Chapter 2

Rhae darted through alleyways, making her way upstairs between two houses. Soon she reached the open air, a small hill with one Akiara tree. The tree held golden Akihyra, translating to ‘Sun fruit’, forever in abundance no matter how many were taken. An Anera bush, ‘Sin flower’, grew from the base of the tree circling around it.

Rhaenyx inspected the tree, recalling their names and translations from her lessons. When training to be an assassin, you are taught the ancient language so that you can pass messages onto other members of the guild without comprehension from any interception. She walked over to the tree, stretched up, and plucked one ripe Akihyra from the tree. She bit into the fruit, a calm feeling washing over her body. The fruit acted like an anaesthetic for the wound, pushing away all pain. Rhae leant down, ripped the wood from her leg and watch the fruit work its magic. It stitched the muscle together, like threads pulling the wound closed and sealing the flesh, leaving only a scar. She took another bite of the fruit, feeling a numbness wash over her. A burning feeling erupted from her stomach, however, it was smothered by the fruit, as it burnt out the Gharane from her system. She turned towards the burning guild down the hill, watching as the fire dissipated, smouldering under the ashes. The nobles inspected the stained bodies collapsed at the front door, while others searched the ashes for any bodies. Keyword, bodies, not survivors. No one could have survived that.

The bushes rustled behind her, but her numb state smothered any doubts of the sounds around her. A sword was removed from its sheath behind her, enabling her flight or fight response, pumping adrenaline through her veins. Rhae jumped to her feet, whipping her head around and pulling out a dagger. Three poorly dressed rogues jumped out from the bushes stepping forward with their broadswords. Rhae grinned, leaping over to the Anera bush, slicing a flower, letting the sap spread across the blade. One drop of this liquid into your bloodstream, and your body is paralysed. She darted towards the troops, sending them into shock as she sliced their hands in one movement. They each dropped their swords, then fell to the ground as the toxin took over their bodies. Rhae leant down and wiped her blade on their clothing.

“In a few minutes you will suffocate, enjoy your last moments with the cure only steps away. It will be much more interesting if you feel the thick Anera poison coursing through your bloodstream, reaching your organs.” Rhae grinned grabbing the chin of the female rogue, lifting her face up till her eyes met Rhae’s. “It’s too bad you had to die. You are quite beautiful, a wasted face for a rogue.” Rhae dropped the woman’s chin and stood up tucking away her dagger. She embraced the wind that raced over the hilltop.

“Did you forget to check your surroundings for more threats, or did you really think that we wound only send three people after you?” A man stepped out from behind the bushes, covered in leather armour with iron lining, with a blade at each side reflecting the setting rays of the sun across the lush grass. His dirty blonde hair was pulled back, pieces sticking to his face, wet with sweat and grime. His deep brown eyes seemed warm, to Rhae, capturing her gaze. He had a beard that grew around his mouth and travelled up his jawline, seemingly freshly trimmed. The man slowly walked towards her pulling out his sword. “You have sparred with my people, now it’s time you spar with me. Although, it was quite an advantage you pulled over them.”

“It’s called playing dirty, maybe you should try it some time. You might even beat me,” Rhae taunted, pulling out her dagger and flipping it in the air.

“I’ll beat you without cheating, to prove that I’m stronger.” He grinned, leaning forwards.

“Try me,” Rhae grinned, deciding to attack first.

Rhae darted forwards raising her dagger. The man moved his blade to block, however, Rhae slipped under him, gliding between his legs, slicing his calf, and ripping his leather armour. She stood up grinning and moved the dagger again from his shoulder blade to his lower back. He jumped forward, evading the blade from cutting beneath his armour. He quickly turned around and met her dagger with his blade.

“I never got your name.” Rhae chuckled leaning forwards, pushing his blade further.

“No, you didn’t.” The man pushed her back pulling out his second blade, slicing it across her stomach. The fabric of her clothing ripped open, revealing a bleeding wound.

Rhae jumped forwards, ducking under another swipe of his blade, slicing her own across his chest. This time she heard it. Once the dagger ripped the armour, it was met with something other than flesh. The sound of metal against metal screeched in her ear. She dropped to the floor, evading the man’s leg swinging towards her head. Quickly, she continued rolling, dodging a stomp from his other foot. She shot to her feet examining the cuts she made in his armour. Silver gleamed from beneath the leather.

“Ah I see you are playing dirty you liar,” she grinned.

“Its not dirty, just some extra protection,” the man grinned back, his smile wider.

He leapt forwards again, his blade raised. Rhae pulled dust from a pouch hanging from her belt, she threw it at his eyes and ducked out of the way of his weapon. He immediately dropped it and rubbed his hands across his eyes.

Rhae took the opportunity and leapt forwards, aiming for his neck this time, but was yanked back from something gripping her raised arm. She whipped around gazing at the crowd of men around her, pointing their spears at her neck. She turned back to the man, who had stepped back, just to see him mutter a few words.

“Told you, cheater.” His voice echoed in her ears as the men gathered around her, stepping closer and closer until the blades of the spears were close enough to graze the skin on her neck. Her vision went dark, as a new pain shot across her skull.