The Assassin

Hemel had tracked his way to the Southern Fort even after running into the gnomes who had abandoned it. They claimed that they had sent the humans into the desert to die, and Hemel was eager to confirm their kills.

But after finding only a few makeshift graves that were hastily dug, Hemel grew suspicious that most of the fugitives were likely alive. The assassin was not sad. Instead, he was excited for the thrill of the chase.

Like a deranged predator, Hemel wanted his unsuspecting prey to suffer a little before finishing them off. He rode his stolen horse further into the desert knowing his targets could not have gone far.

His hunt was cut slightly short as a leprechaun pointed him in the right direction. Pesky devil! No matter, it would not affect the overall outcome.

Coming upon two ladies in the desert one morning, Hemel stopped to observe them practicing archery. One was clearly a soldier, yet the other, whose face was wrapped to block out the sun's heat, was the one who was shooting at a target.

Hemel caught sight of the girl's blue eyes and a bloodlust rose up within him. He had recognized the soldier, but now he knew for sure who the pair must be. The soldiers' words confirmed it.

"Well done, Your Highness!"

Hemel did not care how or why the princess was here. She was his only unsuccessful job and a black mark on his impeccable record. But not for long. He smiled at having been given a second murderous chance.

Watching for the right moment, Hemel observed the pair as morning wore on into afternoon. The princess was relentless in her practice. Finally, the ladies stopped to rest and the princess unwrapped her head. She was just as lovely as Hemel remembered. Eira went to fetch water, leaving the young princess alone.

'Fool,' Hemel scolded silently. He had not wanted to take both women head on, but now he reveled in killing them individually. He took out his poisoned blade.

The princess took her place and shot three arrows quickly, not noticing his approach. Hemel kept his body low to the ground as he came around the triangular shade tarp. But somehow, his movement seemed to spook her. She snapped her head around giving the assissin a split second to duck back behind the half-tent.

'Her instincts are good,' Hemel noted. He would need to strike soon or lose the element of surprise.

As Mairwen made her fourth shot and drew her fifth, the assassin position himself to hide in her shadow and raised his arm to strike. The girl counted, "One, two…"

'Ha, she is counting up to her own demise!' Hemel chuckled. But just as he was ready for the downward strike of three, Mairwen screamed "three!" and spun around. Her arrow came up against Hemel's chest. If he hadn't been startled, he would have been impressed.

"We meet again, Princess…" Hemel called gently.

"You! How did you find me?" Mairwen's arrow did not waver.

Hemel laughed, "Shoot me, princess, so that I can get on with killing you. No use wasting time."

Mairwen tensed to release the arrow, but Hemel anticipated her move and grabbed the bow with his free hand. The shot went wide and skittered uselessly to the sand.

The assassin jerked the bow from Mairwen and tossed it aside. The girl reached to her belt for her knife only to realize she had left it under the triangular covering when she had cut up some fruit earlier. Drat the luck! She was weaponless.

But she was not without resources. The cloth for her head was sitting loosely on her shoulders. She pulled it out and spread it wide. Making it difficult for the assassin to locate exactly where she was behind the veil.

He made a quick jab, and his knife ripped through the beautiful cloth. Mairwen was ready. She wrapped the garment around Hemel's arm and pulled the large blond man off balance. He fell to the ground.

"Very tricky," Hemel was unfazed. He gave a wicked grin. "Now come here so I can finish this quickly." Hemel flexed his index finger to entice the girl to come close. She took a wary step backwards instead.

A flash of light momentarily took both their attention. The chain around the Princess's neck felt heavier as the silver fairy of the Seeker returned. Mairwen had completely forgotten that she made a casual wish. It had been foolish in the moment. What had she wished for? Help! She had wished to find someone else to help her.

Mairwen smiled. If the Seeker was back, that could only mean…

"What?" Hemel was bothered by her sudden change. Horse's hooves padded from behind the nearest dune. Hemel was confused. His horse was a long way from here.

A lone cloaked rider on horseback came barreling toward them. He swung a sword at Hemel, and the assassin jumped back. Hemel rammed his poisoned blade along the horse's flank, causing the horse to buck its rider.

"Run!" the rider called to Mairwen. But rather than encourage the girl to flee, the voice glued the princess in place. She was even more determined to help.

Hemel leapt on the the other man and the two began to wrestle in the hot sand. The assassin stabbed at the cloaked figure causing the other man to grunt.

"No!" Mairwen screamed. She hurried to grab the bow and discarded arrow. Drawing back the string to full draw, she allowed the arrow to sail straight into Hemel's thigh. It was the only spot that she could hit without striking the other stranger.

Hemel yelled in pain and reeled back. The cloaked figure scrambled away. Now the assassin's eyes were red with fury. He would not let these two beat him.

Hemel rose up and limped to the princess. Mairwen grabbed her knife from the triangular tent, preparing to defend herself. Lifting up his poisoned blade, Hemel swung downward only to have the stranger intercept his blade with two of his own.

Hemel's blade became lodged between the hilt of a sword and the handle a knife. The stranger was quick, and as the cloaked man deflected the blade, Hemel felt a searing pain in his abdomen. He hadn't even seen the man move to stab him.

Now the assassin was bleeding from two places, leaving damp brown sand in his wake.

"No!" Hemel gawked in disbelief. This was supposed to be quick and simple. Now he was going to become fodder for any vulture who passed by. He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself to standing, though his equilibrium was seriously compromised. He teetered forward, waving his knife wildly in the air.

Just then the sand began to shift behind the injured assassin. Mairwen saw her chance. With all her might, she shoved Hemel into the quicksand, and his body sunk rapidly into the waiting abyss.

Hemel took hold of the bottom of Mairwen's tunic to try and save himself, and the princess was caught up in the pull of the sand trap too.

"Help!" she called to the stranger.

Thinking quickly, the man cut at the girl's dress and lay back, pulling the girl back away from the hungry chasm. The ground rumbled, and a wolflike paw emerged from the shifting sand and dragged down Hemel to the depths. His agonizing scream was cut short as the sand settled like he had never existed.

Mairwen rolled off her rescuer and the two lay side by side gasping for a long time. The hot sun beating down on them did them no favors. They were too exhausted to care, but were relieved when the paw did not return.

The princess caught her breath first. "Thank you! Are you hurt? I saw he stabbed you." She checked the man and was happy to see that it seemed the blade had shredded his clothing and cloak only, but had not reached his skin.

The man groaned and tried to sit up. He was obviously affected by the heat.

"Hold on. I will get you some water," Mairwen moved to stand, but the stranger reached out to her.

"Princess Mairwen. Are you alright?"

"I am fine. I…" the same feeling of nostalgia she had earlier overcame her once more. She knew the voice, though she never thought she would hear it again. "It cannot be."

With trembling hands, Mairwen reached to removed the hood to reveal the lanky boy's face.

"Renat? Renat! How?!" The princess could not form a complete sentence, though her heart was full of questions.

"I was traveling with Nurlan and the rest when your little silver fairy caught my eye. I was not sure that is what it was at first, but my gut said to follow it. I am so glad I did." Renat pushed himself upright.

He could see the girl was still shaking, and he quickly removed his cloak and wrapped it around her.

"I watched you die!" The princess could scarcely believe her eyes.

"That's a long story. Let us get away from whatever beast just took Hemel, and I will be happy to tell you what happened." Renat and Mairwen rose up.

Still unwilling to believe the sight before her, the girl wrapped her arms around the boy and lay her head on his chest, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Princess Mairwen!" Renat protested as his cheeks flushed.

"Call me Mairwen," the princess did not let go. "You have saved me enough times, it seems only fair."

"But Your Highness!" Renat squirmed.

"Please?" Mairwen begged.

Renat could hold out no longer. The girl knew how to get past his defenses. "Fine," he answered vaguely. He wrapped his arms around the girl to coax her away from whatever had popped out of the sand.

"Fine…?" the girl held out the word waiting for his response. The tears glistening on the Princess's cheeks were overwhelming.

"Fine, Mairwen," Renat smiled like he had just tasted the sweetest honey. The pleasure was fleeting.

"Renat?" Eira called with a two waterskins in her hand.

"Renat!" Nurlan yelled from a different direction.

Renat realized the compromised position he had found himself in with the princess, and although he tried to pull away, Mairwen only held tighter to him. It was as if she feared he might disappear.

But that was not the worst part. Next to the general, Devrim stood slack-jawed.

"Wait, THAT is Renat?"