Valor and Violence

Elizabeth kicked open the door to her safehouse, panting as she crossed the room to the washbasin. She splashed water on her face, then rinsed off her bloodied knives as the Master entered and closed the door behind them.

“Val’s tits, it’s like every watchmen in the city was waiting for us.”

“Every watchman in the city was, my dear. Even the emperor was quite put out when you murdered the first Duke Marcel.”

“I can’t imagine he’ll be happy I killed the second Duke Marcel then. Along with most of the power players in his little posse.”

The Master chuckled as he eased himself down onto the bed, the only seat in the room.

“Yes, he will be quite, put out. I will see to it that is taken care of though.”

Elizabeth paused, halfway through wiping down her blades, and glanced at the Master.

“You’re going to assassinate the Aderathian Emperor?”

“What? Good heavens, no. I’m going to bring him on as a business partner. In the wake of your assassinations and the crack down by the watch, interested parties are already moving in to stake their claim on the Ader underworld. Some knuckle draggers from Calandor have already set up shop in the slums, and the Emrinthians have agents in the port and merchants’ district, though I suspect they have been here for some time. Even the famiglia remnants have a presence now, though you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Elizabeth’s grip on the rag tightened as she clenched her teeth. The betrayal had been momentarily forgotten in the melee to escape, but now that was done, the full weight of it crashed down on her soul like an avalanche of heat and rage and sadness, a confusing, contradictory jumble of powerful emotions grappling for ascendance, leaving her drained and shaking. Shaking so hard the blade cut through the cloth and into her palm. She hissed and dropped the damned thing, now stained red once again.

“You know?”

“About the boy? Of course, my dear. I followed you after our chat. You seemed… different, and I was worried. He was easy to tail after you left. Went straight to the duke. Even talked the little firebrand out of personally attending the concert, convinced him to send a body double instead.”

“Wait, what!” Elizabeth shrieked, spinning around to face the Master. “I didn’t kill him?”

“Easy now, easy,” the Master said, raising his hands in supplication. “I killed him for you, the job is still done. I’ve decided, I will even give you the full commission!”

Elizabeth leaned back against the basin stand, eyes glazed over and mouth hanging slack. She stayed there for a few shaky seconds before her legs buckled and she slid to the ground, staring at everything and nothing.

“It’s alright, no need to rush into singing my praises, dear. Take your time,” the Master said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. Despite the levity of his words, his tone was carefully even.

“Why?”

“Why what, my dear?”

“Why let me go? Why didn’t you tell me, warn me I was about to be betrayed?”

“Well, you were right about needing to deal with the rest of his group’s most influential members. Cut off the head of the snake, then chop up the pieces. Very thorough.”

“We could have dealt with them at any time. They didn’t matter, they were an item on a to do list, not the hinge point for the Guild’s takeover. Why didn’t you tell me?”

The Master sighed, turning his gaze away as he chewed over his words.

“Because, my dear Elizabeth, you cannot be told anything. You always know best. And you are the best, but you are so blind to your vulnerabilities. If we are going to burn away your weakness, it must be done through mistakes and hard won experience. Really, you only have yourself to blame. How many times have I told you to trust no one? I had hoped you learned from that nasty business with Giorgio, but alas, I was wrong.”

Elizabeth stayed mute, staring at a dirty patch of floor. She looked up, shrinking down despite herself as the Guild Master approached and stood over her. He crouched down until he was looking her in the eye, though of course, she couldn’t see his through the unnatural darkness within his cowl.

“Pick yourself up, Eliza. We have work to do in this city yet, I’ve prepared your ‘to do’ list, and I expect you to start work on it. Immediately.”

He reached into his robes and produced a folded piece of paper, took her hand, and pressed the instructions into it.

“On your feet, my dear.”

He half helped, half hauled her up and gently nudged her towards the door.

“Get something to eat, and maybe a few drinks. You look like the Pit.”

Elizabeth nodded dumbly and walked the final few paces by herself. She opened the door and stepped through, unfolding the piece of paper.

“Oh, and Elizabeth?”

She stopped and turned to look at her Master.

“When I find the boy, and I will, you are to kill him. Understand?”

“Yes, Master.”

“And smile, would you? Some of those tasks are diplomatic in nature.”

Elizabeth forced a shaky smile to her face.

“That’s my girl,” the Master said, clapping his hands together under his chin in a way that suggested he was smiling back. “Go get them, darling. I’ll be here when you’re done. I’ll always, be here for you.”

Elizabeth nodded and left, walking down the street, her steps falling into the cadence of the cruel laughter echoing in her head.