Page 31 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

Who was that?Maël's voice was a whisper as I straightened, shaking off the lingering buzz.

I was hoping you could tell me, I replied, fighting back tears. But of course, figments of imagination rarely offer logical answers. Maël's presence faded, leaving me alone in the echoing chambers of my mind.

As I entered the manor,silence reigned, broken only by Cook's clamor in the kitchen.

Not ready to face the chatterbox, I made my way up the grand staircase, my fingers idly grazing the bannister.

"Well look what the cat dragged in," a voice purred from my left. Vanya emerged from the hallway opposite from where my room was. She halted before me, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Any hope I had of her not hearing about last night evaporated.

"Follow me." She spun on her heel, leading me down the hall she came from. We passed door after door. I wondered how many others were home, if they'd eavesdrop on my impending reprimand. I groaned inwardly. Last night, I'd messed up in more ways than one. While I did neutralize the target, I made a scene. I let my own personal vendetta get in the way of all my training. That fallout led me to drown my woes in a tankard of ale, and we all know how well that turned out.

Vanya led me past her room, to the double doors that stood at the end of the hall. Thick wooden doors, carved with intricateswirls and patterns. She pushed the door open, gesturing for me to enter. She closed them behind us with a soft click as we stood in her office.

"Sit." She directed me to a chair as she rounded the desk and sat in her oversized leather seat. The back came above her head as she placed her elbows on the desk, her head drooping into her hands to rub her temples.

"Do you recall the meaning of discreet?" She inquired.

"Is this a trick question?" I almost laughed, but the exasperated look on her face stopped me. I cleared my throat and looked down at my hands, twisting my fingers together nervously. "I didn't intend to attract attention."

"And yet you did. Tell me, what possessed you to be so reckless? You are a literal shadow, practically invisible in the cover of darkness."

Because she can't let things go, your honor.Gods, he's back and sassier than ever.

"Tyrian gave chase after we engaged him. I didn't mean to make a spectacle, but I very well couldn't just let him get away."

"No, and thankfully you didn't." She sat back, eyes assessing me like she was trying to solve a puzzle. "Why didn't you cloak yourself?"

Confusion flashed in my eyes. I'd engaged my powers during the mission. It was rare that I didn't. "I was hidden, the only thing anyone could've noticed was a shadow. And given the fact that everyone has one of those it's not like I would've stood out."

I recalled the entire ordeal, telling her how I saw Johan in the middle of the chase. Up until Tyrian met his end in the alley.

To her credit, she listened to every word, her face morphing from annoyance to understanding, her mouth pressed in a tight line.

"I received a report that someone saw you," she explained, "well who they believe you to be. I believe the exact words 'ashort skinny male in all black'. Whatever you did with your," she waved her hand toward me, "power, someone was able to see you enough to tell the difference between a shadow and a person." She took some papers out from her desk as well as 2 pouches of coin. "Of course, there were plenty other accounts that Death's Wraith had struck again. As for the captain, I had planned to give you an update on my search for him when you returned, but it seems you preferred other…company."

I groaned, "I would have much preferred coming home."

She laughed, "I don't know, I heard he was pretty handsome, and you were smitten."

He was a handsome fellow, not near as ruggedly handsome as I am though.

I gawked at her. I could feel a blush creeping across my cheeks as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Part of me wasn't surprised Vanya knew, but knowing Maël was aware of my night with Ryn made me feel…unfaithful. Embodiment of my imagination or not.

No one could compare to you, Maël. You were always the one I chose.

It's time to choose someone else Alora.The sassy tone now gone as he spoke softly to me.I want you to fall in love again and live the life you always dreamed of. Even if it's not with me. You have to let me go.

As long as I draw breath Maël, I could never let you go.

He sighed, his presence in my mind beginning to recede once again,you'll doom yourself Lor.

"I have eyes everywhere, as one of them you should be well aware of that." She clipped, bringing my attention back to our lovely debrief. "Anyway, dear old Johan was in town last night, as you noticed, but he's since departed. Lucky for you, I know where he's heading." She tossed both pouches towards me, landing in a soft thump on the wooden desk.

"I'm reassigning you to the capital. I have a contact there you can pose as their employee. They have a spare room above their shop where you can sleep. It's not what you're used to, but I think you'll be able to help them and find what you seek."

While becoming a professional assassin wasn't what I had always dreamed of, it's become my life, my identity. I put in a lot of effort these past years honing my skill, pushing my powers further, helping Vanya rid the area of the corrupted that flocked to this near lawless town. The guards never cared about the victims, but Vanya did. Her clients were happy to invest in her services to wipe another speck of dirt off the face of this world. Learning the backstory of our targets helped me release the guilt of murdering them, with Vanya's help, I became what I sought out to be. An angel delivering retribution, I was vengeance. "Is this your way of kicking me out of the guild?"

"Your home will always be here Lor, you're my protege after all." A reassuring smile brightened her face, "We both know your path is towards Johan. You're of more use at the capital, chasing him and sending me any intel you can dig up while you're there. And when you're done, I'd like nothing more than for you to return here and help me run the guild. As of today, I'm officially naming you my heir. Whether you come back or not," she stretched her arms in grandeur, "this is all yours. I hope you ensure our mission continues even when some poor soul manages to get a cheap shot off me."

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