The Queen's Apprentice

Part 1

March 9, 10:11 pm

The night was dark and cool. Moonlight fell upon the street in patches, illuminating cobblestones and storefronts. Muffled footsteps approached an alley behind the mason's shop.
"Do you have it?" A cold voice asked. The man stopped in the alley's mouth and fumbled through his pockets.
"Yes. I have-I have it," he stuttered. A chuckle sounded in the darkness.
"There's no need to be nervous," the voice purred. "No harm will come to you if you've done all that I've asked." The voice turned colder. "You have done everything correctly, I presume?" The man nodded hastily, not knowing if his boss could even see him. He couldn't see the person talking to him, which unsettled him more than his crimes did.
"Here it is. The kni-knife that you asked for," he whispered as he pulled out a wrapped package from his worn coat. A pale hand emerged from the shadows and waited in a sliver of moonlight. He placed the package in the hand and jumped at how quickly it receded back. He stood nervously, wringing his hands as the sound of paper tearing ensued. His boss sighed.
"Finally, revenge will be mine!" The voice struggled to contain its excitement. "The Head of State has had it too good for too long while the rest of us suffer." The hand emerged again, this time with a folded envelope on its palm. "Take this message to the church on Raven Court. Make sure that the lanterns are lit. If both are snuffed out in the window, do not enter. That means danger. If a light is in the window, enter and give this envelope to the Bird Master. Can you do that?" The voice asked callously. The man nodded and went to take the paper from the hand, but the limb held back.
"How will I...how will I know who the Bird Master is?" The man wondered out loud.
"He stays in the tower and will have a Phoenix tattoo on his neck," the voice snapped. "He is the leader of the Birds in this area," the voice added. "Now hurry! This has to happen on schedule!" The man snatched the envelope and bowed quickly, tripping over himself and the uneven ground in his haste.
"I'll make sure everything goes according to plan," he assured the person. The voice chuckled for a second time, though the sound was happier than before.
"Oh darling," the voice dripped with mockery. "This is why you're my favorite."