The Shadow

Chapter 1

Buildings rushed past the carriage window in a blur: a mixture of gray, sun-burnt brick houses and broken hovels constructed from sturdy wood and straw. The sound of horses' hooves clopping against rough stone echoed throughout the streets, followed by the quieter, hollow sound of carriage wheels splashing through puddles of mud. Larger buildings appeared outside the window, soundly constructed and boasting two or even three stories. The streets became smooth, pockets of rainwater and human excrements fading away.

Kai thumped the ceiling of the chamber lightly, and within seconds the carriage rolled to a stop. The door opened a moment later, revealing a gruff coachman who couldn't have been younger than fifty.

Throwing the man a silver, Kai stepped off the carriage, taking in his surroundings. A rich area, as he knew. He had been here just the day before, but night and rain twisted reality in every which way. It was strange, he thought, that it always seemed to rain on these sorts of days.

Kai waited as the carriage rolled away before turning a corner, pushing through alleys, past streets. Even here, in the wealthiest part of town, scum of all kinds dwelled. He was scum too, he supposed. Dodging past a frail, drunken-eyed woman, Kai turned another corner, entering an alley so dark that it seemed to suck away what little light the cloud-covered moon and stars offered.

Tightening his black leather gloves, Kai grabbed ahold of a drainpipe, swiftly pulling himself up the slick copper. Grabbing the edge of the building's roof, Kai heaved himself onto the ceramic tiles, allowing himself a deep breath. He was not ready for what he was about to do, though he had done it many times before.

The adrenaline rush before a kill always caught him by surprise. This was by no means the first time he had experienced this feeling; a mix of guilt, fear and excitement.

Kai pushed away his thoughts, standing as he walked steadily across the slick tiles. The house he stood atop was two stories high and large enough that it must have belonged to a noble or merchant. Whoever lived there was no matter to Kai; he had simply been given instructions-to kill.

Halfway across, Kai began to run, thrusting himself over the edge of the roof. He felt the air beneath his boots for a long moment before reaching the next ledge. All of the buildings in Northshore were close together, and the distance Kai had leapt was hardly more than two meters.

Steadying his breath, he leaned down against the cold, slippery roof tiles overlooking his victim's balcony. In one swift movement, he twisted onto his feet and jumped upon the balcony below, wincing at the sound of his boots against the patterned cobblestone platform. Kai quickly glanced over the balcony, preparing himself for the worst. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding at the sight of the empty and lifeless street below.

Turning back toward the house, Kai pulled a needle-thin piece of steel from his leather belt, hidden beneath a black wool cloak. If anyone saw him now, wearing darkness atop a balcony in the middle of the night, they would surely call for guards. He would not be seen, however. He was little more than a shadow now, melding with the rain-kissed stone.

The balcony door was picked and opened seconds later, swung carefully inward. It was closed a moment later as the pattering of rain on stone gave way to utter and complete silence. The room was large, as could be expected from the exterior of the home. A four-poster bed took up one corner of the room, expensive silks hanging from its sides. A small fireplace that housed warm coals sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by soft chairs and a coffee table. Kai's business was with the man who lay beneath the four-poster's covers.

Stalking across a polished wood-plank floor, Kai pulled a dagger from his belt. He had sharpened it just hours before; the blade would cut through his victim's throat as if it were warm butter. He stopped at the foot of the bed, gently pushing aside silks to grant a better view of his target.