Shadow Assassin (Imitating "The Lion and the Mouse")

I paused to get a good look at the supposed “Base of Assassins” I had heard rumors about. I was incredibly underwhelmed, expecting more weapons and tables of alchemy and witchcraft rather than just a bookshelf and a few stray tables. I sighed, walking over to one of the surfaces covered in books.

“Boring…” I muttered before swiping them to the floor, “this is the home of assassins? Unbelievable, I travelled all this way for- “

My complaining was interrupted by something shoving me to the ground. I felt a body holding me down, my hands behind my back and a knife to my eye. The person above me was a man, his platinum blonde hair framing his silver eyes. I could barely see him from the position I was in, but the minimal moonlight was enough.

He smiled smugly down at me. “It’s pretty disrespectful to let yourself into someone’s home and speak badly of it, is it not? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t slit your throat and leave you to the wolves right now.”

“Are you a part of the Shadow Assassins?” I struggled to speak against the pressure on my throat.

The man sat upright, not letting go of my hands but tapping the blade against his chin in fake thought. Humming, his eyes wandered down to mine. I tried my best to intimidate him with a glare, but all it did was make him laugh.

“A feisty one, aren’t you? I need an answer, otherwise…” The knife returned to my eye, “I’ll make it for you, little mouse.”

“Let me join!”

He seemed surprised at my sudden outburst, but I continued. “Let me join the Shadow Assassins, I have skills that you could find useful. Who knows? I could even save your life someday.”

He laughed, a loud booming laugh that I felt through the ground. “You? I’d be offended if I wasn’t at least a little impressed by the fire behind your words.”

The grip on my wrists loosened as he let me up, “I suppose I could give you a chance. We’ll see if you survive the depths of the shadows, little mouse.” The silver-haired man then held out his hand for a handshake, as if he hadn’t just threatened to kill me less than a minute ago. “I am Rowan, the leader of the Shadow Assassins.”

Within mere months, I had grown accustomed to the demands of the assassin guild. Complete a bounty here, frame someone for another there, nothing I couldn’t handle. However, I had noticed a distinct lack of Rowan over the course of a few days. Upon asking around, I was informed that he went on a high-tier bounty job about a week ago. To assassinate a council member. In the daytime.

“He still hasn’t returned?” I asked the informant.

“Do you not have faith in our leader? I’m sure he’s on his way back with a giant bag of gold as we speak!”

Unbelievable. Even an assassin as skilled as Rowan would struggle with completing a bounty at the brink of day. As much as it would kill his pride, he was most likely in a tight spot and in need of help. So, I devised a plan, waiting until the sun set before I put it into action.

I slipped into the nearby city after the moon began to rise, the shadows cloaking me as I snuck through the alleyways. I had to learn the layout of this place inside and out for my last job, so I had a general idea of where Rowan could’ve been. I reached the council building before I knew it and, just as I expected, it was crawling with guards and hired mages.

I swore under my breath as I analyzed the building, looking for an opening. There was no way I could win a fight against that many enemies. Finding a spot on the roof, I slipped into the shadows and made my way in.

I found Rowan in a cell, his knuckles and right shoulder bloodied and bruised from seemingly hours of trying to bash his way out. His silver eyes widened as he saw he drop from the ceiling. I smirked at him as I flung open the door after messing with the lock.

“Little mouse?”

“You doubted I could ever save you, huh?”

Never underestimate the fire someone holds within.