kenneth-rutter

THE GUARD Dart was just finishing his morning bath when he heard the town crier’s voice echoing from outside. “Nobleman murdered! Edgwin Fischer and his bodyguards found dead in the marketplace!” “Oh, shit,” Dart grumbled. He knew Edgwin Fischer had his enemies and detractors, but he didn’t think anyone would have the gall to try and kill the man. After all, the nobles of this city were some of the most protected people, right under the royal family. Either way, if one noble could be murdered during the night, the possibility was that no member of Angel Spires’ nobility was completely safe. Dart quickly dried himself off and got dressed, slipping into his city guard uniform: A milky white top with brown pants and matching boots, a one-handed arming sword, and leather armor emblazoned with the city’s coat of arms – three tall spires overlooking the sea, wreathed by a halo-like sun behind them and a winged, humanoid angel flying above each spire. “Dart?” Dart turned to the

A KNIFE IN THE DARK The assassin ducked deeper into the shadows, pulling his dark blue cloak over him. He watched the streets, the closed vendor stalls illuminated only by the torches that burned in the light posts, providing a soft, warm glow. As he watched the street, he glanced at the many alleys, each one leading to darkness, each one housing another assassin waiting for their intended target. Something moved on the nearby rooftops. The bright full moon silhouetted several shadowy figures against the navy blue sky – still more assassins. This was a big hit, the biggest one in months. They had been planning it since the first thaw earlier in the spring; here it was now, on the cusp of autumn. Everything had to be perfect; everyone had to be in position, everyone knew what their role was, what time their target would be moving through the marketplace….If even one minute detail was wrong, changed, or out of place, then the last four months’ work of prep would be for