The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams)

by Jones, Kirsten

  Boaz paused to consider, but it was all for show. Mistral caught the flash of greed in his aura and hid a smile.

  ‘Done.’ Boaz smiled and stuck a skinny hand out to shake.

  You will be. Mistral smiled brightly and pumped his hand vigorously, ‘And the flat above.’

  ‘Absolutely not! I couldn’t! Too much!’ Boaz spluttered and jerked his hand back sharply.

  ‘Your loss.’ Mistral shrugged and began to walk up the cobbled street towards the other property. She had barely taken five steps when Boaz’s creaky voice called out.

  ‘Wait!’

  ‘Yes?’ Mistral turned, her expression politely distant.

  ‘This gold … you would be making a payment in full … no credit?’

  ‘Oh yes. I’m very rich.’ Mistral confirmed flippantly and began to walk up the street again.

  ‘How apprentice? You are not even working yet!’ Boaz called sharply, his tone suspicious.

  Mistral turned and smiled sweetly at him, ‘Oh, didn’t I say? I won The Festival of the Arcane this year.’

  ‘The Festival of the Arcane?’ Boaz echoed faintly, his eyes sliding over her knife belt.

  After that Boaz became incredibly helpful, showing her the house next and letting her and Prospero walk through the rooms unaccompanied while he skulked nervously on the doorstep. The house was ideal. The downstairs opened out into one large room, both kitchen and living area. A wide veranda ran along the length, overlooking the Western Range. Mistral sighed and leaned against the wooden balustrade. The sunsets would be magnificent. Upstairs were two large sized bedrooms, a smaller room and a well-appointed bathroom. Mistral strolled into one of the bedrooms and opened the wardrobe doors; finding enough space to warrant being classed as another room she smiled and closed the doors. It was perfect.

  ‘I’ll take it,’ she said cheerfully when she stepped back out into the street.

  ‘Excellent!’

  ‘For half the price you’re asking.’ Mistral finished.

  Boaz made a choking noise and Mistral looked at him with an expression of concern, ‘Would you care for me to assist you with that?’ she enquired, reaching out towards his scrawny throat.

  ‘N-no!’ Boaz gasped and backed away from her quickly. ‘Your offer is perfectly acceptable!’

  ‘Good.’ Mistral glanced quickly at the village clock. ‘Now if you don’t mind I’d like to get this signed and sealed right away. There’s something I really need to be killing very soon.’

  Boaz gave her a wide-eyed look and trotted quickly up the street. Mistral followed along behind, laughing while she reflected that this was the most fun she’d had in ages. Maybe she had a flare for property acquisitions.

  By the time Mistral had signed the last piece of parchment any ideas she had of going into the estate agency business had long since shrivelled up and died of boredom.

  ‘Is that the last one?’ she snapped impatiently, scrawling her signature on yet another piece of parchment Boaz placed in front of her.

  ‘I just need the names of the new owners for the deeds.’ Boaz peered expectantly over the top of his spectacles.

  ‘Names. Right.’ Mistral thought for a moment and suddenly smiled to herself. ‘Wesley and Sheldon Argyle.’

  ‘Are they Mage?’ Boaz asked sharply.

  ‘Half. But the more scary half of them is sylvad.’ Mistral added, thinking of Melsina.

  Boaz blinked at her and bent his head over the parchment again, scratching the twins’ names out with a tatty old quill.

  ‘And finally, the shop owner. Still the same one I have down as the current buyer?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Boaz asked, shooting her a greedy look. ‘Only I could sell it to you and then you could rent it to him. It would make a good income for you.’

  ‘Quite sure.’ Mistral snapped coldly.

  Boaz shrugged and dropped his gaze, muttering under his breath, ‘Warriors! No money … no brains!’

  Mistral gritted her teeth and stood up, ‘Are we done now?’

  ‘Yes.’ Boaz stood up to shake her hand, a sour expression on his pinched face. ‘It’s almost been a pleasure doing business with you.’

  ‘Likewise.’ Mistral returned his limp handshake with a crushing grip.

  Mistral stood on the doorstep of Boaz Fagg’s shop and drew in a deep breath, gazing thoughtfully at the two large iron keys in her hand.

  How was she going to give her brothers their gifts? She cringed at the thought of an emotional scene with the twins and she didn’t particularly want to explain her actions to Cain either. She sighed and let her gaze drift over the street while she decided what to do. A wooden sign creaked in the breeze, drawing her attention. Scrimshaw and Scuttle, Appointed Agents to the Ri. She laughed and threw the larger of the two keys up in the air, catching it in her fist she ran lightly over to the agency and pushed open the door.

  Leaving Prospero waiting outside, Mistral stepped into the agency’s dim interior and glanced around curiously. There were three agencies in the Valley but as an apprentice she’d had no cause to visit any of them. She supposed that once her second year was finished she’d be spending a lot more time in one of them, Sight or no Sight.

  The interior of Scrimshaw and Scuttle was neat and utilitarian. Someone who Mistral assumed must be either Scrimshaw or Scuttle was writing in chalk on a huge black slate board on the wall. Mistral moved closer to see that it was a list of warriors and the Contracts they had been allocated. Cain’s was there with “Knucker, South Farm” written next to it. Good. Her brother was out on a Contract. She could leave the key for him here and avoid any uncomfortable scenes.

  ‘May I help you?’ the tall figure turned to address her politely.

  ‘Maybe. Are you Master Scrimshaw?’

  He raised his eyebrows at her brisk tone, ‘I am. However I’m afraid I have no work for you apprentice. May I suggest that you return once you have fully Qualified.’

  ‘I’m not here for work.’ Mistral said quickly. ‘I just wanted to leave something for one of the warriors to collect. Would that be alright?’

  ‘Of course.’ Scrimshaw responded politely and reached for a parchment and quill. ‘We offer a full messenger service for all of our clients. It is how your wedding invites were sent out.’

  Mistral frowned, ‘You know who I am?’

  ‘Of course I do Lady De Winter. We are looking forward to handling your portfolio.’

  I bet you are, especially if I get the Sight and get offered lots of well-paid Council Contracts. Mistral offered Scrimshaw a tight smile and dropped the heavy key onto the desk, ‘Right, well I just wanted to leave this for Cain.’

  ‘Of course –’ the door opened and someone entered the agency, Scrimshaw broke off to glance over her shoulder at the entrant. ‘However, you may simply wish to give it to him yourself.’

  ‘I can’t can I?’ Mistral snapped. ‘He’s out on a Contract!’

  ‘No, actually, Cain is stood behind you.’

  ‘Damn!’ Mistral spun around to see Cain, looking exhausted and giving off a distinctive odour of knucker slime.

  ‘Good to see you too Mistral.’ Cain replied wearily and dropped a sack onto Scrimshaw’s desk. ‘One head.’

  ‘Why thank you Cain.’ Scrimshaw’s manners remained impeccable, not batting an eyelid at the slime oozing onto his desk from the sack’s open neck.

  Cain held his hand out, ‘Money is better than thanks.’ he closed his fist around the purse of coins Scrimshaw dropped onto his palm and stowed it quickly inside his jerkin. ‘Any more work?’

  ‘Nothing suitable, however Lady De Winter was just trying to leave this key for you.’ Scrimshaw said helpfully while Mistral tried to edge towards the door.

  ‘A key?’ Cain picked up the key and began to read the tag attached to the handle.

  ‘He’s good.’ Mistral muttered to Scrimshaw. ‘Very perceptive. You should double his fees –’ she crept a little closer to the door, her
hand reaching for the handle –

  ‘Mistral?’ Cain looked up sharply. ‘Why have you given me a key to the shop I’ve got a deposit on?’

  ‘Er, because it’s yours –’ her hand gripped the door handle.

  ‘What?’

  Mistral smiled brightly, ‘Enjoy!’ she yanked the door open and fled into the street.

  ‘Mistral!’

  Cain’s hand was on her arm, holding her back. He spun her round to face him and held the key up between them.

  ‘What is this?’

  ‘A key?’

  ‘You know what I mean Mistral! Have you bought this shop with the money from The Festival of the Arcane?’

  ‘Um, well, sort of.’

  ‘Well have you or haven’t you?’

  Mistral dropped her gaze, ‘Yes.’

  ‘But why would you do that? It’s your money!’

  ‘I –’ she stopped herself, the words “I don’t want it” sitting on the tip of her tongue. In truth she didn’t want it, but that sounded childish and also belittled what she was trying to do. She sighed and tried again. ‘Look Cain, I really didn’t want to have this conversation with you. Can’t you just accept the damned thing and buy me a drink or something?’

  ‘No.’ Cain shook his head, his blue eyes bright. ‘I want to know this isn’t some stupid guilt thing about Saul.’

  Mistral cast her eyes heavenward, ‘I knew you’d think that, which is why I tried to leave the key with Scrimshaw. It’s not out of guilt over Saul, although of course I feel guilty –’ she paused and looked up the street, staring at the dusty fronted shop that was now Cain’s. ‘I suppose I wanted to use that money to buy something with significance. Oh, I can’t explain it!’ she abruptly exclaimed. ‘Do I have to?’ she added, glancing at him hopefully.

  ‘Frankly? Yes, because I have no idea why you’d want to spend that amount of money on me, unless you’ve bought us all a shop each?’

  ‘No, but I’ve bought the twins a house.’

  Cain gave a short laugh, ‘Very fitting, considering how house-proud they already are. But please stop evading the question and explain yourself Mistral, because I’m not accepting this until I know why.’

  ‘Oh for crying out loud! It’s just a shop brother! Enough of the deep and meaningfuls!’

  Cain dangled the key in front of her eyes, ‘Your shop, unless you can tell me why I should accept it.’

  ‘Fine.’ Mistral hunched her shoulders angrily. ‘I wanted to spend the money on something that Saul would approve of and this fits, exactly. I lost one brother that day and every time you all go out on Contracts I know I might lose another. Oh, don’t worry Cain!’ she snapped, catching his startled expression. ‘I’m not about to start mothering you all like Serenity does! But Saul knew you wanted that shop and the way I see it, if you’re stuck behind a counter mixing over-priced beauty aids for desperate middle-aged women instead of risking your neck then at least I know I’ve actually done something right by him!’

  Cain stared at her, the key still swinging from his fingers. Slowly his crooked smile re-emerged, ‘You just wait till you’re desperate and middle-aged Mistral. You’ll be begging for my help then, over-priced or not.’

  Mistral snorted, ‘I doubt it. But does this mean you’ll accept it?’

  ‘What? A cheating half-hob like me not take a free shop and,’ he arched an eyebrow speculatively, ‘the flat above?’

  ‘Full renovated, decorated and furnished.’ Mistral confirmed smugly.

  Cain burst out laughing, ‘And just how did you get Boaz to agree to that? He’s tighter than a rat’s backside!’

  ‘Told him I won the festival.’ Mistral shrugged. ‘Oh, and I wore my knife belt.’

  ‘Subtle.’ Cain grinned. ‘But, and never, ever tell anyone I actually asked this question or you’ll shatter my hard-earned reputation –’ he paused and pulled her closer, whispering furtively. ‘Are you sure about this? It is your money after all. You won it Mistral, fair and square. Don’t you need it?’

  Mistral almost laughed. Can it buy me Sight? Can it buy back Saul’s life? No. Then why the hell would I want it? ‘I think you’re forgetting who I married Cain. I’m Lady De Winter now. Fabian would probably buy me all the shops in the Valley if I wanted them.’

  Cain released her arm with a rueful shake of his head, ‘I forget about your title sometimes. I suppose your Mage does have a coin or two tucked away.’

  ‘I only married him for his money.’ Mistral retorted flippantly.

  ‘Huh, knew there had to be some reason.’

  ‘You know nothing Cain. Here, you’ll need these.’ Mistral reached into the top pocket of her jerkin to pull out two folded pieces of parchment. ‘Deeds … oh, and this –’ she thrust the second key into his hand.

  ‘What’s that?’ Cain frowned at the tag on the handle. ‘A spare?’

  ‘Hmm.’ Mistral ducked her head. ‘Right, I’ve got to go –’

  ‘Er, I don’t think so!’ Cain quickly shoved the second key and one of parchments back at her. ‘I’m not doing your dirty work for you Mistral!’

  ‘Oh please Cain!’ Mistral begged. ‘I have just given you a shop! Can’t you give the twins their key for me?’

  ‘What? And rob Phantasm of the chance to hug you again?’ Cain backed away from her, grinning impishly. ‘He’d been waiting nearly two years to do that!’

  Mistral pulled a face, ‘Come on Cain! You know I hate that sort of stuff!’

  ‘Just try and think of it as a particularly challenging Contract.’

  Mistral sighed and watched her brother run lightly up the street, no doubt heading straight for The Cloak and Dagger to celebrate. The relief she’d felt at him finally accepting her gift was blighted by the grim realisation that she was going to have to go through it all again with the twins.

  The village clock struck the hour and Mistral cursed. She was about to be late for Fabian.

  Mistral ran all the way back to her room with Prospero bounding at her heels and arrived breathless to find him waiting for her, leaning against the wall outside her room, his pale face breaking into an amused smile at her abrupt arrival.

  ‘Sorry!’ she gasped. ‘Been shopping.’

  He pushed himself off the wall, walking towards her with easy loping strides, ‘And what did you buy?’ he enquired, gently lifting her chin with one finger and regarding her with curious amusement.

  ‘Oh, not much. Just a shop and a house.’

  He raised an eyebrow, ‘We have another house now? Isn’t that a touch extravagant?’

  ‘Oh, no, it’s not for us! And it was with my winnings from the festival.’ Mistral explained in a rush, hating him to think that she’d been spending against his name. ‘I bought Cain the shop he had a deposit on, and the twins a house … I wanted to do something right the money.’ she added, looking up at him and willing him to understand without making her explain.

  He smiled and bent to brush his lips against her forehead, his warm breath caressing her skin with the words she needed to hear.

  ‘Saul would have approved.’

  Mistral closed her eyes, letting her hands rest lightly against his chest for the briefest of moments before they stepped apart again.

  ‘Are you ready to go for our hunt now? Or is there another building in the Valley you wish to purchase before we leave?’ Fabian asked with a wry smile.

  ‘Ready!’ she grinned. ‘Just let me get my saddlebag –’

  Fabian waited politely outside and fussed Prospero while she raced around her room, randomly throwing items into her saddlebag; medical kit, tinder box, crossbow and waterskin before finally stowing a small bottle of poison in her jerkin pocket to find she still had the key to the twins’ house. Mistral pulled it out and suddenly smiled. There was no time to find them and explain. She would just have to let them work it out for themselves.

  ‘I won’t be a minute!’ Mistral called through the open door then grabbed a quill and quickly scrawled on the fron
t of the folded deeds.

  For you – M.

  She stared at the three hastily scribbled words. They did nothing to convey the depth of her feelings for the twins, but then, were there any that could? Grinning to herself, she dipped the quill into the ink and scratched out another line.

  PS: Can I stay in the small room when I’m too drunk to get back to the dorms?

  She tilted her head and re-read the last sentence with a smile. It was much more appropriate than any words of gratitude or sentiment.

  ‘Right! Ready!’

  Bounding from her room she folded the key into the deeds and pushed it under the twins’ door.

  ‘Coward.’ Fabian murmured, taking her saddlebag and swords from her and swinging them over his shoulder.

  ‘I know.’ Mistral sighed and slipped her hand into his to walk down the corridor. ‘Beasts with more teeth and claws than a taxidermist’s window display I can do, but having to cope with the twins being emotional?’ Mistral pulled a face. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about!’

  A short while later Mistral and Fabian were riding up the path to the North Gate when she heard her name being called. Turning with a muttered curse she saw the twins grinning and beckoning to her from the village square, the key to their new house clearly visible in Phantasm’s waving hand.

  Mistral waved back then kicked Cirrus into a fast canter and shot past Fabian, ‘Quick! Pretend Spirit has bolted or something!’

  ‘Can you believe she bought us a house?’ Phantom exclaimed to his brother, watching Fabian and Mistral galloping away along the path.

  ‘Needs decorating though.’ Phantasm said thoughtfully. ‘Any preference on colours?’

  ‘Anything but white.’ Phantom replied happily.

  Destiny

  The heavy undergrowth of wet ferns quivered gently as Prospero slunk through it, his pale eyes intent on his quarry. A short distance behind Fabian and Mistral sat quietly on horseback, waiting. With a sudden snapping of branches a panicked hart broke cover and leapt away. Prospero bayed once and gave chase with Fabian and Mistral immediately breaking into a gallop after him.

  The hart bounded away, crashing wildly through the bushes, fleeing for its life. Reaching the river the hart didn’t pause but leapt in and started swimming for the far side with Prospero still in pursuit. Mistral and Fabian reached the bank and urged their horses after them. Spirit plunging into the belly deep water without any hesitation but Cirrus baulked, skidding to a splay-legged halt at the water’s edge and tipping Mistral over his shoulder into the river.