards".
Caius gazed at the assassin standing in the loft above him. He wore a well tailored black leather armor with sword and daggers. Several masked crow archers were positioned in strategic positions around the hall with their bows pointing at him from the elevated positions. The entrances to the hall had also several armed crows in positions. His guards lay around him with a expanding pools of blood under them, several arrows stuck in their bodies.
Caius didn´t care about them, they were just meaningless losses. The only thing he cared was Miriel. She was on her knees before that assassin tears in her eyes. A gleaming dagger on her throat had Caius complete attention. He stared at the assassin with cold eyes. A small muscle twitched in his cheek, it was the only sign of the murderous rage storming inside him.
"I must apologize for this unorthodox method my lord", the assassin said with honeyed voice. "Your reputation as a dangerous and powerful Magister forced us to rely on this secondary method on which we usually do not do". He relaxed his grip on Miriel mouth just enough to let her scream, "dad! Help me!".
"If you hurt my daughter crow I will show you what true pain means" Caius growled.
"Now now, there is no need for that tone my lord" the assassin said regretfully, "she will not be hurt if you comply. She is not the target". He raised his eyebrows, "you are".
The assassin gestured towards a spot before Caius. "If you please just take one step forward on the glyphs prepared for you". Caius could feel the emptiness of that place, there was no magical energy present. "I assure my lord. She will be not harmed. In fact I will release her the moment you do as I say. I give you my word".
"Your word?", Caius said with a wry smile. "A word of an assassin?".
"My lord, you wound me" the crow smiled softly, then his expression turned grim. He crouched down, closer to her. There was a dark promised in his voice, "do not test me".
Caius concentrated on Miriel. He could see her panic and fear, she had always been so kind and gentle girl. This ordeal had probably run her out of her mind with fear. He needed to assure her, to make her understand. "Miri, the moment he releases you, you start running. Do you hear me?". She nodded frantically tears in her eyes, her smothered sobs echoing from behind the assassins pawn.
The assassin placed his cheek against Miriel´s with a revolting smile, "yes, fly little bird, fly...".
Caius took a step forward. He released his grip from his staff letting it fall down on the floor with a faint thump. And then his connection to the fade was cut. It was the oddest feeling to hear the call of his power but not being able to reach it. Magister Florus had really fallen he thought, endangering his gran-daughter in his revenge plan. Caius was sure this was his doing. At least Nazlik was not here. He closed his eyes.
Time slowed down. The moment Caius stood inside the glyph the assassin released Miriel. He raised his hand with exultant smile to signal the archers. Miriel rolled away from him and stumbled on her feet ready to run.
A arrow flew from the ceiling beams just a moment before the signal was given, it struck the glyph breaking it´s structure. Caius opened his eyes when his power returned to him in a massive flow, crow arrows flew at him whistling through the air from all around him.
A massive energy pulse expanded to all directions from him destroying all the arrows shot at him mid air. Caius raised his hands and massive chain lightning arcs shot from his extended arms striking both to the archers and swordsmen around him flashing around the hall with deafening strength. Screams and cries filled the air. Second volley crackled around the hall silencing even the last cries.
The assassin saw how Caius opened his eyes looking directly into his, there was a dark promise in the Magisters eyes. When the energy started to flow around Caius the assassin knew something had went wrong. He knew all was lost. One thing remained still a possibility, and he was a man of his word. The assassin turned around to see Miriel with his dagger ready while the hall behind him was filled with massive lightning arcs.
On the hallway, before him stood a young mage. He had a striking resemblance with Magister Vaellanius, and he was already casting.
Assassin turned around in a split second decision. So he was dead now, but he could still try to finish the contract. He bolted over the loft railing to the hall. While flying through the air he threw the daggers he had at the Magister. They were massively enchanted expensive pair of daggers, he had put his whole fortune into making them. And now it payed off. He could see the surprised look on the Caius face when the blades penetrated his shield striking him in the chest and shoulder.
He landed on his feet in the hall before the Magister pleased with himself. For his own surprise and shock the Magister just smiled at him daggers stuck in his upper body. A vortex of red mist rose from the dead bodies around him, the mist spiraled right into the Magister and the effect was instant. Assassins daggers fell off from the Magister falling on the floor. He walked slowly towards the baffled crow with a cold smile on his face.
"I believe I promised to show you what true pain means..."*
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