Chapter V
Mariam hid in the hallways behind the fireplace, as she had recently been doing quite often. The corridors were manned only sporadically by servants, as the King preferred to tend to his fire on his own. She enjoyed watching him while he was in his study, as he often thought aloud. His ideas were, of course, wrong, but it was still interesting to hear them. It also gave her information to report back to the Council, which was the only reason that he was still alive.
Mariam was an assassin, one of the best. She was loyal to the highest bidder, and those bids came in the form of fine jewels, clothes and food. The Council was paying her handsomely, so their views of the outdated monarchy were the correct ones.
The door opened to the King's study, but to her surprise a group entered. The King, his snivelling aide, and a handsome tigrean in chains that was led by two guards.
"Explain yourself, Garland," said the King to the handsome tigrean. "Why remind me of our first meeting?"
"There's something happening, can't you feel it?" Replied the assassin- Garland. The aide snarled, but Garland continued, "... Your Majesty. It took me time to place it, but I've only had this feeling once before. That night. This has something to do with both of us, and I think that you know it, too."
The King looked thoughtful for a moment, and then sighed. "I too have felt uneasy. There is a threat, but I do not know where to look."
"The Council," said Garland. "I don't know much about current politics, Your Majesty, but I do believe you and your daughter have been making them very unhappy. Maybe for a long time. I was kept in the dark when I came to kill you, but I think it may have been them that hired me."
The King paced over to the fireplace. "Unchain him," he said. "And send someone to the Neutral Zone to retrieve my daughter. We must get her to safety."
Mariam grabbed the knife at her side. She couldn't let the King catch on to the Council, but it seemed like this... Garland was helping him piece it together. She could kill them all right now, five against one, but she had fought at worse odds. She was one of the best.
She drew her knife, prepared to strike. But as she moved, the tigrean looked directly at her. Before she knew what was happening, he had bound across the room, shoving the king aside. He jumped through the fire into the corridor where she hid and tackled her.
He knocked her knife away, and tried to restrain her but Mariam's reflexes were too good. She managed to escape him, grabbed her knife, and without looking back fled through the hallways to her escape point.
The attack on the King might be ruined, but there was still one more meddling member of the royal family.
She took off towards the Neutral Zone.
Credits
Sunrise
Art by frederick
Wood, Stone, Damask by
Pixabay
Story by Trithie