Part 2
The inventor
2.1
The origins of
the assassins dated back to around 1080, when a local lord in the Middle East,
named Hassan-I Sabbah led a number of people to become his followers. They were
the founding members of the Order of Assassins. It was said that the Lord
Sabbah used that Order for his personal and political gains, and also to exact
vengeance on the enemies. It was believed that Lord Sabbah that had his
followers trained hard in all the arts that was needed for their survival but
he also needed from them undue loyalty to the tasks. He was said to have
induced to them hallucinating drugs. The followers were drugged to show them the
paradise that awaits them, and only the Lord himself could lead them there. That
was the presumption and was never substantiated with facts.
The works of the
assassination was kept in the dark, but it was soon developed by others under
the guise as killing works. These kills may not be physical in form, but its
end would affect the physical being of the victim or the ones closest to the
victim. In the years to unfold, the modes of kill became more refined like
character assassination, or planned coup of takeover, but the mean was still
the same; the removal of the victim from the scene. The payment of the so
called killers was expensive due to its stealth nature it could only sanctioned
by the rich and influential.
In the inner
Chamber of the Islands Kingdom, Chancellor Baine held court with a few trusted
associates of his. The Chancellor dressed in the casual three piece suit made
from the woolen materials while his feet are tucked into a set of fine dancing
shoes. He held his glare on the six associates seated there on the long table.
“Gentlemen, I
hoped that this matter deserved my attention.” Chancellor Baine was in a Ball
with his wife, to celebrate the anniversary of their twentieth year in
marriage. He was doing the lindy hop with his wife when he saw the steward
signaling him.
“Lord Tannen had
an attempt on his life.” Exchequer Thomas Stane spoke up as he was the one who
called for the meeting. He was still in his official robe over his striped
business suit.”I believed it was called for by the King himself.”
The others
looked away in concerned stares, and the Chancellor spoke up once again.
“Why was he not
stopped? Where are our Enforcers?” The Islands Kingdom had an organization of
trained officers in the role of defending the realm from such acts.
“I was not
advised.” Personal Secretary Marilyn Forbes voiced out her ignorance. She was
dressed in her evening gown complete with the corset to uphold whatever flesh
she could push out. The public had named her the balloon for obvious reason. “I
have attached over ten staff to cover all his personal movements, and yet this
may have eluded them.”
“So the King had
another to assist him. A shadow House perhaps lurks with him. They may have
consisted of his own trusted associates than those of us who were appointed to
him by the public.” The Chancellor slammed his fist on the table. “Find that
shadow House and remove them.”
“My…” The
Exchequer held back his word, and then corrected himself. “My Prince, we do not
know who did the employment but the assassin was caught.”
“Then proceed
there yourself and find out who his masters were. I want them removed too.”
Chancellor looked to the Exchequer. “Lord Tannen was placed there with my
blessing. He was my plant with the United Continents. His plan is now under
threat if the King sent someone to kill him.”
“You organized
Lord Tannen to go there? But why didn’t you tell us? What plans were you
planning on?” The Exchequer raised his questions. Chancellor held up his hand.
“Leave now.” The
Chancellor dismissed them all. While they paraded out, he sat there on the high
back seat and reflected on the meeting. He was in deep thoughts when he heard
the feminine voice above him. He looked up and saw the figure descended from
the corner of the ceiling. She was dressed in the red shades that lined her
dark leather uniform. She landed on her feet in a half crouched pose.
“Lady Lilith
pays her respect to the Prince.” The lady assassin remained there waiting for
her Master to instruct her.
“Your report was
right, but Lord Tannen deserved to die. How was it that he could escape the act
of the Devil’s Own?” The newly revealed Prince spoke up. “I had stopped you
from warning him, and yet he escaped. Who is this Devil’s Own?”
“Kassius …” Lady
Lilith was to tell the name when she was interrupted.
“Your lover?
Perhaps you warned him.” The Prince reminded her of a tryst she once had with
Kassius when he just begun his tasks. They had met and in those two weeks, the
sparks went off but once Lilith had done the tasks they went off separate ways.
“I had checked.
Kassius was taken when he slipped in the ducting. He was not the best, but he
had the tendency to.... succeed.” Lilith sighed. “That surprised all of us.”
“Kassius failed.
So they have him there. Is he dead?” The Prince asked. Lilith did not reply,
but the Prince had known the reply.
“I will send the
Exchequer to tell him to hold the prisoner.” The Prince spoke out. “Meanwhile,
I want the Devil’s Own to pay the price of hitting one of my own. They had been
a pain for too long.”
“You mean
removed them?” Lilith asked back.
“I will get the
Princes to act on it.” The Prince looked to the crouched lady. “You may
assist.”
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