Fairy Tale Assassin - Chapter 15

Rampion and Sorrel

A new chapter to start the new year.

Chapter 15

During my third week at the guild, I finally destroyed two golems with headshots using only my bow skills. Much to my surprise, the next day, I finally disarmed Gretel with a short sword during our sparring session. While she pushed me hard in training, I didn’t receive the petty treatment from her I expected. As a trainer goes, she’s pretty good at helping me get better. Spending hours and hours shooting arrows from various places and angles got me to a point of hitting the mark most of the time. My muscle development went along with that since every morning I woke up in pain. Still, I’m convinced she’s nuts, and I don’t trust her as a partner.

Eva’s attitude toward me remained frosty, but she still did not intercede against me publicly. It appeared she’s willing to work with me as long as I’m useful. It fits her personality. However, I also realized I needed to keep a working relationship with her. Knowledge and resources made the guild vital to my future as well.

When I walked out of her office after inquiring about poisons, I overheard the rumors about Hansel’s upcoming challenge. No doubt, he’ll want to duel soon, probably as soon as I’m done with the training. I knew I couldn’t match his rapier skills, so my thoughts centered on methods to overcome his advantage. One idea which gained traction in my mind was based upon movies I remembered from the other world. With some luck, Ruby can help me work on how to implement my ideas.

In the meantime, all I could do was get stronger physically and increase my proficiency with my weapons. So far, the hard training, along with the amount of quality food I received, helped build my body. Another few months and I might actually have some decent power. Ruby commented on my muscle development during our occasional sexual interludes. Finding an out-of-the-way place to enjoy ourselves without interruptions was difficult. However, Rudy learned from the other women in the guild for the best places for our rendezvous.

For the present, I focused on training and creating new weapon designs, which I stealthily made on parchment paper I ‘borrowed’ from the guild. Luckily, I found an out of the way spot next to Smithy’s shop where I hide my designs in a hole cut into the wall. Once I got some freedom, I planned to find a couple of competing blacksmiths to complete the parts of weapons, which I would finish into their ultimate form.

Fortunately, I needed little else from the guild in the way of resources. They supplied me with my one set of clothing, which comprised cotton and linen black trousers and a black tunic. Ruby wore a similar type of outfit. According to the guild master, once we started accepting contract work, we could receive the guild’s distinctive long black cape. The oversized hood and accompanying mask provided anonymity when used. Still, the pressure to finish the training to leave the guild tunnels and get regular pay kept me motivated.

Ruby found a replacement for Hansel the day after our public confrontation. A man named Iron John, who looked like his name implied, accepted the role as Ruby’s trainer. According to my red-haired lover, John disliked the twins, so it wasn’t hard for her to convince him. Large and rugged, John was nearly the size of Smithy. Plus, the man specialized in combat as a former king’s soldier. His sheer bulk made him unsuitable for most contracts that required stealth. But Iron John happily worked as leader for the guild. His security group wore plate armor, and they all looked imposing when they came through the tunnels.

A few days after Ruby started working with John, I watched Ruby’s development. She could never copy his style of fighting based on his size and strength. Still, he taught her well. Her skills emphasized stealth, speed and unconventional tactics. From what I saw, Ruby was turning deadly with a short sword and her dagger, which she used in combination. When I left, I promised myself not to get on the wrong side of my partner.

Several days later, the guild master called for me. When I arrived at her office, she made me stand there for quite a while as she finished the paperwork. It didn’t take a genius to understand she was doing this as a petty retribution for my public support of Ruby. Still, I needed to deal with it to get what I wanted. My previous life taught me all about petty and vengeful people in charge. Corporate shills filled the cubicles inside the offices of the companies I worked for. Plenty of the white-collar jerks enjoyed the sense of power they held over others.

Petty bitch!