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i_love_freddieThe room is dark and quiet, except for the slight snorting and mumbling noises the man makes in his sleep. My feet sink into the soft rug, all the better for making no sound. The rest of the house is silent. I have already taken the necessary steps to ensure that we will not be interrupted by his servants.
Politics are everywhere, finely woven into society in such a way that few are aware of how the system really works. But still it affects everyone in some way. It can be seen every day; and it is pretty black and white. Once a slave, always a slave. Once a beggar, always a beggar. There are exceptions but they are very rare. And those who get a taste of power tend to cling on to that like the leeches they are.
Politics bring power struggles and conflict - I see it first hand in my line of work. The rich and powerful only want the best, and my reputation precedes me. Quick meetings in shadowy back alleys or the taverns in the most run down parts of the city, money exchanging hands... and then whatever is causing them a problem is no more. I take care of it. Quick, clean, no fuss. That is just what I do.
Concealing myself in the shadows, I move closer to the sleeping man. He stirs, but does not awaken. I recognise him – he sits on the council, one of those who regulates the use of magic in the city. There have been rumours about him taking bribes, and it seems as though some of his actions have made somebody very angry.
It is essential to have laws and structure in order to create a society where people can live together; but not all rules are fair, and some people are corrupt. Those in my line of work are criticised, but there has to be balance.
Who seeks my aid? Well, those who are rich or in a position of power often make powerful enemies. Sometimes they are being blackmailed or threatened, and they want protection and someone to remove the threat. I can do that. My network of contacts within the underworld of the city makes finding information easy. Or they need a rival removed; maybe someone isn't performing their role adequacy and need to be unseated with minimal distraction.
I am at his bedside now. He looks so innocent in his world of dreams, but those who know him know differently. This man is far from innocent. The moon slides out from behind a cloud and I freeze as the room is filled with yellow light. I can't risk being seen from outside, but it is a cloudy night. I can wait.
The issue of marriage... well, a lot of people come to me with marriage related issues. Maybe a husband or wife suspects an affair, and wants the third party to be disposed of. In a society where those who are married are expected to stay together, for better of for worse, there's not much sympathy given to those who will interfere. Of course, it works the other way too. One case I saw was a woman who wanted her husband 'dealt with' – she claimed her parents forced her into the marriage, and her husband was a heavy drinker who beat her and slept with other women. She had fallen in love with another man and wanted to be free to marry him, so her husband needed to be 'removed' in a way that would not cause suspicion to fall upon her. Whether the allegations were true, I don't know and I don't want to know. That is not part of my job.
Darkness again. I move quickly, removing the dagger from my belt. It is all about the perfect strike. He opens his eyes, just as the blade flashes through the air. There is no time to even scream – just as it should be. He can only stare up at me as the blood flows from the slash on his throat.
The other issue with marriage is people marrying down. If a headstrong daughter of a noble is determined to marry a commoner... then that threat needs to be removed so nothing happens that might affect the family structure. Love just doesn't count for much when money or power is involved. Arranged marriages are very common, but not always welcome. Add to the fact that if a man rapes a virgin girl, he is required by law to marry her and support any child that results – a lot of people don't like that. Unsurprisingly, they want punishment.
I don't mind. It keeps me in a job.
I wait silently until his breathing stops. The sheets are soaked in his blood. As instructed, I drop the dagger on the floor. The eagle crest, the insignia of one of our most powerful noble houses, is visibly carved into the handle. My job completed, I slip away as silently as I arrived.
The world of politics is always a messy one. And things are about to be shaken up a bit.
Politics are everywhere, finely woven into society in such a way that few are aware of how the system really works. But still it affects everyone in some way. It can be seen every day; and it is pretty black and white. Once a slave, always a slave. Once a beggar, always a beggar. There are exceptions but they are very rare. And those who get a taste of power tend to cling on to that like the leeches they are.
Politics bring power struggles and conflict - I see it first hand in my line of work. The rich and powerful only want the best, and my reputation precedes me. Quick meetings in shadowy back alleys or the taverns in the most run down parts of the city, money exchanging hands... and then whatever is causing them a problem is no more. I take care of it. Quick, clean, no fuss. That is just what I do.
Concealing myself in the shadows, I move closer to the sleeping man. He stirs, but does not awaken. I recognise him – he sits on the council, one of those who regulates the use of magic in the city. There have been rumours about him taking bribes, and it seems as though some of his actions have made somebody very angry.
It is essential to have laws and structure in order to create a society where people can live together; but not all rules are fair, and some people are corrupt. Those in my line of work are criticised, but there has to be balance.
Who seeks my aid? Well, those who are rich or in a position of power often make powerful enemies. Sometimes they are being blackmailed or threatened, and they want protection and someone to remove the threat. I can do that. My network of contacts within the underworld of the city makes finding information easy. Or they need a rival removed; maybe someone isn't performing their role adequacy and need to be unseated with minimal distraction.
I am at his bedside now. He looks so innocent in his world of dreams, but those who know him know differently. This man is far from innocent. The moon slides out from behind a cloud and I freeze as the room is filled with yellow light. I can't risk being seen from outside, but it is a cloudy night. I can wait.
The issue of marriage... well, a lot of people come to me with marriage related issues. Maybe a husband or wife suspects an affair, and wants the third party to be disposed of. In a society where those who are married are expected to stay together, for better of for worse, there's not much sympathy given to those who will interfere. Of course, it works the other way too. One case I saw was a woman who wanted her husband 'dealt with' – she claimed her parents forced her into the marriage, and her husband was a heavy drinker who beat her and slept with other women. She had fallen in love with another man and wanted to be free to marry him, so her husband needed to be 'removed' in a way that would not cause suspicion to fall upon her. Whether the allegations were true, I don't know and I don't want to know. That is not part of my job.
Darkness again. I move quickly, removing the dagger from my belt. It is all about the perfect strike. He opens his eyes, just as the blade flashes through the air. There is no time to even scream – just as it should be. He can only stare up at me as the blood flows from the slash on his throat.
The other issue with marriage is people marrying down. If a headstrong daughter of a noble is determined to marry a commoner... then that threat needs to be removed so nothing happens that might affect the family structure. Love just doesn't count for much when money or power is involved. Arranged marriages are very common, but not always welcome. Add to the fact that if a man rapes a virgin girl, he is required by law to marry her and support any child that results – a lot of people don't like that. Unsurprisingly, they want punishment.
I don't mind. It keeps me in a job.
I wait silently until his breathing stops. The sheets are soaked in his blood. As instructed, I drop the dagger on the floor. The eagle crest, the insignia of one of our most powerful noble houses, is visibly carved into the handle. My job completed, I slip away as silently as I arrived.
The world of politics is always a messy one. And things are about to be shaken up a bit.
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no subject
Date: 2014-04-07 08:12 pm (UTC)Dan
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Date: 2014-04-08 11:31 am (UTC)Assassins shouldn't think too much, especially out loud. Their employer might hear and have them 'dealt with' and in this case that would be a great shame.
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Date: 2014-04-11 01:58 pm (UTC)That is very true. I figure that the way to succeed in that line of work is to see everything, but say nothing.
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