[image=left]http://www.alternativenation.net/gallery/files/1/ass1.gif[/image]Tay’ren sat there, waiting until the moon started to fall. Tay’ren loved his job. Not for the killing; killing did nothing for him, except get him lots of money. What Tay’ren loved was the skill required to do such a job as his. People underestimate the skills within; running, surefootedness, agility. People take these skills for granted. But not Tay’ren: he uses them to his best advantage. As a merchant, he loved money, so by day it was his pastime, but as night fell, he took on the visage of Tay’ren. The shadow in the night. Merchant by day, and a successful one at that, assassin by night, even better at this job.
The commission he was on just now was good for him, both because he’d been offered an awful lot of gold to kill this man, and because he was a rival in the silk markets.
It was time now, hanging from the gutter with one hand, and the other working at the latch, he silently crept through. "Knife or poison", he thought to himself.
Poison was quieter, knife was sure to do the job. Knife it is. Silently, he touched his toes to the ground. Positioning the blade above the man's eye, he pushed down. The blade entered into the man's brain. He was dead before he knew it.
Leaving the way he came, Tay’ren went home.
******
The council chamber was full as Digi and Bod entered. Underneath his calm stone exterior Digi was actually quite nervous: he was about to compel a room full of strong political figures, along with the land's leading generals, to give him command of their armies. And they believed him dead these past three years.
Walking to the head of the table, he gestured to the others: “Please, friends, be seated. I’ve called you all here today, for one reason and one reason only. You must give me control of your men.”
Sitting down, Digi let this message hit home. Some guffawed at the thought of it, surely thinking it was in jest. But as no more comments left Digi's mouth, they slowly realized he was being honest, and slow laughs became fast-paced outrage.
“Surely you must be out of your mind, Digi, to ask such a thing.”
“I suppose you could say that Beck, you’re the mayor of this town, so I'll speak plainly if I may?”
“Of course, please explain.”
“There is a threat looming over Turok as a whole, and unless the four major cities unite under one commander, then we will fall as a civilisation. That commander must be me, for the knowledge I have is vital. An evil is on the rise here, far greater than anyone can imagine. And we must be united to stand against it.”
“Four major cities? I know you’ve been gone three years man, but surely you remember there are six cities, five if you don’t count the almost devastated city lost by Syx and her men”
“Syx has betrayed the commonwealth of Turok, she has turned to forces of darkness, to gain herself more power. She is currently in position, in Sabuk wall. As you know this is the most defensible of cities, yet we must attack it. For if she is able to go on the offensive, then there may be no stopping her.”
He sat back as the nobles and generals batted questions at him, until he could not stand it any more.
“ENOUGH! Those of you who have the fortune to know me, know I cannot stand this needless bickering, we need to protect our way of life, it's that simple! We could all be destroyed here!”
“If Syx is so powerful, how can we hope to destroy her?”
“Because I'm better, and I have this.” Pulling the ultimate sword from its scabbard he held it aloft. Everyone in the room gasped at how expertly crafted it was.
“And I can do this.”
Slowly a blue flame essence covered the blade, increasing its length and breadth slightly, so it was almost like a half crescent moon.
“In my travels I have learned many skills, one such as this is called Half Moon, quite nice I believe. There is also Fire Sword, simple as simple does, it’s the sword on fire, but a searing fire from the heavens.”
Slowly, Beck got to his feet. “It is done. Bichon Wall supports you Digi, the militia is yours.”
Governor Jenna was next: “Serpant Valley supports you too.”
And one after another, the other two cities gave way. Digi just hoped it wasn’t too little too late.
