-- Warning for Violent Content--

Kaladin's POV

I stayed with Lyra for the remainder of the day, following her around as her mother drug her from room to room, chattering non-stop about dresses, flowers and colors. All the while Lyra looked as disinterested as I felt, but our minds were undoubtedly on the same topic most of the time: Danak Staph's murder. Of course, her mind certainly drifted off to Samson at times as well- You can tell by the look she gets in her eyes, which is even more faraway than usual.

Sage had noticed for a while before the Queen, who only took notice of her daughter's state of mind after turning to see Lyra gazing out at something nonexistent for the umpteenth time. Then Alandra excused her from wedding planning and the Princess went back to her chambers, turning down the dinner offer that her parent's offered her. It isn't often that she gets invited to sit for a meal with the King and Queen, but things between the three of them are rather tense at the moment.

Lyra eats some supper and sits with a book in her lap, though she has gone an hour now without turning a page. By the time the sun falls and the moon takes it's place, Lyra is obviously exhausted and frankly, so am I. But unlike the Princess, I do not yet require sleep. I can go for days without it.

Part of my training as an assassin involved some intense sleep deprivation. It meant keeping me awake in a small, windowless room until the brink of death, kicking or slapping, even stabbing me, at one point, to keep me from nodding off. I learned then that if one goes too long without sleep- about a week- that they will die.  Thanks to the torture I endured, I can now stay awake for six days on end, remaining alert for three of them before my actions become slow and fuzzy.

I never felt the need to put Jed, Syl or Adolin through such suffering, so I never taught them such a thing. There are a number of methods that I cut from their training so not to scar or strain them too badly. They've all had troubled pasts and hard lives as it is, so I want to make it better for them, not worse. I think of those three as my own kin and would never wish such a thing upon them. The things that I went through at the age of ten were not something that I want for them at any point in their lives.

I am posted inside of Lyra's bed chambers, along with Nikeil, Merlin, Jasla and Hana, who has begun to get back into the swing of his old job. He looks like he couldn't be happier to be here, but the concern he feels for Lyra is palpable. He has asked multiple times if she is alright, and she's given the same lie each time. He has apparently known her for long enough to sense such fibs, but doesn't press the matter.

I stifle a yawn from my place in a corner of the vast room, thinking about what I am going to do when I am dismissed for the night. While the valiant Prince is out playing bounty hunter with Claudius, I am going to be handling matters here, doing some hunting of my own. I've already figured out who is controlling Sebastian, and I need only take them out in order to disable the Snake's slithering about, cutting off its head, if you will. Once that is finished, Sebastian will spill his guts to the Prince and make him the hero. That's what Lyra wants, and so shall she receive it. I have no desire to inform her of how much killing I've done since I've begun posing as a Guardsmen- it would no doubt make her feel guilty, even though she has nothing to do with it. Damn that soft heart of hers, she would make for a valuable decoy otherwise. With a face as innocent as hers, she could get away with nearly anything. But she is far too honest a person for such things, much like Jed. It took years for him to finally take someone's life, and even then he only did it after they nearly killed Adolin. He then proceeded to cry about it for weeks.

The Princess is sitting by the fireplace, where hot red and orange flames crackle and leap on their logs, staring down at her Chimera. The creature looks back at her master with large, worried eyes and let's out a few nervous whines, unable to do much else in terms of comforting her. Sage sets her head on Lyra's lap and she picks up the book she had to make room for the animal's massive snout. She doesn't even look at it before closing the cover and handing it to Hana to set on the table with the other towers of paper.

Lyra lifts a hand to stoke between the ears of her beast and apologizes to her softly in Noshiel, a language that she isn't aware that I can speak fluently. It may be an all but dead language, but that is what makes it all the safer to learn. If no one knows it anymore, it makes the tongue perfect for code and private conversations. She was smart to use it in training the Chimera.

The Princess feels my gaze and glances at me, as if seeing me for the first time since Samson left. "Luke, you look terrible. I am sorry for keeping you so long, you were with me all last night and all day. Please, take the rest of the night and tomorrow morning off to rest. You have worked well."

I give a bow. "Your Majesty, are you certain?" It doesn't feel as strange as it used to, to address this small, boyish girl so formally. Of course, if I ever get out of this Guardsmen uniform, I will resort to my old ways in speaking with her, which she must expect. I respect Lyra, but not enough to refrain from calling her teasing names.

Lyra nods. "Yes, I am. Hana alone would be enough to keep me safe tonight. It feels quiet for now." The light in her eyes tells me that she had more to speak with me about, but the way she lowers her gaze also shows me that she will not bring it up with the others around. It will be hard to find a time to get her privately for that conversation, and now is not the time for it. She will have to hold it in for a while longer.

I bow a second time and thank her before taking my leave. I go straight to my quarters and strip off my uniform, trading it for a pair of gloves, a darkly dyed tunic and a black cloak. I leave the sword I was given, as well, and take my own from beneath the mattress of the bed. I strap a dagger inside of my boot and another to my forearm before pulling the hood over my head and hopping silently out of the window.

Many of the Guards are far too easy to pass by, even with the so called "heightened security". Lyra's men are by far the best Guardsmen that I've seen here, proof that she picked them out herself. If it were her father who assembled the party, it would be filled with men like Sebastian- lazy, treacherous leches. I am glad that she had the sense to do assemble the group by herself.

I make my way through the sleeping town and stop outside of a large mansion. I pull a dark colored cloth over my mouth to hide the clouds of my breath and watch in a silent crouch as a patrol of guards walks by. It seems that they have been expecting me. After a moment, I recognize the pattern of the guards and familiarize myself with it, counting their steps and the seconds between until they turn the corners. Three of the eight men watching the perimeter of the home have one large dog each. These three take on a wider birth around the mansion that the others. There are no watchmen on the roof. This side of the building has six foot and hand holds available until the second story window. The room beside it has a light burning within, telling me that it is probably the bedroom.

Once deciding that I have a thirty-five second window between each team of hounds, I figure that I have a total of twenty seconds to get from where I am now  to the second story window before the next ground guard comes around the corner and spots me. That is plenty of time.

I wait behind one of many well-manicured bushes until the nearest hound and its master turn the corner. I then slink out and make a silent dash for the mansion. With the running start, it is all too easy for me to take a final jump and reach to grab hold of a rough piece of stone that juts out from the rest. Using it, I pull myself up and extend my arm for the next hold. Once I make it to the darkened window, I crouch on the small ledge outside of it and slip the knife from my sleeve. I use the thin metal and slide it between the small gap that is present down the center of each pane of glass.

The next patrol of guards can be heard from the other side of the mansion, readying themselves to turn the corner. My breath stays calm and even as I push up slightly with the dagger, waiting until I hear the click of the lock on the inside as it lifts free of its hold. I quietly push the windows inward in case there is any creak, but they are well oiled hinges and open soundlessly. I slip inside into the dark room, pulling the windows shut again behind me just as the pair of guards walk below the window, oblivious.

I stay crouched just below my entrance point until my eyes adjust to the room. Thanks to the fully rounded moon tonight, the room is partially illuminated, making it easier to see. It appears to be a study of sorts, with a desk pushed into a corner and several cushioned chairs pushed near the fire, a glass bottle of brandy sitting on a table with four empty glasses around it. One of the walls is made entirely up of a bookcase, shelves filled with large, learned looking books. The beams of moonlight fall gently across the room, leading my gaze to a closed door in the side of the wall. That is no ordinary entrance- it must be connected with the bedroom next to it, judging by the soft glow of firelight that comes from beneath the crack in the door. As far as I could tell from the exterior, the room beside this one is the only one being occupied by someone who is still awake at this hour.

I slip the dagger back up my sleeve and creep to the door. As it turns out, it is already partially ajar, making it easy for me to peer between the crack. From what I can see, the room is unoccupied, save for one who sits by the live fire in a tall-backed chair. They have a glass of liquor in their hand that they lift to their lips every few beats, back turned to me, unaware of my presence.

I gently push the door open enough for me to slip through the crack, after being certain that there are no strings or traps rigged to the handle. I manage to make it through without a squeak of hinge or floorboard and make it right behind the chair that my target sits in. As I suspected, the room is empty aside from them. I swiftly and silently bring the dagger in my sleeve to press against his throat.

Aureus Staph hardly seems surprised at his predicament, pausing his glass' journey to his lips. "I should have guessed that you would have gotten in, anyway. I was foolish for thinking that I could keep you out, Black Phantom." So, he did know that I was targeting him. He may not be as foolish as I once assumed. He knew that I was coming for him.

It has been a very long time since I've heard anyone call me that. "Indeed, you were. Where is your wife and son?"

The head of the Staph household swallows against the sharp blade. "Rosemary and Kagan are away, visiting her sister. You need not worry about them."

He sent them away on purpose, knowing that I would not pursue them if they were gone. I have no issue with either of them- neither knew about what Aureus was doing with Sebastian. "How smart of you,"  I comment, pressing my blade closer. "Do not fret, I will not pursue them. You are the only Staph blood that I will spill."

He seems to close his eyes as he sighs. This is the language of a man who has come to peace with his fate. "I've heard a great deal about you... I had no idea that you were watching over Princess Lyra. Had I known before setting my plan into motion, I would never had tried anything," He tips the last of his liquor into his mouth and swallows it before saying, "She is lucky- a dark angel is watching over her."

I want to ask who told him about me, but I don't give him the pleasure. It will not be difficult for me to figure out, later, if I so desire. Whoever it was, though, knew enough about me to be able to pinpoint when I would come for this man- not many know my work so well. "I am no angel." I whisper before cutting into his flesh with a flick of my wrist.

As the glass rolls from Aureus' limp hand, I wipe the blood on my dagger off on his shoulder before replacing it up my sleeve. I strip off my bloody gloves and throw them in the fire, staying to make certain they burn away completely. As I sneak back to the window in the adjoining study, I think that Aureus was a brave man for coming to terms with his fate. Once he was aware of my presence among Lyra's guardians, he knew that no amount of running would help him, no price hefty enough to spare his life. Whoever informed him of my reputation knew enough to let him know that. That person may be a potential threat- I will have to keep an ear out for them.

I wait for the gap in the guard and slip out onto the window's ledge. I pull the glass shut and use my dagger to once more latch the entrance shut, leaving no evidence of my ever being here, aside from the dead Duke. I climb down and blend with the shadows of the night as I evade the dogs and slink through alleyways, back to the castle.

Once I swing back in my quarters from the castle roof, I strip my clothing off and use it to start a fire in the small hearth that was built into the room. I tuck my sword and daggers back into the straw mattress and pull a clean shirt over my head. I lace up the collar as I watch the clothes burn thoughtfully. Lyra will be glad- Samson will be returning sooner than she may think.

~

Author's Note

I know that this is kind of a short update, but I didn't want to get into anything much deeper than the poorly detailed assassination of Aureus Staph, who is the Duke who had lunch with Lyra and her parents, the father of Danak. He is the one who threatened to kill Annalise if Danak didn't try to kill Lyra and he was also the one who was payed Sebastian to get a job as a Guardsmen and to kill Danak. How did he know so much about Kaladin, AKA, The Black Phantom? How did Aureus know that Kaladin was targeting him? All excellent questions that I plan to figure out the answers to and write them soon! Yeah... This is how my writing goes, for anyone who may never have noticed. This book is composed of a lot of half-ideas and loose threads of inspiration and cliff hangers. I don't mean to do it, I swear. That will all be cleaned up in the re-write and editing stages that are soon to come! (Oh, and here's that picture of Lyra that I promised earlier! She's perfect, right? I don't know who the model is, though.)

It has come to my attention that I need a job soon. I'll need gas money and such for college, so money is necessary. I'm thinking that an online job would be a good option for me, since I tend to be shy of people and interacting with them... plus, I'll only really be able to work weekends and maybe like, two weekdays because of my schedule. I might try freelance writing at some point. Yes, I'm 18 and have never had an actual job. Shameful, I know. Something you didn't know about me: I'm a moocher. I feel terrible about it, but it's true. I'm the cheapest of the cheap and hate spending my own money... when I have it. Yep, so that's a fun fact about your scrabble-brained author! Bonus: I'm also a procrastinator, which with the way my updates go, I'm sure you're able to tell. I'm actually supposed to be cleaning my house right now, but instead I'm chatting it up with you guys and drinking coffee and realizing how flimsy and sparse this chapter is. I probably shouldn't post it yet, in all honestly. But you know I'm going to. I'm sorry, I'll fix it later! As for now, I just want to give you guys some material to chew on, since I starve you for my writing. I do love writing, I swear.

Feel free to pick apart this update and point out the flaws in here! I listen to (or read, rather) your comments and I appreciate them. Thank you for sticking with this book, even though I have no idea what I'm doing whatsoever! Not a clue. But thanks for supporting me anyway, it means a lot more than you know. I really appreciate you guys!

Oh, and I'd like to give a shout out to CheesyMuffin112 and wish her the best of luck with her writing! (She is very sweet, so you should give her a follow! I think she would appreciate it!) That goes for all of my fellow writers out there, as well, whether you're a veteran or a newbie. I wish only the best for all of you, even if you're not a writer! I adore all of you guys.

XOXO, my darling Nuggets.

(Pray for me.)

-A.