Chapter 7
After the Emperor had disappeared Grea took off after the shadow, his silent feet carrying him like a cat across the courtyard, up the wall and over the roof after the shadow. Of the pursuer and the pursued both could be called shadows, darting around the roofs and back down to the courtyard. Grea pushed himself off the roof and landed on the ground in front of the other assassin, blocking his path. The shadow immediately unsheathed its sword in a lightning fast move and struck. Grea only had time to unsheathe his sword part way but he still succeeded in blocking the strike. Jumping backward he unsheathed his sword the rest of the way and narrowed his eyes. The two assassins stood poised, watching each other in complete silence. Grea could only see the shadow's eyes, they were a deep green.
He could see in those deep green eyes a large amount of intelligence. The green eyes narrowed and watched him closely; Grea knew exactly what the shadow was doing. They were both sizing up their opponent, trying to figure the next move. In the space of two seconds they were done sizing each other up and both moved as if on cue, charging forward, their swords meeting with a shatter of sparks.
Grea whirled around and struck again with the swiftness of a snake. He succeeded in slicing a thick line of blood across the shadow's thigh, but that was all. The shadow danced around him, as if the blow meant nothing, then jumped into the air to strike. Grea dodged out of the way and struck again, this time scoring a hit on the shadow's arm. Their blades locked once again, this time they were close enough they almost could have kissed. Then a dagger appeared in the shadow's hand and sliced up Grea's chest.
The young assassin stumbled backward as blood flew; he landed haphazardly a few feet away, clutching his chest as he breathed heavily. Then without giving the shadow time to celebrate his strike, Grea darted forward and sliced up with his sword, relieving the shadow of one of his ears and large amount of the side of his mask and hair. The mask fell to the ground yet his arm came up in time to hide his face. A panicked look crossed his bright green eyes then the shadow was fleeing, a small trail of blood left behind on the ground. Grea coughed and dropped to his knees for a moment, his breathing heavy and labored. A second later he stood up and sheathed his sword, then retied his shirt. On silent, yet slow, feet he moved toward where the Emperor had hidden himself.
Tobias looked up to find Grea standing in the door, his normally clean clothing covered with blood. The assassin nodded slowly, denoting it was safe now. Tobias stood to his feet, only in time to catch the assassin as his eyes rolled back and he crumbled to the ground. Tobias caught the boy quickly and carried him through the hall until he found a set of guards.
Grea was left in the care of the Imperial Nurse; meanwhile Tobias reluctantly went to change his newly blood stained clothes.
After the Emperor had disappeared Grea took off after the shadow, his silent feet carrying him like a cat across the courtyard, up the wall and over the roof after the shadow. Of the pursuer and the pursued both could be called shadows, darting around the roofs and back down to the courtyard. Grea pushed himself off the roof and landed on the ground in front of the other assassin, blocking his path. The shadow immediately unsheathed its sword in a lightning fast move and struck. Grea only had time to unsheathe his sword part way but he still succeeded in blocking the strike. Jumping backward he unsheathed his sword the rest of the way and narrowed his eyes. The two assassins stood poised, watching each other in complete silence. Grea could only see the shadow's eyes, they were a deep green.
He could see in those deep green eyes a large amount of intelligence. The green eyes narrowed and watched him closely; Grea knew exactly what the shadow was doing. They were both sizing up their opponent, trying to figure the next move. In the space of two seconds they were done sizing each other up and both moved as if on cue, charging forward, their swords meeting with a shatter of sparks.
Grea whirled around and struck again with the swiftness of a snake. He succeeded in slicing a thick line of blood across the shadow's thigh, but that was all. The shadow danced around him, as if the blow meant nothing, then jumped into the air to strike. Grea dodged out of the way and struck again, this time scoring a hit on the shadow's arm. Their blades locked once again, this time they were close enough they almost could have kissed. Then a dagger appeared in the shadow's hand and sliced up Grea's chest.
The young assassin stumbled backward as blood flew; he landed haphazardly a few feet away, clutching his chest as he breathed heavily. Then without giving the shadow time to celebrate his strike, Grea darted forward and sliced up with his sword, relieving the shadow of one of his ears and large amount of the side of his mask and hair. The mask fell to the ground yet his arm came up in time to hide his face. A panicked look crossed his bright green eyes then the shadow was fleeing, a small trail of blood left behind on the ground. Grea coughed and dropped to his knees for a moment, his breathing heavy and labored. A second later he stood up and sheathed his sword, then retied his shirt. On silent, yet slow, feet he moved toward where the Emperor had hidden himself.
Tobias looked up to find Grea standing in the door, his normally clean clothing covered with blood. The assassin nodded slowly, denoting it was safe now. Tobias stood to his feet, only in time to catch the assassin as his eyes rolled back and he crumbled to the ground. Tobias caught the boy quickly and carried him through the hall until he found a set of guards.
Grea was left in the care of the Imperial Nurse; meanwhile Tobias reluctantly went to change his newly blood stained clothes.