lคץ ๓є l๏ฬ

[assassinrue]

The kitchen was torn assunder, a woman was lying on the floor and Kaleb was currently fending off a man and his sword with a frying pan.
"Run Cas! There's another one! The Lady's room!"
Cassius turned and ran toward Lady Averyl's room but before he reached it he was caught off guard by a swinging sword.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Lol. Frying pan)

When they reached the town, they headed into the less decent part of town, eventually coming to a stop in front of a little shop. It was dark by then, and a flickering glow shone through the single window as they approached the door.

[assassinrue]

(Lol glad you caught that)

Cassius's cheek stung as blows were exchanged and he wasn't sure if all the blood on the ground was his or his opponents.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The guard knocked on the door while Averyl stood with her head down and her hands folded in front of her. An elderly man answered and ushered them inside. Once the door was closed, he turned to face Averyl, who had pulled her hood down. "How can I help you, my Lady?"

"Have you... seen anything?" she asked uncertainly.

"I see many things," he replied. "You'll have to be more specific."

"About me," she said.

[assassinrue]

Cassius lay beside the dead man on the floor, watching with a hazy mind as their blood slowly slid about the floor with the motions of a lazy artist. He heard footsteps pounding his way and could only hope it was someone from the house.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The man narrowed his eyes. "You wish for a reading."

"I wish for you to guide me. You promised my mother you would help me," Averyl said. "And I'm asking for help now. I'm frightened."

The man took a deep breath and closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he sucking in a sharp breath and his eyes flew open. "You must return to Karhold," he said. "Danger rules and death follows. Hurry, my Lady. You must save them."

Averyl shared an alarmed glance with her guard. That single glance was the only hesitation. They hurried from the house and swung themselves up onto their horses, galloping through the streets on their way back toward the palace.

[assassinrue]

Kaleb was able to get Cassius into the small room next to the Lady's dining hall, after which he dumped the attacker's body next to the other's, outside and decently far from the house. There was one man who had survived, and he was currently tied to a chair and being watched by a couple of very angry servants. Cassius lay limply against the wall next to two of the kitchen girls who seemed in better shape than he did. Across the room a sheet was thrown over something and Cassius wondered vaguely who had died. He couldn't care though. He couldn't feel anything. His body was not his own and he could not find the emotions he knew he should have felt.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl and her guard tore along the narrow road. When they reached the stables, they leaped down from their horses and hurried inside without tending to the horses. There would be time for that later. "Stay near me, my Lady," the guard said gruffly. "We don't know what we'll find."

[assassinrue]

Cassius was sure he was dying. He knew Kaleb was doing his best to stitch up his wounds that were bleeding everywhere but he couldn't feel the pinch of his fingers or the sting of the needle

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The halls were eerily empty as they made their way up to the higher levels. The first body they came across made Averyl freeze in horror. What had happened here? Cassius, she thought desperately. Strange that her first thought about be about him, but she had to know he was okay before she could worry about anyone else. She started to call out his name, but the guard clapped a hand over her mouth. "The intruders could still be nearby," he hissed in her ear. "Stay silent. I will search the rooms." He removed a knife from a sheath on his belt and pressed the hilt into her hand. "If anyone attacks us, don't hesitate."

[assassinrue]

Cassius looked up at Kaleb, frantically fretting over him. "Kaleb." He rasped, his voice choked. Keleb froze and looked at him. "Now that I...can't feel anything...I know what...I felt. I think that...I was beginning to love...love her." Cassius had to breathe harshly between phrases, catching his breath, gathering any potential energy.

Kaleb let out a harsh barking laugh and returned to trying to fix everyone's wounds.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The rooms that weren't completely empty were inhabited with only dead bodies. The guard's face grew grimmer and grimmer as they progressed. Eventually, Averyl heard the faint sound of voices, and one she remembered: the cook, Kaleb. She started to hurry forward, but the guard stopped her and approached more slowly.

[assassinrue]

Cassius looked up at the ceiling and swore he heard the footsteps of an angel nearby. An angel. Huh. He vaguely wondered if he'd being deserving of the heavens

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The guard cracked open the door and peered inside, his body still tense even when he spotted Kaleb and the other servants. He motioned for Averyl to stay back. "What happened?" he asked the nearest person.

[assassinrue]

"Three men attacked the house, two of them are dead, ones tied up." One of the male staff answered

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Deciding it was at least semi-safe, the man ushered Averyl inside and shut the door. "Who were they?" he asked. Meanwhile, Averyl spotted Cassius and rushed to his side. "Cassius?" she whispered frantically. "Are... are you okay?"

[assassinrue]

"I don't know." Kaleb responded. "That's why we kept one alive."

Cassius looked over at the woman next to him. It took him a second to recognize her. He knew that he should feel happy to see her. He knew relief was supposed to flood through his chest like spilled sugar and he knew his heart was supposed to stutter. But the emotions didn't come. "I'm dying." He said simply, his voice neutral, almost light. He knew he was supposed to say that he was okay and he would be strong, but the concept of being strong for someone else so they didn't hurt had escaped him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl took his hand in both of hers and gave it a squeeze. "No you're not," she said fiercely. "Cassius, look at me." His eyes were so unfocused... No, no he couldn't die. "Just hold on."

[assassinrue]

Cassius squeezed her hands a little and closed his eyes. He just wanted to sleep.
"We NEED to get him to a real doctor!" Kaleb shouted.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"There's a man in town," Averyl said. "If we get him there, this man will heal him."

"My Lady, are you sure that's a good idea?" the guard by the door said.