Aftermath (Chapter 3)

"what are we going to do Azamoth? How are we going  to tell him? He deserves to know."

Ramus?

"Im afraid he already knows. The information was never lost my son, only hidden. He can feel the truth, as we all can."

Their were foot steps, so light, i knew they could only be Azamoth's. The sound of wood scratching against stone, and the ruffling of cotton as he sat down. No sooner then Azamoth sat down, the wooden double doors opened.

"How is he?" Raoul asked.

"he's quite alright" replied Azamoth "just unconscious. he was very lucky the angel was on his side, and the wound in his stomach was not fatal."

"Good! Dam you Draven, why do you have to worry me like that..."

It may not have showed on my face, but i was annoyed by his remark. Then again, him being my best friend since the age of 10, i suppose he did  have a right to worry...

"so, what are we going to tell him when he wakes up?" Asked Raoul

yes, what indeed i thought.

"The truth of course" Replied Azamoth "Theirs no use hiding it any longer"

I could feel my irritation growing. and the truth would be? please, I'd really LIKE to know.

Their was The sound of wood scraping stone again, and the sound of foot steps making their way closer to my bed.

"You may wake up now Draven" Azamoth Said.

s**t!. I opened my eyes to find the three people who i trust with my life since i was first brought to become an assassin, staring back at me

the streets were wet, and i was standing underneath a cart, trying to stay dry and out of harms way on the street. I had no recollection of where I'd come from, who i was, or where i was at. Like all children, i was scared. My hands shook from the cold, i breathed out a sigh, and saw the air come out of my mouth in a white puff of mist.  I heard foot steps make their way toward me, could see the mans shoes from underneath the cart. fear took hold of me at the though of my being discovered here, as a prayed a silent prayer to the angel that the man, whoever he was, wouldn't find me. My body began to shake, not from the cold as before, but out of fear. My eyes began to water, and i prayed that same prayer over and over again. "Please, please, don't let him find me. Not here, Please" i whispered.

"I know your their boy" the man whispered.

My whole body froze.

"come out from where ever it is you hide, i mean you no harm" The mans voice was kind, with a gentle tone, fatherly. It made me feel secure and safe. As if i knew, with out actually knowing HOW i knew, that this man would lay down his very life to save mine. Slowly, i crawled out of my hiding place, rags and all, to meet the man with the very unusually kind voice. Emerging from my hiding place, i looked around to find myself alone. Confused, i looked around. I hadn't imagined the voice, had i? i looked around again.

"here boy" i turned around, to see a hooded figure hovering in the alley way. Frightened by what i saw, i took a step back.

"You need not fear me young one. Tell me, what is your name?"

"my name?"

"yes, what are you called? for instance, my name is Azamoth"

Azamoth, what a strange thing to be called. Yet, though i couldn't see the man at all, i couldn't see this man with no other name, save for that one.

"I do not have a name sir." my voice barely a whisper.

"then, perhaps i shall give you one?" The man named Azamoth asked. I nodded. "very well, then." he said "From today on, you shall be called Draven. From This day on, you are my son"

Son. It was a meaning i knew not, yet one i knew all to clearly.  I stepped toward the man, and noticed, unlike those before him, he made no inclination to step back. though this man was gentle, i sensed danger in him. I knew, this man could break me in two, with out ever trying if he'd wanted. I took another step closer, and another, until i was standing before the man. noticing, what i hadn't been able to notice from afar, that the man had the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.

"come" he said, and i followed.

He walked for what seemed like hours, though i knew they were minutes. I studied the man before me. I noticed he walked with a certain kind of grace that other men did not, it was if his feet did not completely touch the ground. He held himself proud, almost arrogantly. both men, and women parted like the red sea when he walked by. No one dared catch this man's eye, i wondered why. Making our way through the village, we began a slow descend up a rather steep incline, to end up at a very ominous, very grand castle. it had all the necessities that castles in books where supposed to have; It  held arrow loops, ramparts, and battlements. The castle was of medieval style, with a Gothic feel to it. it was rather old, but well taken care of.  It held high Stone pillars, and high pointed towers. The allure seemed to be so high it may have reached the heavens. The Barbican was black, and had the picture, i noticed, carved into the stone at the very top of the main door, of circle with a bird in the middle. It's wings were spread, it's head pointed upward. It seemed as if the bird would fly into the very heavens. The door's were made of fine oak. Every ridge and every mold, finely carved. I noticed their was no handle on the door, only a knocker of the head of a raven. Stepping forward, Azamoth took the ravens head in hand, and knocked three time, and said "tribuo secui."  to my surprise, the door opened of it's own accord, and we stepped inside. I watched as Azamoth pulled back his hood, and for the first time, i looked upon the face of my guardian. He had a fine cut jaw, high cheek bones, and a nose that was slightly crooked. His face was slim, but not long, and hair of medium length, as black as midnight. i noticed a scar in the shape of a cross resided on his left cheek, just below his eye, and of course, his intensely blue eyes. Azamoth's features would not have been as appealing had they been on anyone else but him. He turned to me "this, draven," He gestured around him "is now your home. You are not prisoner. you may come and go as you see fit. I ask only for you to tell when were you go. When you come of age, i will show you the way in which you will earn your keep. You will be given logging and food." I nodded unable to believe what i was hearing. I had a home. Which ever way i was to earn my keep, I'd do. I'd be the best of the best, and I'd do it for Azamoth. Just then, the door opened, breaking my train of thought. I turned around to see two people walk through the door. A boy, about my age, anda man. He was young, perhaps around twenty-five. He was of middle height, clad in all black, from head to foot, as was the boy. I took notice of the belt around the man's waist. It held a variety of throwing knives, daggers, and a sword. It made me wonder just what kind of place this was.

"ah, Azamoth" said the man, as he proceeded to place his right fist over his heart and bow.

"welcome back Ramus, Raoul," Azamoth nodded in the direction of the boy "I pray your journey was a successful one?"

both the boy and the man nodded.

"well, well, who's the boy?" asked Ramus. He looked at me, frightened, i moved behind Azamoth.

"this," Azamoth said, pulling me from behind him "is Draven. He is my son."
 
Ramus stared, opened mouth as me.

"well.."he said, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "welcome young man" ramus said and, in the same way he had greeted Azamoth, he greeted me. he held is right fist over his heart and bowed. I simply looked at the man, not knowing what to do.

"It was a pleasure seeing you again Ramus" said Azamoth, as he gave him the slightest of bows.

"it's always a pleasure my old friend. Come Raoul" and with that they were gone.

I stared at Azamoth, In awe of him.

"what does it mean" i asked. Azamoth turned to face me, waiting for me to continue. "when they bow like Ramus did?"

"It is a very ancient way of greeting someone of high rank."

I tilted my head to the side, and stared of the man before me, confused.

"Then why did he bow to me the same?" I asked as i looked after them.

"That is because, you are my son." He explained. I Pondered this, exactly what or WHO was this man? and why had be taken a liking to me? Before i could inquire further, Azamoth turned and said "come." I followed.




Months passed, and i did exactly what Azamoth said. I came and go as i pleased, and i was content. Happy, with the turn my life had taken. It was as if i had been pulled from the very depth of death, and given new life. I had clothing, food, a place to lie, and a generous allowance from Azamoth every month, with which i could buy whatever i  pleased. I had made friends in the Order, and came to learn that people naturally liked me. The years passed, first one, then 8. I had grown from boy to man, in just a few years. I had learned the ways of the place in which i lived. Learned that Azamoth was head of this organization, and nothing happened with out his consent. He handled the going on's in the Order Of Light; The finances, were to send people, Cutting deals in the market place, the weapons shop. I also learned about Azamoth himself, he had come from the most ancient of families, and had lived in the castle his whole life, like his father and mother before him. He wasn't married, probably never would. The women he loved had died long ago, and his heart along with it until he met me. So it went, when Azamoth passed, I would become the next head. He told me stories, as he liked to call them, of is youth, though he was only in his early thirties. I often helped Azamoth with the dealing in the city and in the village. Learned to read and write, and had learned to appreciate literature, as well as the people who wrote them. I had grown strong, both in body and mind, thanks to Azamoth.

It was on the even of my 19th birthday that Azamoth came to me.

"It is time you learned the trade, My son"

"Trade?" Azamoth often confused me when he spoke in riddles.

"yes, the time has come for you to earn your keep"

I stood up, i learned to walk with all the confidence Azamoth did, to hold my head up proudly, as i did now.

"You have grown into a fine man my son, but i pray the task at hand will determine weather or not you stay"
I looked at Azamoth, confusion clear on my face.

"Im not sure i understand your meaning"

"It as just as i said, though your are my son, it is not by blood. This you know" and i did. To be a son in the Order, was like being an apprentice, with freedom, instead of confinement, but it was still just an apprentice. If the apprentice is in capable of learning the trade, he was virtually useless. Which i learned over the years, was the rule of every trade. Now, it was time for me to learn, or become useless. I refused to be the latter.  

"Very well" I said "show me"

"come" and of course, i followed. Azamoth lead me down the long winding corridor from my room, into the main room of the Order. It was spacious, with three walls. A fire place, big enough to fit a horse...and his rider, took up one wall. A giant gold rug lay before the fire, and around it was a couch, and chairs. The other consists of weapons of every kind; swords, axes, bows and arrow, daggers of every shape and size, clubs, scythes, balls and chains. The third wall held scrolls, books of variety, a few magazines, and for the women, the latest romance novels. It wasn't the room itself that caught my eye, but the architecture of the room. It was held in by a giant dome ceiling, with paintingss of angels in a clash with demons, The great Archangel leading his men to victory over evil. On the molding on the mantel of the fire place, held tine carvings of roses around the entire mantle. Stained glass windows encircled the room, each one with different drawing of ravens and doves, angels, and one that stood above the fire place of an angel that had always seemed somehow familiar to me. I remember Asking Azamoth about it once, and his telling me the angel was called Sabrael. Making our way through the room, we entered the study, and made our way up the stairs to the right, coming to stop in front of the door that held an unfamiliar looking blade in front of it, along with markings in a language i couldn't read.  Azamoth Opened the door and stepped inside, motioning me to follow him. Stepping inside i came face to face with what was a small chapel, one i had never know resided here. The room was of simple elegance; it held an alter, made of fine marble. It held rows and rows of pews, as if it was made to accommodate a large number of people, though no one was in here. The room itself was large, maybe the second biggest room in the castle. It wasn't domed like the main room, but the ceiling was high up, however, much like the room below it, it held stained glass paintings that encircled the room.

"This" Azamoth began "is where your training begins"

"training? what kind of training?"

"What you've seen of the order, is not all it does. It is an ancient order, one that has been alive almost as long as the earth itself. When angels roamed the land, and their were no humans. When good was genuinely good, and not clouded by evil judgment, or a desire to gain for ones self. We were hand chosen, by the angel to carry out a prophecy.."

"what prophecy?"

"all in good time my son" Azamoth smiled.  "I know you are eager to learn, but please, be patient. This church you are in now, is where it all began. It's sacred ground, and evil may not step foot here." Azamoth motioned to the room around him.

"so, what is it you want me to do?"

"not what i want, my son, but what has to be done"

"You know i dont very much like it when you speak in riddles father."

Azamoth laughed. "very well then, this is an assassins guild my son. One in which you will play a very big part in, if you choose to do so."

"So, you mean you kill for money?"

"No, not exactly. You see, their are secrets in this world, that people should not know. That is why they are secrets. We were chosen, many eons ago, to protect those secrets."

"So you kill those who discover them?

"No Draven, we kill those who plan to use the knowledge for evil purposes. Of course you know, where their is light, theirs dark. Angels are not allowed on earth, save for the one's who are supposed to be here."

"so your telling me, theirs angels on earth?" I looked at him as if their was something on his face, I'd very much like to take off. "I do not believe such stories, but, i will do as you ask, and fulfill my destiny." I replied, putting my right fist over my heart, and bowed to Azamoth.

The was a sadness in his eyes i couldn't explain.

"Very well, then you must be trained in the art of assassination. How to kill, when to kill, the right way to kill, how to defend yourself. You will go to Ramus, and his son Raoul tomorrow morning. They shall be the first to train you. Then, after you have proved proficient their, they will bring you to me, and i shall show you the ancient art of what i do."

"May i ask something?"

"Yes?"

"How many before me have you trained, father?"

To which he replied, "I have had but one son" and turned to leave the room.






I woke with the rising sun, bathed, dressed, and made my way to Ramus' chamber.

"good, your here, lets go"  I followed him down the corridor, out the back door, to the middle of the courtyard, next to a small shed.

"through those doors,"said Ramus "You'll find and assortment of weapons. Pick up a sword, and bring it here. I want to see how you handle one."

I did as i was told, and picked up the first sword i saw. it felt right in my hand, though i knew i had never held one before. I walked out of the shed, and over to the middle of the courtyard where Ramus was standing.

"alright" he said " Come at me." Something inside me clicked, and i didn't hesitate to swing. Taken aback by the force of my blow, i knocked Ramus backwards. He looked up at me, stunned. I said nothing, and walked back to my starting position.

"well, well...have you ever handled a sword before?" he asked.

"no, never"

His eye brow furrowed, and he smiled. He seemed positively enthusiastic about my new found skill, One i had no idea i had. We sparred for what seemed like hours, metal clashing against metal. Through out the whole exercise, Ramus said nothing, No word of advice, nothing. Their was just the sound of metal hitting metal. I knew with out knowing how i knew, that i had done this a thousand times before, with this exact same man. Sweat dripping down my back as the sun rose higher in the sky, still i fought as hard as i could, until i knock the sword out of Ramus' hand, dropped to my hands, swung one of my legs under his, and knocked his feet out from underneath him. His eye brows lifted in surprise to find himself on the ground, and not exactly knowing how he got their. Just when i turned around, i felt something underneath me, and i felt my legs give way under me, as i fell to the ground.

"don't take you eyes off your opponent" Ramus laughed, sitting up and dusting grass off this pants. "for someone who never handled a sword before, your very good." He looked up at me and smiled, as i smiled back.


It's been 8 years since then, and i became the best of the best, thanks to them. Now, here we are.

"Welcome home my son" Azamoth said "How do you feel?"

"Im alright" I said as i tried to sit up, only to be over come with an intense pain in my stomach, and see blood seep through the white linen sheets on the bed. "S**t. Maybe not" I grimaced.

"Fetch Anita, Ramus"

"right away sir" And putting his fist over his heart and bowing, left the room. He came back 5 minutes later, the nurse on his heels. Anita has a pretty elderly women, she had light brown hair, which was graying. Her eyes were a soft light brown, almost the color of her hair. Their was a certain gentleness in her eyes, like that of a mother looking at her new born child. I noticed the crows feet under her eyes, as she pulled the sheets off me, unwrapped the bandages, slowed the bleeding, and replaced them with new ones, along with the blood stained sheet.

"Thank you" I said once she was finish.

"My pleasure dear" and putting her fist on her heart and bowing, she left the room.

"Now," said Azamoth "What happened?" He looked at me, his eyes filled with concern, and a hint of rage, like he would very much like to end the life of the person who put me here.

So i told him, in extreme detail, what had happened. Once i finished, they all looked from me, to Azamoth. Following their gaze, he met mine, and sighed. A sigh that seemed almost soul deep.

"Azamoth, what does any of this have to do with me?" I looked at me father, who refused to meet his gaze.

"Their is a prophecy," He said, his eyes on the floor "it was why the whole order was created. Why were all here, and you, my son," He looked up at me "are the most important piece...."