An Assassin's Anthem

Snow twirled and spun, dancing on its journey to the ground. Riley did the same, spinning to see the group of knights.

Travis managed to pull himself back onto the crust that had formed. He sighed loudly. “Rotten snow.”

“It’s your armor,” Riley replied. She looked at the group of knights who were traveling with her downriver. “I should have gone with the scouts.”

“No, Lady Riley,” Summer said, dusting snow from her shoulders. “We need you safe and with us. They’ll travel faster.”

Riley groaned and ducked, a snowball flying over her head.

Travis sighed. “You have nothing to complain about.” He glared at the snow for good measure, carefully moving across it and trying not to sink.

“You need better snow shoes,” Riley said, chuckling. She looked at the group. “Also, what do you guys get paid as knights?”

Travis chuckled. “Trying to decide if your salary is fair?”

Riley nodded and jogged across the snow.

“It won’t be,” Summer said. “It never is.”

“But it’s the only way to get to S-tier,” Marcus said, groaning. “The cost is a debt for the rest of your life.” He turned to the knight next to him. “Think the others are better?”

Summer turned. “I’ve heard that Eteln has gotten it together now that the elves aren’t trying to murder them all.” She stumbled, and Riley grabbed her.

“Thinking of leaving?” Travis asked.

Marcus shrugged. “Maybe. You know. I don’t want to get caught in some civil war where I’m killing friends.”

“Gods, someone needs to assassinate one of them.” The other knight looked at Riley. He winked. “Feel up to it?”

Riley stared at him, the shock visibly showing.

Summer laughed. “Don’t be so surprised, Riley. We all know the truth here. They suck. My oath lasted a total of six months before I woke up. The only reason it lasted that long is because I was in the academy.”

Marcus winked. “It’s a rite of passage. Every knight gets the truth. I heard that you realized the first day.” He chuckled. “But you did go to school with the two spoiled nightmares.”

“That would have woke me up,” Summer said.

Riley chuckled and crested a hill. These knights have gotten more forward.

Travis laughed. “Oh, those two. One of them will die. That’s for sure.”

Marcus grunted. “This plan will never work. They won’t settle for anything less than the throne. And that’s why I need a nice parcel on the border with Eteln. Maybe I could make some inroads.”

Riley smiled. They seem like decent people. She looked at Marcus. “What is your story?”

“Same as Summer. We lived on the outskirts and pushed ourselves. When we hit D-tier within a year, the palace recruited us to be knights. We joined during the second term of the academy. That’s usually how they do it. Of course, I was excited. Who wouldn’t be? I took the oath without a moment of hesitation.”

Summer sighed and nodded. “And it was all great until we finished the term at B-tier. That was when we got to experience the glory of the knights.”

“Yes. We fought beasts, bandits, and corruption. It was all quite regal.”

“The good old days.” Marcus sighed.

“Then you get sent to the front and watch people die, so many people,” Summer grimaced. “You get desperate to level, and the palace happily offers it to you for a price.”

“And then you can’t pay for anything. Your family is on the brink of starving, and it all hinges on some promise related to the war.” Marcus turned. “What did they promise you?”

“Duchy, but that was before they gave me my grandparent’s debt,” Riley said, grimacing.

“Welcome to the knights,” Marcus said, raising his waterskin and drinking.

“Are you all in debt?” Riley asked, leaping onto a large drift.

Travis leapt. He crashed through the crust and sunk into it. “I hate snow!” he bellowed out into the sky.

Riley chuckled, reached down, and grabbed his arm. Marcus grabbed the other. The two pulled, slowly dragging him out of it.

Marcus chuckled and dusted off the snow. “But to answer your question, yes. We’re all in debt. You’re a knight until you die.”

“Which usually means you run off and have your squad lie,” Travis said. “A few become nobles. You have to be careful about those. But you were never like them anyway.”

Summer nodded and winked. “After all, anyone who knows magic knows what you are.”

Riley swallowed. “What?” She jogged across the drift.

“Spell Thief. Thank the gods.” Summer winked. “No Void Mage gets an innate Spell Steal. You clearly did.”

“And they get that name for good reason,” Marcus added.

Riley nodded and turned the subject back to the oath and knights. “So, you retire?”

“Yes. After your family’s out of risk, and when you get fed up. I’m hoping for a place on the border,” Summer said, winking. “Like old Marcus here.”

Riley chuckled. “Got it.” Her eyes followed the river.

“So, get that duchy,” Travis said with a grin.

“Yeah, right,” Riley replied. “We can’t even afford the barony.” She scowled and looked down the way. The river expanded out into a lake. Leaping onto a drift, she turned and prepared herself.

“Son of a—mmmph,” Travis shouted, burying himself in the snow.

Riley laughed and started digging him out.

The process repeated over and over. The group made slow progress to the east, and the clouds were bathed in red light as the sun set.

Riley stared at it. Is it finally ending? Is this blizzard over?

“Don’t jinx it,” Travis said, huffing and scowling at the lake and distant fort.

Riley turned and began to sing.

“Mischief has a quest for me.

It seems there’s fun in store.

That is why, I’m forced to say,

I hope it snows some—”

She dove and rolled through the snow, laughing at the angry knight behind her.

“I will bury you in it!” Travis bellowed, tossing another snowball and charging across the snow.

Laughing, Riley vaulted up and raced toward the distant fort. She churned snow behind her and sprinted across the ice-crusted snow, leaving the pursuing knight behind her.

A snowball shot by her head, and she jumped. Spinning in the air, she poked faces at Travis before landing and running toward the snowy fort.

The sounds of a huffing group filled her ears. Heads poked out of the barracks, and a barrage of snow flew out of the fort, soaring toward the lake. Riley felt the skills hit her, and she waved at the soldiers.

Snow sprayed out from the gate, clearing a small opening. The gate screeched open, and Riley skidded up to it. “Hello, sir,” she said cheerily.

The soldier studied her. “You’re the Void Mage?”

“Yes, sir,” Riley saluted him and turned. “Travis, tell him to let me in.”

Travis threw a snowball instead, aiming for her head. Riley dove and slipped past the soldier. Grinning, she looked at the courtyard. Mages were dumping the piles of snow outside.

The soldier turned. “We need to get the commander. Stay here.” He gestured, and another soldier ran off.

Riley studied the familiar layout. The buildings were built against the walls, creating a compact, fortified village. A nearby smith was ringing, smoke billowing in the air.

Turning, she looked at the soldier. “What are we waiting for?”

“Don’t do anything foolish,” the soldier said.

A man and woman walked out of the barracks. He looked at her and raised his brow. “Do you know her?”

The woman shook her head with a growing frown. “Where are the—Travis?”

Travis grinned and walked inside. “Commanders Stukov, how is condemnation?”

The couple relaxed. The woman smiled. “Come inside, and thank you for bringing her. Are we pushing?”

“That’s the plan. We’re going to thin the ranks a bit first. We need preparation for bridges.”

Riley followed the two into the barracks. She looked at the soldiers and grimaced. How many troops are here?

“Umm, where are all the soldiers?” Marcus asked, a frown spreading across his face.

“Villages. Things are slow here,” the commander said. “We’ll send word. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

“They had better,” Travis said with a growing frown. He looked around the large, empty room and shook his head. “We need to take their forts, and I need candor. Do we have the troops for it?”

The commander sighed. “You know how it gets here. Nothing happens. We’re out of range of their fort. They are out of reach of ours. We just watch the river.” He frowned. “And taking their forts will be near impossible because of that.”

Riley turned and bumped Marcus. “Quick visit? I want to see.”

Marcus nodded and walked back outside. Riley followed, walking up the steps and onto the towering wall. She looked out at the glimmering river. Chunks of ice and snow drifted down it.

“Can we build a bridge that size?” Riley asked, frowning at it.

Marcus nodded. “It’ll be washed away during spring unless we improve it, but we can. That’s the goal. Of course, they’re going to barrage us when we try. That’s where you come in.”

Riley nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Good. Let’s get you to bed. You need to cross the river and meet them tomorrow.”

Riley frowned. “How am I doing that?” She looked back at him.

Marcus smiled. “Ice magic. That’s why they brought me with them.” He turned and walked down the steps.

Riley turned and followed him.