The New Moon

Prologue

The Assassin

It wasn’t the fire that held my attention. It wasn’t a distraction. It was helping me do my job a lot easier. Nobody was paying attention to their surroundings and never thought to look to the forest. Every flame licked at the sky, sending tendrils of smoke up towards the clouds. I sat on my horse, my eyes boring into the face of a loud and obnoxious man. The hood of my cloak was pulled low over my eyes, but I could see perfectly.

Sampson shifted beneath me and I tightened my grip on the reins. “Easy, boy.” I couldn’t have him stamping his hooves on the dry twigs and give away our hiding place. A strong wind moved through the woods, stirring his black mane. His chestnut brown coat shone in the firelight, but blended perfectly with the trees. He was a tall and strong horse. More than once, he has managed to get me out of the most unfavorable of situations. Not only is he fast, but for such a large horse, he is very nimble.

A twig snapped and my eyes darted away from my target. I listened intently, but there was only silence in the forest. I twisted in the saddle, scanning my surroundings for any sign of movement. I saw nothing more than small forest creatures running about gathering food. Turning back, I grabbed my bow and pulled an arrow out.

I pride myself in the fact that I’ve never missed a target. It saves on arrows and helps everything go smoothly. A man called Slayer had taught me and he was by far the best. He had taught me how to track, how to stalk silently, and how to kill a man with only one arrow. My past was not a happy one, but Slayer had taken me in, cared for me, and taught me everything that he knew. He had bred me to stand for justice and to help the rebels get rid of those who stood in their way.

My thoughts had distracted me. My heart almost stopped when I felt the blade of a sword against my cloak. I had let my guard down…I had gotten too comfortable. I held my breath and kept my eyes fastened on my target.

“Lower your bow or your head is mine.” It was a man and to make it even better, I could tell he was on a horse. He had a thick accent, one that I did not recognize. I was still beside myself with how I had let him sneak up on me.

I did not lower my bow. I had a job to do and I would not leave until it was finished. I didn’t say a word and kept my aim. The blade pressed harder against my neck. “This is your last chance, assassin.”

My own sword was resting against my leg, snuggled safely in its hilt. I wouldn’t be able to lower my bow and draw my sword before he could slice right through me. It was impossible.

Defeated, I slowly lowered my bow, but I kept my grip on it. “Remove your hood.”

I was becoming annoyed. I pressed my heel against Sampson’s side and he spun around quickly. My hood fell off regardless of if I wanted it to and I knocked the sword away, pointing the bow and arrow right at the man’s forehead.

“You’re a woman!” He gasped.

Pieces of my long brown hair had escaped from my braid and were hanging in front of my eyes, but I was sure that he could still see the cold look I was giving him. I knew that I was several years younger than he, but I was clearly more experienced.

“That’s a brilliant observation. Take your horse and leave before you wind up on the ground in a puddle of your own blood,” I snapped. I wasn’t one to kill innocent people, but he had managed to grate on my nerves in no time at all.

“I’m not leaving unless you leave as well. I won’t let you kill that man.” He put his sword away, but I wasn’t convinced that he meant no harm. “He has wronged you in no way. What does he matter to you?” I pulled back the string of my bow even further, and he held his hands up defensively. “If I so choose to yell I will give away your position and then you will have an entire village after your. Answer my questions.”

I lowered my bow and shoved my arrow back in with the rest. I wasn’t going to answer his foolish questions and I most certainly wasn’t going to risk getting caught. “Out of my way, boy.”

He moved his dapple grey closer to Sampson and that was far too bold of him. “I am no boy, assassin. I am your elder. You should show me respect.”

He thought he was my elder? He was young. His black hair was longer and fell in layers around his face, brushing the tops of his shoulders. He was dressed entirely in black with buckles and straps all over his body. His boots and straps around them and looked more powerful than ordinary leather boots. Around his torso were to straps crisscrossing, holding a pair of broadswords on his back. He was calling me an assassin when he appeared no different himself. “You are far from being an elder, assassin.”

His green eyes sparkled at my words, as if they were somehow amusing him. “I have a name,” He said matter-of-factly.

“And if that had any relevance to me I would have asked,” My tone was bitter and cold, “Now get out of my way!”

“No.”

All Sampson needed was one cluck and he sprung forward at a dead gallop. He found his way around the wide trees and back onto the trail. I could hear the man following close behind me and I urged my horse to go faster. His horse was matching Sampson step for step. I was beside myself. No horse had ever been able to keep up with mine before. There was something odd about the man who had undoubtedly been following me. He shouldn’t have been able to match my pace…or skill.

“Sadie!” I completely lost all concentration when he called out my name. I heard something whistle through the air and felt it wrap around my torso. It offset my balance horribly and I fell off Sampson. He immediately turned around and came to a walk beside me, nudging me with his nose to get up.

The man got off his horse and knelt beside me. “How did you know my name!?” I demanded. “How did you find me!?”

“You were set up,” He said, pulling a knife out from inside his coat. “I was sent to bring you back.”

“Sent by whom?” I yelled, “And to be brought where?” As soon as he cut me free, I sent the back of my hand across his face and brought my knee up into his stomach. “You would not have been surprised that I was a woman if you were sent to find me.”

“I didn’t expect you to be here so soon. I didn’t know that was you in the woods.” He got to his feet, glowering at me. “And I was sent here by-,”

He had to have seen the panic in my eyes. There were men…hoards of men on horses rushing towards us. They knew who we were. We had caused too much commotion. The man spun around and quickly mounted his horse. “Come with me!” He shouted.

“Why should I trust you?” I tried to draw my bow and arrow, but his stern look stopped me.

“Because I was sent by Slayer. Now come with me. He’s waiting.”