A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

TWO

Katharine scowled. She pulled her scarf a bit higher over her mouth and nose as she took a step down from the dune. She felt her legs strained against the sliding sand. She spent a whole day monitoring her steps, careful to keep the sand beneath her ringing in harmony. Or else, the local told her, the sands could dissolve into quicksand. But she knew better. Quicksand, she thought, is the most pleasant surprise she could encounter while traveling in this infamous desert. She prays quicksand is the only thing she could encounter.

She isn't really sure where she's going. She intended to hire a tour guide but nobody is willing to take her even if she gives a generous price. The reason why she thought, is that the land of Assassins is feared and respected in the desert. Aside from that, there are vicious creatures lurking in the desert ready to attack anyone they find.

"They will find you." That's what the locals said to her when she asked where to find the Fortress. She wondered how many miles she had to walk to be found. She took a sip of water. Baka maubos na niya ito at hindi pa siya nakakarating sa gusto niyang puntahan. Katharine pulled her scarf back over her mouth and nose and began walking, hearing only the sound of wind hissing through the sand.

***

Hours later, Katharine found herself using all her self-control to avoid leaping into the pool of water in the courtyard. It was as if they knew she was coming and the local tour guide was right. They found her. But that was after she walked for a few more hours under the scorching heat of the sun. They did not offer her water upon her arrival and she didn't think her current escort was inclined to do so as he led her through the huge fortress. She is a fire user so she could tolerate the heat somehow, but she couldn't tolerate the thirst.

The local had told her it would be just two miles walk in the desert but she felt like she walked for twenty miles and she just wants to get her rest. She was just about to stop and set her tent when she found a small cave but realized it isn't really a good idea to camp there for the night. Aside from the fact that sand and wind wraiths might give her a surprise attack in her sleep, she is Katharine Arathorne and she has a reputation to hold. Thankfully, they found her right before sunset.

She followed the man. He was wearing a white tunic that matched the colors of the pillars. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya dadalhin nito but the moment she arrived, tiningnan lang siya nito at nagsimulang maglakad. She took that as a sign to follow. She kept her senses alert as they walked farther into the fortress, memorizing the exits and windows, the guards and where they were stationed. Better be prepared.

They passed by a row of open-air training rooms kung saan kitang-kita niya ang mga nagsasanay doon, sparring against each other, or just sitting quietly, lost in meditation. She groaned inwardly. This is indeed the worst punishment her father has given her.

They climbed up the narrow stairs that went up into a large building. And the moment they entered the long, enclosed hallway, heat wrapped her like a blanket. For a place swarming with assassins, the place was noisy. She could hear the clatter of weapons from the training rooms and the buzzing of insects, the chatter of birds, and the sound of water gurgling running through every room and hall.

Her eyes remained on the crystal-clear water as they approached a set of doors at the end of the hallway. Her escort—probably a middle-aged man—said nothing to her. Behind the doors, the interior was a mixture of white and other light colors. The wooden pillars were light blue-painted supporting a mezzanine on either side. She glanced into the balcony and told her that there's someone there, watching, waiting. She could feel other people inside the room, lurking in the shadows, hiding carefully. They knew she is a Princess, she is sure of that. And she isn't sure what they know more about her but they certainly weren't underestimating her. Good.

Green and blue glass tiles covered the whole floor toward the dais. Atop the dais, seated among the comfortable cushions and potted plants, was a white-robed man.

Her senses heightened. It's the Assassin Master. This is the first time she met him and she expected him to be ancient, but he seemed to be around just the same age as her father. She kept her chin held high as the men lurking in the shadows earlier approached him, following the tile path floor. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa init o sadyang kayumanggi ang balat nito. Ngumiti it ng bahagya sa kanya and she could tell he'd probably been handsome in his youth. Naramdaman niya ang pawis sa kanyang likuran. She could see no weapons near the Assassin Master but the two servants fanning him with palm leaves were heavily armed. She felt her escort stopped at a safe distance from the Master and bowed. Katharina did the same. And when she raised herself, she removed the hood from her head. She was sure it was disgustingly dirty and messy after walking for so many hours in the hot desert but she wasn't there to impress him with her beauty.

The Assassin Master surveyed her from head to toe before he nodded. "Katharine Arathorne," he said.

Her escort nudged her with an elbow and Katharine cleared her throat as she stepped forward.

"Pleasure to meet you, Master," she greeted. That's what her father ordered her to call him. In fact, her father had given her a task: earn the Master's approval in a month or more, and then she can go back to the Royal Capital.

"Thank you for granting me an audience." She silently cursed the stiffness of her words. But the Master did not seem to mind it. He only looked at her once again before he said,

"I hope you'll enjoy your stay with us." The Master looked at her escort. "Take her to her chambers." Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kanya. "And you have half an hour to prepare before dinner."

Before she could even reply, darkness crept close to her and her escort. She felt like she was floating but she looked at her feet and it's still on the ground. He looked at the Master but he wasn't there anymore. Instead, what's in front of her is a wooden door.

"What was that?" she asked more to herself than the escort beside her but surprisingly, he answered.

"Shadow Transport."

"Shadow Transport—why didn't you just shadow transport me to the Master's office instead of letting me walk that far?"

The escort just gave her a blank look. "The entrance of the fortress is warded. Anyone can't use magic there, except the Master who cast the ward. Its purpose is mainly to train the Assassin's physical abilities without relying on their magic power." He flicked a hand and a key appeared on his palms. He then gave it to her. "This will be your chamber. The dining hall is that way, then turn right." He pointed to the narrow hallway behind her. It extended so far she almost couldn't see the end. On each side of the hallway were doors, probably chambers too. When she looked at where her escort was, wala na ito. She wished she could learn that power too.

She inserted the key and settled in her chambers. It was cozy enough but not as big as what she had back at the castle. It looked too ordinary and dry. It hurt her eyes. But she's not there to be getting pissed at the chamber's interior. She's there to train. She saw a tunic, similar to those worn by the Assassins inside the fortress. So she placed her small back on the table and wore it before heading out to the hallway.

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