Assassin's Curse

    From the treetops next to Kira, Silt watched the incident  between Kyoshi and Ash with conflicting emotions.  On the one hand, he keenly felt the mage’s emotions: his anger, betrayal, and a hint of sadism.  The lizard’s own emotions ran opposite his master.  Of course, Silt already knew Kyoshi’s gender, so it came as no surprise.  Ash’s anger caught him off guard, however.  Why was it such a big deal?  Then it hit him.  It wasn’t that Kyoshi was a man, or more accurately, a boy, but the fact that the boy had hid it from him for so long.  Ash felt as though Kyoshi had played him for a fool.  And if there was one thing that Ash held above everything else, it was his pride.  Silt feared for his new best friend.  Kyoshi had done nothing to earn the mage’s deep hatred or the punishment that would follow.



    



    The next two days were uncharacteristically quiet.  Even Nerra knew enough not to push Ash.  Kyoshi kept his distance, hanging back from the rest of the group.  He kept his eyes lowered and his lips sealed.  Nerra tried, once, to get the boy to open up and tell Ash how he felt but he just shrugged her off and walked away.  It didn’t take a genius to realize he was hurting.    And Ash paid him no mind.  He, too, harbored a pain he refused to admit to.  



    Nerra sighed for the hundredth time.  If only they would open their eyes and see what she saw.  Two men who had more in common than either would ever admit.   



 



    At dusk on the second night, Silt stretched out across the log next to the fire.  Ash, Nerra, and Kyoshi had left a while ago to bathe at the river.  So far, Ash had not acted on his anger and betrayal.  Silt supposed that was a good thing.  He had been on the receiving end, just recently in fact, of Ash’s anger.  Silt did not want that for his friend.



    The day had been unseasonably warm, the main reason the companions decided to bathe in the river.  Silt preferred the warm weather.  The cold made him sluggish.  He rolled his head to the side, his boredom reaching peak levels.  If only he could move!  A spot of light within Ash’s bag caught the reptile’s attention.  It was Ash’s crystal ball reflecting the light of the campfire.  Silt knew what the ball was capable of.  He also knew it was completely off limits.  If Ash ever caught him near the object, he’d be dead.  But, if the familiar were successful in trapping the mage in Silt’s broken body, being caught was unlikely to ever happen.  Ash would be as crippled as Silt is now.



    Silt gathered all the strength he could and, pushing through the pain of his injured back, made his way to the bag using only his front limbs.  It lay only a couple feet away.  Still, every inch was agony.  Determination kept him going.  If his plan worked, he’d be able to save Kyoshi from the hard life he was stuck in.



    He looked up at Kira’s soft call.  The bird cocked his head to the side, curious what the lizard was up to.  Silt ignored him,  finally reaching the ball and wrapping himself, as well as he could, around the object.  A noise from the tree line caught his ear and he turned to see Ash storming up to camp.



    The mage was angry and grumbling under his breath.  He was also nude as the day he was born.  He reached into his bag to pull out clean robes, his hand rubbing against the lizard inside.  The magic was instantaneous and he railed in anger as he realized what was happening.  Silt and Ash’s consciences were switched.  The familiar now inhabited his master’s body, leaving Ash trapped within the broken, reptilian one.



    Silt looked down at himself, pleased by what he saw.  He could move again!  He threw on some clothes and lifted the bag, crystal and all, to rest on a low branch of the tree.  That should give him enough time to get the job done.



 



    Ash fumed silently in Silt’s body.  Now he wished he’d healed the lizard.  When he got his body back, he vowed to kill the pest.  No familiar was worth this much trouble!  



    Ash heard soft footfalls approaching.  Nerra would fix this.  All he had to do was get to his bag and give her the crystal ball.  Then, he could tell her what happened and she’d help him get his body back.  Of course, getting the senari’s attention proved more than difficult.



    



    Nerra looked around the campsite puzzled.  She was sure Ash had headed there after leaving the water.  The senari wanted to confront the mage after the outburst at the river.  Really, it wasn’t Kyoshi’s fault he was so alluring.  She admitted to herself that the light of the full moon did make the boy appear ethereal when standing in the water, head titled back and water cascading off his  glistening skin...



    She shook her head to dislodge the image from her mind.  Okay, so maybe Ash only overreacted a little.  Still, she wanted this silent battle between the two to end.  With Ash fuming, he neglected her.  She considered going to Kyoshi to fulfill her needs but decided that probably wasn’t the best idea.  Although, she could certainly teach the boy a thing or two it



    The campsite appeared empty.  Nerra huffed, irritated.  A few choice words left her mouth before she flopped onto her bedroll.  She contemplated going back to the river.  Kyoshi would provide more entertainment than the crackling of the campfire.  She rolled her head and her eyes caught on Ash’s bag.  Funny, he never put it in a tree before.  Shrugging her shoulders, she turned over and closed her eyes.



 



    Silt, in Ash’s body, made his way to the next town.  He had more energy than he could ever remember having and rode all through the night.  Ash’s horse panted with exertion, already tired from the day’s travel.  Before the animal dropped from exhaustion, Silt slowed it to a walk. An hour or so before he reached the town, the familiar went over his plan.



    Ash worked with the thieve’s guilds throughout most of the country.  Although technically more of a “freelance” entrepreneur, he worked closely with Zander, often accepting jobs which paid handsomely.  Zander wanted Kyoshi and through Silt’s experience, the familiar knew the man usually got what he wanted; if he didn’t, he made sure no one else did either.  



    Silt also gnashed at the harness that prevented him from liberating the countless towns Ash dragged him through, many of which were overrun by the outlaws that kept them from prospering.  While he had the chance, Silt would make it his mission to eliminate as many bad elements in as many towns as he could.  He knew he only had a short time.  Even now, despite the many miles separating them, he could feel Ash’s anger.  A silhouette appeared in the distance and Silt knew he was close.  Prodding his horse into a trot, he closed the distance. 



    The town he approached slept.  In only a few hours, the sun would rise and his cover would be blown.  With a time constraint, Silt made his way to the thieve’s guild.  The one good thing about being Ash’s familiar was knowing where to find all those he needed to eliminate.



    The thieve’s guild was tucked into the dark shadows of an alleyway between two shops.  Any unsuspecting passerby wouldn’t think twice about the door located at the back of the alley.  Silt knew it for what it was.  He dismounted and approached it, making sure to stay within the shadows.



    Being a familiar to a roguish mage had many advantages, one of them being his capability of picking almost any lock.  This particular door proved quite easy, considering what lay behind it.  Silt easily worked through the four locks and swung the door in slowly.  The interior was mostly dark, only small pinpoints of light coming from a few lamps scattered throughout the room.  Silt could hear the sounds of people snoring and carefully made his way through slumbering bodies.  



    Another advantage Silt gained from Ash, was the ability to move soundlessly through the dark room.  It helped that Ash had kept his body lithe and agile.  Skirting around the miscellaneous traps he remembered from the last time Ash had been here, he made his way to the first body: a snoozing guard, leaning against the wall.   The familiar pulled out a razor sharp dagger that Ash kept in an inner pocket and approached the man.  Without a second thought, Silt swiped the blade across the sleeping victim’s neck, killing him without a sound.  He caught the body before it hit the floor and lowered it to the ground.  Hugging the wall, he continued to make his way into the building.



    For the next half hour, Silt continued his slaughter.  He left none alive, killing all indiscriminately.  By the time he reached the guild-master’s room, two dozen thieves were dead.  Silt took a moment to catch his breath and tipped his head to the heavens.  He sent a silent plea to his god, Bahamut, the lawful-good deity of dragons.  As he prayed, a feeling of peace washed over him.  With renewed determination, Silt pushed the guild-master’s door open.



    A trap Silt hadn’t expected activated, sending a shrill alarm through the building.  Silt instinctively threw his hands over his ears, trying to block most of the noise.  Unfortunately, this gave the guild-master an open opportunity.  He slammed Silt against the doorframe, a dagger to the familiar’s throat.  With his other hand, he launched a throwing knife at the offensive alarm, quieting it.  His eyes never left Silt and the familiar was begrudgingly impressed.  



    “Ash?” the man asked, confusion filling his eyes.



    Silt, seeing an opportunity, played along.  “Yeah,” he said.  “Sorry if I startled you.”



    The man took a step back, removing his weapon from Silt’s throat.  “What the hell are you doing here in my room?”



    “I couldn’t find anyone else,” Silt said, pushing away from the wall.  “I was beginning to wonder if anyone was still here.”



    “What are you talking about?” the guild-master said, as he stepped out into the hall.  “The building is full.”



    Silt pulled his dagger from behind his back and leapt at the man.  Just before the weapon made contact, the guild-master turned.  Caught by surprise, he could only slightly deflect Silt’s attack, barely preventing the fatal blow to his neck.  The dagger lodged itself in the man’s shoulder, embedding deep into the bone.  Silt had no choice but to surrender the weapon and leapt free of the injured guild-master.



    The man railed and cursed, attempting to remove the offending object.  Being unsuccessful, he turned his attention to the traitorous mage.  Fueled by fury, he charged the familiar.  Silt, being unarmed, leapt out of the way.  Performing a few hand signs unfamiliar to Ash’s body, Silt whispered a divine prayer.  The guild-master suddenly found himself entrapped in a web of vines.  He turned his disbelieving stare to Silt.



    “Who are you,” the guild-master asked, hacking away at the vines entangling his legs.



    “That’s not important,” Silt said, casually leaning against the wall.  “All that matters is that once I’m done with you, this town will be free of your ilk and I’ll be a little closer to fulfilling my mission.”



    The guild-master’s frustrated howls filled the building.  He stopped fighting the determined plants a moment and eyed the familiar.  



    “What mission,” he asked, panting from exertion.  



    “The one where I free Kyoshi,” Silt answered.  “The only true friend I’ve ever had.”  



    “You’re...insane!” the guild-master gasped.



    In a last ditch effort, the man yanked the dagger from his shoulder and launched it at the familiar.  Silt barely missed the flying projectile, surprised that the guild-master still had so much energy.  But the move cost the man dearly.  Now, with the only thing holding the bleeding back gone, his wound gushed.  Silt took the opportunity to grab the discarded dagger and leapt over the vines separating him from the guild-master.  Landing on the man’s back, Silt quickly swiped the blade across his neck, putting an end to his suffering.  As the body fell, Silt dismissed the vines.  He cleaned his blade on the guild-master’s robes, turned, and slipped out of the building.



 



    The following morning, Nerra woke with a loud yawn and stretched like only a cat could.  She looked around the camp with slightly bleary eyes.  After a few seconds, she realized both Kyoshi and Ash were gone.  She wasn’t too concerned about Kyoshi, he was usually gone when she woke, but Ash...Of course, she and the mage usually slept together but ever since the incident with Kyoshi, Ash had kept his distance.  She noticed his bag still hanging in the tree.  Convincing herself that he’d just wandered off somewhere, she began packing up the camp.  



 



    Silt made good time to the next town, especially considering how little rest he’d gotten.  He entered the inn a few hours after dawn, paid for a room using Ash’s coin purse, and collapsed from exhaustion.  He needed his rest if he were going to take on another guild that night.  



 



    Nerra and Kyoshi had waited for Ash as long as they could.  The late afternoon sun fought valiantly to keep the evening chill at bay but the companions knew if they didn’t find shelter soon, it would become very uncomfortable.  Kyoshi scooped up Ash, unaware that the mage and lizard had switched places.  He tucked the reptile within his robes where it was warmer.  Ash, too sluggish to protest, reveled in the warmth.  He was suddenly jealous of his familiar.



    Nerra pulled Ash’s bag from the tree limb and packed up the horses.  A quick look around revealed Ash’s horse to be missing.  ‘Strange,’ she thought.  ‘Where would he have gone?  And why didn’t he say anything?  Stranger yet, why was his bag left behind?’



    “Kyoshi,” she called.  “I think somethin’ might‘a ‘appened ta Ash.”



    Kyoshi glanced up at her a moment, looking away from the saddle he was currently strapping to his horse.  “I doubt it,” he mumbled, turning back to his task.



    “I’m tellin’ ya,” she said, glaring at him.  “Somethin’ ‘appened!”



    Kyoshi sighed and turned toward her.  “Why do you think that?  Ash can take care of himself.”



    Nerra narrowed her eyes at the assassin.  “Pay attention.  Don’ ya think it strange tha’ ‘e did na come back last night?  Or this mornin’?”



    “Not particularly,” he said, leaning against his horse.



    Nerra huffed.  “Well, wha’ about leavin’ Silt behind?  Or ‘is bag?  And ‘is horse is missin’.”



    This did get Kyoshi’s attention.  Silt wasn’t the problem.  Kyoshi believed if it wasn’t for his intervention, the lizard would be dead now.  No, it was the fact that Ash had left his bag behind.  Why would he take his horse and not his bag?



    Sighing again, Kyoshi turned back to his horse.  “Fine, Nerra,” he said.  “We’ll go look for him.”



    “Thank-ya, Kyoshi,” Nerra said, softly.  “I know this mus’ be ‘ard for ya.”



    Kyoshi grunted and mounted his horse.  Without another word, he urged the animal forward in the direction of the nearest town.  Nerra mounted her horse as well and followed silently behind.  She really hoped they would find Ash whole and hearty.



 



    The moon had reached it’s apex by the time Silt rose from his slumber.  All the better.  He couldn’t approach the thieve’s guild until just before dawn anyway.  His stomach grumbled in protest.  When had he last eaten?  Silt thought back, realizing he hadn’t eaten anything since he’d switched bodies.  Unfortunately, being as late as it was, he would have a hard time finding the sustenance he needed.  Taking a chance, he gathered himself together and headed down to the kitchen.



    A young woman, maybe in her late teens, stood washing down the tables in the dining room.  Silt thought her fairly attractive, in a “human” sort of way, and he took a moment to study her.  Long, tight curls fell from a ponytail high on her head and reached past her waist.  The bright red shade shimmered in the dim light.  Her petite frame fanned out to narrow hips and long, pale legs.  She swayed a bit as she hummed a tune Silt found soothing to his human ears.  Realizing he was staring, he averted his gaze and approached her.



    Lost in her own world, she didn’t take notice of his soft footfalls and was startled when he cleared his throat a foot away from her.  She gasped and turned to face him, her ice blue eyes wide with surprise.



    “Goodness, me!” she exclaimed.  “I dang near jumped outta my skin.  Don’t cha know not ta sneak up on folks like that?”



    “Pardon me, madame,” Silt said, smoothly, bowing at the waist.    “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”  



    “Well... that’s quite alright,” she said, composing herself.  “No harm done.  Now, what can I do for ya?”



    “I know it’s quite late, and it’s terribly rude of me to ask, but could I possibly get something to snack on?  I had a hard day of travel and slept clear through dinner.”



    “I suppose I could whip up something real quick, since yu’re so cute and all.”  She blushed furiously and batted her eyelashes.



    Silt smiled Ash’s award winning smile and took the girl’s hand.  ‘Man, is she cute!  And that dusting of freckles across her nose...’ Silt thought. “Thank-you, ma’am,” he said, aloud, an unfamiliar warmth spreading across his cheeks.



    If possible, her blush darkened and she scampered away into the kitchen.  Silt heard a loud sigh and chuckled to himself.   She came back out soon after with a plate laden with food.  Silt’s eyes widened at the sight.  No way would all that food fit into his stomach.  He picked up his fork and held it awkwardly a moment before settling it correctly in his hand.  Taking a deep breath, he scooped up a forkful of a fluffy white substance and slipped it into his mouth.



    The sensation was like nothing Silt had ever experienced before.  His tastebuds exploded as the mashed potatoes hit his tongue and slid down his throat like the sweetest honey.  Closing his eyes, he savored the feeling, an involuntary moan escaping his lips.  A chuckle brought him back to the present.  His eyes shot open and locked on the girl standing across from him.



    “That was prob’ly the best compliment I’ve ever gotten,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.



    Silt blushed furiously as he realized he’d been caught.  “Sorry?” he said, swallowing past his suddenly dry tongue.



    “S’all right,” she said.  “I liked it.  My name’s Caitlin.”  She held out her hand in greeting.



    Silt smiled, taking her proffered hand and lightly ran his lips across her knuckles.  “Silt,” he said.  “It’s  a delight to meet you, Caitlin.”



    His eyes lingered on her, a foreign emotion washing through him.  She lowered her lashes and chuckled again.  Silt found himself mesmerized.  Without realizing what his body was doing, he leaned forward, his food forgotten.  Caitin’s eyes drew him in, capturing him in their web.  Beyond the capability of rational thought, he lowered his face to hers.  Caitlin’s long lashes drifted down to obscure her tantalizing icy gaze as Silt’s lips made contact with hers.



    The soft, satin flesh yielded to his gentle pressure.  Unconsciously, he pushed into her and she responded in kind, deepening the kiss.  Emboldened, she ran her tongue along his bottom lip and he instinctively opened to her.  Her muscular organ delved in, exploring every crevice of his mouth.  Tentatively, he began his own exploration.  Before long, their tongues were wrapped in a dance as old as time.  



    Silt effortlessly lifted Caitin over the bar and pressed her back against the aged wood.  Breaking the kiss, his lips traveled down her neck and settled into the crevice between it and her shoulder.  Caitlin threw her head back to better enjoy the sensation, a moan of ecstasy filling the quiet room.  Silt peppered her ivory skin with kiss marks as he pulled her into his embrace.  Caitlin pressed tighter against him, his arousal swelling through his clothing.



    Silt, lost in the human pleasures, lifted Caitlin onto the bar and settled himself between her thighs, pulling her taut against him.  Caitlin shivered in anticipation and pulled him into a deep, fiery kiss.  Her hands tore at the clothes covering Silt’s chest.  In need of air, Silt pulled away slightly, gasping for breath.



    “Silt,” Caitlin moaned, moving in to continue their foreplay.



    Suddenly, Silt realized what he had done.  He stepped back quickly, nearly pulling the grasping Caitlin from the bar.  His face flushed a dark red and he stared down at the ground.  A glimpse at the panting Caitlin revealed a great deal of ivory skin where her dress once was.  Silt dropped to one knee, head bowing nearly to the ground.



    “Caitlin...” he began.  “I am so terribly sorry.  I didn’t mean for this to happen.  I never meant to dishonor you.  I’ll understand if you wish to report me and I’ll take whatever punishment you deem fit for the atrocious act I have done to you.”



    Silt heard Caitlin hop from the counter and approached his kneeling figure.  Putting her hand under his chin, she lifted his face up to look at her.  He felt as if his whole world had come to a crashing end.  Smiling gently, she bent down and kissed him lightly on his lips.



    “It’s alright,” she said, softly.  “Ya didn’t do nothin wrong, okay?  It’s human nature and I don’t blame ya.”



    Silt took her hand and kissed it fiercely.  “You are such a beautiful woman,” he said.



    She chuckled and pulled him to his feet.  “Well, if ya don’t finish yu’re dinner, I may take offense, never mind whatever other compliments you throw my way.”



    “Yes ma’am,” Silt said, a light smile returning to his face.  



    As he took a step toward the counter, he noticed an unfamiliar tightness had formed in his lower region.  Walking became quite difficult and he suddenly found the urge to relieve himself.  Pushing through the discomfort, he made his way back to the bar where he happily finished his slightly cold dinner.    



 



     After he’d eaten, Silt thanked Caitlin, both for the food and the company.  She waved him good-bye and told him to visit again whenever he came through town next.  With an empty promise, he slipped out into the night.  



    The moon shined, still nearly full and the streets were well illuminated.  Silt doubted the thieve’s guild would be very active on such a bright night.  Still, he needed to be cautious.  An hour before dawn, he approached the hidden door.  At least in this town, it wasn’t as obvious.  He again picked the lock with ease and slipped into the darkness.  The guild was smaller than the last one and in no time, he had everyone eliminated.  He mounted his horse and slipped out of town just as the sun made it’s appearance.



 



    “Nerra, this is ridiculous,” Kyoshi cried.  “It’s been three days already and there’s been no sign of him.”



    Nerra pouted as they approached the inn of a town a day’s ride from where Ash had come up missing.  Her arms were crossed defiantly and her bottom lip stuck out.  Kyoshi tried not to think about how seductive that lip looked, or how all he wanted to do was suck on it.  He shook his head, trying to dislodge the thought.



    “Look, let’s give it one more day,” he said, trying to appease her.  “If we can’t find some clue, then let’s leave it at him just not wanting to be found.”



    The thought was somehow disconcerting for the young assassin.  What would it mean for him if the mage really was gone?  Did it mean Kyoshi was free for the time being?  The concept was completely foreign to him.  The same way a person who had spent most of their life in a prison being set free, Kyoshi didn’t know the first thing about being self-reliant.  



    “Fine,” she said, interrupting his thoughts and turning her face from him.  A second later, she turned back, her eyes more animated than he’d seen them since Ash’s disappearance.  “Ya know, if ‘e is gone, yur gonna hav’ta fill ‘is place.”



    Kyoshi stared at her in disbelief.  Did she really mean what he thought she meant?  She smirked and nodded her head.  Yep, she meant it.



    “After all, I need someone ta keep me warm at night.”



    “Nerra, you’re hopeless,” Kyoshi said, blushing.



    She just laughed and went into the building. Kyoshi reluctantly followed behind. 



    The restaurant beneath the inn was crowded.  Dinner plates filled tables and patrons ate with gusto.  The noise level irritated Kyoshi’s sensitive hearing but his stomach could not be ignored.  He made his way to the bar and flopped down on a stool between two burly humans.  He tried to ignore their stares and flagged down the server.  A second later, a young woman approached him.



    “What can I get for ya?” she asked, politely, trying to be heard over the din. 



    “Something to eat and maybe information,” he said, leaning forward to be heard better.



    “Food I can do,” she answered.  “What kind of information are ya looking for?”



    “I’m looking for a man,” he said, and went on to describe Ash.



    The young woman nodded her head.  “He was here two days ago.  Nice gentleman.  Didn’t say where he was going, only that he had traveled hard.”



    Kyoshi’s eyes narrowed.  “Did he have anyone else with him?”



    The girl shook her head and headed off to help someone else.  Kyoshi’s mind whirled.  Why would Ash just leave like that?



    “Ash, you bastard!” Kyoshi muttered.



    His outburst caught the attention of the man to his right.  



    “Well that’s no way for a lady to speak,” he said.



    Kyoshi glared at the man.  “You don’t know me, or my circumstances so butt out of my business!”



    “Ooh, fiery aren’t we,” the man said, taking a lock of Kyoshi’s hair.    Before he knew what hit him, Kyoshi had the man laid out on the floor, his arm twisted painfully behind his back.  “Sorry!” the man grunted out.



    Kyoshi released him and sat back on his stool.  No one else in the room dared approach him.  When his food came, Kyoshi enjoyed his meal in peace.



 



    A week had passed already and Silt could feel his body wearing down.  Between the hard traveling from town to town,  little sleep, and the constant slaughtering, he began to feel overly exhausted.  He half expected Kyoshi and Nerra to catch up to him by now.  Five guilds had been eradicated so far and Silt knew his time was running out.  It was only a matter of time before Zander caught wind of what was happening and sent someone to investigate.    This would probably be the last town he could liberate.   



    The town he entered had a high wall circling it.  A few guards lazed about here and there seemingly unconcerned with who entered or exited.  Silt’s spirits were lifted by the liveliness as dancers and street performers filled the streets.  He’d arrived in time for their fall festival.  Every storefront sported banners and other decorations for the event.  As an afterthought, Silt wondered if he’d be able to find a room.



    He boarded Ash’s horse at the stables and walked over to the inn.  A few dancers approached him, draping flower and bead necklaces over his head.  He smiled kindly and continued on his way. The innkeeper welcomed him with wide arms and rosy cheeks.  Silt couldn’t help but smile back.



    “Welcome to the Golden Gecko Inn,” he bellowed.  “How long will your stay be?”



    “Just the night, please,” Silt said.  “I need to be on my way soon. Although, I think I’m going to regret missing the festivities.”



    “It’s going to be great!  Are you sure you can’t stay longer?”



    Silt nodded, smiling at the bright man.  “We’ll see.”



    “Perfect!”    He handed a key to Silt and told him where he could find his room.  “The town is having a community dinner at the town square in about three hours.  I hope to see you there.”     



    “Thank-you,” Silt answered.  “I’ll be there.”



    Silt chuckled as he headed upstairs.  He worried his good mood may affect his mission but the change was definitely refreshing.  A couple hours of rest would do him good as well.  Locking his door behind him, he collapsed on the bed.



 



    Kyoshi’s frustration had reached peek levels.  Nerra’s nonstop harassment had caused a constant tick in his right temple.  He could practically be free now if not for her.  She refused to let Ash’s disappearance go unexplained and demanded they keep looking for the mage.  After a week with only one clue, Kyoshi had drawn a blank.  Nerra was mewling some nonsense that Kyoshi had stopped listening to.  A vein in his forehead pulsed with every heartbeat, contributing to the splitting headache that had him all but crippled.  Finally at his limit, he slammed Ash’s bag down on the ground and turned to glare at her.  Ash’s crystal ball rolled free.



    “Nerra!” he shouted, exasperated.  “Please shut up!”     



    Nerra closed her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.  Kyoshi bent down to pick up the errant item and Ash fell from his robes, landing on the crystal ball.  The assassin picked both items up.



    “Finally!” Ash cried in the assassin’s mind.



    “What the...,” Kyoshi said.  “Did you just speak to me?”



    “Of course I did, idiot!  I’ve been trying to reach this damn ball for the past week.”



    Kyoshi stared at the lizard, dumbfounded.  “Ash?” he asked.



    “Who else would it be?”



    “Nerra,” Kyoshi called, looking up at the confused senari.  “I think we found Ash.”



    “What?” she asked, approaching the assassin.  She had only heard Kyoshi’s side of the conversation.



    The assassin held out the ball with Ash on top and Nerra placed her hands on it.  Ash spewed a few choice words and Nerra looked at Kyoshi.  



    “So, if you’re Ash, where is Silt?” Nerra asked.  “And your body.”



    “And why would he run off like that?” Kyoshi added.



    For the next hour, Ash told them what he believed Silt had done and why.  Having a good aligned familiar for a mage with  a questionable alignment had Kyoshi and Nerra shaking their heads.  He also explained that as long as they were touching the ball, as well as Ash, they could communicate.  After Ash had finished, Kyoshi sighed.



    “So, where should we start looking?” the assassin asked.



    “Silt is honorable and righteous,” Ash answered.  “If there is one thing he hates above all else, it is people who continuously break the law and get away with it.  He would seek out the thieve’s guilds.”



    “This prob’ly ain’t the right time ta be askin’ but, why would ya have a familiar so dif’rent than yurself?” Nerra asked.



    “Because it makes it more interesting,” Ash answered, rolling his eyes at the senari.  “Everything I do goes against his nature but he has no choice but to obey.  I find immense pleasure in that.”



    Nerra shared a brief look with Kyoshi.  The young assassin had a great deal of experience in that area.



    “Silt is most likely in Leycester by now,” Ash continued,  seemingly oblivious to Nerra and Kyoshi’s silent conversation.  “If we hurry, we can reach there by dawn tomorrow.”



    “You want us to ride through the night?” Kyoshi asked, appalled.



    “That is what I meant when I said ‘hurry’.  You’re young; you can handle it.”



    “No way!  It’s practically freezing at night.”



    “Stop being a pussy!” Ash snapped.  Unfortunately, he was less than intimidating in a sixteen inch reptilian body.



    Nerra chuckled behind her hand.  “I secon’ Kyoshi’s objection, an’ I am a ‘pussy’!”



    Kyoshi stared at her a second and burst out laughing.  Ash,  growling in frustration, tried to get their attention.



    “This is not a laughing matter!” he yelled in their heads.  “The longer Silt is left to roam, the more damage he’ll do.”



    “So what,” Kyoshi said, containing his mirth.  “The world could use a few less thieves.”



    “You have no inkling of the consequences his actions will warrant.”  Ash, fuming at his helplessness, curled tighter around the ball.



    “How do you even know he’s there?” Kyoshi asked.  “He could be anywhere.”



    “I can feel him,” Ash answered.



    “Okay, how about this,” Kyoshi said.  “We’ll ride until we get too tired or too cold.  If we are close to the town, we can keep going.  Otherwise, we find somewhere to spend the night.”



    Ash kept quiet.  Kyoshi would never have disobeyed him if the mage were in his own body.  The assassin reveled in his freedom, as short-lived as it may be.  He knew there would be consequences for his actions but he always did have a problem reigning in his arrogance.



 



    The fall festival of Leycester was everything Silt expected from a town this size.  Acrobats, street performers, and dancers lined the streets, their bright costumes standing out among the tan walls of the buildings.  Music filled every street corner and the laughter of children echoed through the air.  Food venders set their dishes out for festival goers to sample and buy.



    Silt smiled at all the activity.  How long had it been since he enjoyed himself so thoroughly?  He made his way to the town square where dinner would begin in less than an hour.  In the center of the square stood a metal pole thirty feet tall.  Dangling from the pole were brightly colored streamers made of silk.  Silt found it a curious sight and wondered at what it was.  An elderly woman, seeing his confusion, chuckled and approached him.



    “It is a Maypole, a game the children play,” she said, her soft voice filled with mirth.  “In a few minutes, you’ll be able to see it firsthand.” 



    Sure enough, ten minutes later, dozens of children ran up to the pole, each one grabbing a streamer.  Musicians began playing an upbeat tune and the children sang along while skipping around the pole, every other child moving in opposite directions.  They weaved through each other, threading the banners from the top of the pole leading to the bottom.  The affect was beautiful and Silt smiled in wonder.  Shortly after, an announcement filled the air that dinner would soon be served.  Silt turned and headed for the tables.



 



    The rest of the evening passed enjoyably, with games and events that kept the townsfolk out until the early hours of the morning.  A couple hours before dawn, the streets finally emptied, the last of the festival goers stumbling home to warm beds.  It was time for Silt to get to work.



    Slipping from shadow to shadow, he made his way to the alley that hid the entrance to the Leycester thieve’s guild.    Slipping into the alleyway, he located the hidden door and picked the lock.



    The dull moonlight showed through the open door, illuminating a large, empty room.  Momentarily taken aback, Silt quickly closed the door.  He would need to navigate the building, searching each room for inhabitants.  Realizing his time was short, he approached the first door.  Room after room, he dispatched the sleeping figures.  When he approached the guild-master’s room, he stopped dead in his tracks.  Two men stood guard on either side of the door, fully awake and alert.  Silt would have to be extra careful not to make too much noise.  He didn’t want to alert the guild-master.



    Pulling a tiny scroll from an inner pocket of Ash’s vest, Silt   carefully read the inscription.  The familiar bought the item at the last town, just in case he needed it.  With a couple hand gestures, all noise within twenty feet of Silt stopped. The familiar was still a good thirty feet from the door.  Hugging the wall to remain in the shadows, he slowly crept closer to the guards.  Just as the ring of silence reached them, their gazes locked on him.  A silent, bloody battle ensued. 



    The guards charged Silt together, their silent scream sending chills down the familiar’s back.  The battle proved difficult for Silt.  He preferred eliminating targets without being detected.  Still, as he grew familiar with Ash’s body and it’s range of mobility, the fight became one-sided.  The first guard Silt took down offered little challenge, Silt dagger sticking through the back of his head.  The other guard, however, proved more of a challenge.  He was better trained and faster, and he was angry.



    The man wielded two long daggers, their razor-sharp edges glittering in the lamplight.  Silt remained unarmed with his own dagger still taking up residence in the dead guard’s skull.  The most he could do for now, was to dodge the deadly weapon’s flailing.  The eery silence wore on as the two battled.  



    Just as Silt began to wear down, the guard tripped over his dead companion.  It was the opening Silt needed.  He jumped over the guard, yanked his weapon from the corpse, and sliced it across the man’s throat.  The guard grabbed the wound, the crimson liquid pouring through his fingers.  Silt took a moment to catch his breath as the guard finally expired.  



    He turned back to the guild-master’s door just as his circle of silence wore off.  Silt cursed his luck.  It would have been better if he could have snuck in while still under it’s effects.  ‘No matter,’ he thought.  ‘There isn’t anyone left to oppose me anyway.‘   He reached for the handle as a sound caught his attention.  Was that a scuffle?  He turned his head to the side to hear better.  With no other sound forthcoming, he entered the room.



    The guild-master, fully alert, stared at him from his bed in disbelief.  Silt froze, taken aback.  The guild-master’s eyes locked onto Silt’s dagger, coated in the blood of his comrades.



    “What have you done!” he screamed, rising to his feet.      Something fell from the bed and disappeared into the shadows of the room.  Silt kept his attention on the guild-master, knowing from experience that the man was not to be taken lightly.  Fatigued from his previous fight, Silt meant to finish this battle quickly.  Before the guild-master could take a step in Silt’s direction, the familiar launched the weapon, embedding it in the man’s throat.  The guild-master gurgled and collapsed to the floor.  A whimper reached Silt’s ears as he strode up to the guild-master and leaned down.  The familiar dismissed it for now.



    “I am freeing my friend,” he said.  “I do this for Kyoshi.”



    As he rose back up, he heard the door to the guild slam open.  His head shot in that direction.  Damn!  Someone had escaped.  Cleaning his blade on the guild-master’s robe, he quickly left the building and headed for the inn.  Luckily, he wasn’t seen as he slipped past the front desk and up to his room.  He collapsed, exhausted, on his bed.  He’d have to find the urchin that escaped and silence them.



 



    Kyoshi and Nerra made good time, riding through the night and reaching Leycester at dawn.  After being turned away at every inn, they headed to the temple.  The last innkeeper they approached regretfully told them that, with the festival in full swing, all the inns were fully booked but that they may find accommodations at the temple.  Kyoshi was less than thrilled after his years in the monastery.  But with nowhere else to go, he headed for the building.  Nerra shuffled her feet, exhaustion wearing her down.  Ash, to Kyoshi’s chagrin, curled within the assassin’s robes, the boy’s body heat keeping Silt’s body from going into hibernation.



    Kyoshi led the way into the building.  The warmth of it’s walls wrapped around him and he closed his eyes in contentment.  A moment later, an acolyte, not much older than Kyoshi, noticed them and approached.



    “Can I help you?” The young man asked, the robes of his station sweeping the floor.



    Kyoshi’s eyes widened, awestruck.  The acolyte captured the assassin’s attention with his beauty.  Long, golden hair swept past the boy’s hips, the top half pulled back and secured by a golden headband.  His bright, emerald eyes were lined with heavy, dark lashes that swept over his cheeks when he closed them.    Realizing he was staring, Kyoshi cleared his throat.



    “We request accommodations for a few hours,” he said, hoarsely.  “Just until we can regain our strength.”



    “I don’t know if I can do that,” the young acolyte answered, his angelic voice wreaking havoc on Kyoshi’s concentration.



    Ash, having woke when they entered the building, bit kyoshi to get his attention.  Kyoshi jumped and looked down as Ash peeked through his robes.  The acolyte noticed this and nodded.



    “You are a priest of the forest,” he said.  “I will consult with the head priest.  One moment, please.”



    As the young man floated away, Kyoshi reached in his bag and pulled out the crystal ball.  Ash laid against it and told Kyoshi what he wanted.



    “You need to convince them however necessary,” he said.  “You know what you need to do.”



    “I’m not going to seduce a priest, Ash,” Kyoshi whispered.



    “You will if it gets us a place to sleep.”



    Kyoshi could feel Ash’s irritation as he put the crystal ball back.  Shortly after, the young acolyte returned with the head priest entering from a door at the end of the room.  The head priest was an older human, about the same age as Talos.  He had a regal and stern bearing.  Kyoshi feared he may actually need to employ Ash’s tactics.



    “We have one room available,” the head priest said.  “Are you ladies fine with that?”



    “Yes,” Kyoshi said, bowing.  “Thank-you very much.”



    Both the acolyte and the priest blushed lightly and led them to the room.  After ensuring they were comfortable, they left, leaving Kyoshi and Nerra to their rest.  In a matter of moments, both were asleep.



 



    Silt rose from his slumber just after the noon meal.  He felt it right away; Ash had finally found him.  He needed to get out of town soon.  Taking a chance, he decided to grab a bite to eat before he headed out.  The innkeeper kindly served him lunch and wished him a blessed day.   Heading toward the stables, he overheard a conversion between two women.



    “Did you hear about what happened last night?” the one closest to Silt replied.  “Thirty-six dead!”



    “I can’t believe it,” the other woman said in hushed tones.  “And during Festival, too!  I heard a boy escaped the carnage.  Couldn’t of been more then twelve summers old.”



    Silt cursed his bad luck.  He’d been right when he suspected someone had escaped.  All the better.  He didn’t know if he could live with the death of a child on his conscience.  Quickening his pace, he all but ran the last few yards to the stables.



 



    Kyoshi woke to an incessant poking in his side.  Cracking open an eye, he stared down at the offending nuisance.  Ash stared up at the assassin expectantly.  With a sigh, Kyoshi sat up.



    “Nerra,” he called.  “Ash is impatient.  We need to find Silt.”



    Nerra grumbled incoherently and rolled over.  Kyoshi agreed wholeheartedly with the senari but gathered their things anyway.    He walked over to her and nudged her hip.



    “Come on,” he said.  “Let’s get this over with and be on our way.”



    Nerra turned her head and glared at the assassin.  Kyoshi held his hands up in surrender.  After a mighty stretch, she got to her feet and trudged toward the door.  The young acolyte from earlier greeted them.



    “I hope your stay was restful,” he said.



    Nerra neglected to acknowledge the boy but Kyoshi turned to him.



    “It was,” he said.  “Thank-you.”



    “It was no trouble.  Come back whenever you’re in town again.”  A furious blush fanned his pale, unblemished skin and he lowered his head to hide it.



    “I will,” Kyoshi said, grazing his fingers across the boy’s brow.



    “Kyo!” Nerra growled, holding the door to the temple open.  Kyoshi sighed and turned, following the senari out of the building.  



    The streets were crowded with festival goers and it took Kyoshi nearly an hour to find anyone who recognized Ash.  A fruit vender pointed them in the direction of the stables.  The assassin shared a quick glance with Nerra and they weaved through the mass of bodies toward the building at the edge of town.  



    Kyoshi and Nerra crashed into the stables as Silt was mounting Ash’s horse.  He locked eyes with the assassin and froze.  After a moment, he looked away and sighed.



    “I guess my time is up, then” he said.



    “Silt,” Nerra said.  “Ya gotta give Ash back ‘is body.”



    “Why?” he asked, leaning back casually in the saddle, his hands crossed over the saddle horn.  Kyoshi couldn’t help but notice how attractive Silt made Ash look when he was laid back and casual.  “I’ve grown quite fond of this body.”  His gaze shifted to Kyoshi and lingered there, an unfathomable emotion flickering across his features.



    “Ya jes’ can’t,” Nerra protested.  “I’s not right.”



    “Not right?” the familiar asked, snapping his head back to her.  “What about what he did to me?  Why in the nine hells would I give up this strong, healthy body for the broken shell my master left me in?”



    “I can understand your anger,” Kyoshi soothed.  “What if we come to a compromise?  You give Ash his body back and he heals yours.  Would that be satisfactory?”



    “What about my mission?”  Silt argued.  “I can’t do that in my body.  The outlaws are running this country and someone needs to put a stop to it.  I can and I will.”



    “Silt, it’s only a matter of time before you’re caught,” Kyoshi pled.   “I’d rather you take up your previous role, at my side.”



    Kyoshi’s silken words worked their magic and Silt sighed in defeat.  His head hung as he dismounted the horse.  He approached Kyoshi and looked the boy in his aquamarine eyes.  His stare was intense and Kyoshi fought the urge to look away.



    “You deserve better than this,” the familiar said.  “I hope one day, you are free of this life.”  



    He bent down and grazed his lips across Kyoshi’s hair, the last whisper of human affection the familiar would ever give the boy.  Then he reached for Ash and held his other hand out for the crystal ball.  For a split second, Kyoshi hesitated, wondering if he was really doing the right thing. Silt looked so sad!  If they killed Silt’s body, Ash would be dead and Silt could live out his days as a human.  Kyoshi would be free, at least for a while.  So, why did the thought tear at his heart?



  Ash glared at Kyoshi menacingly. With a soul-wrenching sigh, the assassin pulled out the ball and handed it to Silt.  A few seconds later, Ash and Silt were back to normal.



    Ash dangled the lizard over his head, preparing to squeeze the life out of him.  An inferno raged in his blue eyes and his whole body shook with rage.  For Silt’s part, he didn’t even fight back.  He simply lay limp in Ash’s grasp, as though he’d been resigned to his fate even before he’d agreed to give the mage’s body back.  Kyoshi lunged forward.



    “Ash!” he shouted.  “I made him a promise!”



    “That’s right,” the mage said through grinding teeth.  “You made a promise.  Not me.”



    Kyoshi choked back a sob as Ash began to bring his fingers together.



    “Ashton Ozera,” Nerra growled, hands planted on her hips.



    Ash turned his gaze to her briefly.  “This is no longer fun anyway,” he said and tossed the broken lizard to Kyoshi.  “I can’t heal him until tomorrow, after I’ve had time to study my spellbook.”



    Kyoshi felt relieved and tucked Silt into his robes. The familiar didn’t even glance at the assassin, his dark eyes glassy and faraway. When Kyoshi looked back up, Ash’s nose stood inches from his own.



    “Do not think that your transgressions will go unpunished,” the mage warned.  “As soon as we are free of this repugnant little town, I will teach you the price of your disobedience.”



    Kyoshi looked away and lowered his eyes.  “Yes, master,” he mumbled.  “I understand.”



    With that, Ash led them back to the temple.  The head priest gave them accommodations for the night only after Ash offered a purse heavy in coin.  The man began to protest when it became obvious that Ash intended to sleep with two women.  A dark glare from the mage, however, stopped the priest’s comment from leaving his mouth.  Shaking his head, the man took his purse and disappeared.



    Ash spent a few minutes studying his spellbook before turning down the lamp.  It only took a second longer for Kyoshi to realize where the mage intended to sleep.  The futon behind him dipped as Ash crawled in, completely nude.  The mage slid up against Kyoshi’s back and snaked his arm around the boy’s waist, pulling the assassin flush against his front.  Kyoshi tried to even out his breathing, feigning sleep.  Many hours passed, however, before sleep finally found him.



    The next morning, Kyoshi woke with Ash’s arm still draped across him.  The appendage had slipped to the boy’s hip and slightly into his robes, Ash’s fingers dangling dangerously close to the assassin’s genitalia.  Kyoshi tried to slip out from under the mage but Ash’s grip tightened, pulling the boy close once again.  Kira, perched near Kyoshi’s head, noticed the small struggle and screeched out his disapproval.  Ash’s eyes snapped open.



    “What the hell?” he snapped, jerking his head at the offending animal.  Kira’s head was tucked under his wing, preening his feathers and oblivious to Ash’s rage.  “One of these days, I’m really going to enjoy roast raptor for dinner.”



    Kira turned to look at Ash and cocked his head to the side.  Another screech, less than a foot away, answered the mage.  Kyoshi tried not to laugh: he really did.  But he knew Ash didn’t miss the subtle shaking of his lithe frame.  The mage apparently decided to ignore it for now and threw the covers off their bodies.



    “Since you’re already awake,” he said.  “Gather our things.  I want to leave this dank place as soon as I’m finished with the task you laid upon me.”



    “Yes, Master,” Kyoshi said, getting to his feet.



    While Ash worked to heal his familiar, Kyoshi packed their belongings, waking Nerra along the way.  She really wasn’t a morning person and grumbled through the whole process.  Still, by the time Silt was healed, Nerra and Kyoshi were ready to go.  The lizard ran up to the assassin and skittered around the boy’s feet a moment, his gratitude felt, if not heard.  Without another word, the party left the temple and shortly after, the town.  



 



    High on the wall surrounding the town, a boy, barely twelve summers old, watched the party disappear into the forest.  His body shook with barely controlled rage.  That man had killed his master, his protector, his lover.  He would pay dearly for what he had done.  Alec jumped from the wall, turning a perfect summersault and landing gracefully on his feet.  He slipped away in the opposite direction, running to Zander with the only name the boy could remember: Kyoshi.