Cassian's smile widened, a true, predatory grin. "Precisely, Seraphine. And may your shadows guide you well."
The "Shadow-silk Robes" felt less like clothing and more like a second skin as I moved through the moonlit forest. Cassian's agents had guided me through hidden paths and ancient, barely-used gates, bypassing all royal patrols until we reached the ominous edge of the Blackwood. The air grew heavy here, thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and an unsettling silence that spoke of lurking dangers.
"The Duke's hunting party enters at dawn," one of the agents, a lean, silent man named Kael, whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustle of leaves. "They will follow the old boar trails. The assassins will be waiting along the ridges, overlooking the most likely paths." He pointed to a faint rise shrouded in deeper shadow. "That's where the Silent Blades favor their ambushes. Long sightlines, easy concealment."
He handed me a small pouch. "Provisions. Water. And a compass. This forest is known to disorient the unprepared. Remember your objective: Duke Theron's incapacitation. Make it look natural. Leave no trace."
I nodded, gripping the compact crossbow Cassian had given me. The sedative dart, nestled in its slot, felt unnervingly light. "And the assassins?"
Kael's eyes, dark and sharp, met mine. "Avoid them. If discovered, prioritize escape. Your mission is not to engage, but to prevent. Their numbers are unknown, their skills legendary. You are a ghost, Lady Seraphine, not a warrior."
A cold thrill ran down my spine. "Understood."
With a final, curt nod, Kael and his companion melted back into the shadows, leaving me truly alone at the precipice of the Blackwood. The passive stealth bonus from my robes was already at work, a subtle hum of unseen energy around me.
The forest swallowed me whole. Ancient trees, gnarled and twisted, formed a dense canopy that blocked out the sky, plunging the interior into a perpetual twilight. The ground was uneven, a carpet of roots and fallen branches, making every step a cautious negotiation. My ears strained, picking up the rustle of unseen creatures, the distant hoot of an owl, the subtle shift of wind through the leaves.
I moved with the heightened senses of my "Ghost in the Manor" quest, my body surprisingly agile. The training I'd done in the archives, a mental rehearsal of movement and concealment, seemed to have translated to a strange physical aptitude. I was no longer just a reader; I was Seraphine, the Disruptor.
Hours passed. The pre-dawn chill seeped into my bones, but adrenaline kept me warm. I found a vantage point along one of the ridges Kael had indicated, nestled among thick undergrowth, giving me a clear view of a game trail below. This was a choke point, a perfect place for an ambush.
The faintest hint of dawn began to paint the eastern sky, a bruised purple bleeding into grey. Then, I heard them. The distant baying of hounds, the muffled shouts of men. Duke Theron's hunting party. They were approaching.
I readied the crossbow, the dart feeling heavier now. This wasn't about revenge, or power. It was about preventing a war, about saving countless lives, about disrupting a narrative that sought to consume them. It was about rewriting.
Through the gaps in the foliage, I saw them. A dozen men on horseback, clad in the Northern houses' dark furs and leathers, moving with the rough-and-tumble confidence of experienced hunters. And at the lead, a large, burly man with a booming laugh – Duke Theron himself.
My eyes scanned the opposite ridge, searching for any sign of movement. And there they were. Three figures, almost perfectly camouflaged against the dark tree trunks, their movements fluid, silent. The Silent Blades. They were preparing. One, positioned highest, was leveling what looked like a blowgun, a faint glint indicating a poisoned dart. They were aiming for Theron.
There was no time to hesitate. I couldn't risk hitting any of the Duke's guards, and the assassins were already on the move. My target was the Duke, incapacitating him before the assassins could strike.
I took a deep breath, focusing, my vision narrowing to a pinprick on Duke Theron's broad back. I squeezed the trigger. The crossbow gave a soft thwip, almost imperceptible in the forest. The sedative dart, a tiny, dark blur, shot through the air.
It landed with a barely audible thunk on Duke Theron's shoulder. He flinched, gave a grunt of annoyance, and reached back, pulling the small dart free. He looked at it, a frown on his face, then looked around, confused.
"What in the blazes was that?" he roared, his voice cutting through the morning stillness. "A cursed insect? This forest is crawling with annoyances!"
His men halted, looking around. The assassins, seeing their target distracted, seemed to pause, perhaps confused by the strange dart. But they wouldn't pause for long. The poison they carried was likely far deadlier than my sedative.
Duke Theron swayed slightly. The sedative was beginning to take effect. His eyes glazed over. "By the... by the Ancestors' beard... I feel... woozy..." He reeled in his saddle, then slumped forward, his mighty frame falling from his horse with a heavy thud.
His guards immediately dismounted, shouting in alarm. "My Lord! Duke Theron!"
Chaos erupted. The hunting party converged on their fallen leader, distracting them from the true threat. The Silent Blades, seeing their window of opportunity closing, cursed in low tones. I saw the blowgun assassin quickly reload, aiming for the now-vulnerable Duke on the ground.
I had to act fast. The sedative would take full effect in moments, but the assassins were still a threat. My goal was to make it look like an accident.
Now, the unexpected variable: the assassins. They were still here, still a threat.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Objective: Prevent Duke Theron's assassination. Status: In Progress.
Threat Level: High (Assassins still active).
New Dynamic: Eliminating visible threats without revealing your identity.
I had choices to make, quickly. I couldn't let them kill Theron, nor could I risk exposing myself.
Your Choices Now:
* Use the remaining sedative darts on the assassins (if I had more).
* Create a diversion to draw the assassins away.
* Attempt a quick, silent strike on the assassin with the blowgun.
* Signal Cassian's agents for assistance (risky, as they might not be close enough).