Assassins Guild (Bonus Chapter)

Samuel walked through the halls of the Yorkshire Assassins Guild. His tan skin and black hair gave an air of smug confidence.

He could sense the wariness of other assassins. They looked down on him because he was a Knight Academy cadet and member of the Black Nights.

Most assassins were only affiliated with the guild. The majority of assassins were not academy graduates. Moreover, most assassins were not tied to any kingdom, like the Black Night Guild.

While every kingdom had its assassins, most assassins were independent contractors. If someone want another assassinated, they would pay the Assassins Guild, who would they send out guild members to complete the task.

The Assassins Guild function similar to the Adventurers Guild. They would accept quests and rank their members E through S.

Every member of the Black Night was also a member of the Assassins Guild. Similar to how many guild knights also registered with the Adventurers Guild.

Assassins who worked for kingdoms or empires were also known as assassin killers. If the king demanded the Black Night might be tasked to kill a freelance assassin. They why the knight gave Samuel dirty looks. He was both one of them, but at the same time, he wasn't.

During times of peace, Samuel was free to accept quests, but there were restrictions. He couldn't accept a request to kill members of the Royal family. If such a quest came in, the Black Night had to alert his majesty.

Samuel walked into the Assassins Guildhall. He sat down at the end of the bar, slid a few coppers over to the bartender, and ordered a tankard of ale.

When he got the ale, he sniff and looked for poison. Also, he ingested poisons daily to build his tolerance he still had to be mindful.

He sat drinking his beer and listened to the whispered conversations around him.

The major topic of conversation was his classmate Will's new territory. Samuel was secretly in attendance when Will was promoted to Baron and asked for the Death Valley.

For any major court announcement or when the king traveled within the kingdom, the Black Night Guild camouflaged themselves into the crowd.

Only the king and Black Night Guild Master knew the real names and faces of guild members. Instead of using names to refer to each other, guild members used code names.

Although most assassins did not know Samuels real name, instead they called him Cipher.

As Samuel listened to the conversations, he sat quietly and drank.

A tall black haired slender man with a scar over his left eye appeared in the room. He was the Assassin Guild Master, Wes. But guild members called him Swift-Blade. But to Samuel called him Master Wes.

Unknown to the freelancer assassins, Wes was both the Guild Master of the Black Nights and Yorkshire Assassin Guild. In Fermion on Black Night members could be Assassin Guild Masters.

"Listen up fine gentlemen," Wes said to a round of laughter. These cold-hearted vicious men knew they were closer to demons than gentlemen.

"We've confirmed that ol' bastard Grandmaster Thaddeus is truly sick. The enchantments and arrays placed around our new Baron vont Ballard are down. The house is completely unprotected!" Wes laughed.

Samuel looked around the blood lust in the Guild Hall was thick.

"I'm not sure why he hasn't put any new arrays and enchantment, it could be a trap. But this is the best time we have to kill him.

Ever since that twat came into money, we've received several quests to kill him. Now, with Grandmaster Thaddeus out of the way is our chance to strike and steal his money!

Our latest report suggests the king's niece Elizabeth vont Whitby is sleeping there too.

Remember you cannot harm her, or even I can't save you from the assassin killers," Wes warned.

The assassins shook their heads in understanding.

"Now, I have one more thing to say. The one who kills the stupid brat shall be awarded 250 gold coins," Wes said to loud cheers and hollers.

Guild Master was a lucrative safe position. The position came with a monthly salary, and Guild Master didn't have an annual quests quota.

The Assassin and Adventure guilds required an annual quest quota for their members to maintain their Guild rank.

"Hey cadet, you okay with us killing your friend," Wes said to Samuel jokingly.

Samuel knew Wes was performing to rile up the other men and women.

"Ah, you're quiet, did I hurt your feelings? Wes chuckled.

The men and women also shouted obscenities, made jokes, and laughed at Samuel.

From the look on Samuel's face, the members could tell he could care less if Will died or not.

"I'll kill him myself," Samuel said.

"How do we know you won't warn him first?" Wes.

"Because I want to be Gadreel's Guild Master," Samuel said.

"The balls on you kid," said a deceptively young, seductive Mankiller. She had cherry-red hair and lips, and curves to drive even a eunuch madly in love.

"Cipher, I'll make you a deal you up and coming, bastard. If by some miracle your classmates survive tonight, and come here tomorrow morning, returns the dead assassins' blades, and specifically ask for you to lead the Assassin Guild in Gadreel, I'll allow it," Wes said.

"Now which one of you wants the contract?" Wes asked.

Two men held up their hands.

"Aright Knives and Bones it is. Make sure that damn monster Grandmaster Thaddeus doesn't trace it back here. Last time he came here he killed half the guild, and the rest scattered," Wes said.

"Not a problem. But what about the maids, can we take one or two to wet our wick?" Knives asked.

"As long as that demon doesn't trace it back here and you don't harm the king's niece, you're fine to do as you like. Boy, come to my office let's chat," Wes said pointing to Samuel.

Samuel paid for his last beer and followed Wes down the dark hallway to his office.

"Cipher, I hope the Guild Master kicks you out, you sell out, you might as well leave, everyone knows you don't belong!" Bones said to the leaving Samuel.

As Samuel walked out of sight he could still hear everyone laughing.

Silently in the darkness, Samuel sent two needles into Bone's neck causing him tremendous pain.

Samuel walked into Wes' office hearing Bones' screams turn into screams of torture. The needles pierced the Bone's spinal cord, causing the cushion between discs to expand with inflammation. For the next half hour, Bones would feel like his neck wanted to snap apart.

"That was mean," Wes joked.

"He deserved it," Samuel said unapologetically.

Wes went to his desk, and Samuel took his seat.

"How did your last job go?" Wes asked.

"My quest had a hunting accident yesterday. Poor guy ended up inside the boar he was after," Samuel said.

Wes chuckled, "Good job. I knew you could do it cleanly."

Then Wes became very serious, "what are you going to do about Will. You know I can't let you out?" Wes said.

"He's a tough bastard, he'll be fine without me," Samuel said.

"Is that so?" Wes said rubbing his chin.

Samuel saw the Guild Master's scar riddle face. He could see his scared left eyelid.

"You're a good girl disciple. Here's your payment," Wes said.

Throwing a bag of coins on the far side of the desk. Samuel counters the silvers before hiding the coins somewhere on his person.

"Did you mean what you said about being Guild Master is Gadreel?" Wes asked.

"Yes," Samuel said.

"You don't think you're too young?" Wes asked.

"Master I'm already better than most of our members. I'm the second-highest earner in the after that succubus," Samuel said.

"Alright, after Baron vont Ballard's killed, I'll offer you a chance, one chance, to become guild master," Wes said.

Hearing Wes' tacit agreement Samuel gave a wicked smile. While the word of a thief or assassin may sound untrustworthy, within the Thieves and Assassins Guild there existed honor between guild members.

"Now get to your room, I've tasked Spider to make sure you don't leave," Wes said.

Samuel was his best disciple in a long time, but he couldn't privilege Samuel at the expense of both guilds. The guilds always came first.

Spider was the cherry red vixen outside, who admired Samuel's bravado in the guildhall.

Samuel wasn't thrilled about being put on house arrest. Outside Wes's office, Spider looked at Samuel and motioned for her to head upstairs. Like Samuel, she held dual membership. She was also a member of the Black Nights.

Although she had graduated years before, she still looked younger than Samuel.

The woman's name was Melissa. She was the youngest daughter of an assassinated Earl.

She accidentally walked in on Wes strangling her father. Instead of killing her, she became Wes' disciple. The reason why Wes didn't kill her was that Melissa was crying tears of joy and asked to become his apprentice.

Her father abused his wife and daughters daily. Even worse raped him weekly, sometimes twice and week. And Melissa was his favorite. He enjoyed how she would always fight against him, only to lose in the end.

Her sadistic father drove her eldest sister into incurable madness. Living in that house was a traumatic experience.

After Wes killed that monster, she asked to be taken away from the house horrors, and learn to become an assassin. Wes could see the hate burning in her eyes, and knew it was better to lead her down a structured path.

When she turned 10 Wes discovered she was capable of learning body strengthening magic, so he enrolled her in the Knight Academy.

Once she graduated, she killed hundreds of deserving men and earned the nicknames Mankiller and Succubus. Here favorite quests involve killing pedophiles and spouse abusers.

Wes knew asking her to guard Samuel, guaranteed that if anything bad happened to assassins at Will's Yorkshire mansion they could not place the blame on him.

Samuel was used to Wes' threats or punishments when needed. Wes even tortured him as a part of his training.

As Samuel walked into his room, he was surprised to find the sultry Spider walking in after him.

"What are the odds your Baron wins?" Spider asked accentuating her hourglass figure.

Samuel knew enough then to be drawn into her faux embraced. It also helped that no one could tell if Samuel was into women or men.

"I'd give him even odds. He hasn't revealed all his cards yet to the public eye," Samuel said nonchalantly trying to figure out what Spider's aim yet.

"If you were to escape, what would you do?" Spider asked candidly.

"I have no plans to escape. Wes told me to stay here," Samuel said cautiously.

Let's cut the crap and not be coy. I want to relocate to Gadreel. The place looks fun, and I suspect there'll be big business down there, and I want in on the take.

If I help you escape and you become Guild Master, I want you to appoint me Vice Guild Master.

Also, any deals you cut with the Baron just give me a quarter of the take. I'm not greedy. I plan to fleece as many men as I can down there. Deal?" Spider said sticking out her hand.

Samuel looked deep into her eyes for deceit. He'd known Spider fours years now, and not once seen her this candid.

"I'm not taking the deal. I don't care if Will lives or dies," Samuel said venomously.

"Furthermore, I don't appreciate your tricks. Don't ever question my loyalty to the guild," Samuel said almost convincingly.

The spider began to laugh, "You can't con a con artist, sweetheart. You, I, and everyone else is here only for themselves. We all have our vendetta and friends.

I can tell how much you aspire to be your own guild master. Everyone can see your ambition and have your agenda. I can also see how much you care for your classmates.

Let's do this, as soon as Wes leaves. I'm charmed by the men until they pass out drunk.

Then you can sneak out through my window like I do all the time. Just be don't peak at a girl's things, or I'll have to kill you.

Make sure you're back by the 5th bell, that's when Wes returns," Spider said leaving Samuel's room and walking back to the guildhall.

Samuel wasn't sure if Spider was leading him to trap, or if she was being genuine. But one thing was for sure. As Guild Master, his revenge would be much easier to accomplish.

Just this once Samuel decided to trust Spider. While Spider charmed the men to drink, Samuel stayed in his room and sharpened his blades.

Samuel had five daggers on him at all times. Two daggers attached to his wrists and boots. The fifth dagger was tied to the back of his waist.

He also carried thin throwing needles lazed with poison in one pocket, and a blowgun that doubled as an instrument in his pocket.

For two years Samuel took music as an elective. According to Wes, blending in as a musician was an effective cover. Now he was recognized as a distinguished flutist.

Musicians were rarely suspected and always the first to escape in the chaos. Musicians could also travel freely through the kingdom, and had access to noble houses.

Samuel's weapons were inconspicuous, to most he looks like a wandering musician. But Samuel had enough weapons to kill his way out of an Earl's estate.

A few hours later, Spider knocked on Samuel's door. She seductively asked Samuel to open the door as the coast was clear.

Samuel checked out the hallway for traps before he followed Spider down to her room. Spider was the closest thing Wes ever had to a daughter, that's why she had the second-best room in the guild.

Samuel followed Spider into her room, just as Knives and Bones returned from casing Will's mansion.