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Heckno12Aziza carefully balanced large tray in her hands, collecting more empty glasses and adding them to it. As the tournament continued, people ate and drank as if there would no tomorrow, picking the finest dishes and most expensive drinks they could get their hands on. It seemed to be in the human nature, to eat and drink much more than you would normally do, as long as there is someone else paying for it. Her hands were occupied, but her mind currently wasn’t presented with any challenge, so Aziza slipped off to her old games. They weren’t games really, more of an assassin’s way of preparing for every possible situation. But her teachers forced them on her ever since she was a child, and she quite enjoyed it, hence it would still be considered a game, even though it could be a matter of life and death moments later.
First, there were the exit points and routes. There were three corridors nearby, two wide ones for the audience to leave the arena, and a smaller one leading directly to the kitchen and background for servants. Aziza walked casually to the top lines of seats, checking the outer arena walls. The drop was long and walls steep, but there were small crevices and cracks between the stones and given enough time, she could climb it up or down without any problems. Of course, there was also an option of jumping into the arena itself and get lost in the hallways beyond one of the entrances, but that was hardly a stealthy way to leave the area.
The second part of the game usually started with some assignment. ‘You are supposed to kill that fat guy in the purple tunic. What do you do?’ Aziza thought about it for a second, handing the full tray of dirty dishes to a maid in the hallway and taking and empty one from a counter. When she returned to the arena, she took a closer look on the purple tunic man. He was a Freyja, probably some rich merchant, having a loud conversation with his friends, cheering when the Exodus warriors took someone down, cursing loudly when one of them was defeated and sent out. Given her current disguise, it wouldn’t be hard to get close to him, she had even seen him pulling one of the maids down to his lap, trying to kiss her before she managed to jump back up and run away. It was almost too easy. What remained was the actual method of the kill. It couldn’t be something obvious, so she would have enough time to get away without raising suspicion. She had three small blades hidden on different places under her dress, but none of them were poisoned, which would be ideal for this situation. A simple stab would have to do, probably to his back into a kidney.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud roar from the arena. Apparently one of the Earthican warriors was the last one standing, and he was now celebrating his victory. Aziza shook her head. Such stupidity. Only the dumbest people would show their skills off in front of the world like this. And for what?
The fat purple guy jumped up in anger, cursing and swearing, shouting something about a lost bet. The people in the arena applauded, the applause was loudest in the sections where redheaded Levonians were seated. Aziza glanced towards the royal box and saw her king stand up and then eyeing the crowds. He couldn’t see her, of course, not amongst all the people and dozens of other maids dressed just like her, but she knew he was looking for her. As she saw him leave, she quickly snuck into the service corridor and grabbed a pile of fresh linens and a basket of scented oils, just to appear busy.
King’s tall figure was hard to miss in the crowd and Aziza followed him to the backyard, her disguise making her invisible even to his own guards. Finally, he came to stop next to his carriage and called her name, her heart nearly stopping from all the excitement. ‘Finally!’ she thought and carefully checked the yard, making sure there are no curious ears or eyes nearby before walking to him.
“My king,” she said quietly, her head bowed down, her tone not showing any of the joy and excitement she felt.
Erasmi turned as she approached, unsurprised by her soundless entrance. Aziza was the best at what she did, raised into an unerring weapon for him to wield in the shadows and what an eager, willing blade she was! She hid it well but he had known her for all her years, the girl would be bored of her mundane assignment and eager for something more active. He was only too happy to please her in this, two present tasks requiring her attention.
“I assume that you have worked your way into the household staff by now? A dull task, to be sure, but it will pay its dividends later.” He paced to the carriage and leaned in through the door, retrieving a small package from a hidden compartment under the cushioned seat. “An easy job and then a challenge for you, my dear. First, find the Exodus boy who attacked that Earthican woman and kill him. Make it look like he was running and leave this with him.” He dropped a pouch of coins into her hand. There was no need to explain his plans to her, if she understood then all the better but a good blade did not need to know the meaning behind its purpose.
“Your second task should be a better use of your skills. Find a way to have the Earthican Princess, or her guard or even their champion, consume this; I'm sure you can work out what it is. It's important that you're not caught in either case, although I know you won't be.”
He handed her the second package. “It should not be fatal but it will achieve my aims. Do you have any questions?”
Aziza thought for a second, trying to remember exactly which one of the Exodus champions was it who struck the redheaded woman, as she hadn’t been paying full attention to the tournament. A mistake, surely, but one she could fix. Of course, she had to deal with the slight problem that these Freyjans looked all the same. Fortunately, she did notice something special about this man – a small decoration on his spear, a few ribbons tied under the hilt. The second part of her assignment seemed like much better challenge. “Which of the three targets has highest priority, my lord? The princess?” Evangeline would surely be the hardest one to get to, her bodyguard being an easier target, especially now that she was wounded. The tournament champion fought bravely and fiercely, but he was just a man used to a face to face type of combat, and he probably won’t be on a lookout for assassination attempts on himself.
”The Princess would be the optimal target, followed by her bodyguard. The champion is a last resort but I suspect that he will be more aware, having served his king for some time. The Princess is whimsical at best and her guard untrained and unskilled.” The small glass bottle he had handed to Aziza swirled with dangerous intent. Beautiful. ”If the poison is discovered so be it, as long as the attempt is made and not tied to us then all is well.” He smiled wolfishly, a vicious glint in his eyes ”Of course it'd be all the more satisfying if you're successful, these festivals deserve dramatic events.”
Aziza took the bottle, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. Finally. She knew her king had plans and political schemes in motion and finally she could also play her part. Killing someone in the process would just be an unexpected bonus.