The Assassin's Tale (Isle of Dreams)

by Kirsten Jones

  The twins gazed after his retreating back with curious expressions on their faces, still keeping a firm hold on Mistral.

  ‘I wonder what he meant by that?’

  ‘Who cares! Are you going to carry me up there or can I at least have the dignity of walking to my own expulsion?’ Mistral seethed.

  The twins instantly let go of her and stepped back, as though she were some dangerous creature newly released from its cage.

  ‘Good luck!’ Phantom called cheerfully as she stomped up the stairs.

  ‘Oh, that was uncalled for!’ Phantasm winced when Mistral’s foul response echoed loudly down the stone stairwell.

  ‘Shall we wait?’ Phantom asked with a caring expression on his face.

  ‘Definitely,’ his brother agreed, leaning back against the wall and folding his arms. ‘This is going to be good!’

  Mistral stormed up the stairs and marched straight up to the heavy door, throwing it open without knocking only to instantly freeze on the threshold. Leo was sat at the wooden table, his face a hard mask of cold fury, but it wasn’t his expression that had stopped Mistral. Another figure stood over by the window, looking out across the Valley, his tousled black hair and long, lean outline more familiar to Mistral than her own reflection. Her heart sank like a stone. Fabian was still here. All the promises she had made him about being more careful suddenly rang in her ears. She wanted to die. He was going to be utterly furious with her.

  ‘It is customary to knock at your Training Captain’s door.’ Leo snapped icily. ‘But since you are already inside my room, why don’t you sit down.’

  Mistral pulled her gaze away from Fabian’s back. He had not turned around, for which she was grateful. This was going to be bad enough without having to see the disappointment on his face.

  She walked over to the chair Saul had obviously sat in. It was pulled out at a chaotic angle, as though the occupant had left in a rush and kicked it out. Mistral reached out and rested a hand on the back of the chair.

  ‘I prefer to stand,’ she said, giving Leo an insolent look.

  Leo’s eyes blazed before he regained control and nodded curtly, ‘As you wish. I suppose even you are capable of listening whilst standing,’ he snapped and remained seated, giving Mistral the small satisfaction of looking down on him.

  ‘Do you actually want to retake your first year’s training?’ he demanded in a voice like steel.

  ‘Not likely!’ Mistral spat contemptuously. ‘I think I’d rather die!’

  Fabian stirred slightly and Mistral immediately regretted her words. Forcing a deep breath into her lungs she made an effort to control the rage burning inside her.

  Leo narrowed his eyes, ‘I rather think that may be inevitable given your temperament. You will have to learn to control your outbursts if you still intend to apply for a second year’s training!’

  ‘Actually –’ Mistral began heatedly and then abruptly halted. Fabian had turned his head slightly to look at her. His face was filled with a yearning so pronounced that the angry words she was about to fling in Leo’s face died on her lips.

  ‘Actually, I would really like to talk to you about that Master Sphinx,’ she continued in a calmer voice.

  Fabian’s lips twitched into the smallest semblance of a smile before he turned to face the window again.

  ‘Oh?’ Leo eyed her suspiciously, thrown by her sudden shift in behaviour.

  ‘May I have that seat now?’ Mistral asked politely, her hand still resting on the back of the chair.

  Leo nodded and continued to scrutinise her carefully, his expression slightly bemused.

  ‘I have given a lot of thought to a second year’s training,’ she said, gazing earnestly at Leo but speaking every word only for Fabian’s benefit. ‘And, if the Ri is prepared to extend the offer to me, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to master Sight.’

  Leo looked momentarily surprised and leaned back on his chair, inhaling sharply. They sat in silence for a few moments while he continued to regard her through narrowed eyes, as if weighing something up in his own mind. She kept her expression neutral and resisted the urge to look at Fabian, forcing herself instead to calmly meet Leo’s calculating gaze. Mistral could tell that Leo was battling the urge to expel her against his desire to use her skills to help him fulfil his ambitions. Mistral fought down the smile that threatened to pull up the corners of her mouth. She already knew which would win.

  ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said finally, dropping his gaze and shuffling a pile of parchment on his desk together. ‘In the meantime if I have any more trouble with you it will be the last time. This is your final warning. You may go.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said politely, privately thinking how impressed with her performance the twins would have been.

  She pushed her chair neatly back under the table and risked a glance in Fabian’s direction. He was smiling and it was all she could do to keep a grin from erupting on her own face in response.

  Closing the door quietly behind her Mistral almost skipped with joy down the stairs, much to the amazement of the twins who were still waiting patiently for her at the bottom.

  ‘Why couldn’t I hear shouting and the sounds of furniture being broken?’ Phantom demanded looking almost disappointed.

  Phantasm regarded her for a moment, ‘What have you done Mistral?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Asked for a second year’s apprenticeship,’ she said brightly and smiled.

  ‘Didn’t you get a punishment for trying to pulverise Columbine?’ Phantom asked, looking perplexed.

  ‘He must have forgotten,’ she said, looking innocently bewildered.

  ‘I think you’ve been spending too much time with us,’ Phantasm frowned. ‘Because I know you’re lying, but you’re even fooling me. However, I suggest that you don’t tell Golden that Leo hasn’t given you a punishment or she might look upon you as a love rival.’

  Mistral pulled face, ‘Please, with my line of potential suitors? Leo would have to get behind Grendel and Konrad. I’m such a lucky girl!’ she sighed theatrically and began to saunter along the corridor, turning her head to call over her shoulder.

  ‘Are you coming for an early lunch? I fancy a meal in The Cloak and Dagger – my treat!’

  The twins watched her go with matching expressions of utter amazement on their faces.

  ‘What on earth happened up there?’ Phantom asked in a mystified voice.

  ‘My money is on a mind swap of some sort,’ Phantasm shrugged. ‘But never mind that, a free lunch beckons!’

  They sat together at a table in The Cloak and Dagger. Mistral positioned herself facing the door and ordered a plate of food she didn’t want. She was hoping that Fabian would guess that she would come here and stared fixedly at the door, drumming her fingers lightly on the table top.

  ‘Told you … mind swap,’ muttered Phantasm to his brother frowning at her strange behaviour.

  ‘Mistral. Mistral!’ Phantom said loudly, making her jump and briefly tear her gaze away from the door to meet his curious green stare. ‘Just what is going on?’

  Mistral immediately ripped her gaze away from his as the door banged open, but it was only Xerxes and Brutus. She sighed with disappointment and resumed her finger-drumming and door-staring.

  Giving up, the twins shook their heads and talked amongst themselves while they ate, occasionally glancing over curiously at Mistral who had not touched her food or spoken since sitting down.

  The door opened again and Mistral abruptly gasped and leapt to her feet. Without saying a word to the twins she flew across the room and literally flung herself into the open arms of Fabian De Winter.

  ‘Oh, suddenly everything is clear,’ said Phantom with a disgusted snort.

  ‘Never mind,’ said Phantasm consolingly. ‘She’s left us her food.’

  ‘I’m so sorry! She threw a knife at me! Please don’t be angry! I promise to try harder to fight the urge to kill her every time I see her!’ Mistral gabbled
as Fabian gently pulled her outside and into the empty village square.

  ‘Hush Mistral. I’m not angry. Saul was quite clear about what happened.’ Fabian paused and looked at her searchingly. ‘Did you mean what you said to Leo?’

  She gazed back at him, instantly lost in his velvet eyes, ‘Every word.’

  He grinned and his face blazed triumphantly again.

  ‘Anyone would think you don’t actually want a relationship with me the way you’re acting,’ she grumbled.

  Fabian laughed and pulled her in, flush to his body, ‘Don’t be ridiculous. It’s going to be hell, but it’ll be worth it when you are still alive at the end of your training.’

  ‘Leo hasn’t definitely offered me a place yet,’ she warned sulkily.

  ‘Oh, he will,’ said Fabian softly. ‘I think you could have actually ripped Columbine’s head off today and he would somehow have managed to overlook it if you had agreed to stay on for a second year’s training –’

  ‘Shh! Don’t say another word,’ Mistral whispered urgently, pressing a hand against his chest to stop him speaking. ‘I’m holding that image in my head –’

  ‘What? Leo?’ Fabian demanded sharply.

  ‘Yuk! No! Oh it’s gone now, damn it! Me ripping Columbine’s head off, of course! But never mind,’ she sighed deeply. ‘There’s always training tomorrow.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ he growled. ‘From now on you are on your best behaviour.’

  ‘Remind me what I get out of this?’ Mistral asked in an exasperated voice. ‘A second year's training without even the redeeming glimmer of being able to pound Columbine into the ground on a daily basis!’

  Wordlessly, Fabian reminded her.

  Past And Future

  Mistral and the twins were sat around a table close to the fire in the Main Hall, quietly filling in their applications for a second year’s training. It was early evening and they were the only occupants in the room. All the other apprentices were already in The Cloak and Dagger, drinking to their impending freedom. The heavy silence in the large room was broken only by the sound of the twins’ energetic writing and the occasional crackle from the fire when a log shifted in the grate.

  Mistral’s eyes roamed over the lengthy document in her hand and felt her mind begin to wander when she saw the endless series of questions that needed to be answered.

  ‘Have you seen these questions?’ she demanded in disbelief.

  ‘Surely even you can manage the Name and Age section,’ responded Phantom distractedly.

  ‘And for Skills don’t forget to list your sunny temperament and limitless patience,’ Phantasm added, not lifting his eyes from his own application.

  Mistral glanced over at his and saw that he had already completed one side of the four page document. She sighed and shoved her form away. It was too boring to even contemplate filling in. Instead she put her feet up on the stool in front of her and glared moodily at the blazing fire.

  ‘So who else is staying?’ she asked loudly over the sound of the twins’ furious writing.

  Phantom looked up, ‘I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that Golden has applied.’

  ‘We all know why! Huh! I’d like to see what she lists for “Skills”,’ Mistral said with a disdainful curl of her lip.

  ‘None of the others are applying, although I’ll wager that Columbine will try just to stay near Golden. I doubt she’ll be accepted though, not unless you include “murderous temperament” as an exceptional skill,’ said Phantom thoughtfully.

  Mistral nodded, she wouldn’t be sorry to see the back of the vicious Columbine, and it would save her getting into any more trouble with Fabian for constantly fighting with her.

  ‘Have the others all signed up with Scrimshaw and Scuttle then?’ Mistral asked, more to avoid filling in the form than out of any real interest.

  ‘Hmm,’ said Phantom absent-mindedly and turned over a page of his application to begin writing again. ‘Except Saul. He’s signed up with Bragg and Napier.’

  ‘Why isn’t he using the Ri’s Agency?’ Mistral asked in surprise.

  Phantom didn’t reply and after a short pause Phantasm looked up from his application and frowned at her, ‘Bragg and Napier specialise in Mercenary work. I think Saul wants to travel.’

  ‘Oh.’

  Mistral looked down and fiddled with her application form in the silence that followed. Saul had been avoiding her since his confession, but that hadn’t been too difficult considering that he was spending the week on punishment detail and was probably right now still working knee-deep in the manure pile or performing some other unpleasant task for one of the Valley’s occupants.

  ‘There!’ Phantom exclaimed, signing his form with a satisfied flourish. ‘All done! Come on Mistral, I’ll give you a hand –’ he reached over and grabbed her form. ‘Let’s see now. What have you filled in so far? Ah, yes. Name, well done you for putting down a full six letters! Age … never! I had you down for so much older! Skills … hmm, think you’ve missed a few out there –’

  Mistral stared broodingly at the fire while Phantom began to complete the form, matching her handwriting with an ease that would have guaranteed him a lucrative profession in forgery.

  ‘Right! Contracts Undertaken During The Year … you’ve hardly put anything! Now, what have you done?’ Phantom asked, looking up at her expectantly.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, hunted down couple of knuckers I suppose –’

  Mistral mumbled distractedly before sighing deeply and resuming her fire-gazing. Most of her Contracts had been undertaken in a state of blank numbness during the time when Fabian was away, and she struggled to remember that time clearly at all.

  Unperturbed by her obvious lack of enthusiasm, Phantom began to list the many Contracts they had undertaken together throughout the year.

  ‘Troll one, obviously not a resounding success, might leave that one out ... knuckers – how many have you seen off this year Mistral?’

  Mistral shrugged disinterestedly, ‘Don’t know … six maybe?’

  Phantom snorted, ‘Try about fifteen! Right, what about that bestra? Remember, we spent two nights camped in the Southern Range hunting that great big smelly thing!’

  ‘I’d forgotten about that. I’ve no idea why we were sent to hunt it, they’re pretty harmless.’

  ‘Another one of those obscure “Master Nox Requests” Contracts that has no obvious purpose, although I’m sure there is one somewhere,’ Phantasm murmured while he read through his own completed application.

  ‘And,’ continued Phantom with an exasperated look on his face, ‘you’ve totally missed off the gargillian we were Contracted to dispatch!’

  Mistral looked at him blankly.

  ‘Oh please wake up Mistral! We spent a long, miserable, cold and really wet night hiding in some reeds on a river bank waiting for the damned thing to turn up! And when it did you flew at it like a personal enemy! I guess it reminded you of Columbine – anyway, you got bitten quite badly and I had to clean you up because you refused to go to the Infirmary. You’ve got a scar on your lower back.’

  Mistral nodded absently and then frowned. Another scar. She wondered darkly what on earth Fabian would think of all the marks on her body when he finally got to see it, if he ever did …

  ‘Then there was the gargoyle nest you cleared out, and let’s not forget that eventful time when we all took a Council Contract to track down and capture a renegade band of goblins that were robbing travellers in The Emerald Forests. You and Saul ended up brawling with three of them!’

  ‘Now I do remember that,’ said Mistral with a fond smile. ‘Happy times.’

  ‘Yes, before you made everything complicated.’ Phantom murmured, swiftly bending his head and resuming his frantic scribbling to avoid the scorching glare Mistral gave him.

  ‘Look, don’t make out that I’m like Golden or something!’ Mistral snapped. ‘I had no idea that Saul felt that way! It’s not as though I’ve been encouraging him by
being in such a lovely mood is it? He obviously just has bad taste! But if I had known he felt that way, I wouldn’t have let him suffer. I know how that feels.’

  Phantasm looked over at her and frowned, ‘Mistral, nobody in their right mind could ever compare you to Golden. You are worth ten of that scrawny half-nymph! And you can’t blame yourself for the way Saul feels. You set him straight as soon as you knew the truth. He’ll get over it.’

  Mistral looked at him in surprise. It wasn’t like Phantasm to compliment her, but before she could comment Phantom looked up at her, his green eyes troubled.

  ‘Have you done any Assassination Contracts Mistral? Only I can’t recall you doing any, but there was a time when if you weren’t training or sleeping you were out of the Valley on Contracts –’

  ‘No,’ said Mistral shortly, cutting him off mid-flow.

  Phantom fell silent while he put a cross next to the particular question and continued to write down details of the various other Contracts that Mistral had undertaken.

  ‘There,’ he said after a few more minutes of enthusiastic writing. ‘I think that’s all of them, but you’d better just read through and check.’ Phantom slid the application form across the table towards Mistral who glanced at it briefly before returning her gaze to the fire and sighing deeply again, making Phantasm look up in irritation.

  ‘What’s wrong Mistral? I thought you were happy about applying for a second year? Or was Monday’s bizarre behaviour a dream I had?’

  ‘No, no, that was me … and I am happy about it … sort of,’ Mistral murmured evasively.

  Phantom looked at her keenly, ‘Is it about Mage De Winter again?’

  Mistral tutted and looked out of the window, ‘You think everything is about Fabian as far as I’m concerned.’

  ‘Well, it usually is,’ Phantom said fairly and regarded her thoughtfully. ‘Come to think of it, how come you’re always back here of an evening and not at his house? It’s taken you long enough to admit how you feel about him. I thought you’d have moved in with him by now! So what’s with the chaste act?’