10 A Way into the Castle!

-"Well, at least I know you aren´t an enemy now. You didn´t attack me right way."

The witch did enter the city unnoticed by the guards, but easily noticed by everyone who was secretly looking at the gates of the city.

-"And the thief?"

-"He didn´t last. They caught the merchant caravan and killed him."

-"I see, then I´m the only one left."

She leaned on the window, looking at the last rays of light from the sun.

-"Why can´t you go to the castle right now?"

-"It´s simple. There is a traitor there too. I don´t know who it is but, the moment I step in that castle, he will kill me for sure. At least, that's what they said to us when we undertook this mission."

-"And the message? I thought only the thief had it."

-"Everyone of us had a copy of the message. Only the Duke´s mage will be able to decipher it. The assassins want to destroy everyone of them."

-Toc Toc!

I opened the door.

-"Sir, if the lady here is gone share the same room with you, you will have to pay a higher rent."

Before I could respond, she throwed a small sack of coins at the old man.

-"Fetch us a better room." She said. "And you better not be listening to any of our talks."

-"Right away, Madam." And the old man left.

-"What is your plan?" I closed the door.

-"It´s easy. Since I will get killed if I enter the castle, I just need someone else to be killed in my place."

-"No, you aren´t. I need to deliver it. So, while the traitor is distracted trying to kill you, I reach the Duke and give him the message. Now, the problem is, who am I going to get you into the castle."

-"By the way, I do not know your name yet."

-"Plena, and yours?"

-"Reynauld."

-"Who sent you to help me, Reynauld?"

-"Actually, no one. I confronted the assassins so as to protect the merchant caravan. I was one of the guards, you see."

-"And where is your friend?"

-"He is still in with the caravan."

-"Did the master ordered you to help me?"

-"No, I´m not one of the guards anymore. I´m helping you out of my own will."

-"I´m not going to reward you, neither the King I think."

-"There is no problem with that. My objective is to help you to accomplish your mission."

-"Heh, I don´t know why but, if that´s the case, then I will make full use of your help."

-"So, Plena, will you lead me to a warrior´s death?"

-"If you mean getting stabbed by daggers or lose your head to a iron sword, then be sure that might be your reward."

-"It´s set then."

We both shake hands.

The old man knocks at the door again.

He leads us to the fifth floor, to a room much more better than ours.

-"Here, Madam, your change."

-"Keep it." She says.

Although the room was still mostly wood, it had a more darker look then the other, and the wood looked much better.

The bed was… king size but… still only one bed.

-"You are going to sleep on the floor." Plena immediately says.

-"I can provide another bed if needed." Says the old man.

-"Then do it so." She says, and the man leaves.

She is… kinda bossy.

After changing rooms, we discussed plans on how to enter the castle.

We decided that she was going to hide in the inn while I would search for a way to enter the castle, since I wasn´t known to the group of assassins.

Wandering close to the greater walls of the castle, I didn´t find any weak points.

Different from the walls of the city, the castle looked like an impregnable fortress, with walls twice as high surrounding the many towers that sprout out of it.

The main gate was near the merchant district, a wide plaza filled with all things commerce related. It was kinda empty though, since it was already night.

Some shady figures were wandering about the place, some drunks already fighting and arguing near taverns. From time to time, some random men walked closer to me, as looking for a opening to pick my wallet.

Sadly, for them, the only thing that I had was a small sack with some coins.

Rarely, a group of guards would appear nearby, and if they saw someone suspicious, would intercept him right away.

Although it was probably strange to see an adventurer in the middle of the night, they seemed to not be bothered by it. Probably because my clothing wasn´t that of a thief or something.

Since I lost my gambeson, I was wearing a black shirt that I had in reserve in my backpack. If I lost this, however, there will be no other. I would have to buy a new one.

I also wasn´t carrying my sword, since I left my scabbard near the river.

The situation was kinda needy. I think I can handle the situation with these new found abilities that I have with vampirism, if it do appears.

While walking through the many districts, I found myself in a empty and narrow road.

-"Hey, snow skin, what are you doing here at night?" The voice of the man echoes through the street.

It is time to test these new powers, however… I feel that I´ve been watched by someone.

The man, appearing with some others from an alley, wielding crude weapons, approach me.

-"Well, if do not pay us now with everything you got, we will have to take you into a trip in the city."

-"Now, let´s see if he have strength." The pursuer whispered from somewhere.

Do I fight them? I if I fight, and it´s overkill, then if the pursuer is an assassin, he will be suspicious of me.

If I don´t… I will have a beating to endure. They will rob me and beat me nonetheless, I can see that in their faces.

-"Come on, don´t be shy. Just show your belongings, and we will let you go."

-"I´m actually being followed by someone."

-"What?" The men become confused.

-"How did he noticed!" The pursuer whispers again, now giving his position.

He is in an small alley not far from my position.

-"What we have to do with it? Are you trying to fool us?"

I don´t have time for it.

I feel like if I confront them, It will take a time. My attributes aren´t as high as to defeat them and immediately go after my pursuer. My effects favor a sneaky approach. I should have been hidden all this time. I messed up. I wanted to take a stroll into the city, so as to make myself appear a normal citizen, but it seems this didn´t work.

I run as fast as I can.

-"Wait! You are not going to escape!"

I hear the footsteps of the pursuer. He is slower than the bandits. Is he doing that on purpose? Is he going to fight me? However, it seems I did make him fear me.

I run into the alley.

He is nowhere to be seen.

I reach the end of it.

No one in here.

But I heard the footsteps, it stopped just now. Where did he go?

The bandits were approaching.

I look around as fast as I can.

The tall wooden buildings. I can see him. Clouded in dark, I can see him! He must think I can´t since it´s night, but I my night vision effect seems to reach him even that far up.

He did climb at an incredible speed though.

I need to do it. I don´t know if I will climb on time to flee from the bandits, but I must try.

Window by window, I climb.

Reaching the top, the clouded pursuer stopped though.

In the middle of the roof he stood.

The bandits were trying to understand what had happened, babbling curses.

I needed at least a weapon. I should have taken one from the bandits, and then run. Now it is too late.

The pursuer stood there motionless.

I too waited.

The bandits left, and soon after she spoke.

-"Sir adventurer, I do not want to fight with you."

Removing her hood, the girl looked at me.

-"Could you please follow me. I have something to tell you."

She didn´t have the looks of an assassin, so I followed her until we reached what appeared to be a ruined church, inside the poorest area of the city.

She guided me through strange ways and narrow passages that appeared to connect nothing to nowhere.

After arriving, she lighted a candle and removed her cloak, revealing to be a young maid.

-"Tell me, what do you need?" I asked.

-"I saw you walking through the city, and noticed how you had a keen eye, always observing things as you walked. You looked like something looking for a quest, or trouble."

It seems my plans backfired.

-"I´m actually a maid who works at the castle and we have a serious problem in there. And that problem is the Duke´s son."

-"Huh? Do you want me to assassinate him or something?"

I got noticed by my oddy behavior. What was I thinking? Walking around at night like that…

She proceed to explain her story. The Duke´s son was cruel man. He had beaten several maids already while his father wasn´t looking, and apparently no one stood against him. One of the priests of the city saw him doing it, but before he could tell it to his father, he assassinated him on spot and got rid of the body.

His cruelty did start with an event, though. While he was young, one of the maids managed to seduce him and got pregnant of the man. She indeed did it only for her interest, since to bear a child of a nobleman would raise her status as just common peasantry, and so she started to abuse of him, threatening to tell everyone about their relationship if he did not do as she commanded.

-"I think I already know the end of this story."

-"You don´t want to hear it?"

-"No, thank you. There is no need to."

What a horrible story.

-"I have been searching for someone who could put an end to his behavior."

-"I could help you in this question, but..."

-"But?"

But, she could be just a jealous maid making all of this up and using me for her wishes.

-"I need to see it with my own eyes." And probably getting to the castle as a bonus.

I need to verify her story. I´m not going to kill someone just because of a story from only one lady. There is no way a gossip like that had not spread like wild fire before I met her.

-"I´m going to prove my point, and show you how evil of a man he truly is!"

["The assassination of Bishop Andreas was not resolved. There were no suspects. No one knew what had happened with him, no one had seen him, no one knew anything. This rotting egg of a court didn´t tell one word. The police chief and the detective closed the case, and the formal story is that he simply disappeared without a trace. But I know that the Duke´s son had a finger on it. I can feel it. The way he acted, the way the maids acted, the way other people acted… At that time I didn´t had the courage, but now I would stab him with my sword the moment he gave his back to me!" Diary of a Young Guard from Barcola]