Kara: Chapter One

Kara: Chapter One

The noise of Market Square hardly overwhelmed me. I was used to it after living in Hearlot for the past few years. I had only been back in Hearlot for a couple hours, but I needed a drink and there was only one place that I wanted to go: Tom’s Tavern. The breeze coming off of the harbor forced me to pull my traveling cloak around me. Spring was coming, but it didn’t feel like it at night when the cold nipped the air once again. I stopped across the street from Tom’s watching the carriages, horses, and wagons pass in front of me. The wheels bounced along the cobblestones creating a clatter that echoed down the streets. Stepping in to the street I weaved my way between travelers until I was in front of Tom’s Tavern. The sky was already beginning to darken as I opened the door. The warmth and light instantly relaxed me. A fire blazed in the fireplace on one of the walls casting shadows as it flickered. The bar smelled of ale and baked bread. I made my way to the bar slinking between the tables filled with men drinking, women feeding their children, and groups playing card games. Nodding to some of the regulars I continued to the bar. I pulled out a stool from the bar and sat down waiting for the man behind the counter.

                Tom looked up from behind the bar and exclaimed in shock, “Great God that was fast!”

                Tom was once a part of the Gorelli Group, however he had since left as he had lost the heart for killing. Usually members were not allowed to leave. If they tried they were often found floating in the river or bay. Luckily Tom had some ingenuity and convinced Gorelli he had value by starting a tavern. Here Tom and other various agents acquired intelligence, held covert meetings and generally had a safe place to relax. As such, Tom was kept informed of the groups movements and therefore knew of my recent mission on Ambassador Marx.

                Shrugging I grinned up at Tom, “I’m just too good.”

                Tom whistled as he ran his hand through his thick brown hair, “I shouldn’t be that surprised anymore should I?”

                Once again I shrugged, “I do what I must. How about a drink?”

                “What’s your choice?”

                “The usual,” I rolled my eyes at him as if he didn’t already know what I wanted.

                Tom turned around and returned with a full mug of ale. I searched for my coin purse but Tom pulled my hand away from my cloak.

                “It’s on the house. Happy birthday,” he winked.

                I stared at him taken aback. His green eyes twinkled with amusement as he took in my dumbstruck face.

                “Oh, come on now! you didn’t think I’d forgotten did you?” He braced himself on the bar with his arms, making his muscles flex against his light linen shirt. He whistled low, “You’re twenty now. Old bat.”

                I punched his arm laughing and raised my mug in thanks. He smiled as I threw my head back finishing nearly half of it in one shot. The door bell sounded behind me and the smile slid off of Tom’s face. His eyes tightened and his lips pursed as he looked at me in warning.”

                “Wh-?” I began, but Tome interrupted me.

                “No fights tonight, please Kara.”

                My mood darkened as I turned my head already knowing who I would see. Sure enough standing in the doorway was Aurora, my least favorite member of Gorelli’s Group. She wasn’t just his preferred assassin, she was his daughter and if possible even more detestable than Gorelli himself. He doted on her mainly because she was his daughter and she held her position over me constantly even though I was better than her.

                Sighing I turned around, “How about if I just don’t use weapons?”

                Tom shook his head with his jaw clenched seeing no humor in my light tone.

                I grinned, “But it’s my birthday.”

                “You are truly perverse. Besides I already gave you a drink.”

                “I’ll pay for the ale,” I pleaded.

                “No,” Tom said, his tone clipped.

                Begging I looked at him, “Please I need some sort of action after Marx gave up.”

                Tom smiled cheekily leaning towards me his voice suddenly sultry, “I can give you some action.”

                I rolled my eyes as I muttered taking another swig accepting my defeat, “Fine.”

                “Well, well, well,” Aurora scoffed behind me making the hair on my neck stand up in disdain. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

                I spun on my stool still holding my ale and leaned nonchalantly against the bar smiling, “Hello, Aurora.”

                The tavern stilled noticing our exchange. We were infamous for our brawls and this crowd of regulars was ready for a show. It had been a while since we had fought. Aurora stood in front of me, hands on her hips. Her lips twisted into a sneer making her even uglier than she already was. I lounged at ease waiting for her to make the first move staring into her storm grey eyes.

                She just stared at me not taking the bait so I grinned, “Have you come to wish me a happy birthday?”

                Aurora curled her lip as she spoke, “No, only to find out why you are back so soon.”

                “Ah,” I finished the rest of my ale and turned to place it on the counter behind me before answering her. Tom grabbed my mug. As I winked at him he raised his eyebrows in warning.

                “Kara,” Tom murmured giving me a look that clearly was meant as a warning. I grinned and turned back to Aurora who stood with her hands still on her hips.

                Slowly I stood and walked towards Aurora, “Well you see some of us are good at what we do.”

                Aurora’s fingers twitched and I knew she was itching to grab the dagger she keeps on her thigh. In the corner of my eye I saw the handle wink in the light. Enjoying how angry Aurora was getting I continued to antagonize her. Slowly I walked around her keeping her focused on my face while I slipped her dagger off her thigh with deft fingers. She didn’t feel it. She glared at me as I walked to the door, but didn’t leave. I turned back to look at her.

                “You know, you may want to work on your attentiveness. Then maybe you’d be as good as me,” I taunted as I casually played with her dagger. Her eyes widened as she scrambled for the dagger on her thigh that wasn’t there. Aurora looked back up at me wild eyed her mouth open in surprise.

                Her face crumpled in rage as she lunged at me shouting, “Why you b***h!”

                Without flinching I threw the dagger at her my aim perfect. It flew within a fingers width of her face and she froze as lodged itself into the wooden post just behind her. I laughed sparing a glance at Tom’s shocked and disapproving face, then turned on my heel and left.

                Reentering the street I had to shield my eyes against the setting sun reflecting off the harbor waters. I stepped out into a group of girls. They scattered around me giggling and I huffed as their skirts brushed passed me. I sneered as one of them screamed and ran from me. Girls like them annoyed me. They were harmless and helpless always relying on men to protect them. I rolled my eyes as I stalked off through the nightly traffic. The crowds thinned as I got farther from the tavern and the market center. My stride stayed fast and steady as the city got darker. The sun was close to setting when I finally entered the neighborhood I was looking for. It was composed of streets lined with brick houses that had large facades and windows. I grimaced at the extravagance of these rich houses as I unlatched the gate to one of them. The small path leading to the house was also brick, a rather expensive commodity. Instead of walking up the steps to the main entrance I walked around the house to the back where the servant’s entrance was. Rapping my knuckles once on the door I waited.

                Anthony, the tall, lanky, sixteen year old apprentice to Gorelli answered the door. He had an unfortunate mop of orange hair and a crooked grin that someone other than me might find endearing. Anthony had grown up privileged and had therefore been taught the art of courting, a skill he incessantly exercised on me.

                “Kara, if you don’t look more-“
                “Save it for your balls and cotillions, Anthony,” I frowned cutting him off. “Besides, how many times do I have to tell you? Never.”

                “Never is a long time,” Anthony stammered always thrown by my gruffness. I pushed myself inside and thrust my cloak at him.

                “Not long enough,” I answered darkly.

                Without another word I stamped up the stairs, veered to the right and entered Gorelli’s study without knocking. Gorelli was standing in his blood red Ambassador robes, reading his log book with his back to me. He turned toward me as he stuffed the book quickly into the pocket of his robes.

                “Ah, welcome back Kara,” he grinned showing his yellowing teeth. “I had heard rumors you were back already.”

                I glared at him with contempt as he ran his fingers through his thinning greasy black hair. As odious as Aurora was, Gorelli was much worse. He was a man of extravagance who threw his money at w****s as he drank the night away with them. Gorelli sat down behind his desk resting his elbows on the table and motioning for me to sit across from him. I rested my hand on the back of the chair but did not sit down even as he gestured for me to. I did not want to be there longer than I had to.

                Gorelli’s scratchy voice nearly made me cringe as he asked, “I assume everything went well?”

                I nodded curtly my lips pursed, “You assume correctly.”

                He smiled, “Good, good. I have another assignment for you. It’s…slightly more challenging.”

                “Good. Marx was boring and an insult to my skill.”

                Gorelli stood up and I straightened, tense as he made his way around the desk to stand behind me.

                Breathing on my neck he began to rub my shoulder, “Ah, Kara. You are delightful. You know, you could get all the best assignments if you only…”

                He dropped his hand to rub my arm and in an instant I grabbed his hand and spun around twisting his arm. Gorelli cried out in alarm and pain as I pushed him into his book case pinning him.

                “I…will…never…be…your…wench,” I growled dangerously in his ear annunciating every word with force. Gorelli struggled but I kept his arm pinned to remind him I was stronger. The two of us glared at each other his face alight with anger his sharp eyebrows furrowed in fury. Finally I released him and Gorelli rubbed his shoulder while trying to regain his pride.

                We stood glaring at each other as I snapped, “My assignment?”

                “Governor Insario of Michant.”

                For a second I felt a flicker of fear in me. Many attempts had been made on Governor Insario’s life, but the assassin never succeeded and more often than not they were executed. I did not let any of my concern show on my face.

                “The Merchant City governor? That’s impossible.”

                His disgusting yellow sneer spread across his face and I had to fight the urge to shudder as bile rose in my throat, “That’s why it has been given to you.”

                Ignoring Gorelli’s leering face I curled my lip, “Fine. Where’s my cut for Marx?”

                Gorelli reached into his robe and produced a small pouch with a decent amount of gold in it. I snatched at it careful to not touch his hand.

                I turned to walk out the door as he ordered, “Remember to apply the oil to you dagger.”

                Without looking over my shoulder I shouted back, “I know how to do my job.”

                With that I slammed the door behind me and stomped down the stairs. Surprisingly Anthrony wasn’t waiting for me and I was extremely grateful. . I ripped my cloak off the hanger and fastened it around my neck. Night had almost fallen in its entirety, but I couldn’t go home yet. As the cold began to envelope me I pulled the cloak around me and slipped through alleyway after alleyway until I made it to the most unsavory section of Hearlot. The streets were covered with filth and beggars. Several of the homeless people were passed out along the street and in the alleyways. I passed shop after shop containing “magical” talismans and potions. The majority of the shops in this section were just a front for selling black market goods in back rooms. Finally I reached my destination. The windows to the shop were black with grime and filth almost to the point one could not see inside. I entered the musty store where two oil lanterns flickered, throwing ominous shadows onto the dark merchandise.

                A small balding man appeared from the back at the sound of my entrance. His watery brown eyes recognized me and he bowed so low his nose almost hit the counter he stood behind. When he stood up he extended his dirty hands in greeting.

                “Ah, Miss Kara. Good evening, good evening. You’re out late,” he spoke licking his lips nervously.

                “I’m in need of peranfil oil.”

                “Again?” his squinty eyes widened as his voice squeaked. “But I gave you some last month.”

                “Well business is good and now I need more,” I answered coldly crossing my arms.

                Muscaveli shuddered. He didn’t know what I did, but he did know the properties of peranfil oil. Peranfil oil was made from the sap of a flower down in the southern lands. It was extremely poisonous if ingested or contacted with the blood stream. The Gorelli Group applied the oil onto their weapons because any amount, no matter how small was fatal. The oil guaranteed a quick death so that one did not need to receive a fatal blow. Muscaveli scurried behind his counter where shelves upon shelves were filled with vials of all shapes and sizes. He rummaged around knocking over several in the process in his haste to fulfill my order. At last he grabbed a small spherical vial containing a clear gel like liquid. He handed it to me as I dropped three coins onto his counter and swiftly left the store without a word. He was a nervous man and it was amazing he still had not been caught with the King cracking down on unsavory businesses such as his.

                Night had now completely fallen as I set off towards home. Most of the beggars knew me and didn’t bother to ask for money from me. Ahead of me a door burst open flooding the street with light. I heard the usual sounds of a pub as three burly men stumbled drunkenly onto the street. They were slurring loudly as I continued in their direction. As the drunks drew closer to me one of them noticed my presence. A short whistle broke the air. I continued to walk as they switched directions to follow me. I didn’t break stride as one drew level with me.

                “Well, little lady. Weren’t you ever told you shouldn’t walk alone at night,” the drunken man slurred the smell of ale heavy on his breath as I grinned.

                “I’m more able than you think,” I replied gruffly.

                His buddies dropped back as he continued, “You need a strong man to protect you. And I…am a strong man.”

                “Are you?” I asked turning to him quickly smiling coquettishly.

                The stupid a*s smiled thinking he was getting somewhere and he started to put his arm around my shoulder. Faster than he could comprehend I pushed his arm away then swept his feet from under him. He fell hard, his head making a sharp crack on the ground. Instantly he slumped unconscious. Behind me the slaps of his cronies feet were fast approaching. I turned quickly and kicked one of them clipping his temple. He fell tripping the last one. With my foot pushing down on his neck the last man looked up at me fear in his blue eyes.

                I smiled disdainfully at him, “You’re lucky I didn’t break my vial.”

                With that I released him and walked away. No shout of anger followed me, undoubtedly because he was too afraid to do so. Smiling I slipped down and alleyway and made my way home. Fog was rolling in over Hearlot harbor giving the night a damp chill. The street lamps flickered and many in my neighborhood were extinguished. It being a poorer area there was rarely enough oil for them all to be lit. Eventually I stopped in front of my house and stared at it. The face had several pieces of siding missing exposing the wooden structure beneath it. Only a few plants were still growing, the rest were weeds that had completely overgrown the garden it once boasted. There was a small footpath in the grass from me coming and going. The roof sagged sadly and was missing several shingles. One of my windows was broken and remained closed behind the heavy wooden shudders. Most of the cobblestone foundation was cracking. The house looked as if it could collapse under one good storm, but I refused to purchase a new place. I was saving the meager amount of money I had received from Gorelli in order to leave his employ.

                I pushed through the front gate that was held on by one hinge and muttered to myself, “Home sweet home.”

                Inside the house I lit two candles and then set to building a fire. With the flames casting heat and light I set to preparing myself for the new mission. My cloak lay on the feather mattress next to me as I cleaned my dagger and shined with the fire glinting off its gold. Once satisfied with its cleanliness, I dipped the rag in the peranfil oil. A sweet pungent smell wafted around me as I coated the blade. With the oil fresh on my dagger I set it front of the fire. The sound of my front door opening broke my relative calm and I tensed. I stooped up quickly, coiled and ready to fight. A few seconds later and I struck out at the large chest that entered my room. Hands clasped around my ankle as a grunt followed my kick.

                “Do you always greet guests this way?” Tom smiled at me still holding my leg.

                Instantly I relaxed and tugged my foot out of his grasp, “Tom what are you doing here? We didn’t agree to meet up.”

                Tom stepped fully into my room bathing his large build in soft orange light. His scruffy face was grinning with mischief.

                “Am I not allowed to surprise you?”
                “Not if you want to live past twenty-two.”

                Tom laughed making his muscular shoulders shake.

                He shook his head, “You never have any fun.”

                “There’s never time to. Especially because I leave again tomorrow.”

                That sobered Tom as he moved to sit next to me on the bed, “But you just got back.”

                I rolled my eyes, “Thanks I hadn’t figured that out myself.”
                He sighed heavily, frustrated, “Do you ever stop being sarcastic?”

                “If you ask nicely,” I grinned up at him as I started cleaning my sword.

                He laughed again, “Where is it this time?”

                I struggled with myself on whether I should tell him. He was always protective of me and if I told him where I was going it would certainly raise alarm.

                I answered my tone clipped, “Michant.”

                Tom said wary, “That’s a difficult city to do anything secretive in.”

                “And yet all those politicians do it every day.”

                “Who is it?” he asked darkly.

                I paused unwilling to tell him, not wanting to hear a lecture and deal with his overbearing protectiveness. Finally I told him, “Governor Insario.”

                There was sharp intake of breath from him and I looked at him over me sword. I watched as Tom’s face slowly expressed his outrage.

                He stood up and began pacing, gesticulating as he exclaimed, “What the hell is Gorelli thinking? The Merchant City Governor is the most protected position in the kingdom outside of the castle. He has a large guard with him at all times. This is a suicide mission! The last attempt made on him…” he trailed off. Changing course he leaned towards me his eyes pleading, “Kara, don’t accept this.”

                Now I stood up glaring, “You doubt my ability?”

                Tom closed his eyes breathing heavily and clenching his jaw, “No, you know that’s not it. I know you are very capable. What would happen to you if you got caught?”

                “Then I get caught,” I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be the first of the Gorelli Group to be caught.”

                “How can you speak so casually of your death?” he practically shouted with feeling.

                “Because I know it won’t happen.”

                “Too much confidence is a bad thing,” he snorted in derision with just a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Then suddenly serious he looked at me, “Please don’t take the job.”

                Annoyed I crossed my arms, “I don’t need you to protect me. Besides I already took it.”

                At this Tom gave me a wry smile, the fight going out of his green eyes as he spoke, “Be careful. I would miss you far more than I care to admit.”

                Grinning wickedly I answered, “I always am aren’t I?”
                Tom closed the distance between us putting his arms around my waist and his laugh tickled my neck. He placed his lips under my jaw, “Sure you are.”

                Smiling, knowing I had won, I wrapped my arms around him too. He kissed me then and we fell into the same pattern we had started with our midnight meetings a little over a year ago. 

Author's Note

Please let me know how you feel about the story developing. There is a lot more to come with several layers to Kara's character being revealed. :D