Chapter One: The Asp & Snake

 

 

 

Sagit Asan sat at his table in the Asp & Snake for five minutes without drinking his bottle of wine. This slightly annoyed the barman, Ali, as he alone of the Kharidian Desert's barmen took pride in customers enjoying his brew.

 

 

 

"Is your wine not to your liking, sir?" asked Ali after sidling over. Sagit eyed Ali with contempt. Luckily, Ali did not take offence as Sagit's eyes were obscured by a hood.

 

 

 

"Oh, no, nothing like that," he replied, "it's just that I am expecting a guest this evening."

 

"Of course sir. Perfectly understandable." Ali returned to his counter, not believing Sagit.

 

 

 

Ten minutes later, Sagit had still not left the bar. With the building significantly less populated, Ali noticed the newcomer enter with a burlier follower. They crossed to the table still occupied by the young man.

 

 

 

"You Sagittarius Asan?" the less bulky man inquired. His partner walked behind Sagit's seat.

 

"Indeed. Glad to meet you."

 

 

 

Conversation in the bar stopped abruptly. Everyone inside tried to calm themselves. Perhaps these men were mercenaries, hired to arrest him.

 

 

 

The small individual ignored the hush, and continued. "We have a message from the Bandits in the north of the town." His right hand grasped something attached to his waist.

 

 

 

Sagittarius grinned. "I had a feeling they'd want to pass on a message. It's a good thing I bought this bottle," he said, and swung it upwards into the face of the man behind him.

 

 

 

The man screamed and fell to the floor. The smaller mercenary pulled a knife from his belt, but Sagit was quicker. Before the mercenary had a chance to bring up the knife, he found a long dagger embedded in his chest.

 

 

 

"You - you killed him..." Ali stammered.

 

Sagit shrugged. "The bandits would torture and kill him if he came back without my body."

 

Before another word could be muttered, whispered or stammered, he had leapt from the window into the warm night.

Well, I'm not going to say anything until I actually know what the heck is going on...

 

 

 

And, the last line of speaking is confusing. I think you may have typed it wrong.

Chapter Two: Breakfast

 

 

 

The next morning, Sagit was invited to breakfast.

 

 

 

This was a rare luxury, as Ali the Operator seldom made any nice offers. He was forever brooding about a past event, and many Menaphite thugs said it had to do with the previous leader's death and an adventurer from Misthalin.

 

 

 

So, it was known to not refuse a meal with the gang leader. Sagit climbed from the basement dormitory and up two flights of stairs to the Operator's private rooms.

 

 

 

"Sagittarius, my honoured friend. I am so happy to see you alive after last night's events." Ali was in a good mood today. Sagit was not sure if this was good or bad. Privately, he wondered if all of the Operator's friends were vicious, cold-blooded mercenaries.

 

 

 

"I've told you many times, Ali, kind employer. Please call me Sagit."

 

"I know," replied Ali, "but our organisation is a formal one and we prefer to use full names."

 

Sagit looked out the window, where below, two Menaphites jeered at a young female basket weaver. Yes, very formal.

 

 

 

"I wished to speak with you about last night, incidentally." The Operator took a kebab from the bowl in the centre of the table.

 

 

 

Sagit followed his example. "You needn't worry, Ali. Two beginners are no threat to an assassin of my skill."

 

 

 

Ali dismissed the comment. "Yes, but what if they send more? I would lose a valuable mercenary, and where would our company go without you? Luckily, I have found an assignment for you which can keep you out of harm's way. A group of tourists are travelling from Misthalin to Sophanem."

 

 

 

"You want me to kill them?"

 

"Only as a last resort. With luck, they will be killed by jackals or crocodiles and our hand will not be detected. But if they come within a mile of the city gates, deal with them."

 

 

 

Sagit ate another kebab. "When should I leave?"

 

"They have already arrived in Pollivineach. Today?"

 

 

 

Sagit stood. "Consider it done, Ali." He left for the streets.

 

 

 

The tourists left Pollivineach without looking back. Sagit s[racist term]ed. Fools. This job would be simpler than he thought. They obviously had no idea of how to cross the desert safely.

 

 

 

One of them carried a large battleaxe. They were accompanied by an adventurer. Sagit had only seen one once before, on a trip to the Shantay Pass. They were the bane of many a thief. Some of them were thieves.

 

 

 

He could see two men, and a woman with the warrior. They wore desert robes inlaid with gold. That wouldn't help them much if they fell into the river.

 

 

 

He looked away. First rule of trailing: don't attract attention. A small part of him almost hoped they would reach Sophanem, so that he might take their lives. He cringed under his hood. It was the Menaphites who had made him like this; his continued contract with them, their hideous worship of Amascut, had turned him from thief to assassin.

 

 

 

For a moment, he considered simply leaving these people to their fate. But if they reached Sophanem, where would he go? The Menaphites would want him dead, and everywhere else he was a criminal. He was truly alone in the world.