Diary of Cyfier - 11. Inflaming War

I had always assumed that rhythm was the tool of bards and minstrels, but as it happens, it is as valid a weapon to an assassin as his dagger itself.
My footsteps beated as I ran at full pace across the rooftops, no longer quiet as they once were, this city now riddled with dark shades that haunt the rooftops, spies with no masters looking to find the enemy of one man to sell his information to the other. No longer was their pride in their work, it had been driven out, apparent that my kind were becoming the dying breed and I took nothing but the pride they lacked to drive them away. This was not my kind, this new filth, undisciplined with no more than one trick. I would drive them away when I could, to better maintain the memories of my kind.   

I found my footing once again one day when paying visit to Bree for supplies. At this time, the Thalions had risen beyond measure, their soldiers strong in number and knew most the business within the city walls. The good and gracefully reflection of everything Avasa was and I had little reason to enjoy their company for hatred of what they held but disregarded. Bree.

I could walk freely at this time, the stories and gossips faded long ago, the eyes no longer watched my every move, I returned this arrogance by watching everything. Behind my lead I needed to keep my beat, with this I found regular contracts or robbed travelling merchants as they slept in their camps. More fool them for not making the city before nightfall, their loss was indeed my gain. To the side I would employ beggars or finches to keep me informed of all that was going on in Bree, I would watch from rooftops and listen to tongues that betrayed their masters. For my song I would stalk the Thalion soldiers, allowing them to see me for just a moment, and to be gone before their second look, I instilled the talk of ghost in their barracks, a man with blackened armour, did you see him?

Front stage and centre, Laiani and her half witted man Matterney. This young maiden of beauty, had grace and a dance in her walk, the heads of those around her turned to see her, The Thalions are mere red blooded men that lust for such attention. I took my introduction in Matterney’s absence, I learnt of the relationship she shared with her man, they had been together since children, they knew no other than each other. I saw the attention she gained from the soldiers, and that in a woman is her most deadly song, a chorus of poison, but the half wit needed to leave. I could not kill him, that is not the way of my kind, we do not kill for personal gain, only the lives offered during service to a contract are taken and back then, I had little ways to anchor myself and so I bound myself these traditions.

My plot was simple, the execution was great. The boy, Matterney believed himself so unworthy of his girl, who had grown to be the desires of even kings. He would do anything to prove himself. The facts were simple, her love was returned and he need not to prove anything but this was no way for me to tune my band, I tricked the boy to believe I could watch her on his behalf.

Weeks later I returned to him, I had nothing to tell him but it mattered not, he had no coin to pay for my service andnd to betray an assassin is a foolish game to play, though, he did not know the true game. I haunted him and Laiani for time, beating him and scaring her. His confidence was failing him. I had nearly failed for Cirdu, the moron gave him a rare jewel to offer me as payment, I could not dishonor my kind at that point and so I accepted, this jewel I later sold for a great sum which now contributes largely to my fortune, but I had done enough. Matterney believed he failed Laiani. So he fled, to ashamed to face his girl. She was free to enter the ranks of the Thalions, so I may learn all I needed. I could pledge my personal war against them, to purge them from Bree.