Chapter Thirty-Three

"Alright, you want me to bring them through one at a time, or all at once?"
"All at once Aelan. I don't want to give her the time to escape."
"Alright then, just try not to damage anything. Lille, would you send them out now."
"She's a good child. A father should be proud to have such an able daughter."
"That's what this is about, isn't it Gar? You want to know what happened after you were imprisoned."
"I know. My cousins are quite skilled in that regard. Say what you will about our choices, we're good at what we do."
"No one in my family has ever denyed your family was good at what they did. We've known each other for years Gar; I probably have more confidence in your wisdom than you do."

"Shall I turn on the lights father?"
"Gar?"
"No need, that's the woman I'm looking for. You can take the others inside now."
"Whatever you say. Just remember..."
"I'll avoid all property damage where possible."
Count Marche and his daughter escorted all but one of the witches back into the castle.

"I'll give you credit Dame; you may be an evil, despicable wretch of a woman, but you raised her well."
"It was an accident. The masters willed it, I had to obey."
Dame Allistari plead with the assasain for her life. The quiver in her voice and the tear on her cheek betrayed her fear.
"No Dame. We always have a choice. Even if that choice is to die futily in the defense of those who would die regardless. You were her sister. And you not only killed her, but you helped the Shaditha to abuse her memory."
"They would have killed me Gar. I wasn't ready to die. And what about the child? Where would she have gone if I had died?"
"She's stronger than she looks. She would have survived somehow. You wouldn't die for your sister then; so I hope you are ready to die for her now."

Gar triggered the mechanism in his right bracer. The weapon concealed within sprung to action. The crystal placed upon it glowed bright with furious light, filling the space between the blades with a warm yellow glow.

"I know that magic."
"I've only made two right choices in my life. The first was to marry the love of my life. The second was to tell my daughter the truth."

Dame Allistari lept to action, seeing her attempts at diplomacy failed. A flurry of shadowy darts crossed the open courtyard, riddling the decorative pillars behind The location Gar had been standing not a moment before. As she spun about to find his new location, she gased as she felt a sharp pain from her breast.

"Tell your masters that I expect better from their servant in the palace."

Gar stepped back, returning his weapon to it's concealed state. Dame Allistari remained standing in shock for several seconds before collapsing lifeless upon the cobbled courtyard.


When Count Marche returned to the courtyard for his morning walk, he found the courtyard in perfect condition.
"Dad, The guards say that Dame Allistari didn't return to her chambers last night. Should I begin a search?"
"Lille, You may as well command the birds not to have beaks and feathers. Order the guards to seal her chambers until Tressa can be bothered to go through her things. And I reccomend you avoid the chamber yourself, there's no telling what sort of dark magic is hidden in there."
"Who was that man?"
"An old friend. One who's goals we are fortuitous to have ours coincide with."
"Does Mom know about him?"
"Lille Spielgan, If I pretended to know your mother knew half of the things she knows, I'd be the boldest liar in all Anatolia. I don't know how well she knows him, but I expect she knows more than I do."
The two continued walking for a while.
"Lille, you will be far more contented in marriage if you do not marry a seer. Marry a guard, at least that way you can be sure of their loyalty."
She laughed, and they went on with their walk.