The sting of betrayal | Closed.

Low clouds rolled across the region, bringing about an earlier than usual dusk. The sun struggling to cast it's final rays of light across the central city of Rythinia. The strong stone walls that encased the main city region, towered over the outlying farmland. As the light faded, the great gatehouses shut down, locking up tight for the night. The only way into the city now, was through the main gate tower, which housed the bulk of the night watch.

Inside the walls, the citizens went about their evening as usual. The sounds of cheer and trade echoing through the streets. Today was like any other. The castle, located centrally in the city, kept it's gates open much later into the night, allowing workers and traders to come and go as they wished. Hushed whispers had been heard around the city for a while now, the Princess had a bounty on her head.

As darkness took over the city completely, the streets emptied completely. Silence hung heavy in the air, save for the footfalls of the patrol making their rounds. Crouched in the shadow, a hooded figure waited for the patrol to go by. His blue eyes scanning intently. The figure made his way towards the neglected side of town. The people living here, we often drinkers, gamblers, or the other downtrodden. They suffered the distinct issue of having very little coin, and as such were disregarded by the guard. Violence was common place here.

The figure ducked into a small alcove, and retired through a flimsy wooden door. Pulling his hood back, Rowan sighed loudly. He'd been out of the city for a few days on a job, and had only just returned. Rowan slowly worked away at removing his weapons, strapped to his body. Rowan Nightfell was a well known cutthroat; he specialised in killing those considered unreachable.

The guard had been hunting him for years, but Rowan was careful not to take jobs that would draw too much attention. He lived by certain rules, and never broke them; he would never kill a woman, or a child, and kept collateral damage to an absolute minimum. He had so far managed to remain hidden, and currently there was no special search for him. But he was worried that might change, given the news of the Princess' bounty he heard today.

@ A Drop On the Window

The princess watched darkness fall over the city as the sun set from her window in one of the tall towers of the palace, fidgeting with her hands anxiously. Despite her father trying to keep her in the dark, she'd heard the whispers about the bounty on her head from servants as they passed by, seen their sympathetic looks. Her chamber maid had even given her a dagger to tuck under her pillow at night, warning her to always be at the ready, for when Rowan came for her.

As the best known criminal in Rythinia, everyone assumed it was Rowan Nightfell that would be collecting the bounty on the princess. Freya herself wasn't so sure, but couldn't deny the possibility. Despite her better judgement, she pulled on a cloak and snuck out of her room, creeping her way through the palace and out a secret passage near the sewers, heading for the barren part of the city, occasionally making her way there to give what little money she could carry to the women and children who lived there. She kept an eye out for any danger, although at this time of night, almost anyone could sneak up on her and she wouldn't know.

Rowan quickly changed out of his dirty clothes, and carefully washed the grime off of himself. He hated taking jobs out of the city, but this last one would tide him over for several months. He had killed a dishonest merchant, on the road. The merchant was known for cheating people by selling goods he knew were inferior, or overcharging people whom were unfamiliar with his wares.

Rowan tidied himself up, and pulled over a dark cloak. He forwent his weapons, knowing it would be easier to talk his way out of it if he was caught. He stepped onto the streets and made his way towards the local tavern, for a drink and a meal. Rowan's house was empty of items like that, incase he had to make a run for it, it was safer to leave nothing behind.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya made her way through the streets, stopping to pass a few coins off to those she saw sitting and sleeping on street corners, wishing them well before continuing on her way. She enjoyed helping people when she could, wishing her father would do more about the poverty and crime in this part of the city, although she supposed he had bigger issued to attend to.

Rounding the corner to continue to give out her charity, she bumped into Rowan, having not seen him coming in the dimly lit streets. She gasped in surprise, dropping the small bag of coins she had been carrying as she stumbled back a few steps back, green eyes wide a she looked at the stranger she'd run into.

"I-I'm so sorry, sir! Please forgive me, I didn't see you.." She apologized quickly with a little bow, tugging her cloak around her tighter as she knelt down to pick up the bag of coins she'd dropped. "You're not injured, are you?"

Rowan stumbled lightly, as she crashed into him. He looked up at her, and was shocked to see her distinctive face. He pulled his cloak around him. He mumbled softly, "It's fine, I'm okay." He knelt down and carefully began picking up some of the coins that had spilled out.

He rose up, and offered them back to her, and distinctly odd gesture for a vagrant, which is how he appeared. "Princess, its' not a good idea to be out alone," he commented quietly. He pulled his hood down, revealing his face. "You wouldn't want someone to be tempted to collect," he added.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya thanked him for his help, gladly accepting the coins from him, although her eyes widened as he pulled down his hood to reveal his face, tensing when he addressed her as 'Princess'. She glanced around nervously, knowing the guards would've be patrolling this area at all.

"I-I'm sorry, sir.. Please, please don't kill me. I'll give you the rest of my coin, and I won't tell a soul, I promise." She pleased quietly, biting her lip as she looked at him.

Rowan frowned softly, stepping back. "Please stop, I've never killed a woman," he said honestly. He pulled his hood back up. He turned to leave, "Go home, Freya, it's not safe," he called before disappearing down an alley way.

'It's not safe, not yet' He quietly thought to himself. He rushed through the streets, heading towards the tavern still.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya frowned a bit at his words, trusting him despite knowing his reputation. She frowned when he disappeard, calling after him as she started to follow him, wanting to ask him so many questions, although she thought better of following him, instead taking his advice and returning to the palace.

She didn't sleep too well, so many things in on her mind that she only managed to sleep a few hours before she had to wake for the day. She decided it would be best not to mention meeting Rowan the previous night, knowing it might only get her into trouble.

Rowan finished with his meal, and light ale before heading home to sleep. He slept rather soundly, the fear in Freya's eyes when she recognised him however nagged at his mind. She was genuinely scared, he hated that he'd been given that reputation.

As dawn broke over the city, Rowan left his home, the small shack in the bad part of town. He pulled his hood up, and headed towards the market. He was headed to collect his mail; it was common knowledge that one of the merchants could get a message to Rowan if one had to be sent. However, the means of how Rowan received those messages was secret.

The guards had questioned the merchant, and he told them the truth of the method, however Rowan changed the method the next day.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya has spoken to one of her maids about the method of getting a message to Rowan, and had sent her to deliver a letter to the merchant on her behalf, which was there amongst his other letters.

The letter from the Princess apologized for bumping into him the previous night, before asking him if he would meet her in the palace that night, writing out the secret way in and out of the palace that she would use to get out at night. She also asked him to burn the letter when he could, knowing it would not reflect well on her if it was found, and it would give away the secret way into the palace.

Rowan watched the customers in the market for ages, from a concealed position down a small alleyway. He slowly made his way towards the messenger's stall, and slipped around the back. Buried in one of the barrels to the side of the stall, was a bundle of letters. Rowan dug into the barrel, before slipping back into the crowd.

He smiled seeing the letter from the princess, amongst the others. As he read over it, in his home, he chuckled to himself. It had to be a trap, there's no way, she'd make it this easy to get to her. He sighed, as he thought about it more, deciding to scout the entrance during the day, it was completely unguarded.

As the night fell, Rowan dressed in his armour, and strapped some weapons to his body, just incase it was a trap. He made his way to the secret entrance.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya had spent the day worrying over whether or not he'd come, heading down to the secret entrance at sunset to wait for him. Her eyes widened when she spotted him, chewing on her lip nervously as she glanced around, although she was relieved that he'd gotten her message and come.

"I'm glad you got my message.. Is there anything I can get you? Food or ale?" She asked, wanting to be hospitable, knowing he might be her only hope in finding who wanted her dead.

Rowan looked up hearing her speak. He stopped moving, listening for other sounds. "It intrigued me, are you trying to get killed?" he asked softly. He moved closer to her watching her, waiting for her to make some signal.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya frowned worriedly, shaking her head quickly. "No.. I believed you when you said that you'd never kill a woman.. I.. I want your help." She spoke softly, looking up at him as he stepped closer, fidgeting with her fingers anxiously. She knew that he could easily kill her right now if he wanted, or could have sold the location of the secret entrance to another assassin, but she had to trust that he wouldn't do that.

Rowan raised an eyebrow listening to her. He was confused, "I don't know how it got around that I'm a ruthless killer, I just very good at killing men who deserve it," he admitted.

He moved closer to her slowly, "What do you need, I'll see if I can help," he asked her. He had no idea what she could possibly want, that she couldn't go to her father with.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya looked at him, eyes filled with fear, although it wasn't because of him. "I want you to help find the man who wants me dead.. And the assassins who are looking to claim the bounty on my head." She explained, taking a nervous step closer. "If you help, I'll do all that I can to get you pardoned, and I can give you a large payment, enough to buy an estate somewhere and never have to worry about anything again." She assured him, fiddling with her fingers anxiously.

"Please... I don't think anyone else can help me."

Rowan looked at her, and moved closer. He was within arms reach of her at this point. He pulled his hood down, "I don't need a pardon, or an estate," he commented. He paused for a moment, "I have plenty of money already," he added.

He moved closer, "What I can't have, is the princess dying, and the city thinking it was by my hand," he said. He had other reasons, a region in chaos, which would occur if she was killed, would make things harder for him.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Freya watched as he moved closer, keeping her eyes on him. "Are you sure..? Surely you deserve more of a reward than keeping your reputation clean.. Please, I'd feel bad if I didn't compensate you in some way." She frowned a little, studying his face curiously. Rumor had had it that Rowan was an ugly man, and she was surprise to find the rumor to be false, taking in his handsome features, although she was careful not to stare too long.

Rowan watched her eyes, listening to her. "Your thankfulness will be enough, maybe one day you can return the favor," he said lightly. He smiled softly, he carefully pulled a blade from under his cloak.

He lifted it up, and held it out to her, pommell first, 'take this just in case," he said softly. The blade, was a masterwork piece, perfectly balanced, with an ornate handle, and a small ruby in the pommell. "I'll come back for it, once the problem is resolved," he said.

@ katahdin