[Sytze]

And then it flew, just as magnificent as imperturbable, towards its ultimate goal in life. Time fades for a short period of time as I release the arrow and watch it fly through the richly decorated room. Barely a second before the projectile hits its target I see men and women turning their heads in absolute disbelieve, their faces twisted, their eyes blinking frantically. This isn’t a dream, but it takes a while before they realize it isn’t.

The arrow pierces Galdron’s costume, sends shreds of his clothing through the air, and knocks him off his feet. His body doesn’t move or spasm, he falls like a leaf from a three, silently and undisturbed. The expression on his face hasn’t even changed, the arrow hit him too fast and too precise for that. He’s dead before he falls.

His wife is the first to scream. His daughter looks as if something deep inside her snapped, tore the person who she was abruptly apart. She stares dumbfounded, unable to move, her eyes filling up with tears.

I feel the pain coming.

More screams and shouts. Slowly a mixture of panic and trepidation creeps through the crowd, controls those of a weak mind.

“What happened!?”

It takes only a few seconds before chaos starts to develop.

“An assassin!”

Some begin to run, others look around frantically. Masks, glasses, food, everything clatters on the ground. The few who manage to control their nerves and keep their wits focus on the fallen one or on the path the arrow has traveled.

“Protect the family! Ransack the estate, find this murderer!”

Galdron’s wife falls next to his body, sobbing.

“No, no… don’t leave me alone, don’t abandon me. Stay with me, my love. Don’t… ”

His daughter is broken, a mere shell of the woman she was barely a minute ago. I can’t remove my eyes from her hollow expression, it traps my soul.

“Where did that come from?”

Several guards are pointing in my direction, although I’m fairly sure they are still unable to see me. Some move up the stairs to the second floor, crossbows in their hands, ready to fire their bolts at the first sign of unwanted company.

This is it. Job done. Only one last thing to do.

I close my eyes shortly and try to remove my gaze from the young woman. I swing my bow on my back, slowly straighten my body, and take another deep breath. I need to do this, she has a right to know. I can’t just leave her, them, like that. Unknowing, uncertain.

Another deep breath.

I jump from the ledge, my cloak flapping because of the sudden gush of wind trapped under it. I must look like a shadow to them, a creature of the night. Evil and without remorse.

“There he is! Take him!”

I land smoothly on the oriental tapestry, right before Venray’s daughter.

“Hold your fire!”

I’m too close to the daughter of the house, these guards are good, but not good enough to hit me without endangering the young woman. Such a fair woman, beautiful, with eyes that speak of an inner intelligence and wisdom beyond most in this city.

I calmly step forward, my face a few inches from hers. I bring my hands to the hood of my cloak and gently pull it back, just enough for her to see my face, just enough for the rest of the hall to see nothing but shadow.

A bolt is released when I move my hands. It harmlessly flies by, but it hits the floor with a loud thumb.

“Hold your fire, damnit! Do as I say!”

I look her straight in the eyes, she’s shaking, frozen solid to the ground. She’s angry, horrified, but also dead scared. I’m the personification of her worst nightmares.

“Get away from my sister! Don’t you dare touch her!”