Merging with the shadows of the night, avoiding the ones cast by the moon, solely veiling himself with the dark shades of the houses and trees, the boy Caden ran across the streets and roofs, feet light like shed feathers, steps echoless like a shy breeze. Arriving near an abandoned canal for collapsing and eroding in favor of the new renovation, the boy slithered unnoticed even among the sharp – sensed felines of the night between twisted allies and routes, ascending few stairs just to descend a couple others. Finally, the shadow was not seen ,engulfed within the ground.
There, where he reached the gang's hiding place, he allowed himself to throw away the hood and cape, releasing a long sigh and stretching his legs, although his steps maintained their silence out of deeply ingrained habit and profoundly rooted training. Even surrounded in the safety of his brethren den, he still moved carefully, camouflaging his presence along the walls and few stolen and used furniture splattered here and there.
"Your return does not foretell of pleasant news."
"I never leap in joy or announce my return joyfully."
The dark curled haired boy remarked crudely despite the truth of the speaking man, answering the mellow yet strong voice reverberating along the pillars holding the caving in structure from falling apart. The welcoming figure did not need to see the boy's disappointed face to understand that he had failed in convincing the popular dual wielder in joining them.
"That spear wielder surprises me, I thought you would be the perfect choice to move his emotions, since you two hail from the same land."
"Well, he could not care less for that, apparently."
Caden replied, a little joyful with the conversation he was able to hold with the famous Celtic knight although they exchanged insults more than warm comforting words, and reached an opposing ends to the route they both believed in in their own different view, without even encouraging each other to continue treading the path they believed in.
However, the chief of the gang was not happy, his words were harsh and his face grew darker when he took a glimpse of the child's indifference to his failure. Being his most successful assassin and the one who brought him the highest number of victims did not mean he was cleared from reproach and immune from answering to his responsibilities.
"Then he is a lost cause. Such a waste. I truly wished him to join our ranks… we would have terrorized these beasts even more and more! The two lances they hailed and praised tearing through them amidst the horror of the night, taking after its darkness and mercilessness."
The chief sighed in lament, but there was nothing else he could do. He started to weigh matters and think if any future attempts should be made to recruit the lancer. Meanwhile, Caden kept to himself, words mumbling on his lips before he declared loudly:
"That is his problem, Aengus. He wants an open war not a terror era."
"Is he mad? How can we face their numbers and strategies?"
Aengus exclaimed shaking his head, he was well aware that he was dealing with a former knight known for keeping his vows of honor and chivalry, never resorting to tricks even during the battles he led and the unmatched duels he won. Unlike what the man liked to think, it seemed that infamous affair and elopement with the betrothed princess and his current humiliating shows to gain the audiences applause and love did not actually change the lancer. Was his refusal to join them an act of cowardice disguised with his previous honor and status, a debt to the appeal of the giant crowds and thundering salutes? Was this his true nature and he did not want to abandon the benefit? Or did these circumstances truly not touch his ore, foolishly and stupidly trying to make the scales balanced among the two fighting sides?
Caden could read his leader's thoughts, and he did not like them so he instantly explained:
"He is not siding with the Romans, he never would! I could see this clearly in his words. He merely does not approve of our way of war and choice of our victims."
Aengus, a man of large build that towered competing with one of the pillars holding the hideout in place, guffawed in mockery. He had no remorse, not because he was sadistic in nature but because he found no other choice, and he truly believed in his plan that echoed the wrath of gods, a befitting punishment for this invading unjust empire.
"And did you explain to him what we are after?"
The leader asked, knowing the answer but wanting to lure more information about the lancer from of the childishly admiring boy.
"Of course! I told him everything! All the proofs and reasons! I showed him our resolve and notions, but he still was not convinced… he called us…"
Caden's voice trailed off at the last part after he was defending himself enthusiastically. Aengus waved his hand dismissing the matter in contrast to his true wishes.
"Forget about him. Not siding with us means he is siding with the Romans even if he really was not. When a man possesses a conviction in his duty, he will not hesitate to take any measure to reach his just noble goal."
"We will make an example out of him, if we had to!"
He added after a prolonged thought. He did not underestimate Caden's abilities in negations as well as fighting and he knew the boy tried and said all what he could and should. But he could not help feeling furious about the lancer; though walking in their same shoes but soaring with his ideals above them and refusing to merely acknowledge their strength of conviction.
"I do not believe this is in our benefit…"
Caden spoke his mind freely unafraid. After all, though Aengus was their leader equality was the main theme of their wretched riot. The boy went on:
"He is a beloved figure, if we had him the people will fret beyond madness! Give me a chance, I still have many tricks! He should be an example to us not one to make out of!"
Although the last words were not to his taste, Aengus allowed the boy to do as he saw fit, and Caden started by suggesting.
"First, we should not cut contact with him. we will trail him day and night, create chances to meet up with him so that suspicions would start arising around him… then
I will perform the final trick that will force him to joining us!
***
Sabina was sitting in front of the mirror in her night gown, taking off her hair pins as she had dismissed her maid early into the night, preferring to remain in the company of herself. She looked at her solemn reflection in the mirror, letting her hair loose after a long day of dealing with complaining nobles and opportunistic counselors. Their demands and bribes never ceased, estimating the former according to her principles and jurisdiction while refusing the latter with harsh belittling insults that suited her tightly curved lips perfectly. But her self – company was not to last for long, as the door to her chamber was knocked softly. She gave the permission and her shadowy boy, dressed this time in a lighter color entered the room. When she saw he was the one entering her room in this manner, not that it was improper or tasteless, she frowned in warning.
"Why did you come to see me like this? Have you forgotten that you do not exist in this house?"
The boy of seventeen or eighteen was taken aback by this unforeseen scolding, figuring no reason for it, which he stated with a lowered head and a bowing body.
"My apologizes Lady Sabina, but I dared to do so as I saw no strangers or guests in the house… and the slaves are asleep…"
"Once you agree to a role, you commit to the end."
The woman coldly stated, not accepting the boy's excuse but he still mumbled, mostly to himself.
"It late in the night, and I did not want to descend upon you from the hidden ceilings or corridors like an assassin…"
Sabina actually laughed at this, though it was a humorless dry laugh without a smile or flutter of her eyes. She urged the boy to state his business, her anger already anticipated if she did not deem the matter important or pressing. The boy who had agreed since he was ten – year old to enter this lady's service as her eyes and ears, even as her bloodied hands, kept silent as if trying to come up with a worthy issue, and although he did carry one, his mistress visible displeasure discouraged him. Finally, he spoke:
"About the "Justice Pallbearers"… their criminality is increasing day after day… "
"I am already given the report on their activities."
Sabina harshly interrupted him, covering herself, like any decent woman with a large shawl to deny the boy what he wished to get few glimpses off. She was not offended by the thought, he was a man after all, but he was her servant, her slave, and she was the noble owner.
"I am sorry… I know this… but there is another piece of information you might not have heard of…"
The boy stuttered in his words, as if he was confessing to a crime. The blonde woman sat on the long coach waiting this additional information.
"The gang seems to be after the Celtic gladiator, the dual wielder
… they keep getting in his way or sending him messages… they desire to recruit him or defame his reputation for some reason…"
Sabina did not know of this, luckily for the boy, but she was not surprised by it a little bit. She totally understood the motive behind these attempts.
"He refused to join them so they want to defame him, to force him into taking their side. But I doubt this will happen, he has that idiot's protection and affection."
"But why him, my lady? Maybe there is a greater…"
"There is no greater plan or goal behind this. This farce has turned into a children competition. But do tell me, why you are vexed by this news?"
Sabina stood up, warping the green shawl more tightly around her shoulders and nape as the cool breezes of the night began to spill through the window. She asked again, rephrasing her true intention.
"Why are you vexed about a group of vicious murderers seeking the help and prestige of this particular gladiator, a slave like yourself?"
The boy did not answer, he wanted to illustrate by his refraining from replying that he was not interested or jealous but his silence only helped to prove otherwise.
"If I recall correctly, you were trained by the same deceased master of these soulless fools. Taking the shadows as the den your reside in, killing in the dark, preferring assassination and ruthless examples instead of head to head fighting. That man chose quite the sufficient method and gathered numerous fools into his beliefs."
"He did not shy away from fighting due to weakness…"
The boy dared interrupt his lady to explain that he was not like this because he lacked valor or power, he was trained and raised this way. An orphan found by that mysterious man then by Sabina.
"I know, it was because he viewed himself equal in strength to gods, a messenger for their forgotten wrath and neglected duties before he lost faith."
Sabina wondered for a moment before she spoke again:
"They should be really after you, you are of their kind… of the same school…"
"But not of the same beliefs… what they do…"
The boy stopped when he noticed Sabina frowning, not knowing why
so he immediately bowed deeper and declared:
"I only serve Lady Sabina."
"Good boy. Now keep to your role and answer only when I ask for you."
Sabina finished the conversation, and the boy that was seconds ago bowing at her doorframe, disappeared into the air, contrary to the way in which he entered.
"A truly valor knight, Diarmuid… are you not?"
The woman thought bemused, just how long will it take till that man's eyes truly awaken?"