The Gathering Pt.2

The day had finally arrived, we received our clothing, the decorations were set up beautifully, drinks and food were being made and placed on the tables, everything was going according to plan, as I walked around the estate with the mistress however she seemed nervous, "What seems to be the matter mistress?" She took a deep breath before answering, "I know I should be excited, maybe even happy that everything is going so well, however...I just cannot shake this feeling in my chest that something might go wrong and I...I…" I offered my hands for her to hold, I read somewhere that it usually helps to calm someone down through physical contact, depending on the situation of course. She looked down and held them, she took another deep breath, "I'll be with you the entire time mistress, you don't need to worry." She nodded and served herself a glass of wine, I watched as she drank the whole thing at once.

She took another deep breath, "I believe I might need more than the throughout the night." She said looking at the bottle. Together we took a deep breath and entered the salon as we waited for more and more guests to arrive. As the sun began to set and filled the sky with a gorgeous array of purples, golden yellows, and dark blues, the mistress made her way over to the balcony where she would address her guests. She handed me her third glass that was almost half empty as she cleared her throat to address the guests, "Welcome! Welcome! I thank you all for joining me this evening, please feel free to eat, drink, dance, and enjoy all I offer to you, from the finest food to the sweetest wine, I trust that everything is to your satisfaction, it brings me great pleasure to see you all happy, I have had many dark days since the death of my husband but like you I shall enjoy this bounty gracefully given to me, so I propose a toast, to those we have lost and to the days we will continue to see the rising sun." I handed the glass back to her as everyone cheered and drank from their wine glasses.

The party was going very well, I followed behind the mistress as she met with guests a beautiful smile across her face, though there was a hint of her inebriation starting to kick in, it truly seemed as though she was enjoying herself at her party, "Mr.Shane, can you hear me?" I looked around to make sure no one was looking, "yes, I'm here what's going on?" I asked her, "I asked Kevin or Oz if they see anyone suspicious on the floor, and it seems there's a man in a black robe a few feet behind you." "What's he look like?" "Long brown hair, a rather bushy yet well-kept beard, and he has an eyepatch over his right eye." Making it seem as though I was scanning the nearby area near the mistress, when in fact I was looking for the man Breena mentioned. A few feet behind me leaning against a pillar, a glass of wine in his hand was the man she described.

I subtly asked the mistress to continue forward and back inside, "Why Mr.Crowfeather, why must I go back inside?" "Well mistress...there was an important letter you forgot to read, you said that you must be reminded otherwise it would be lost in a sea of new mail you must spend hours sitting through." she gave me a confused look and shrugged, "very well, I shall return soon my friends." she said before walking back towards the building, "Shane, the guy is starting to follow you, he's still pretty far though, probably keeping his distance as to not look suspicious." "Thanks for the heads up Breena, how are the boys on the roof doing?" A moment of silence passed then I heard her voice in my head again, "They just took out two of them, one was a little harder than the other apparently," she said possibly looking up to make sure no bodies flop onto the floor, "Oh and Kevin says hi, and to go for it." Confused I responded, "Go for what?" another moment of silence as I helped the mistress up the stairs to the study area.

I heard Breena's voice again, this time she sounded slightly annoyed, "he said to keep the mistress busy...if you catch his drift." I took a moment to think about it, then it hit me, "Tell Oz to smack the back of Kevin's head, and check up on Paavu and Bayar, see if they know anything." "Got it." the mistress sat down and finished the wine in her glass, a large smile now on her face, "All gone...my the harvest must have been plentiful and blessed this year, I simply cannot get enough of it," she said giggling. I do have to admit, Kevin had a decent idea, but I don't want to take advantage of her, not like this, she's far too inebriated to say and do such things to, "Mr.Crowfeather?" "Yes, mistress?" She slowly and carefully walked over to me, "Dance with me my dear," she said extending her hand, she let out a little hiccup and almost tripped, I held onto her and sat her down on a nearby lounge chair.

She giggled more and smiled wide at me, "I never noticed how handsome you are Mr.Crowfeather...Do you think I'm handsome too?" I smiled and let out a small laugh, "yes you are a very handsome mistress." she was starting to fall asleep as I heard footsteps getting closer, I took a small dagger that I hid in my boot and hid behind the door. I watched as it opened slowly and the shadow of a man was standing there, I slammed the door shut and just as I was about to plunge the dagger into this man's back, I realized that it was Bayar, "Bayar! What in the nine hells are you doing here?" catching his breath from the scare I must have given him he responded, "I was following the man who was following you, I didn't see him so I imagine you must have disposed of him until I heard voices coming from this room." I looked at him confused.

I thought about it for a moment, "did you see him come into the building?" He nodded, "I was a few feet behind him but I saw him enter the building, after that, I have seen no sign of him since." I looked over at the mistress then back at Bayar, "keep an eye on her, if Breena calls for all of us to be ready for a fight make sure to lock the door behind you." as I made my way to the door he stopped me, "where are you going?" "I'm gonna go look for him, he probably has no idea where we are so I have an advantage." He simply nodded and let me go. Silently with a dagger in my hand, I walked through the halls of the estate.

As I made my down another corridor I smelled the metallic scent of blood, around the corner I noticed a pair of legs sticking out slowly I walked over to them and when I finally turned said corner, and there was the man Breena described, an intricate dagger loosely in his hand, and another dagger, this one longer, more slender, almost looked as if it were elven made. As I reached for it a terrifying scream came from the dance floor, then I heard Breena's voice, "I think we have a problem…" through the window I saw one of the many assassins that were sent on the floor and a pool of blood oozing from him, "Oh shit."