Chapter 1.4 Opal Eyes Inn

“If you will.” Feladean handed him the key and walked back from whence they came.

“Drop it back off to me when your done, Feorick.” He looked at her as if she was half mad. Maybe she was too trusting, but she knew that behind the door Seleroc waited. She had given a signal to one of the guards, before arriving, to inform His Holiness of their arrival.

Feorick unlocked the bolt, and lifted the iron hatch. Upon opening the door Seleroc greeted him in.

“Welcome to my treasure hall.” he said, loud and boastful.

Feorick was startled, and went for his closest daggers out of instinct. Forgetting that they were waiting for him at the front gate. An assassin was not to be trusted, even if he worked for you, didn't mean that he wouldn't kill you if the price was right.

Selerick laughed. “Welcome.” He gestured grandly, are you not impressed, surprised at the little treat you have been given?”

He thought he saw the last of this man for the day, “My Holiness.” more curt, he bowed, he could smell fresh blood. “You have given me a great honour.”

“Relax, Feorick, we are old friends. You have done nothing but serve my every request. This is the least I can do.” he waved with his hand, “One piece, anything, anything in this room is yours.”

'Your head.' thought Feorick, laughing inside, but who would finance him once he was gone? “It, is quite amazing, Seleroc. I could get lost in here.”

“I sometimes do.” he returned. “Walk with me and have a look around.”

Reluctantly Feorick stepped in behind him.

“Over the last ten years of my reign, much of this has been collected, from far away lands, and much from neighbouring conquests. There are objects in here that have been obtained from generations of the L'Ulote linage. I haven't even viewed half of what I have held in this hall, myself.”

“It's quite extensive.” Feorick just wanted a bath. He could still smell, and hear that family. He looked deep into the back of Seleroc. He just killed a man, Feorick could smell the blood.

Upon Seleroc turning toward him, Feorick calmed his look. Though, His face stayed hard. He nodded once again.

“I don't expect you to make a choice today, but have a look through.”

“Thank you, my Holiness.” he bowed slightly.

“Well, I must return to my throne. There are people who must speak with me. Please leave whenever you wish, and lock up after yourself.”

Seleroc waked to the back of the room away from the entrance where he came in.

“So there was a back way in.” Feorick thought.

When he was out of sight he looked around at the junk in the room, gold statues, silver plates, ancient armour, crates stacked on each other. He had no interest in this stuff. It would take years to look through it anyway. He just wanted to leave. 

As he turned a flicker caught his attention. He strained to look at what the source was, but couldn't make it out. He dismissed it and left.

“I'll come back another time; just want a hot bath.” he said, whispering to himself.

He left the Hall, locked the bolt in place, and made his way back to give the key to Feladean.

“Find anything of interest?” she asked, looking up from her books.

“Nothing, but I'm sure I'll find something the next time I have a look.” he didn't care much for material, as long as he was paid in silver, gold, or platinum.

“Well, see you soon Feorick.” she was back in her books.

For a women of sinister beauty she certainly cared about the Empires finances. Feorick was surprised she took on the laborious job herself. After the last two accountants, were killed by her brother, maybe she thought she could keep a balanced book. She had the bite to deter corruption and collect taxes. The people feared her here, in her own Kingdom, but else where in the Empire she was relatively unknown. Each kingdom paid their taxes to the Empire, but further away from the central castle the more corrupt the collectors. It wasn't until she took over the books, the corruption began to decrease, which gave the Emperor and her family more income and more power to fuel a larger expansion of The Iss'pale Empire. 

Chapter 1.3 Opal Eyes Inn

He now pinched his eyes, and silenced his ears, breathed deep. He heard a faint scream from down the corridor, it was short. He opened his eyes and looked from where he came, not knowing if it was his recollection of that night.

“Feorick Tolson.” said a female voice. A voice too soft for this place he thought.

He turned to meet the beautiful, dark eyed, Feladean L'Ulote. She had sneaked up on him. He would have to go and clear his mind after he left this cold place.

She wore a small white flower and wisp embroidered dark blue dress that fully covered her arms and legs, but revealed an ample bust through a cats eye slit in the front, but tapered and covered her neck.

“Feladean.” he nodded slightly, lips made an effort to smile out of politeness, but his eyes still filled with resentment from a long past relationship.

“You have returned unharmed. It is good to see. You are as handsome as always.”

'This woman wouldn't know good if it struck her across the face.', Feorick thought. Feladean was a creature of material wealth, would do anything to keep her chest filled with gold, and pinched every copper for His Holiness, her brother. She reached for his face with the back of her hand. He avoided it.

“It has been some time. You look as radiant as a deep silver well.” he said with a hint of mockery. 'A deep silver well?'

“Well,” she paused to consider the, complement, an eyebrow raised, “I suppose I've been keeping myself in magnificent spectre.” she wheeled, “Follow me.”

'You do seem ghostly.', he thought.

It was only that he wanted his earnings that he stayed in this dark cell of a castle. He didn't want to be here any longer than he had to.

“I was looking through our account book with you, we have paid deeply for your services. We appreciate all you have done for us. His Highness would like to give you a special gift for this, obligation, that was set for you.” she said coolly, unknowingly, and uncaring, “I don't believe you deserve it, but his words are authority.” She looked back to see his reaction. Feorick bowed slightly. She continued.

“He has granted you access to a particular storage room, many fine pieces are held there. You will be given a single selection from this place, along with the remainder of your pay. Please have a look today, though your selection can be made at anytime.”

“If you don't mind, I'll come back another day and have a look.” he just wanted to get out, and go home, clean off the memories. “It's been a long journey.”

Turning she looked into his eyes, “I'm certain you have been on longer. I suggest you go down today, and have a quick look.” she pressed.

“So be it. Lead the way, my lady.” Feorick almost choked on his words. This woman was hardly a lady. More monster than lady, although her features didn't show it. Her slender waist line contrasted with her chest and hips. Her hair was up wrapped with a dark satin blue and white stripped ribbon.

Before long he was given his large sack of gold and silver, and being lead to the storage room on the north-west wing of the castle. There was no one guarding the entrance, although it was locked under a heavy bolt.

Chapter 1.2 Opal Eyes Inn

Seleroc continued to admire his found possession. He stepped down from his elaborately detailed silver throne, padded with black velvet cushions, and called for one of his men in training.

The Pious Guard that lined his halls remained completely still, shadowed by the line of pillars on each side. One of the door guards called through the messaging pipes. The call carried to the receiving end at the training grounds. A networking of messaging pipes for every section of the castle, and then others for each sections sub-sections. The place was massive, largest in the Empire.

As he waited, going through slow precise motions, in the manner of black crane's dance. Spinning, his sword cutting through the air, balanced, like no other.

The solder who was called for would be here in no time. No one let the Emperor wait. Finished with his steps Seleroc sat on his heels. The floor was cold. The guards sat as well. A knock came, Seleroc nodded, and methodically a guard stood and opened the door. The solder stepped inside nervously, out of breath, it was his first time in the presence of his holiness, the first time inside the great hall. He bowed deeply, kneeling and touching his hands and head to the floor.

“Come toward me.” Seleroc said, with a calm and seeming soothing tone.

The boy, who had but a week left in basic training, was terrified now. He didn't want to show it. He breathed in deeply, to suppress the emotions, as he was taught. Seleroc nodded once again. The boy stopped, kneeling again, and prostrated himself before his leader.

“You will die today. I will slice both your arms off before honouring you with a decapitation. You better fight for your life.” Seleroc's voice was soothing, yet sinister. A smile crossed his lips. The boy was sweating, terror shown in his eyes. He could not ease his mind, he was too focused on that sword. Slowly rising, they drew weapons. Steel sounded against steel.

Feorick strode down the corridor toward Feladean's bureau. The payment for returning Seleroc's sword would not be enough for what he had witnessed a week prior.

He was still angered.

He closed his eyes again, involuntarily he remembered. After returning to his camp to find that Seleroc's men were not there, he turned toward Pelio's home to see smoke start rise in the sky. Feorick rushed back to the house. His mind was a blur with movement through the forest. He saw the family tied up together outside in front of their home, oil covered them. The men rode their horses around the family. Chilling laughter met the glow of a fire. All of horsemen held a torch above their head. He ran toward them in a bid to make them stop. He watched as the torchs met the oiled kindling. The flames quickly spread. The screams of the children, and Pelio's wife tore through Feorick's ears. He could make out Pelio's eyes distinctly looking in his direction. He didn't scream. He just stared at Feorick with fearful intent, unnaturally calm.

Chapter 1.1 Opal Eyes Inn

“Ugh, you stink of burnt flesh.”

“That's because I watched a family, children, burn to death in front of me. I could feel the heat of their burning bones. Their screams...” Feorick closed his eyes. It was enough to recall. His stomach turned. His face angered. He thought of what he'd say during his ride back, but emotion got the best of him. It shouldn't have.

“Well, did you retrieve what I asked for?”

“Why did your men have to kill them, burn them!?” he said agitatedly, “They were innocent, a family.” Feorick didn't know if they were innocent or not, but after observing them for a few days, watching their movements and their affection for one another, he wouldn't have guessed otherwise.

“That man, Pelio, stole from me. He deserved to die, along with the rest of them. I see you may not be up to these tasks. When did you start caring for the one's you kill? You have never questioned your duty before. You know, I can find others to do this type of work.”

“I was only to sneak in and grab the sword. I wasn't asked to kill anyone. We would have been well gone before he knew it was missing.”

“And I'm sure you did that with amazing secrecy. But he would have looked very hard for this, once he found out it was missing.” The Holiness, Seleroc L'Ulote, Emperor of The Iss'pale, looked down the edge of the sword, and then met Feorick's burning gaze at the end. He wasn't patronizing Feorick, he knew that he was a deadly man. A trained assassin, perhaps more. Why else would he have hired this man to get back what was taken from him. Pelio, he knew, would have come looking for it. This precious sword. Perhaps with a large contingent in his wake. Seleroc didn't want to have to waste his men to protect it. It was his after all. “I give you leave. I will send for you when you are needed again.”

“Bah!” Feorick's voice sounded hard and dismissive. He spun and stormed down the hall. His boots making no sound as they met the black and gray marble floor.

Seleroc laughed. “You will find your earnings with Feladean.” Seleroc called before Feorick slipped through the main doors of the hall. His exit wasn't purposefully quite, it was in his demeanour. He was, after all, someone who was paid to kill, and to kill by stealth.