The Books of the Shadows

FROZEN SKY - 5 - The House of the Shadows's Assassins

The House of Shadows' Assassins was the second most powerful House of the Shadow people, after the House of Warchild.

In comparison, the Assassins were fewer as the ruler's house would always take care of the threats first, to secure the throne.

As the main threat to the House of Warchild, they were close to disgrace.

Their territory was not very vast now that they were outnumbered by the Warchilds.

Their resources and territory consisted of 3 cities left out of 7, which they have lost on different occasions when the King felt challenges in any way.

There were only 3 Assassins Lords left, each ruling his fortress and each having the secret mission of playing his part in regaining the ruler's power. Having this in their minds, each had 3 wives and enough male heirs to cover the maintenance of the ranks.

Or at least to try to.

The Lord of Beranbur was a member of the War Council, the only elder one left, and his son Tianu was the next Lord in line to inherit the title after his father would pass to the other side.

Tianu of Beranbur was now only 7 years old, and he had a newborn sister that appeared to be the good fortune of the house, as the Lord of Beranbur was the only Lord left alive because he did not attend the War Council's meeting when the King had killed the entire Council.

He was absent because he went home to meet his new baby.

The ruler of Hisa was an old general of the former king, Sheng Zung's father.

The Lord of Hisa was not fit to travel as much to be a member of the council anymore.

He had lost his firstborn son along with his wife in the War of the South.

As the House of the Shadows' Assassins was placed on the southern territory, right at the borders of the kingdom, where they were not much protected by the royal army and were really facing the difficulties mostly alone.

Yet they still had to contribute to the well-being of the kingdom just the same as the other houses.

The Lord of Hisa, was the father of Lady Anaty.

He also lost his second son in one of the missions the King sent him alone far away in the enemy territory, without any military backup, along with the firstborn of the Lord of Beran.

His second wife gave him the last child, but that one was a daughter, who was not raised as a warrior so that she would not be lost too.

They were all hoping to manage a political Union that would restore at least some of the Assassins' House power back, as she was pureblooded. The words were out at some point after her birth, that a union between Hisa and Beran would be performed in secret between Hisa and Beran, when the King had sent Tianu's brother, firstborn of the house of Beran, the one betrothed to Anaty at her birth, right in the claws of death along with her brother, starting the war between the south and the neighboring kingdom of the light people.

The third one left from the house of the Assassins' Lords was the Lord of Lundun, sometimes called Lothar.

He was badly hurt in battle, therefore, he could not leave his fortress anymore and somehow the king had spared him too. He was too old and already not moving, he would stay in his bed all day and would die pretty soon eventually... not really a threat for the crown.

The Lord of Lundun, secretly had his firstborn son join the Monks Coven, in a strategic move, thinking it was the only way to protect him, and declared him lost to the world.

He had no other heirs as all his wives were bided assassins at the orders of The King. He was just taking his days one by one in the fortress of Lundun, awaiting death along with his mistress, playing a passive role in the southern territories, more like an advisor rather than a soldier.

***

When they arrived, they brought the Lady into the King's quarters. She thought she was in her own designated room, when He entered as owning the place... Well, he actually did...

Seeing the King, standing on the edge of his big bed and the guards leaving the room to give them privacy, the young Lady panicked.

By custom, they could not be left alone in the same room until the union was performed and she would belong to him.

-My king, she said bowing her head, the witness...

-Am I? he asked coldly, and she looked at him even more confused. Your King... as you say?

He continued as she understood where he was going and nodded putting her look at the ground.

-I don't hear that! He said loudly.

-Yes, My King, she said bowing her head even more, like a delicate leaf in the winds of Fate.

-So... you are in my Castle... You are in My lands, and you Say... I... am Your king, he said, and she nodded again. So why do you need a witness? He asked her loud and clear, fixing her with his eyes.

She looked at him in terror, as if the sky would fall if that were to happen, and she managed to answer softly that the witness is needed when young people speak before marriage, as the law requires.

-As I am the King, I am above the laws, he said smiling. As I would take you to be mine, why do you need a witness for?

He was really enjoying the hardness of the situation she felt in.

Of course, only because that law would also give him, in this case, the right to annul the marriage on the reason that she was not pure anymore, as she dared to speak with a man alone in the room, without any witness.

And judging by her words against the word of the King about it, he would have won and she would have fallen into disfavor and no one would have married her.

She could, however, only be taken as a mistress or perhaps she would end up in a brothel.

There were options...

-My King, please, she begged for understanding.

But there was none to find in him. This King would never hold back from any advantage he could get from any situation.

His heart was petrified like a stone and there was no kindness in his eyes.

-So what were you told about me? He continued to speak without even thinking about getting the witness for the Lady.

-That you would choose me for the Union, My Lord?

-King, he corrected showing his beautiful teeth and a contempt expression on his face. You will call me "My King", he told her.

-My King, she repeated still uncomfortable that they were alone. But if you want this Union, should we not speak in front of the witness, please?

-Too late for that... isn't it?

The king was fixing the young lady like a predator right before the fatal strike.