The Assassin

by Trudie Collins

  The local inhabitants had not seen their arrival, so were caught by surprise when the two humans walked into the central square. Some recognised them and called out their names in greeting. One strode over towards them, hand extended in welcome.

  “It is good to see you again,” the shaten said, shaking Dean’s hand and kissing Sam’s. “May I enquire as to how you got here?”

  Sam smiled. Only Yallend’s residents knew how to cross the desert and they guarded the secret closely. “Hello Hanbert, how are you?” Hanbert was one of the leaders and had been Sam’s guide the first time she arrived in the city. “Salabine brought us,” she added, not wishing to cause the man any further concern.

  Hanbert’s deep green eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. The shaten were a race of beings that could easily have been mistaken for human had their skin not been entirely covered in short fur. “The dragon,” he sighed with pleasure. “My people will be so pleased to hear she has honoured us with another visit.”

  “We are here to see Hurst,” Dean interrupted before Hanbert got too distracted. “Is he around?”

  “Of course. He and Anna spend a lot of their time in the school house, so I would recommend trying there first. Follow me.” He led them away from the main square towards one of the larger sand-coloured buildings. All of the buildings in Yallend were made from combining wet sand with tree sap, which dried to make a surprisingly strong material. All of the beds, tables and chairs were made from the same substance.

  “As well as fathering a number of offspring with willing young shaten females,” Hanbert explained as they walked, “Hurst is now the proud father of a daughter with Anna and they have another on the way.” One of the reasons the shaten had agreed to allow a clue to be left in their city was to save their race. Their population was decreasing and they needed new breeding stock to ensure its survival. Only two were allowed into Yallend from each team, the ‘guide from another world’ with one companion, and one of them had to agree to remain in the city temporarily. Brin had remained from Cirren’s team and Hurst had volunteered to stay instead of Sam. Being an elf, the shaten doubted that Brin would be able to breed with them so he had returned with Sam. After a while, Hurst had left Yallend to collect King Allias’s housekeeper, much to the King’s annoyance, and make her his wife. He and Anna returned to Yallend and made it their permanent home.

  “Hurst,” Sam cried out when they entered the school house and her eyes fell on her old friend.

  “Sam,” Hurst said in surprise. “What are you doing here?” Sam ran over to the elderly looking man and hugged him tightly.

  “We are here with a warning,” she informed him. “Is there somewhere more private we can talk?”

  “Of course,” he said, indicating with his hand that she should go down one of the corridors. “And how are you Dean?” he asked as Dean made to follow them.

  “I could be better,” he replied, glancing at Sam.

  “How do you know Hurst?” Sam asked once the three were alone in a room.

  Dean gave her a despairing look. “Hurst was here when I arrived the first time,” he told her in a tone that indicated his answer was obvious.

  “Oh,” she said, embarrassed. “I should have thought of that.”

  Making themselves comfortable on the sand-coloured chairs, Dean and Sam proceeded to explain why they were there. They told Hurst everything that had happened and he was deeply saddened by all of the deaths.

  “I appreciate you warning me,” he said once they had finished speaking, “but I will not be leaving with you. Not many people outside of this city know I am here and this place is virtually impossible to get to, unless you know its secrets. I am probably safer here than I would be with you.”

  What he said was true so neither Sam nor Dean argued with him.

  “Is Frando still here?” Dean asked.

  “Yes, he decided to remain with us.”

  “Who is Frando?” Sam enquired, having never heard the name before.

  “Frando was the guy who came with me,” Dean explained

  “So why did he stay instead of you?”

  Dean grinned. “Because he is a randy little sod and leapt at the opportunity to sleep with a number of different women.”

  “Whereas young Dean here said he was engaged and wished to remain faithful,” Hurst interrupted, having been present when the decision had been made. Sam glanced at the floor as Hurst’s words brought back to her the feeling of guilt that kept overwhelming her. She could not blame the grey-haired man; he had no way of knowing that it was herself that Dean had been talking about.

  “I should go and see him,” Dean announced. “He also needs to be warned.”

  “Of course. He is probably at his house with his three wives and five of his children at the moment.” Hurst provided directions and Dean departed.

  “How is your sight?” Sam asked. Hurst had remained behind as drinking from the city’s fountain had cured his blindness.

  “Perfect,” he happily told her. “I have even been told that the blindness should not return even if I stop drinking the water, but I am not going to take that risk.”

  “I am very happy for you. And how about your other sight?”

  “Let me show you,” Hurst said and took her hand. Hurst had joined Tor’s team on the quest when a ‘blind man who can read’ was required as he had the ability to read people’s minds. He closed his eyes and concentrated. When he opened them he looked very sad. “You are doing the right thing,” he told her. There was no need for her to ask what he was talking about as she had been thinking about how she had dumped Dean for Brin.

  She withdrew her hand. Her question had been answered. “Let’s talk about happier things,” she said. “Did you know that Cirren is now married and Brodin has been crowned King?”

  She told him all that had happened since she had last seen him and many hours passed before she announced that she and Dean should be leaving. Hurst escorted her back to the main square, where they found Dean talking with Hanbert.

  “It is time we left,” Sam informed them once their conversation had drawn to a close.

  Unexpectedly, Dean took Sam’s hands in his. “You will be leaving alone,” he told her. “I have decided to stay here.”

  Chapter 8

  Brin was staring into the distance, lost in his thoughts, when he heard a noise to his left. Looking round he saw Salabine land and jumped up to greet her. Tears were flowing down Sam’s cheeks as she dismounted and she fell into his arms.

  “Where is Dean?” he asked when he could not see him on the dragon’s back.

  “He stayed behind,” Sam sobbed into his shoulder. Brin was glad she was not looking at him as he failed to keep the smile from his face.

  When she had composed herself, she thanked Salabine for her help and the dragon flew off into the sky.

  “Alone at last,” Brin said, slipping his arms around Sam’s waist as they watched the dragon become a spec in the distance. She turned around and kissed him passionately. She needed something to take her mind off Dean and Brin instinctively knew what she was thinking. “You might want to tone it down a bit,” he told her when she released him. “I can almost guarantee we are being watched by whoever is on guard and I can assure you they will not avert their eyes just because I am their Prince.”

  Sam blushed bright red and stepped away from him. “So what do we do now?”

  “Sunset is still a few hours away so we can start to travel around the forest towards the place where Tor and the rest will emerge if you wish, or we can remain here and wait for them.”

  “Let’s go,” she said and called Thresnine to her. She jumped onto her back as Brin mounted his own horse and headed off. Dean’s mount followed obediently behind.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked her after they had been riding in silence for a while.

  “There is nothing to talk about. He announced he was staying, I tried to change his mind, but failed. What more nee
ds to be said?”

  Brin remained silent. He knew Dean’s departure was going to hurt her a great deal, but there was nothing he could do or say to help her cope until she was ready to let him in, so he let the subject drop.

  They continued travelling while daylight remained, then moved into the shelter of the trees once darkness descended. They had just dismounted when elves materialised around them, all dressed in the uniform of the Home Guard.

  “Nisse instructed us to keep an eye on you,” one of them explained before Brin could ask the question. “We will take care of your horses and we have plenty of food and water with us.”

  Brin grinned at Sam. “I told you so.” Despite having more than enough supplies themselves, they willingly shared the elves’ meal and spent a peaceful night sleeping in each other’s arms.

  Not long after Dean, Sam and Brin departed, the wagon was loaded and ready to go. Tor was just saying his farewells to the royal family when a member of the Home Guard ran over to Nisse to deliver an urgent report. Nisse smiled and walked over to Tor. “Nosmas has been spotted approaching the forest. He will be told to wait for you instead of coming here.”

  “That is good news,” Tor told him. “Thank you.” He then mounted his horse and signalled to the elves who would be leading them out of the forest to proceed.

  “I wonder if they will all survive,” Nisse whispered in Brianna’s ear. She did not reply.

  Tor set as fast a pace as the wagon would allow and the elves easily kept up, running beside the horses or leading the way when the path they were following split in two. They would be out of the forest before nightfall, but would then have to travel around its edge to meet up with Nosmas, and eventually Sam and Brin.

  Patrick was his usual self as they travelled. “I wonder if all three will still be alive when we meet up with them,” he mused during one of their rest breaks. The conversation had turned to what they should do if there was any trouble between Dean and Brin and Patrick could not resist making the comment. Ellen hit him. “I was only joking,” he said defensively. Nobody found the comment amusing as most of them had been thinking the same thing.

  The sun was beginning to set as the trees thinned and the grasslands beyond could easily be seen, so they decided to spend the night in the forest. Their guides were no longer needed, but remained with them on guard duty, bidding them farewell as the sun rose the next morning. Hawk had flown off as soon as the sun had set, in search of food and Sam. He easily found both and when he returned he reported that Dean had remained in Yallend. Feelings of guilt overcame them when they realised they were actually relieved by the news. They had grown to like Dean and would miss him, but the journey would now be a lot more pleasant than it would have been with both him and Brin along and Brin held a place in their hearts that Dean never would.

  When they eventually met up with Nosmas and Quartilla, Brin and Sam were already there. Sam knew that everyone was already aware of Dean’s departure and was grateful to Hawk for saving her the task of explaining it to them. Quartilla was holding onto Nosmas’s hand when they arrived and he could not prevent her from telling them their news as soon as they had all dismounted.

  Their reactions were not what she had been expecting. Dal had actually been horrified. “But he is old enough to be your father,” she exclaimed while Tor reprimanded his friend about taking advantage of a young girl. Once he had them all calmed down, Nosmas explained the full details, including the fact that he would not be able to take advantage of Quartilla, despite her trying at every opportunity, until they were married. Eventually everyone was able to accept the situation and agreed that Nosmas had behaved in a respectable manner. They congratulated them both warmly and the women took Quartilla aside to discuss wedding plans. It would be a long while before they could have a ceremony, but that did not stop women planning, Tor noticed.

  Meanwhile, Patrick took Brin aside for a private word. “Be honest,” he said once he was sure they could not be overheard. “Is Dean really in Yallend or did you kill him and hide the body?”

  Brin glared at him, but was unable to keep a smile from his face when Patrick curled up with laughter. “You know Patrick,” he said. “I really have not missed you.” Patrick laughed once more, slapping his friend on the shoulder.

  “Brin, my friend,” he replied. “You take all the fun out of life. I was really looking forward to watching you and Dean try to deal with each other. The journey is going to be so boring now.”

  “When has travelling with Tor ever been boring?”

  This time, however, it was. Nothing of interest happened as they travelled south-west through Emvale. They slept during the day and rode at night and Hawk once again provided a constant supply of meat. They discussed tactics on finding the assassin and the person who had hired him, but no real plans could be made until Grimmel and River had re-joined them. They talked as though both were still alive, but were well aware that the assassin may have gotten to them first.

  One morning, when their supplies were running low, Tor announced that they would stop at the next town they came to in order to restock. Everyone was tired, having travelled all night, and once they had purchased all they needed they decided to visit the local tavern for a cool glass of ale before finding somewhere to camp.

  The inn was not very busy when they entered so they had a number of empty tables to choose from. Dal was sipping her beer when her eyes fell upon a man drinking alone in the corner. “Holy shit,” she exclaimed.

  Seth shot a glance towards her in concern; she rarely used bad language and when she did it was only in extreme circumstances. His worry increased when he noticed how pale she had gone.

  “Look over there,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving the man in the corner.

  Seth looked over and swore under his breath.

  “What is wrong?” Patrick asked.

  “That man in the corner,” Seth explained, indicating the stranger with a jerk of his head, “is one of the ones who killed Oak.” Oak, a tree sprite, had been a member of Tor’s team and a good friend until he had been burnt alive by a group of men who had accused him of murdering their family members. Oak had not denied the charge, but had insisted it was in retaliation for what the humans had done to his sister and her fiancé. There were two sides to the story and nobody knew which was true, but the men executed Oak anyway while he was tied up and defenceless. Dean, Cirren, Brodin, Seth and Dal had all witnessed it and it was a memory that would live with them for the rest of their lives.

  “Are you sure?” Tor asked.

  “I will never forget any of their faces,” Seth told him.

  “Then maybe we should go and have a little chat.” Tor rose, accompanied by Seth, Patrick and Nosmas. They took seats at the man’s table, who looked up in surprise.

  “Do you recognise me?” Seth asked him menacingly. The man was already half-drunk, but his eyesight was clear enough to see who was sitting opposite him. He shuddered.

  “I know who you are and why you are here,” he slurred. “I have been expecting you.”

  This statement took them all by surprise. “You have?” Patrick asked.

  The man nodded. “Ever since I heard about what you did to Fajfar I knew it would not be long before you found me and did the same to me.”

  Fajfar was a member of Brodin’s team who had betrayed them all by tying them up while he was on guard duty alone. It had been he who had actually set fire to Oak while the rest of his gang watched.

  Seth was about to deny doing anything to Fajfar, but Tor held up his hand to silence him. “What happened to him?” he asked.

  The man raised his head and looked at the Prince. “Your friend here, or one of his companions, tied him to a tree and set fire to him.”

  “Good,” Seth snarled. “It was not me, but if I ever find out who it was I will thank him.”

  “So you are not here to kill me?” the man asked, hopefully.

  “No,” Seth assured him. “Unlike you, I am not a mur
derer.”

  “What should we do with him?” Patrick asked Tor.

  The Prince sighed. “Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do. We cannot hand him over to the authorities as we have no evidence and we cannot spare the time. Come on. Leave him alone. Hopefully he will drink himself to death.”

  The four men returned to their friends. “Fajfar is dead,” Seth gleefully told his wife. He filled the others in on what the man had said and they all came to the same conclusion. The assassin. Whoever was hunting them down must have somehow found out what Fajfar and his gang had done to Oak and instead of making his death look like an accident, he made it appear as though one of the witnesses was out for revenge.

  “I am beginning to think we are dealing with a highly intelligent man,” Tor said in concern. “He seems to be tracking people down very easily and finding out a lot about them. Sam, I hate to ask this, but do you think you can get a message to Dean? He has the right to know about Fajfar’s fate and he should be warned that he may not be as safe as he thinks he is.”

  Sam nodded. As they both possessed the ability to speak to animals, sending a message would be easy, provided she could find a willing messenger.

  As they left the taproom, Dal glanced into the corner. The man was still there, slumped over the table either asleep or unconscious. She smiled and took her husband’s hand.

  It did not take Sam long to find a bird willing to cross the desert and the warning to Dean was soon on its way. She gave directions as to where they were heading in case he wished to send a reply, but did not expect him to. She was pleasantly surprised, however, when one arrived when they were within a day’s ride of the place where they hoped to find River. They had met the Spriggan River the previous day and were now following it south as it meandered towards Gitwerc.

  It was mid-morning and they were looking for a suitable place to camp for a few hours when Brin spotted a large bird circling above them. He took an arrow from his quiver and was about to shoot at it when Sam knocked his arm down.

  “It might be from Dean,” she explained. “Besides, we have enough meat for a few days yet. You do not have to hunt everything you see.”