___

  “Are you scared of me, Izzie?” I moved my hand to my right shoulder, rubbing the muscle, and felt the cool air move over my exposed arms in the tank top. Was I? Did I fear for my life when he was around? The answer should have been yes. I shouldn’t have him in my room, and I shouldn’t have given him that knife the first day we met. I should fear him.

  “Maybe.” I whispered finally. It was the most truthful answer I could give.

  ___

  I stood at the doorway to my tower room until the coolness of the night raised goosebumps on my arms and I remembered I was only wearing the tank top that had been under all the leather. I looked down at it, the dark smear of blood clearly visible down the side even in just the candlelight from inside the room. Another reminder that I had to do laundry.

  Turning around slightly, I glanced at what Adrian was doing. It seemed like he hadn’t moved from his spot on the floor, his hand still holding the frayed blanket he had been fidgeting with a minute before.

  “I don’t want you to be afraid of me.” His voice was quiet now. My mouth opened, but I didn’t have a response. Adrian continued speaking before I could think of anything to say. “I don’t know if I can explain everything properly. But you have to understand that I am not that guy on that roof, and I won’t—I mean—I didn’t go along with any of this to hurt you. We’ve taken others in like you before, and a lot of them do really well. I guess I just—” I heard rather than saw him breath out. My gaze rested on the blankets. “I thought I could help.”

  We sat in silence, since I didn’t know what to say to him.

  I looked outside, and I realized a lot of the evening had already passed with us talking. I wasn’t sure how many houses I could hit, or if I would even have enough time to go to the markets now. Walking past me, he held out his hand. I couldn’t see what it was, as he kept his palm closed.

  “Hold out your hand.” He instructed, his silhouette looming just inside the doorway. I looked up at him warily and crossed my arms over my chest. I thought I could feel him roll his eyes even though his face was shadowed too much for me to know for sure. “It’s not a weapon or a trap or anything, just—” He moved his hand out again in a gesture for me to take whatever he was holding.

  Reluctantly, I stuck out my hand and felt a small bag drop into it. Coins, I gathered, considering the noise it made as the bag moved. Adrian turned then and dropped from my doorway, twisting and putting his arms out to catch himself, and as he held onto the ledge, he spoke again.

  “It’s not a gift or anything. You never have to see me again. And although it is actually your reward for completing the trial, just consider it a stranger’s thanks for listening.” And with that, he dropped from my sight, and I was left alone once again.

  ***

  It took a few weeks before I was settled into my routine again. I was grateful that Adrian had brought my gloves back and that he had stitched up my side well. But other than that, I was also just happy to have some normalcy returned to my life. My routine was simple: I ran the rooftops at night and then went to the marketplaces; I was still trying to find a place to get rid of some of the jewelry I had found. I was regretting not taking that lady up on her offer in that other market weeks before.

  But, as luck would have it, I was in another market only a month after I had seen Adrian disappear from my doorway. I had left my nice gloves back in my room this time, wearing my plain black leather gloves instead. Thinking that they would be safer there.

  Although I didn’t exactly feel good about leaving them either, even if they were hidden. Considering at least a couple of people from Terra Edem’s guild knew about me, I figured it was probably time to look for a new place to sleep.

  Until then, however, night markets were my new territory, and although I had been unlucky lately, one of my familiar fences gave me a tip that a man here might give me a fair price for what I had. After a few moments of wandering around, I found the stall I had been told about. The man behind the counter had his back turned, but I assumed he was the person I was supposed to find. Keeping my hood up, and making sure the jewelry was securely in my hand first, I spoke.

  “Excuse me, I was told you might be interested in something I’ve found?” The man turned to face me, and I realized why there had been something familiar about him as I approached. It was Gunther. Same white shirt, brown pants, and black hair tucked back into a ponytail. Looking down immediately, I stepped back, trying to stay out of the light. Which wasn’t the easiest, considering how many fires had been lit for the market here.

  “Yeah? What d’ya find?” For a moment, I wasn’t sure what to do. If I stayed, he would probably recognize me, but my fence had said he would buy what I had. My thoughts didn’t even have time to sort themselves out before he spoke.

  “What—hey—I” He stumbled over his words, and his hand rubbed the back of his neck, and I remembered back to when he had done the same motion in Adrian’s room. “I didn’t think I’d see ya again. After—well—after that.” His face looked grim for a moment and then looked at me again. “Are you doin’ alright? I mean, you’ve got everything?” Gunther’s eyebrows drew down, concerned.

  I felt bad. Normally, if it was anyone else, especially Adrian, I would have snapped at him. Tell him off, say that I’m doing just fine on my own. But something in me couldn’t this time. This was Gunther, and he had looked out for me the last few times I had ended up at the guild, and I figured I probably owed him a bit of kindness.

  “Fine, thanks. I’m good.” I still kept my voice lower than normal and didn’t remove the hood. Gunther would understand if he had ever lived a moment out on the streets.

  “So, you have something to fence, eh?” I held out my hand and dropped one piece of the jewelry, a brooch, in his as he reached out. Now, the tricks of my trade also come with a level of observation: mainly how to tell a good guy from a not-so-good one. Simple things, like how a person conceals what they’re holding. If their shoulders tense, it means they might take off running with whatever you’ve handed them, things like that. But Gunther was good, and he knew his job well.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  He held the object in his hands, but never laid them flat, which could expose the goods to anyone else that may be looking. Anything he needed to grab, such as glasses to get a closer inspection, was done without turning around. A sign that was meant to earn trust and respect. It could be assumed he had several regular clients just from those motions. He turned it over in his hand, small circles of light glinting off the facets.

  “Where d’ya find this?” I froze. That wasn’t part of the normal banter of someone looking to buy. This was a danger. Steadying my breathing, I gave my response firmly.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Gunther rapidly raised his eyes to me, probably catching the sternness in my voice. He quickly handed the pieces back to me.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, but—” He sighed. “That right there,” He stopped again to gesture with his hand towards it. “It’s not safe. It’s marked, the guild.” He lowered his voice as he spoke, not daring to glance around us, but his eyes shifted. “And I doubt anyone would buy it from ya.”

  I pocketed the items again, figuring nothing was happening with it, at least not tonight. But I was considerably more confused now than before.

  “What do you mean?” I leaned closer to the table, figuring a quieter conversation would be necessary. Gunther just shook his head.

  “I can’t. Not here. But if you were smart, you’d just fling that into the nearest river and forget you’d ever laid eyes on it.” He must have sensed my confusion, because he sighed again. “Wait for me. The markets close in less than an hour. Make yerself scarce while the stalls close up and come back. Just down there.” He jerked his head in the direction behind me. “Just down that alley, top of the roof, and I’ll meet ya there.” I moved off then, not even bothering to answer. I had spent too much time here already.

  Now I had a decision to make. I didn’t want to get involved with the guild again, but I couldn’t go without knowing what I held in my hands. So I guess the decision wasn’t really all that hard. The couple of hours of rest wouldn’t hurt, anyway.

  I stayed in a nearby hideout, my back to the wall, sitting with my knees up. I thought about sleeping, but I didn’t want to miss Gunther, so I kept myself awake. The guild occupied my thoughts as I waited. This jewelry and the brooch was from the house I had stolen from the first night I ran into Adrian. Maybe I should’ve taken him up on his offer to tell me about the house.

  I knew far too many from the guild now. Adrian, Terra, Gunther, Karol, Mark. Five people I could name from the guild, and I hated three of them.

  Pausing at that thought, I reflected for a moment on whether I really hated Adrian. And once again, I was faced with the truest answer I could give: I really just didn’t know.

  And Gunther was working at the market? That didn’t add up either. The guild shouldn’t need the extra money, since assassinations made quite a bit, especially a well-respected guild like theirs. And I don’t think Gunther would have done it without the guild’s permission. Maybe he volunteered for it? Then again, I knew little about him; I supposed. Despite his kindness, I’d really only talked to him a handful of times. Sighing and straightening out my legs, I wondered when my life had become so much about questions.

  Ever since I had met Adrian, there had become so many things I didn’t know. I missed my life, and the way things were before, when my life had nothing to do with the Terra Edem guild. A guild I didn’t believe in, and didn’t trust. And the people from there that I didn’t know if I could trust. But I figured I would start with getting Gunther to tell me about the items I held in my hands.

  I met him on the rooftops that he suggested, not leaving the shadows until I was certain the dark outline I was watching was him.

  “Hi there, I wasn’t sure you would show.” He looked different now that he was outside the guild. More relaxed, with his hands by his sides. “And unfortunately, I don’t have long to talk.” He kept his voice low, but there weren’t too many people around after the markets closed, and besides, on the rooftops anyone listening probably wouldn’t show themselves, anyway. I couldn’t help but reply somewhat bitterly.

  “The guild makes you keep a curfew?” I crossed my arms. It sounded more harsh than I had meant it to. Gunther had the decency to laugh quietly.

  “No. But I have other things to—to tend to.” I wondered what those things were, but I wanted to get to the point of this meeting.

  “What is it about the item I carry that is so dangerous?” Gunther’s habit of running a hand to smooth down his hair and ponytail was returning.

  “It’s just—it’s not safe. There’s a history that would take too long to explain. But if you’d like—” He reached into the front of his pants pocket and pulled out a bag with a small jingle of metal. Money, and by the sounds of it, a lot. “I’ll give you money to take it off yer hands, and then we’re not only both safe, but ya have money for food. And by the looks of you, if you don’t mind me saying—you could use it.”

  Gunther wasn’t wrong. It had been a hard few weeks. Lately, I didn’t seem to have much luck with the houses I had been staking out. They kept little as it was, but what they had was worthless to fence. That was my life, and I was used to it. But what would I do with pieces I couldn’t sell? My mind drifted back to Adrian’s room, full of ornaments and small things that he obviously cherished, but held no real purpose. I shook the memory away. That wasn’t me, it couldn’t be. My survival needed useful things, and I could use some new boots too.

  “Okay,” I managed, after a few moments of thinking. Pulling out the items, I offered it to him, grabbing the bag the same instant he got a hold of the jewelry. I had considered asking for more of the story, but decided it didn’t matter. Even if it had some grand history, having food to eat was more important right now. “Thank you. I should go now.” I said simply, but I saw Gunther hesitate as I turned to leave. Still facing him, I waited to hear what he had to say.

  “Have ya heard from Adrian lately? Anything at all?” I frowned before I could hide the expression. Was he missing?

  “No, I haven’t, not since—” I had the image of him dropping from the ledge of my room and disappearing from sight. “Not since the day of the meeting. About a month ago.”

  I saw Gunther nod in the low light. His features were barely visible, but his posture showed worry, concern, and sadness.

  “Is everything alright?” I whispered the question even as my brain reminded me I shouldn’t care.

  “About a week ago he went out, and hasn’t come back.” Gunther’s hand returned to his hair again.

  “A job?” I assumed Terra kept track of who was away on missions and who hadn’t returned.

  “Nothing that was recorded. He’s just vanished, but,” He sighed. “It’s not the first time that he’s done this.” I noted that his accent had gotten heavier again, a sign that his emotions were changing, and that he was feeling more strongly. “He goes out and doesn’t always return as promised. Not something Terra is happy about, mind you.”

  I could imagine that the guild wouldn’t like their assassins going missing. Gunther shuffled slightly, another sign that his emotions were getting the best of him. He really seemed worried about Adrian.

  “You really haven’t seen ‘im?” Gunther asked, sounding almost desperate. “I figured if anyone had contact, it would be you.” Why would he think that, I wondered. After all Adrian did, I swallowed and let my anger go. It wasn’t the time, and it wouldn’t serve any purpose right now.

  “No, I haven’t,” I pocketed the bag of coins Gunther had handed me. “I’ll send you a message if I do. You’ve helped me. It’s the least I could do.” I could hardly make out the smile Gunther gave me, but it was clear in his voice.

  “Thank you. And stay safe.” I turned my back then, disappearing back into the shadows, happy with the feeling of coins against my side.