Assassin's Curse

    It had been two weeks since the party left Leycester and every mile of it had been spent in dense forest.  Ash had decided to punish Kyoshi by making the assassin collect his own food.  The mage knew that the boy had very little survival skills and relished in the knowledge that he would likely go hungry while the mage himself ate venison.  If not for Kira, Ash may have gotten his wish.  The raptor proved quite skilled at catching small rodents which was the only thing keeping Kyoshi from starving.



    The assassin stomped through the forest, kicking stones and grumbling.  Kira had decided to search for food well away from his irate companion, the noise scaring away any potential prey.



    “If he wanted to kill me, he should of just used his dagger,” Kyoshi grumbled, pressing his hand to his empty stomach.  The discomfort and near constant grumbling was getting hard to ignore after days of only small tidbits of meat that he shared with Kira.  He flopped down onto the ground against a tree.  “I guess it could have been worse.”



    As his eyes wandered along the forest floor, they came upon a cluster of colorful mushrooms.  Smiling triumphantly, he made his way over to the fungi and began collecting them.  When the sack on his waist was full, he regained his feet and headed back to camp.



 



    Nerra had managed to take down a large buck and after dressing it, drug it back to camp.  Ash looked at it appreciatively.   As Nerra prepared the deer, Kyoshi stumbled back into camp, his long robes hampering his movements through the dense undergrowth.  He smiled smugly as he poured his bag of mushrooms out near the fire.  Nerra glanced up from her work briefly and tried to hide a smile.



    “Watcha got there?” she asked, nonchalantly and turned her head back to the deer.



    “Mushrooms,” Kyoshi exclaimed proudly.



    “Are ya plannin’ on eatin’ ‘em?” she asked, keeping her attention on her work.



    “Of course I am,” Kyoshi snapped.  “What else would I do with a whole sackful of mushrooms?  And Kira should be back soon with a rabbit.”



    “I think I’d wait ‘til ya bird comes back,” she said, barely controlling her mirth.



    “Why?” Kyoshi asked, bristling with irritation.



    Nerra halted her work and looked up, giving the assassin her full attention.  She sighed, seemingly exasperated as she pointed her dagger at the fungus on the ground.



    “Those’re pois’nous.  Ev’n a little powder on ya fingers can kill ya.  Ya used gloves ta pick ‘em, right?”



    Kyoshi blanched, looking down at his slightly discolored fingers and shook his head.  



    “Ya betta wash yur ‘ands, quick, ‘fore the pois’n sets in.”



    Kyoshi jumped back from the deadly fungus, his face turning deathly pale, and ran for the river several hundred yards into the forest.  After he disappeared through the trees, Nerra returned to her work, a smile tugging at her lips.



    Ash had kept silent through the whole scene, his nose buried in his spell book but Nerra suspected he was anything but oblivious.  Once Kyoshi was out of hearing distance, the mage spoke his mind.



    “Those aren’t really poisonous, are they?” he asked, his eyes never leaving his book. 



    “Nope,” she said simply.



    The senari caught the look the mage tried to hide, his whole body trembling to suppress the laughter trying to escape his lips.



 



    “Dammit, Nerra!” Kyoshi cried, scrubbing his fingers with his jasmine soap until they were red and raw.  “She always thinks she’s so smart just because she knows how to survive in the wild.  Ugh!  I never thought I’d miss the ryuha so much.”



    A screech suddenly reached the assassin’s ears.  He knew immediately that it belonged to Kira.  His companion was crying for help.  Kyoshi jumped to his feet and ran to his friend’s aid.  The screech had turned into a series of cries and the assassin knew the bird was in trouble.



    When he finally reached him, Kyoshi found the bird trapped in a net tangled in the roots of a tree.  He worked quickly to free his friend, cooing softly to try and keep him calm.  A sudden chill ran across his skin just before he felt a blade rest against his neck.  Kyoshi cursed himself for getting caught so easily.  Kira, wide eyes locked on something behind the assassin, continued to cry out in alarm.



    “What do you think you’re doing, thief?” a female voice asked behind him.  Even in his state, Kyoshi couldn’t help but notice how strangely seductive she sounded. 



    “I’m not a thief,” he said, sitting perfectly still.  “Kira is my companion.”



    Kyoshi felt the blade move away and sighed with relief.  He cautiously got to his feet and turned around.  Kira quieted as his master’s attention was diverted.  The sight that greeted Kyoshi left him speechless.  Never in all his life, had he seen anything as beautiful and mesmerizing as the vision before him.



    A woman, seemingly human, stood just an inch or two taller than he himself, with long, slender legs that seemed to go on forever.  Flawless, bronze skin glowed softly in the fading light of dusk.  As Kyoshi’s gaze drifted up her exquisite, lithe frame, he took note of the black, skin-tight leathers which hugged her like a second skin.  Long, black hair fell over her shoulders and down to her hips, pulled up on top in a  high, half-ponytail.  Heavy bangs fell into her face just past her chin, nearly concealing her piercing amethyst eyes and succulent, full red lips.



    Kyoshi stood mesmerized, his stare locked on those lips.  He neglected to notice her irate stance, or the impatient tapping of her foot, or even how her slender fingers curled into fists on her hips, the long, dagger-like nails digging into her flesh.  The few steps she took to reach him appeared graceful, otherworldly, as though floating through the air. So, Kyoshi floundered, completely unprepared when her deceptively delicate fist slammed painfully into his jaw. 



    He stumbled back into the tree, rubbing his jaw as he cleared his mind.  Realizing what just happened, he looked back up at the exquisite beauty before him.  Now he saw the fire in her purple orbs.  He wracked his brain for anything he had done to cause her ire.  Coming up blank, he stood straight and went on the defensive.



    “Do you have a problem?” he asked, irritation lacing his words.



    She huffed and took a step into his personal space, stopping mere inches from his nose.  Kyoshi fought a sudden burning in his nether regions.  Never had he been so affected by a female!  She slowly curled her fingers into his robes and pulled him closer.  For a split second, the assassin thought she might kiss him and his body betrayed him, heating up prematurely at the thought.  Without warning, the vixen slammed him back against the tree with more force than one would expect from someone just over five feet tall.  Kyoshi gasped, trying to suck air into his suddenly empty lungs.  Kira screeched in protest, unable to help his master.



    “Your companion attacked my property and very nearly cost me a small fortune!” she finally spat, returning her hands to her hips.  A small rodent peeked out from under the hood of her cloak, its beady eyes staring at the assassin mockingly.



    Kyoshi cocked his head to the side, finally catching his breath.  “Huh?” he asked dumbly.



    The woman pointed a sharp, blood-red nail at Kira.  “That bird was trying to eat my squirrel,” she said.



    Kyoshi stared back incredulous.  “Yeah, that’s what raptors do,” he said.  “I’m sure if he knew it was someone’s companion, he wouldn’t have.”



    “It’s not my companion.  It’s a racing squirrel.”



    Kyoshi stood dumbfounded. How the woman vexed him!  “A racing squirrel?”



    “Yes,” she said, rolling her eyes.  “People breed these and race them for money.  I’ve been training this thing for months in the hopes of winning the big race next week.  And your bird nearly ruined all my hard work.”



    Kyoshi, attempting to salvage the situation, bowed eloquently and hid his smile.  “I’m very sorry, miss.  I’ll make sure to punish Kira accordingly.”



    “Oh, never-mind!  I don’t need you to make fun of me.”



    Kyoshi stood back up.  The woman was turned slightly from him, her arms crossed and lips puckered slightly in a pout.  The assassin found himself once again mesmerized.  He was snapped out of it almost immediately when she addressed him impatiently.



    “Isn’t rude not to introduce yourself?” she asked.



    For a moment, Kyoshi was taken aback.  Didn’t she all but attack him a few moments ago?  Sighing inwardly, he decided to let it go.  Holding out his hand, nearly as slender as hers, he formally introduced himself.



    “I’m Kyoshi,” he said.  “And that’s my companion, Kira.”



    “Selena,” she said, taking his hand.  



    Her demeanor suddenly changed, like a switch had been flipped.  Her long, dark lashes lowered, covering her purple orbs and fanning her rosy cheeks.  Kyoshi found himself being pulled into her web.  He knew he was trapped and decided he was perfectly fine with that.  Selena’s warm breath fanned his lips, a mere inch from making contact, when the spell was once again broken.



    “KYOSHI!!!” 



    Nerra!  Kyoshi jumped back, his cheeks a deep red.  His aquamarine eyes blurred momentarily as he struggled to regain his composure.  He briefly noticed a look of satisfaction cross Selena’s features before Nerra called again.



    “I’m right here,” he called, never taking his eyes of the woman in front of him.  



    Kneeling down, his fingers worked quickly to free his friend.  As he regained his feet, the senari pushed her way through the shrubs and into the clearing.



    “There ya are,” she said.  “I was startin’ ta think ya really were pois’ned.  I was jes’...” her sentence trailed off as she noticed Selena.  “‘oo’s ‘is?” she asked, a touch of malice to her voice.



    “Nerra, this is Selena,” Kyoshi said, a ghost of his previous blush returning.  He saw Nerra’s eyes narrow subtly and knew she’d noticed.  Trying to diffuse the potentially volatile situation, he chuckled and quickly explained, “Kira nearly killed her companion.”



    Nerra’s eyes widened and she looked up at the bird preening his ruffled feathers.  A smile stretched across her face.  Shaking her head, she turned back toward camp.



    “Come on,” she said, waving at the assassin over her shoulder.  “Ash said ya could eat with us t’day, if ya can be’ave yur’self.”



    Kyoshi’s stomach growled loudly at the thought and he blushed furiously.  Grabbing his midsection, he turned to Selena, hoping she hadn’t heard the loud protest.  His hopes were dashed by the look of surprise on her face.  He smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders.



    “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good meal,” he explained.  “Do you want to join us?”



    Kyoshi didn’t know why he had suddenly asked her that.  He felt like a prepubescent boy around her and it unsettled him.  Before he could rescind his invitation or consider the consequences, she nodded her head in acceptance.  Without thinking, a wide grin spread across Kyoshi’s face.  Kira screeched, grabbing the assassin’s attention and flew off toward camp.  Taking the bird’s cue, Kyoshi waved at Selena and headed after his companion.



 



    “No,” Ash said, simply.



    “Please?” Kyoshi pled.  



    The assassin nearly prostrated himself in front of the mage, trying to convince the older man to allow Selena to stay.  The woman in question stood by quietly watching the interaction.   Ash had outright refused Kyoshi’s request and Nerra offered nothing in the way of support or refusal.  The mage wouldn’t even lift his head from his spell-book to look at the woman.  Kyoshi bit back his ire at Ash’s disrespect.



    At the assassin’s glare, Ash finally set his book down and turned on the boy.  “I have just barely decided to let your deception go unpunished and now you’re asking me for this?  It was only just recently that I even found out you were a boy, so content were you to play the whore!”  Kyoshi flinched at the word but Ash continued as though he hadn’t noticed.  “Now, you want me to allow another female to join our party because you’re... what...enamored by her?  It almost seems like you’re trying to throw your misdeeds in my face.”



    The mage’s words stung and the assassin flashed a quick glance at Selena.  Kyoshi hadn’t thought of it that way.  Of course Ash would feel played and disrespected, even if it wasn’t the case. The younger boy hadn’t thought about the mage’s position and his new found knowledge of Kyoshi’s gender.  But Ash was mistaken. The assassin really was enamored by the bronze beauty.  He truly felt if she walked away now, a part of him would go with her.



    He swallowed his anger at Ash’s harsh words. “It isn’t like that, master,” Kyoshi said, buttering up to the mage.  He decided a little white lie would be better than the whole truth.  “She managed to catch me unawares. I believe she could be indispensable in our mission.”



    Ash sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.  “I tell you what,” he said.  “Spar with her.  If she wins, she can stay.  If not, then she must leave and I never want to hear a request like this again.”



    Kyoshi blanched but nodded.  He didn’t want to hurt the girl and if he didn’t try his best, Ash would know.  He looked back at Selena.  A sly smile had spread across her beguiling face and her eyes narrowed dangerously.  Well, maybe he wouldn’t have to hold back.  Getting into position across from her, he prepared his first attack.



    A moment later, the assassin disappeared.  He smiled to himself as he skipped, invisible, across the clearing toward his target.  Just as he prepared to strike her, she turned and looked him straight in the eye, parrying his kunai with a hidden blade of her own.    The sound of ringing metal echoed in the clearing.  The assassin floundered, realizing his invisibility had no effect on her, and only then noticed a light green energy sparking from the ends of her fingers.  She released her magic and the ray struck him square in the chest, searing a hole through his robes and burning his flesh.  Kyoshi stumbled, gasping for breath and an intense wave of nausea rolled over him.  He bent double, dry heaving to purge an already empty stomach. ‘A mage who can use spells without components?’ he thought, trying to overcome his sudden sickness. In his compromised state, he never saw her next attack.



    An agonizingly sharp pain tore into his back, just barely missing his spine and he clenched his teeth to keep from crying out.  From somewhere far away, he heard Nerra screaming, probably at Ash.  As Selena ripped the curved sickle from his flesh, blood ran heavy down his robes.  The assassin gasped  and jerked with the withdrawing weapon.  The pain proved too much and he instinctively slipped into his fighting stance, his mask of indifference falling over his vacant eyes.  No more games.  He pulled his kusari-gama free of his belt, absently dismissing the blood that coated it, and began to swing the deadly weapon around his head.  Crimson droplets flew freely, smattering everything in a twenty foot radius.  



    Selena moved around him, trying to find a hole in his defenses.  Kyoshi no longer cared if the woman won their battle.  It was all about self-preservation now.  Without warning, he shot the weapon forward, connecting with the twin sickles she had crossed in front of her.  The sound of metal on metal bounced eerily off the trees as she slashed his weapon away and tumbled toward the assassin.  Kyoshi jumped back, narrowly dodging the lethal weapons.  He pulled the hooked end of his weapon to his chest and shot his chain forward.  



    The move left him vulnerable but, luckily, Selena was caught off guard.  The spiked ball at the end of Kyoshi’s kusari-gama wrapped around one of Selena’s sickles, the spikes catching firmly on the chain.  Before the assassin could pull her off her feet, however, she dropped her weapon. After that, the two entered into a sort of dance, twisting and turning and flowing around the campsite.  A glint of silver occasionally flashed but never again connected.  After several minutes of this, Ash called them to a stop, boredom lacing his words.



    Selena stood back immediately, slipping her weapons back into whatever pouch they had originally been in.  Kyoshi, still in his trance, launched forward, intending to decapitate the woman.  He had never let anyone walk away alive after losing himself to his craft.



    “Kyoshi, stop!!” 



    Ash’s voice reverberated in the assassin’s brain.  Fighting against the order, Kyoshi rose his foot to take the next step, the chain of his weapon still whirring in the air above him.  The brand beneath his circlet tingled uncomfortably and he put his foot back down.  As the trance slipped away, he collapsed to the ground, only then noticing the deep puddle of blood surrounding him and soaking through his robes. He quickly closed his wounds, although it would take days for them to heal completely.  Satisfied, he looked up at the people staring at him.



    “Can she stay?” he asked innocently.



    “Kyoshi, ya fool!” Nerra snapped and turned away, but not before the assassin saw tears teasing the corners of her eyes.



    “I’ll keep my word,” Ash said, turning back to his bedroll.  



    A bright smile stretched across Kyoshi’s blood-spattered face.  Selena watched him curiously and the assassin wondered what she was thinking.  A moment later, she enlightened him.



    “I could have killed you,” she said, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.  The move only accentuated her ample bosom and Kyoshi found his gaze locked there.



    “It was worth it,” he said, looking back up into her burning amethyst glare.  “Besides, I’m not that easy to kill.” 



    “You’re insane,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips.  She held out her hand and helped him to his feet.  “Ugh...and you should probably get cleaned up. Sorry for ruining your nice robes.”



    Kyoshi winced as he got to his feet and fought past a sudden wave of dizziness.  Registering her words, he looked down at himself.  A blackened hole the size of his hand, colored his chest and the newly healed skin there.  Dark, coagulating blood soaked through most of his silk robes and sandals, explaining his sudden vertigo.  He sighed, realizing he’d irreparably damaged another of his prized kimono.  Shrugging his shoulders, he headed to his bag, wincing again from the pain of his barely-healed injuries.  Grabbing a fresh kimono, he headed back to the river.



 



    The ever-increasing party enjoyed a nice meal of venison and dried fruit, courtesy of Selena.  Ash, as usual, kept to himself, preferring to read from his ancient tome than to converse in idle discussion.  To Kyoshi’s surprise, Nerra kept to herself as well.  The assassin almost equated it to pouting, although the senari did not openly express her discontent.  Deciding not to indulge her, Kyoshi turned his attention to more friendly company.



    Selena was a delight to talk to and she spent the night regaling her adventures on the road.  Kyoshi found himself enraptured by her, occasionally missing parts of her story as his mind wandered to more pleasurable thoughts.  By the time the moon began its westerly descent, both were more than ready for bed.  Kyoshi was delighted when she chose to set her bedroll up next to his but decided to keep his elation to himself for now.  He’d have plenty of time to woo the dark beauty.  Just before slipping into oblivion, he caught a movement from the corner of his eye, vaguely registered Nerra slipping off into the forest.  Deciding to deal with that later, he closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. 



 



    Nerra slipped through the dark forest, trying to push back the vision of Kyoshi during his fight.  She had never seen him so compromised; had never seen him so hurt.  When the vixen buried her weapon in his back, the senari knew she’d take his spine with it when she pulled it out.  The sight of his blood spraying from the dislodged weapon and flowing down his back would not leave Nerra.  Nor would the macabre scene of his blood raining from his twirling weapon.



    The senari collapsed to her knees, sucking back a sudden sob.  “Why would ‘e do that?” she asked, the sob lodged in her throat threatening to break loose.  “Why would he risk his own life for a complete stranger?”



    Her only answer was the sigh of the wind through the branches above her.  Unable to hold back, her sob broke free and she keened into the night.  Warm, unfamiliar tears rolled down her face and for the first time since meeting Kyoshi and Ash, she question her feelings.  She knew how she felt about Ash; he was a happy distraction. But Kyoshi?  She had never really considered her feelings for the young assassin.  Not until a few hours ago, when the chance of him dying became a real possibility.  



    Her heart twitched painfully at the thought of losing him, either to death or even to an unnaturally beautiful female.  “Ah, Goddess!” she gasped.  “I’m in love with ‘im!”



    The breeze lifted her hair and caressed her face.  Nerra, feeling the sudden ethereal presence of her Goddess, turned her face into the wind.



    “It is time for you to find your companion,” the immortal voice whispered in her ear.  “Seek them out and they will come to you.  By this time tomorrow, if your heart is pure, one of my children will enter into a lifelong bond with you.  Protect them, respect them, and never forget my blessings for those who please me.”



    The breeze dissipated as soon as it had come, leaving Nerra more alone than ever.  The loneliness did not last, however, as the Goddess’ words registered in the senari’s mind.  A sudden and irresistible force began pulling her deeper into the forest in search of her deity’s promised companion. 



 



    The next morning dawned cool and a thick layer of frost had settled on the forest floor.  Kyoshi snuggled deeper into his bedroll, unwilling to brave the early chill.  As he became more conscious, memories of the previous day flooded his mind.  Forgetting about his discomfort, he jumped from his bedroll and   hissed in pain.  The memory of his fight with Selena radiated off his barely healed injuries.  Thinking of the enchantress, his eyes surveyed the camp. Selena’s bedroll was already picked up and she was nowhere to be found. 



    Kyoshi had a moment of uncertainty as he continued scanning the clearing.  Ash still slept, buried under a mountain of blankets.  The assassin suspected Silt lay curled within the mage’s robes. They seemed to have come to a sort of truce and there had been no more instances of violence against the tiny familiar.  As Kyoshi’s eyes continued their search, he realized Nerra, too, was missing.  He suddenly remembered the senari slipping away the night before.  Had she and Selena confronted one another?



    Suddenly wary, the assassin quickly donned his heaviest robes and went in search of the missing females.  Kira called softly from the trees and Kyoshi looked up. The raptor glided silently down from a branch and landed on the assassin’s outstretched arm.  Kyoshi slipped a piece of dried venison from his robes and fed it to his companion.  The bird cooed softly and happily accepted the treat.



    “I really hope I haven’t caused a cat fight,” Kyoshi said softly.  “I didn’t think Nerra was that upset.” 



    Kira didn’t respond, too enraptured with his snack.  Kyoshi chuckled and ran his hand down the bird’s back.



    “Well, we better find them before it gets too out of hand.  Although...that could be fun!”



    As he approached the creek, a soft splashing met his ears.  Curious, he pushed through the undergrowth and made his way to the bank.  Suddenly, the sound stopped.  Kyoshi froze, afraid he had somehow made himself known.  After a couple of tense moments with the bubbling creek the only sound, he took another step...right into the razor edge of a glistening dagger.  He swallowed hard, feeling the sharp edge scrape against his throat.



His eyes followed the blade up the deceptively delicate arm to a burning amethyst glare. 



    “Ah, there you are,” he whispered, swallowing down the lump in his throat.



    Selena pulled the weapon back and sighed.  “One of these days, I’m not going to pull back in time.”



    “Sorry, wasn’t sure it was you and I don’t make it a habit of announcing myself to potential enemies,” he said, relaxing.  “How did you even know I was there?”



    “You have your secrets; I have mine,” she said, turning back to the creek and gathering her large assortment of weapons.



    “Fair enough,” he said, standing back and watching her.  “Have you, by chance, seen Nerra around?  I thought, maybe, she had confronted you.”



    “No,” she answered, getting to her feet.  “Why would she confront me?”



    “Um...no reason, really.”  He turned away from her, his face pink with embarrassment.



    “You’re a horrible liar.  This wouldn’t have anything to do with her attraction to you, would it?”



    “You know about that?” he asked, incredulous. 



    “It’s obvious if you know what to look for.  The girl has it bad for you.”



    Selena’s revelation stumped the young assassin.  Granted, he was mostly clueless when it came to women but he thought he’d know if the senari had such strong feelings for him.  Besides, as far as he knew, she had all she needed in Ash.  A chuckle from Selena pulled him back to the present.



    “Judging by your reaction, you had no idea,” she said.  “Am I also to assume that you don’t share her sentiments?”



    “Not particularly,” he said.  “Don’t get me wrong, I do care about her, but our relationship is a bit different than what you think.  She’s with Ash.  Even if I wanted to be with her, I couldn’t.”



    “Why, just because of that mage?”  She seemed genuinely curious.



    “Yeah, mostly.”  Kyoshi watched the different expressions flit across her face.



    “Who is he to you?” she asked.



    “You’ll find out soon enough, if you stick around,” Kyoshi answered, turning and heading back to camp.  “Enough about Nerra.  I have someone I’m far more interested in now.”



    “Oh really,” she teased, following behind him. “And who might that be?”



    “Hmm...I wonder.”  He glanced over his shoulder at her, his aquamarine eyes sparkling with mischief. 



    Together, they made their way back to the clearing.



 



    When they arrived, Ash had built up the fire but remained buried in his blankets.  Kyoshi looked at him curiously.  It seemed the older man had no intention of leaving the camp anytime soon.  The mage waved the assassin over as he and Selena reached the fire.  Selena settled several feet away while Kyoshi approached Ash.



    “Nerra is missing,” the assassin said, kneeling before the seated mage.



    “She is not,” Ash corrected, absently petting Silt.  “She is communing with the spirits.”



    Kyoshi mentally berated himself, suddenly remembering a conversation he’d had with her a few months before.  She had told him then, that she had been looking forward to her own animal companion when the gods deemed her ready.  He wondered, briefly, which animal would choose her.



    “I have another matter I must discuss with you,” Ash said, interrupting his thoughts. 



    Kyoshi looked up at him, noticing the glare the mage sent his way.  The assassin feared he would not like what Ash had to say.



    “I do not want you getting close to that woman you brought into camp.  You belong to me and if your affections are divided, you will not be able to properly serve me.  Is that understood?”



    Kyoshi debated arguing with the mage, his eyes sparking with defiance.  The narrowing of Ash’s eyes, however, held the assassin’s tongue.



    “As you wish, master,” he said, bowing his head inches from the frozen ground.



    “Go rest,” Ash said, satisfied.  “We will stay here tonight, until Nerra has finished her ritual, and leave in the morning.”



    Kyoshi nodded and rose to his feet.  Without another word, he turned and headed for the trees.  He noticed Selena rise as well and run to catch up to him.



    “So, I get it now,” she said, keeping pace with him.  “It doesn’t seem like you’re too happy about having to serve him.”



    “I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind,” Kyoshi retorted.



    “Okay. Where are we going?”



    “Hunting.”



 



    Several hours later, Kyoshi’s good spirits had returned.  Despite Ash’s warning, the young assassin was already smitten with their newest member.  Selena brought something out of Kyoshi that had been buried since he was a child.  She made him laugh more than he could ever remember and a warmth radiated from within him.  By noon, they were making their way back to camp, a few rabbits strung over Selena’s shoulder.  She was appalled by his lack of hunting skills and decided to make it her mission to instruct him in the art of hunting. 



    “So, what is this mission you’re on,” she asked as they neared the campsite.  Kyoshi cocked his head at her, thrown off by her sudden change of subject.  “Well, before I decide whether I want to travel with you or not, I need to know what I’m getting myself into.”



    “Oh...yeah.” Kyoshi stammered, a light blush coloring his cheeks.  “I guess I never told you what we were doing.”



    Selena flashed him smile and his heart melted.  He chuckled and returned his attention to the trail ahead of him.



    “Ash, Nerra, and I were commissioned to assassinate a fledgling royal family and their closest attendants.  Apparently disliking their lives in slavery, a few escaped, ran to a neighboring kingdom, and sought asylum.  The king there granted it and is helping them to build up their own little kingdom, even going so far as to abolished slavery in his kingdom.  The man who hired us has become rich in the slave market and this new ‘royal family’ is hampering his business.”



    “Interesting.  Where is this kingdom you seek?” she asked, genuinely curious.



    “I believe it borders the kingdom that borders this one.  It’s several months travel but once we get through this kingdom, it should only take a couple more months.  The coming winter will slow us down.”



    “Wait...if I remember correctly, that’s all forest over there.  Are we fighting elves?  Not that I have a problem with that or anything...”



    “No,” Kyoshi said, chuckling.  “Hmmm, come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever even seen an elf before.”



    He slowed while he wracked his brain for any memories of the elusive forest folk.  Coming up empty, he shrugged his shoulders and continued walking.



    “The race we are assassinating are called Kantari,” he said.  “I have only had brief encounters with their kind and it was anything but pleasant.  I heard from Zander that the Kantari are very similar to elves.  They live in the forest and build their homes in the trees, although the royal city has a palace on the ground.  They have excellent vision and superb hearing.  And their balance and climbing skills are even better than Nerra’s.  They’re strong, though.”  Kyoshi stopped a moment and when he didn’t continue, Selena prompted him.



    “How do you mean?” she asked.



    “They look like elves, I think.  Or at least most of the ones I’ve seen do.  You know, with pale, slender bodies, delicate to the point of fragility.  But the one I fought was more like a barbarian: tall, stout, and anything but fragile.  The damn thing nearly took off my head with a sword as big as me!  And every one of them had ears like a large cat, or a wolf, and a tail.  The tails were all different, some cat-like, some wolf-like.  And they had the same almond-shaped eyes as elves. If you ask me, I think somewhere down the line, an elf and a senari mated and create a new race.  But the Kantari, despite their history of enslavement, didn’t have the fierce “wildness” I would’ve expected from someone of, say, Nerra’s genealogy.  Well, except for the beast I fought.”  



    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those,” she said.  “Of course, I don’t really pay that much attention to the slave market, either.  Do you mind if I ask why you fought with one?”



    Kyoshi shook his head and turned to her.  “It was my first assignment after Ash purchased me.  I was determined to prove my worth, regardless of the real reason why he bought me.  He gave me the mission that Zander had given him.  The Kantari wasn’t my first kill so I thought it would be a piece of cake to slip into his room, slit his throat, and slip back out.  I was wrong.  I underestimated him.  But what did I know?  I’d never even heard of a Kantari before.  The man sensed me and woke before I could finish the job.  A battle ensued and I won.”



    “So, you killed him?” she asked, an unfathomable expression in her eyes.



    “It was my duty,” Kyoshi answered simply and turned from her.  Without another word, he began walking again.



    “I’m not judging you, Kyoshi,” Selena said, gently, and placed her hand on his arm.  “I’m just trying to get to know you.  I don’t think you are so dissimilar from the Kantari.”



    Kyoshi turned on her, his aquamarine eyes flaring in anger and indignation.  “I am nothing like those animals!” he spat.  Kira, sensing his master’s distress, squawked in agitation from above them.



    Selena stepped back and held her hands up.  “I wasn’t implying that,” she soothed.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”



    Kyoshi turned away, bringing a hand up to cover his face.  His shoulders shook as he tried to control his emotions.  After a few minutes of awkward silence, he took a breath and dropped his hand.  Selena cautiously touched his back.  He turned and faced her, his slightly red face the only evidence of his previous outburst.



    “Sorry,” he mumbled.  “We should probably hurry and get back before Ash comes looking for us.”



    Selena nodded and followed him back to the clearing.



    “Can I ask you one more question?” she asked.  He nodded and she continued.  “Why did Ash purchase you, if not for your fighting skills?”



    “Why, indeed?” Kyoshi dodged, deciding it was too horrifying a revelation to share with her.



    Selena seemed to sense his hesitation and let the matter drop.  They were quiet the rest of the way to camp.



 



     Ash had peeled back some of his covering, leaving only a thin blanket draped across his lap.  His gaze locked on them a moment as Selena and Kyoshi reentered the clearing. 



    “We brought food,” Kyoshi said, pointing to the rabbits.



    “Humph...” Ash answered.



    Deciding to ignore him altogether, Kyoshi took the carcasses and began to dress them.  He hated cleaning the prey, regardless of which animal it was or who did the actual killing, but at the moment, he preferred it to interacting with the mage.  Selena had laughed whole-heartedly when Kyoshi told her that he hated killing animals, especially given his career.  The assassin had turned a bright red until her mirth ran its course.



    After dressing the conies, Kyoshi spitted them and placed them over the fire.  He and Selena sat back, talking softly while Ash buried his nose in his book. 



    “So, I have a suggestion,” Selena announced after the sun had gone down.  



    She sat near the fire, leaning back on her pack and petting the squirrel tucked under her blanket.  Ash glanced up from his book, seeming only mildly interested.  Without waiting for a prompt from the silent mage, she continued.



    “I think I have the perfect cover to get you through the next several towns and I’ll still be able to do what I need to do while traveling with you.”



    “Fine,” Ash said.  “Enlighten me to your genius plan.”



    Ignoring the mage, she continued. “I continue with the squirrel races.  I’ve already signed up for every one between here and Heimdale so I’m expected.  We can stay in a warm hotel, eat warm food, and enjoy a bit of sport.  And, if anyone comes looking for you, you can disguise yourselves as my bodyguards...or companions,” she corrected quickly at Ash’s glare.



    “That’s a great idea,” Kyoshi exclaimed, completely ignoring Ash’s displeasure.



    “Humph,” Ash answered, returning to his book.



    Kyoshi scowled at the man and turned to Selena.  For the next few hours, they went over the finer details of her plan.  In his excitement, the young assassin forgot about his unpleasant discussion with Selena early that day.



 



    Nerra did not come back that afternoon, even when the aromatic smells of the noon meal permeated the forest.  Kyoshi was too preoccupied to notice so when she stumbled back late that evening, he was somewhat surprised.  She fell on the leftover rabbit like a ravenous beast. A moment later, a pair of golden eyes flashed from the darkness. Kyoshi jumped to his feet and reached for a kunai.



    “Come, Sasha,” Nerra said around the food in her mouth.



    The eyes moved and Kyoshi lowered his weapon.  From the shadows slipped a sleek, spotted cat, half as large as its master with twin “cry” lines on either side of its nose.  The creature was beautiful and even in the darkness, Kyoshi could see the powerful muscles rolling beneath its tawny fur.  Sasha sauntered over to Nerra and rested on its haunches next to her.



    “This is Sasha,” Nerra said, handing the cheetah a rabbit leg.  “‘e’ll be with us fur now on.  Ya might wanna inter’duce ya bird, Kyoshi, so ‘e knows ‘e’s a friend.”



    “Sure,” Kyoshi said, smiling brightly.



    He called Kira down and softly explained to his friend in the bird’s language.  Kira cooed and hopped over to the large cat.  Sasha lowered his head and sniffed the nervous bird.  Kira ruffled his feathers but took the indignation in stride.  A moment later, the two animals were playing as though they’d known each other forever.  Kyoshi chuckled while watching his closest companion.



    “You can speak to your bird?” Selena asked beside him.



    Kyoshi had actually forgotten about her for a moment and nodded when her question registered in his mind.  She smiled but said no more.  Turning back to Kira, the assassin watched the interaction, completely happy.  Several minutes later, Ash called a halt to the play, reminding everyone of the early morning ahead.  Kyoshi and Selena once again laid their bedrolls next to each other, their own animal companions tucked within the blankets.  Kyoshi noticed Nerra slipping into Ash’s bedroll with him. Well, maybe the mage would be in a better mood now.



    “Good-night, Kyoshi,” Selena whispered, surprising the assassin.



    “Good-night, Selena,” he answered.