The orange sun barely peeks out over the rolling hills of sand and I am already on alert. No one is safe now. Not since the assassination of our King and the killings of our generals across the country. The silk I wear blows with the warm summer winds of the early morning, and my lips crack with thirst. I haven’t had a proper meal or a clean drink of water in days. The scroll that informed me of the coup d’etat lays on my bedside table and as I pace in my room, I rack my brain for an answer. I call out to the gods, pray for some wisdom from a higher power. The only answer that comes is my father’s voice in my head: “Keep your eyes on the horizon.” Never let them catch you with your guard down, never show weakness, and always expect the unexpected. And for those reasons and those reasons alone, I know it is time to head to where it all started. The capital city, Ilesis.
*****
I tuck a dagger into the hidden pocket on my right thigh, strap a sword to my belt, and put on my cloak. Bag over my shoulder, I head out of General Gola’s home, located in the east of our country. She is next, I can feel it, and though she has been good to me for old time’s sake, I am not sure of her intentions. The walls whisper, and they have not whispered good things. Her moral compass is broken, and now all she follows is greed and power.
Omis, my black stallion, waits patiently, knowing a long journey is ahead of her. Omis is used to this — she’s been trained for this — and at this moment, she is the only living breathing thing around me that I can trust.
As the sun continues to rise, I mount Omis, securing my pack around me, and covering my mouth and nose with a cloth mask. The desert is never kind; it whips sand and dust into your eyes, mouth, and nose till you are weary and tearless.
Today Omis and I make the trek north, to the capital city of Ilesis, a place I never thought I’d return to. We must cross treacherous hills and make it across the Oione River, home to the three-headed water serpent. We have done this before, but it is never without difficulty. I grab the reins and Omis begins galloping north. The wind whips at my side and my eyes sting with the feeling of complete unknown.
*****
THREE YEARS EARLIER
“Ityx Bar? That’s where tonight’s mission is?” I complain, not wanting to have to navigate the rich pricks who spend their endless gold on the most irrelevant and unhelpful of things.
“Don’t complain, Onyx,” Ruby tells me.
“Why did Emerald choose these codenames for us? I was fine with numbers,” I say.
“You know how he is. Doesn’t have anything better to do but come up with creative code names for his agents. Just go with it, Onyx,” Ruby responds, irritated and wanting to change the subject.
I stare out the window at the bustling city filled with people, magic, and curios. Smoke from the food carts fills the air. Shouts and laughter echo in my ears. I am reminded of the life I lead, the life I was born into. A soldier born into a family of soldiers, destined to serve the royal family and pick off their problems one by one.
Tonight’s mission is no different. A general from a neighboring country intending to infiltrate us from the inside out has started to cause problems. Our intel comes from all sources, and this general has no idea we even know about his mal intentions. That’s what happens when you have spies on the inside.
Seeing as it is a Friday evening, many of the generals and other military personnel that serve the royal family have been given a night off, and many choose to spend it at Ityx Bar. My role is to distract the intruder and lead him to the other assassins so that we can take him down. An easy night.
*****
I tuck a dagger into the hidden pocket on my right thigh, strap a sword to my belt, and put on my cloak. Bag over my shoulder, I head out of General Gola’s home, located in the east of our country. She is next, I can feel it, and though she has been good to me for old time’s sake, I am not sure of her intentions. The walls whisper, and they have not whispered good things. Her moral compass is broken, and now all she follows is greed and power.
Omis, my black stallion, waits patiently, knowing a long journey is ahead of her. Omis is used to this — she’s been trained for this — and at this moment, she is the only living breathing thing around me that I can trust.
As the sun continues to rise, I mount Omis, securing my pack around me, and covering my mouth and nose with a cloth mask. The desert is never kind; it whips sand and dust into your eyes, mouth, and nose till you are weary and tearless.
Today Omis and I make the trek north, to the capital city of Ilesis, a place I never thought I’d return to. We must cross treacherous hills and make it across the Oione River, home to the three-headed water serpent. We have done this before, but it is never without difficulty. I grab the reins and Omis begins galloping north. The wind whips at my side and my eyes sting with the feeling of complete unknown.
*****
THREE YEARS EARLIER
“Ityx Bar? That’s where tonight’s mission is?” I complain, not wanting to have to navigate the rich pricks who spend their endless gold on the most irrelevant and unhelpful of things.
“Don’t complain, Onyx,” Ruby tells me.
“Why did Emerald choose these codenames for us? I was fine with numbers,” I say.
“You know how he is. Doesn’t have anything better to do but come up with creative code names for his agents. Just go with it, Onyx,” Ruby responds, irritated and wanting to change the subject.
I stare out the window at the bustling city filled with people, magic, and curios. Smoke from the food carts fills the air. Shouts and laughter echo in my ears. I am reminded of the life I lead, the life I was born into. A soldier born into a family of soldiers, destined to serve the royal family and pick off their problems one by one.
Tonight’s mission is no different. A general from a neighboring country intending to infiltrate us from the inside out has started to cause problems. Our intel comes from all sources, and this general has no idea we even know about his mal intentions. That’s what happens when you have spies on the inside.
Seeing as it is a Friday evening, many of the generals and other military personnel that serve the royal family have been given a night off, and many choose to spend it at Ityx Bar. My role is to distract the intruder and lead him to the other assassins so that we can take him down. An easy night.