The Assassins (4)

The situation looked dire, for one side was free to attack as much as they want when they wanted while the other could do nothing but wait.

Still, the Governor did not look worried in the least and instead he calmly stood up and uncovered the magnificent master craft wooden shelves that had been hidden behind tapestry.

Revealed behind it were, of course, rows upon rows of thick books of varying lengths and types. But what the Governor was interested in were the books of various myths and legends that he had studied back in his university days.

While the battle raged on behind him, he slowly perused his collection looking for the one that might contain some information on King Ludd.

"Contractor, I know this may seem redundant but I advise you hurry up with whatever you are doing."

Ignoring the urging, the Governor selected a book with the utmost leisure and began to flip through it looking for the section that may contain a hint. He repeated this process through several books until he found what he was looking for.

Taking a hold of the connection that he felt between himself and his summon, the Governor read aloud,

"King Ludd, King Of Britain of myth and legend. He was most well known for the founding of Londinium where he takes his name from, but there is also a lesser known legend of where he fought against a dastardly plague.

"For weeks on end his court was beset by illusions and hypnosis, causing everyone to fall asleep and his coffers to be stolen from.

"Yet the wise King Ludd crafted a plan to confront the intruder, keeping ice cold water by him at all times when the sleep spell hit he would dunk his head in the bowl of water repeatedly to awaken himself...."

As he read he felt the connection between him and King Ludd grow stronger, as some kind of universal law was activated that made what already existed more efficient.

Ludd himself began to shine once more with a cosmic luster, and the assassin grew even more frantic.

Leaping back, disengaging from the fight, Jake started to form several dozen more thin strands of razor sharp blood wire as he slowly reached his max amount.

Seeing that his foe was fully intent on attempting to break through his defense in one go, King Ludd braced himself and began to use his most powerful defensive measure in full.

"The intruder came to rob once more, but he was confronted by the magnificent King Ludd in all his splendor.

"The intruder was a mage, who summoned lightning from his arms to attack the King. Yet what the mage did not expect was that his own opponent was a dabbler of the arcane as well, who quickly copied the spell of the mage and sent forth powerful lightning in response.

"The two fought for hours, but in the end King Ludd won the day. The mage surrendered, and King Ludd took him in as his tutor of the arcane forevermore..."

Jake had launched himself at King Ludd, surrounded by a matrix of red wire that sliced through the ceiling and floor like butter as he passed.

Yet Ludd did not waver nor did he even try to defend, instead he grinned at his opponent and picked up his stave.

"So that is what this is for, I see..."

Lightning flashed around his arms, acting like a serpent swirling around them, and with one movement he held out his stave while speaking words of ancient power,

"Dal Mellt(Lightning Hold)"

The serpent on his arm coiled towards his hand and then split into several individual lightning bolts, that burnt the blood strings surrounding Jake and impacted against his flesh before he could even react.

Jake's eyes popped out as he found his body shot right through and his momentum stilled. His entire body refused to move for several precious seconds, for the electricity coursing through his veins stopped all his muscles from responding.

All he could do, then, was to watch as another bolt of lightning came for him once more. But this time it was far more carefully aimed, shooting right through his head and frying his brain.

Down Jake went, now joining his brethren assassin in the after life.

King Ludd looked over the corpse of the fallen, confirming his death, and with a twirl of his stave he sheathed it on his belt loop once more and turned to the Governor with a regal air.

"Contractor, now that the threat has been eliminated I can formally introduce myself. King Ludd, King Of Britain and founder of Londinium at your service.

"I have come in response to your summons."

The Governor looked at the powerful man in front of him, feeling quite pleased that he was talking to himself with such respect just like they were equals.

Still he knew his priorities now, and as he signed off on the order that he had been so hesitant on before he said,

"I understand the basics of what you are and my relation to you, but just for confirmation I will ask you.

"You are now my strength, and to make good use of you I should uncover your myth in full?"

King Ludd took a seat in front of the Governor and responded whilst nodding in approval,

"Correct Contractor. I am most pleased that I have not gotten an idiot, you would not believe the amount of fools for Contractors I have seen...anyways, to make me as strong as possible you must do two things.

1. As you said, uncover my own history that was created after my own death.

2. Increase the synchronization between us by getting to know me and vice versa, while also getting used to properly channeling the Astral.

For you are the method that I receive my 'stamina' so to speak. Right now I am just about dry from the external source that was given to me and so from now on the rest of it will have to come from you."

Though what was being discussed was rather outlandish and he had no clue what the Astral or Astra was, but the Governor knew he would learn it all in due time.

"So through me you exist and you may help me in my endeavours. But what about you, what do you want?"

King Ludd clapped and said,

"Bravo, you are truly a wise man. It is true that I will help you, for as we are both leaders of men I know your struggles and will lend you my everything to aid you.

"I do have a request of course, and that is you help me learn everything that happened in the future after my passing. I want to know what became of my children, of my kingdom and of my country.

"How am I remembered specifically, who remembers me and why?

"So long as you satisfy my curiosity, I will be your closest ally."

The terms were simple and thus the Governor had no problems swearing to do just so, gaining such power for so little a price was the obvious thing to do for any man.

King Ludd reached over and grabbed a few pieces of paper and a pen, starting to write several strange runes and symbols that the Governor had never seen before.

"I will prepare your training course in both the arcane arts and connecting with the Astral, we should begin immediately as both will benefit my own strength and by extension your own.

"Quickly go and finish whatever you may need to, for we will be busy for several days at the very least. Although we should perhaps move to a more secure location, plus the stench of blood that is diffusing throughout here is most unpleasant."

The Governor understood and pulled out his phone, beginning to dial a number before stopping just short of calling for a moment.

"Wait, you will teach ME the arcane arts? As in...magic!?"

"Correct," replied King Ludd, "I am a king, just as you are, but we are both scholars as well are we not? Thus we have much to teach one another I am sure, so it is an equal trade."

The Governor could almost see himself casting a powerful spell like King Ludd had, but he shook himself from his delusions and focused on the task at hand.

"Special Adviser Vasa? I, Governor of Occultatum Arthur Penn agree to give you my full support as of now. I should also inform you that an assassin from House Sanguis had attacked my office, but he was dealt with. You should be wary, however, because it is likely there are more and they will target you and your people..."

The formerly cowardly snake had shed his skin, and now he was out to prove to all the Dragon that he had become.