Medieval welfare: AGE OF WAR!

ASSASIN OUT OF THY SHADOW

Outside the kingdom, prince Altair decides to pay the greatest Wizard in the entire kingdom a visit as he rides on his horse towards a cottage above the flowering hill. The road is long but he has been riding this way many times and knows exactly where he will find the Wizard’s home. He can just make out the small shape of the wizard’s house through the trees and as he comes closer he slows, listening for any sign that someone might be inside or about to go somewhere. No sounds come to him from inside the house so he takes the chance and dismounts his horse, walking quietly up to the front door and knocking gently. There is no answer so he tries again, louder. Still, there is no answer so he pushes open the door slowly, slipping inside and shutting it behind him. As soon as he does the door swings shut behind him with a bang. He is now trapped inside. “Wizard?” he calls into the dark room. “Is anyone there?” Silence greets him. He looks around the dark room in which he is trapped before deciding to make his way further in. His hand finds a light switch and once the bulb goes on he sees that the room is empty apart from a few items scattershot the floor. “Wizard?” he calls again. “Where are you?” A sudden noise makes him jump and he spins around to see what it was. It is a cat!

Then a chubby figure enters the room with some potions he enters, “Who are you?” the young mage questions prince Altair. “You can come back later, the story is closed”

“And who may you be?” Altair questions proudly.

“I am an apprentice, what do I look like?” he says dropping off the potions Into the table, “Now I must finish my work.”

“I am Prince Altair of Nevia, I have business with the Wizard.”

The man turns to face him, “Prince?! But he is long gone.”

“Gone?! When did he leave?”

“A few days ago, it happened right after the councils of wizards called him for some meeting.” he sighs and picks up one of the potion bottles and uncaps the bottle, pouring the contents into another bottle. “I'm Author Idelvi!” he declares and smiles at his work.

“I come here not to talk, young wizard. I want you to search around if your master left any message behind.” Altair asks proudly.

Author Idelvi stops working and sets down his tools, “He didn't tell me where he was going but I know it's something important because he was really upset when I mentioned to him that he had to attend the council meetings."

"What council meetings?" Altair asks confused.

"The council of wizards! Why would you think my master went to them? They are always having discossions about how the war effort is going."

“I'm leaving" Altair orders as he tries to leave when a small dagger was thrown at him. He catches it in his fist and turns to face Author Idelvi. “Did you throw that?”

“Of course not” he answers smugly. “I am a man of peace”

“Then who did?" Altair questions as orcs barged into the room with their swords aimed at Idelvi and Altair. “Orc, I hate them”

“Kill the filthy humans!” an orc orders as they charge forward, blades ready to slash through him. “I have ordered”

“Idelvi!” Altair screams and throws his sword at the orc who is already charging toward the young man, hitting him square in the chest with enough force to send him flying backward.

The other orcs run at the intruder who is trying to stand but fall to the ground with a loud thud when two of the orcs grab hold of his arms. Altair watches helplessly as Author Idelvi gets picked up by his feet and held against the wall, facing the intruders who laugh cruelly at him. then a blade cuts off an orc's hand allowing the black greasy blood to spill all over. Then a figure enters outfitted in a black blue cloak which also hid his face. It was an assassin. He removes his silver sharp forged sword and walks past the attackers, stopping next to the Author who is still pinned against the wall. He kneels and grabs Author by the hair, pulling his head back until Author is looking into the assassin's eyes. “I knew I wouldn't be seeing you today, a little magician.”

The author laughs, “I should hope not, you'd kill me.”

The assassin lets go of him and stand back up straight, “You are wrong, you got an extra day to leave. I got to deal with the orcs, they will fetch me more gold in the market than assassinating you” he says slashing an orc close by with his razor-sharp sword.

They killed the entire orc army and left the place without getting captured once, only two of them were left alive to report to the leader. The assassin stands over the Author who lies on the floor, breathing hard and covered in blood. Then the assassin speaks “we will meet again” he asks.

Altair looks at the assassin aiming his blade at him, “Surrender Assasin” he threatens in a whisper.

“Are you going to pay me back this way for helping you?”the assassin smirks and then turns away, vanishing into the darkness. Altair turns back to Idelvi and helps him get up. When the young mage is finally standing he bows to Altair, “Thank you, my lord.” he says with a smile.

“It’s no problem,” Altair replies while helping Idelvi clean himself up.

“You let the assassin leave?”