"Madam Sira is a young woman with a very sweet disposition. But don't let that fool you, she's also a Master of Assassins - and employed by the powerful Council to dispatch those who stand against the Kingdom."

An older man, Chancellor Gael- was addressing the members of the Royal Court. Seated before him was King Andrew Nicolo Barlokov, and his wife, Queen Maira. They were the rulers of the Supreme Kingdom, and they sat upon thrones that were heavily enlaided and adorned with gold, silver, and precious jewels.

Seated just before them, were the Lords and Ladies of the Royal Court, or the Enclave- as most people referred to them. The members of the Enclave were the richest men and women in the allied kingdom. They all were referred to by rank, never by name. That was the policy here in the capital city.

Chancellor Gael stood there a moment, shuffling the notes that he held in his hands. He readjusted his spectacles and peered through them at the young woman who sat in a chair, off to the side. She was dressed in a gold and purple dyed linen dress with a soft grey cloak. Her eyes were downcast, the face showing no emotion. As her jet black hair ran down around her shoulders, the sunlight streaming in through the windows made it shine like obsidian glass.

Amongst this chamber of the Royal Court, Chancellor Gael looked at the King and then he looked at the Queen, both of whom regarded him with very sullen faces. Facing the members of the Court, Gael cleared his throat.

"We are here today to decide what should be done about this so called 'rogue' agent of the Kingdom. Did she indeed do the things that she stands accused of? Did she willingly or knowingly decide to band with the enemies of our fair Kingdom? Or did she simply realize that to serve the King, this Kingdom, was to mean she would have to strike first at our enemy?

One of the older Lords chuckled at that notion. Chancellor Gael spun around and faced the others who stood in the chamber. He was mad, angry at the fact that someone so young could be in such a delicate position. He walked over to her chair where she sat, and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I would like to go on record as saying that I have reviewed the many assignments that this young agent has accomplished. She has shown and proven herself to be dedicated to the Kingdom- many times over, yet again and again. And now, we would accuse her of standing with our enemy? That is ridiculous!

The King cleared his throat and Chancellor Gael turned to face him.

"Chancellor, is it or is it not true that she admitted to all that she has done?" His face bore a very stern look.

Chancellor Gael nodded. "Yes, she did so, Sire. She admitted to her actions."

The King looked at the young woman. "And she admitted that she stood against me? That she stood against my Kingdom?"

"Yes, Sire." Chancellor Gael suddenly looked very weary. He could see where this was going.

King Barlokov leaned back against his throne and grunted. "Then she must die. Not because I say it, but because our laws demand it. Because our decrees guarantee the death of any who stand against this Kingdom."

Chancellor Gael held up one hand and decided to play his last possible card.

"Sire, please- if only I could be allowed to show why I believe her acts as being loyal to this Kingdom, you would then understand why I do not BELIEVE her to be guilty of any wrongdoing."

"You believe this with all your heart? Enough to say to all of us amongst this chamber- that what she did was right?"

"Yes, Sire. I believe her to be right. I believe that in the end, she did what she had to do to protect the interests...and the subjects of this great kingdom. " Gael took off his spectacles. He was making a huge gamble.

King Barlokov cleared his throat and grew silent. No one in the chamber made a sound, and the King didn't say anything either. He appeared to be thinking heavily about the subject. Finally, he looked up and nodded his head at Chancellor Gael.

"We will grant her leniency- if, Chancellor- if, you can prove to us that what she did was in the best interest of the Kingdom. If not, she will be taken to Niralae Prison- where she will await her execution. So it would seem Chancellor, that her life is now in your hands. If you can indeed justify all the things she done against the Kingdom as being necessary, I will pardon her myself. Agreed?"

Chancellor Gael glanced over at Madam Sira, whose eyes made no attempt to look up from the floor. He then walked over to a small table and gathered more documents from it. Arranging them, he looked up at the King and agreed to the terms.

King Barlokov nodded as well. "Proceed then, Chancellor. Tell this Court why we should grant this rogue agent mercy."

Chancellor Gael put his spectacles on again, and looked down at the papers in his hands. Then he looked back at the King and said, "I have spent the last three days conversing with Madam Sira, Sire. Let me tell you and this Court, those things that she recounted to me. I will present her briefing as she reported it at the time of her arrest."

With that, he looked down at the parchment and started reading aloud. As he read her statement, Sira simply closed her eyes. Her thoughts were drifting- they were taking her away from this place...

...and back to how all of this had started.

--

The carriage moved along the road rather noisily, drawn by two exquisite black stallions. The driver held the reins tightly as he called out encouragement to the horses. Inside the carriage, Madam Sira sat in silence. At any other time she would have been giving off a very beautiful smile, but today she wasn't smiling.

A huge signet ring was on her right finger, emblazoned with an elegant design and adorned with small diamonds. She was dressed in a very beautiful deep blue dress with a matching cloak, and she ran her fingers through her hair absent mindedly. She was deep in thought, and nothing- not even the bumping of the carriage, could distract her thoughts.

The few townspeople out on the streets at this time of morning would look up and gaze before going back to their work. The young woman was very elegant indeed, and it was not uncommon for many well to do strangers to ride through this country town on their way to the city. She was obviously very wealthy, and that in itself made her affairs no business of theirs. The upper class were never interfered with. That was something that practically didn't happen. The driver continued guiding the carriage on its way, and she steadily sat there in silence.

A short time later, the carriage pulled up to one of the smaller inns that was conviently located by the town's marketplace. The driver pulled the reins in slightly, bringing the horses to a stop. Then he climbed down from the driver's perch, and walked around to the side of the carriage and opened the door. The young woman looked at him, but didn't move.

"We're here, Madam Sira. Will you be 'eeding me to accompany you inside?" He asked her. She leaned forward and took his hand as he helped her down the carriage steps. She finally smiled, the first one in what had been a long time.

"No, Laury. I'm alright. I have to do this on my own, right? I think I can manage it by myself this time." She pulled the cloak tighter and looked around the townsquare wearily. There was a still a slight shiver in the air, but someone was sure to be up inside the inn, no matter the time of morning.

Laury returned the smile. "I'll be 'aiting here by the carriage for your return then, Madam."

Madam Sira pulled out a pouch and from it, produced two large silver coins. Placing them in Laury's hands, she said: "For your services."

Laury quickly stuffed the coins in his pocket, before flashing a broad smile. He was young himself, but loyal and trustworthy. He'd been in her service for two years already, and she enjoyed his company. He was also the man you would need in a tight spot; his extraordinary talents had already been put to the test once before without question.

Madam Sira turned and stepped up onto the cobblestones as Laury once again took his place at the driver's perch on the carriage.

He watched her as she opened the door to the inn and stepped inside. Taking up a more comfortable position in the driver's seat, he sat there and wondered how long it would take before someone came running out the door or went crashing through a window someplace.

But it wasn't like she'd paid him to worry or ponder over such things. She'd paid him to get her to the destination- which he'd done.

Past that, it was none of his concern. He leaned back and buttoned his coat, then pulled the hat down over his eyes. When it was time to leave, he'd know. There would either be a ruckus, or a scream. Whichever way didn't matter to him. He closed his eyes and took his leave of senses.

Madam Sira approached a very hard sleeping young man who sat behind the inn's front counter. She walked very quietly up to the counter and looked down on the man. When he continued to keep sleeping, she raised a fist and brought it down on the counter. Hard. Hard enough to shake him awake. He sat up, startled- then focused on the young woman who had interrupted his sleep.

He shuffled uncomfortably in the chair and gawked at her, scratching his head.

"Yeah, the rooms are closed for the morning." He looked away from her and yawned.

Madam Sira slowly leaned against the counter and grabbed him by his collar. He looked at her, truly terrified of the look in her eyes. Her voice was an inaudible hiss as she yanked him forward and leveled a dagger at his throat.

"You listen to me, idiot! I didn't come here for a damn room... you have a man staying here who has information that I need. Where is he?"

The young inn keeper was now wide awake and terrified of the young woman who held him in a death grip. He pointed up the stairs before any sound came out of his mouth. Madam Sira looked at the stairs, gave a harsh nod- then pushed the young man back into his chair.

She walked up the flight of stairs very briskly, taking great care to be quiet. She didn't want anyone knowing her presence in this place, or why she was here. There was only one door at the end of the hallway, so that had to be it. Cautiously, she approached the door and turned the knob very fast. The door slid open silently and she smiled again. She'd learned a long time ago that when you try and open doors quietly, you alerted your potential target- namely because the door's hinges would make some sort of sound. As she walked into the darkened room, she pushed back a section of her cloak, revealing a row of very small daggers on a belt around her waist.

She drew one of them and slowly walked over to the prone figure of a man lying in the bed. As Madam Sira crept across the hardwood floor, she realized that the room was quiet. Maybe too quiet. If a man was sleep, he'd be snoring- or making some sort of noise. This man wasn't. She was at full alert. If he tried anything, she wouldn't hesitate to open his throat with her blades. She'd hate to get blood on this particular dress, but sometimes it just couldn't be helped.

She reached the bed and lingered a moment, before silently pulling away the blankets on the bed. As she dropped them on the floor, she realized that she was now looking at a straw stuffed dummy!

Jumping back from the bed, she turned around and was about to rush out of the door when it suddenly closed and a very rugged faced man stepped out from behind a large potted plant. He looked at her intently, and she knew that he was holding a weapon.

As he smiled at her, Madam Sira slowly straightened herself and then put the dagger away.

"I see that you still never sleep, Moore." She pushed her cloak back around her shoulders, and then smiled.

Moore looked at her, then put away his own sword. He let out a breath of relief and grinned.

"I knew it, Sira. I knew they'd send you to assassinate me. That's why I brought you here first."

Madam Sira nodded her head. The two of them were old friends, and nothing had ever come between them. She walked up to Moore and kissed him on the cheek as they hugged. Then Moore offered her a seat. As she sat down, he opened a pouch and pulled out a rolled piece of parchment, then he tossed it to her very lightly. As she caught it, he leaned against the wall and started talking.

"There it is. That's why they want me killed. I found out their secret. I found out what the Council is really trying to do. Proof of their injustices and documentations of their dealings."

Madam Sira studied the parchment closely. She shook her head when she saw that the scroll boreninetyof the Council member's signatures. She rolled the parchment back up and placed it on her lap. Moore waited for her comments.

"It's disgusting. Save for a few signatures, it seems that almost the entire Council are willing to take over the Kingdom." She said.

Moore nodded. "I came to that conclusion myself. They intend to seize control of Anisia, and invade the fortress city of Caille."

Madam Sira stood up and Moore walked up to her. They looked at each other eye to eye, then Moore suddenly embraced her again. As she hugged him back, Moore held her tightly. Then they released each other, and he started whispering instructions to her.

"At the foot of my bed is a gown stained with pigs' blood. Take that and use it. Tell the superiors that I was asleep when you entered my room and killed me. Then present them with my rose blade." As he said that, he pulled a small sheathed dagger from around his waist and placed it in her hand. Madam Sira knew that this blade was very important to him- it was the last remnant that remained of his family heritage.

As she took the dagger and closed it up in her pouch, Madam Sira looked at Moore. "And you? What will you be doing while I report this? No doubt you're going to Caille. Are you going to warn them of the coming siege?"

"I have to," Moore assured her. "It's the only way to make sure that the Council does not take the fortress. If they take Caille, then the rest of this country will be open to warfare and ravaging. I must make sure that doesn't happen."

"And the time period? How long should I give you to complete your part of the mission?" She asked, while ruffling her cloak out calmly. Moore nodded.

"Give me three weeks. No more, no less. If I can contact Lord Haveris in Caille, then we might just have a way to stop all this. Of course, it's all theoretical- it might not work." He said.

"Haveris is a herectic," Madam Sira warned him. "It will be hard to convince him of any treachery on account of the Kingdom. You know that in a time of trouble, he would side with the Council. He believes in the unified alliance between the cities."

Moore looked grave. "Yeah," He said. "I know. That's why this might not work at all. Unless I can convince him of what's about to happen, then we won't have a chance after the Council is done with their revolt."

He walked up to Madam Sira and gently took her by the hand. As he kissed the signet ring, she laughed.

"Moore- there's no need of you having to do that anymore. You know that well enough." She told him. Moore looked up at her.

"Milady, this will be a very dangerous time for the both of us now. I show my respect to you for allowing yourself to be placed in danger. It is a debt that I will most reverently repay to you."

Madam Sira glanced at him with a wry smile. "Marry me. Then we'll call it even." She said.

Moore gave a bow, then looked up at her. "The time for that, Milady- will come after we've saved the kingdom." He began gathering his things and Madam Sira watched him. After he finished, he walked over to the window and opened it.

"Remember, three weeks- in the city of Caille. Hurry back to Anisia and give your report. I'll contact you in four days."

He jumped out of the window, and Madam Sira smiled to herself. The truth was that she often thought of Moore as being brave and foolhardy. But it was a quality that she liked. It intrigued her, and she knew that he more than likely felt the same way about her.

It wasn't love, but in honesty, it was close enough. She went over to the bed and retrieved the blood-stained garment. Packing it away in another pouch, she quickly tidied up the room. Then she went and closed the window. Pulling the hood of her cloak up, she opened the door to the hallway and stepped out. As she walked briskly towards the steps, she readjusted the row of daggers on the hem of her waistbelt. She went down the flight of stairs and back to the counter. The young inn keeper shrank back from her.

Madam Sira reached in her purse and pulled out a single large silver coin. "This," she began, "is to make sure that no one knows that I was here, and that you will go upstairs and retrieve the body for burial. Do whatever you have to do, but get rid of everything in that single room. Do you understand?" She finished.

The young man nodded. As Madam Sira walked out the inn's front door, he was already rushing up the stairs to complete the task that she bade of him. She approached the carriage to see Laury already standing there, door open- ready to help her into the carriage. He smiled at her as she approached.

"See'd Master Moore, Madam. He told me to keep an eye on his future wife." He winked at her.

Madam Sira smiled as she stepped into the carriage and took her place. "And what did you tell him?"

"Told him that he's got the man for the job." Laury closed the door and smiled at her. "Where to, Madam?"

"We've got a lot of work to do." Madam Sira informed him. "Home. Take me home, Laury. I want to get prepared."

"Right to, Madam." Laury quickly swung up to his driver's perch and grabbed the reins. As he guided the horses back into the street, he started calling encouragement to them again. And inside the carriage, Madam Sira smiled to herself. It wouldn't be so bad, marrying Moore. She could do much worse than him.

But for now, she wouldn't focus on that. She had a mission to do, and by God, she would do it.