We took the main streets as we headed west, keeping close to the sides of the houses. Mainly to avoid being accosted yet again and having even more witnesses to silence. We chatted softly, Sayo hanging off my arm as everything I said either tickled her or caused her to reply with something equally charming. It was mostly an act, just another drunken pair who’d both gotten lucky. Sayo was funny, though. Her impression of Gertha was scarily good, although I doubted her hold mother would find it as amusing as I did. I told her everything my last kill had shared about Muld, which admittedly, was very little. We knew where he’d be, however.

  We got to the west side quickly enough and were fortunate that the trading quarter was clearly marked with hand-painted lacquered wooden signs on a post near the middle of a cross-section of road. After a few more minutes of walking down some admittedly more run-down parts of Cemfyllen, given the peeling paintwork and patchwork repairs on the building. A large building, with a sign as large as two men standing one above the other, was bolted to the front facade.

  It was a huge wooden pie, painted to resemble a brown crust, with dirty, matted sheep's wool strung along the top. In better days, it would have resembled steam rising straight from the pie. In its current state, it just looked like mould. I snorted at the thought, thinking of Muld’s name. Honestly. Who would name their child that? I felt sorry for the large bastard.

  Almost.

  “That’s the pie shop, our friend lives above it. I bet he’s inside right now.” I said.

  “Well, let’s get inside and put this matter to bed, yeah?” Sayo replied, fumbling inside the satchel she wore at her side.

  “He’ll be alert, twitchy. We need to move silent and fast.” I whispered as I started crossing the street. Sayo took my arm, and we both approached the thick wooden door. It was worn from decades of use, and the wood itself was smooth. Thick iron hinges held it upright, and there was a large keyhole. I tested the ring handle and was rewarded with a dull clunk and no movement.

  Locked.

  “We’d need to find another way in, door is locked.” I briefly considered trying to kick the door in, but it would make far too much noise.

  “Perhaps not,” Sayo said as she produced the lock picks the Doctor had given us.

  “You can use those?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Why the fuck do you think I have them? I’m not Sila, but this isn’t a prison or safe lock.”

  “Forget I asked,” I said.

  She pushed a thin bar into the lock first, before pushing on the end of it and inserting one of the smaller pieces of metal. I’d never been good at picking locks myself. My hands always felt too big to hold the little pieces of metal. I much preferred sliding a blade up a latch. Or just knocking the whole thing down.

  There was a snap, “Balls.” Sayo swore before she pulled out another thin piece of metal.

  “Want me to get Sila?” I teased.

  “Shut up.” She hissed.

  There was a click and a clunk as Sayo swung the door open. It creaked, and for a brief second, I panicked, thinking we’d alert Muld, but I knew he lived above the pie shop. There’s no way it would have been heard from the second floor.

  “After you.” She grinned.

  “Why, thank you,” I said, in my best impression of Perek. Sayo mock bowed, and we both stepped inside, closing the door after us.

  The building entrance was a simple wooden corridor, with a door to the right for the pie shop, and at the end was a small flight of stairs. Dull light from small sconces burning with flame lit our way forward. The sconces held short, circular candles of different colours. It seemed Muld had money spare for exotic candles. An odd choice for a bloke, I thought, but then again, I wasn’t an ordinary one, so how would I know?

  I motioned with a finger for Sayo to follow after me. Walking heel to toe, I made my way to the foot of the stairs, then climbed them. Stepping on the edges of each step as I normally did to avoid creaks, giving away my position. At the top of the stairs, I felt a slight, gritty resistance as my toes came down. I immediately stopped, withdrawing my foot and looking down as I held my hand up to stop Sayo.

  “What is it?” She whispered.

  “Glass fragments.” I hissed back. Holding a small piece up between my finger and thumb, rubbing them gently without cutting myself.

  If I’d trodden on them, we’d have been heard for sure. I stepped over the would-be alarm, and Sayo followed my steps exactly. Smart girl, good instincts. I nodded to myself with some certainty. It always paid to be prepared and cautious. If I’d gone blundering in, I would have cocked it all up for sure. Yet another reason to be thankful for Peevan. Bastard. I clenched my jaw, fighting out the image of his dead face as it tried to push through into my waking memory once again.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  We approached the only door available opposite the top of the stairs. I crouched by the wall to the left of the door, leaving the wall to the right and the keyhole for Sayo. My heart started beating faster as I anticipated the blood work. My palms started to sweat, so I wiped them on the tops of my sleeves as if I were cold, then I drew the blade of my sword stick.

  Sayo opened the door in a matter of seconds. This lock must have been easier than the front because we stepped into the threshold before I really registered.

  We were greeted with four walls, a dying fire, a table, four chairs and three people lying down around the fire. One was obviously Muld, his heavyset frame heaving up and down as he snored softly. In front of him was a slim, blonde-haired woman covered with a thick sheepskin rug; the hammer lay just next to her. Opposite them lay a boy of perhaps nine or ten years with dark black hair.

  My heart fell.

  I saw it in my mind's eye. A flash of steel. Blood spilling out through the gaps of my mother's fingers. Ageta Fel Sahaladal died, spluttering words I would never understand; they were smothered by her life essence.

  My father, Barraz, just cried. His sobs were hacking out of him like the last gasp of a dying animal. He knelt defeated, fingers trailing uselessly in the expanding pool of my mother's blood. How I wish he fought back. How I both pitied and hated him for his fear. The same flash of steel pushed a tip through his heart as I did with the nameless knife wielder.

  'Pathetic.' Peevan had said when he’d flicked my father’s blood off his blade.

  'What kind of man doesn’t fight to save his wife and child?'

  I hadn’t answered, of course, I just stood there silently, shaking, waiting to die.

  Sometimes I think I still am.

  'Do you want to die like him, boy? Or do you want to learn to harness death itself?'

  Had I known then what I know now.

  Would I still have said yes?

  Would I have walked hand in hand with the man who killed my parents and became one in turn?

  Would I have still avenged them all those years later?

  'I will make you strong, like me. Your old life is over. Take your first steps to seizing true control. True power.' Peevan had loomed over me, his cruel blade in his hand like the talon of a hunting bird.

  'Don’t kill me.' I’d pleaded, my voice as meek as a mouse.

  'Then earn my mercy.' He’d said.

  That was the day my training started.

  A sharp tug at my sleeve pulled me out of my reverie. Sayo poked savagely in the direction of Muld, then swept her hand slowly in the direction of the woman and boy.

  I raised my hand to stop her, so I could catch my thoughts and my breath.

  The boy in front of me stirred and started sitting up, rubbing his eyes.

  I darted forward, sword hand raised in front of me as my off hand grabbed him around the throat and I pulled him close to me, blade at his neck. Sayo drew her blades just as the lad strangled out a small squeak of fear. Muld bolted upright as he startled the woman awake with a cry.

  “Not a fucking sound.” I hissed, tightening my grip on the squirming child.

  “Y-You.” Muld stammered.

  “Muld, what is this?” The woman said.

  “I said not a sound.” I brought the blade closer to the boy's neck, hating myself for doing this to a child. To a child much like I was.

  “You…found me. How?” Muld said, eying the hammer.

  “The boy will be dead before you reach your weapon,” Sayo said. She glanced at me for a fraction of a second before circling around Muld and the woman.

  Muld held his hands up, “Okay…okay. Just don’t hurt my lad. Please.”

  “Your friend sold you out,” I said.

  Muld hung his head. “Was it quick?” He asked.

  “Quicker than he deserved.” I snapped

  “I’m sorry. For being part of the group that…attacked you. War time is hard.”

  “I’ve not seen much of a war yet.” I snarled. Trying to disguise my own self-disgust.

  “No, but the taxes? We’ve seen plenty of them.”

  “My heart breaks for you.” The boy squirmed again so I held the blade tighter, a small bead of blood ran down my blade and he went limp. His little body was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

  “What do you want. What will it take for you to leave my family alone?”

  “I want your silence,” I said.

  “I understand. Just. Make it quick, and leave my family out of it.” He stepped forward, opening his shirt to reveal his chest. He pointed at his heart, “Do it.” He said.

  I looked into his eyes in that moment. Here was a man, a flawed one, yes. But a father.

  A father willing to lay himself down so his family might live.

  “No more blood, you didn’t see me, I didn’t see you and your friends. They left town.” I said, my voice firm, my blade steady against the child's throat.

  “For the Gods' sake, Muld. Don’t trust him,” the blonde-haired woman hissed.

  “Quiet woman.” Muld snarled.

  “It’s a good deal. Better than a cold grave.” I said.

  “I didn’t see anything, and I don’t know who you are. I never had any friends.” Muld whispered quietly. Staring at his son.

  “Good. Now remember. I know where you live, I know your faces. Don’t make us come back.”

  “Get out. Please.” The woman cried.

  I threw the boy forward, and he stumbled toward his parents, who immediately swept him up in their arms.

  By the time they’d have looked up, Sayo and I were already out the door.