Treachery

A single candle burnt dimly in the middle of a small, dark room providing very little light. Two men sat facing each other across an old, well worn wooden table in uncomfortable silence. The nobleman was nervously fingering the hilt of his sword as it hung from his belt. He would not be able to use it if the man in front of him decided to kill him, he would not have time to unsheathe it before a knife would be buried in his chest, but even as he knew this, he felt comfortable knowing the sword was his side.

The assassin knew this and he knew it well. He sat with his arms crossed over his chest and his legs stretched out before him. He had not removed his cloak when he had entered into the room and his hood was pulled low over his face. He did not allow his employers to his face, there was no need for it.

- "Are we agreed?" the nobleman said breaking the silence.
- "We are, half the payment now, and half after the deed is done. The king and his adviser will be dead within a fortnight." The assassin's voice calm and cold. The nobleman sensed a metallic edge to it that made him shiver. Reaching into his tunic, he extracted a heavy pouch and laid it on the table in front of the assassin. The assassin nodded his head slightly in acknowledgment but did not reach for it. There was no need to count it, he knew it was right. The silence settled between again for a few moments and the nobleman began to feel uneasy, he wanted to leave, leave quickly. Finally, the assassin leaned forward in one swift movement and grasped the nobleman's arm tightly. The nobleman gasped and he felt a chill creep up his arm but he held still. He found himself staring into two green luminous eyes that seemed to shine from inside the shadows of the assassin's cloak. The gaze made him feel uncomfortable but somehow he could not look away. As he struggled to free himself, the assassin spoke in his cold, metallic voice and said, "Just remember, the wizard's staff is mine," and before the nobleman could react, the assassin released his hand and retreated into the shadows. Without seeing him leave, the nobleman knew that the assassin had left. He shivered in disgust, he picked up the candle and left the room quickly, silently closing the door behind him.