The mist quickly turned to heavy fog as she got peppered with water droplets but still her eyes did not waver from her target despite her muscles pleading with her to get out of the crouch she was in and stretch his legs. Monsa ignored her pleading muscles as she continued to watch the window in the top tower. The fog slowly trickled down the top of the faded blue stones. She would have but a few minutes until her vision became hindered.
Monsa did all she could to staunch the bleeding from her many wounds and she used the last of her shawl to do it. She got as much sleep as she could in the few hours she had to hide in the half moon shadows.
She was exhausted both physically and mentally but she knew her task was almost complete. All she had to do was find a way to avoid the guards while also making her way into the Eastern Ruins of the castle. Monsa let out a silent breath. This was the hardest part of her task and she wasn't even close to one hundred percent for it.
A guard clad in a light blue iron armor paced on top of the wall and briefly stopped in front of the tower window. She cursed under her breath. From her position in the nearby bush, her target was blocked but she didn't want to move in fear of disturbing the bush and drawing unwanted attention to her.
She shivered as the fog had seeped through what little clothes she had on. Her toes tapped against the leather of her boots as she tried to keep them awake. She had to be ready for anything.
The guard had finally moved and continued his route to the far side of the wall. Again her muscles pleaded with her, this time burning, but still she didn't move. She had been in the bush for over three hours so what was another few minutes. She had too much riding on this mission.
Her results here was going to be the turning point for the empire but she wanted the turning point to be her doing. She had to get results if she wanted to see her again. She had to assure this mission was a success. Monsa was about to give in to her muscles and she braced herself on the hard ground to get up when the light stopped shining through the tower window. That was her sign.
She quickly stood up, not giving her legs any time to get blood pumping through them again, as she sped toward the wall. In a single bound, she leapt onto the top of the short wall surprising the lone guard on patrol duty. Her short swords were too quick for the guard as she gashed his throat wide open before removing his head for extra assurance.
From her time doing reconnaissance, Monsa knew there were three more guards and guard she killed had no time to sound the alarm but still she was cautious. She crept quickly but silently in the shadows along the wall as she descended a set of stone steps. She crossed a dirt pathway that led to a small blue stone building that was nestled at the foot of the tower.
Voices carried from the open window as she crept closer, careful that her boots didn't skid across the dirt and make noise. She made it to the window as the fog started to get comfortable along the ground. Monsa used it to help conceal her as she waited for the voices to die down.
"…think of those poor souls that are back at the castle right now," one of the voices said. "We are the lucky ones that guard these abandoned ruins."
"The guard duty is too easy," another voice added. "We just have to patrol the wall every six hours and the rest of the time is ours."
"Not to mention that the pay is double our usual rate," a third voice laughed. "I can get used to this lifestyle."
"Don't get too use to it," the first voice said again. "It's time for your guard duty."
Monsa smiled as she heard the scraping of chairs against stone. She waited until the door opened before she pounced. The guard that opened the door fell immediately as two short swords protruded from his midsection.
Fog danced around her as stacked stone framed him in the doorway while he stared down the two remaining guards. The smile never left her face as blood dripped down the short blades of his weapons. It didn't matter how tired she was, killing always seemed to energize her.
"W..w..who are you?" The first voice stammered as he struggled to withdraw his broadsword in the cramped quarters.
"It doesn't matter who I am," she said in little more than a whisper. "What matters is you will be dead soon and your king shortly after."
Monsa took a quick step forward and watched as the nearest guard's head cracked onto the stone floor. She danced and parried with the remaining guard before severing his sword arm. The guard screamed and held his fallen arm as blood pooled around him.
She had heard enough of the pitiful guard and didn't want to risk the guard's screams to wake the residents in the tower. With a quick swipe of her weapon, she gutted the man as entrails spilled out. She turned her nose at the smell that started to form in the small building as she exited and made her way to the tower.
"All three guards in the same room was a boring battle," Monsa whispered to herself as she ascended the tower steps. "Still the quicker I complete this mission, the faster I get to complete this task."
She smiled at the thought of another successful mission. The steps in the tower were narrow and dark but soon she found herself in front of a black iron door. A golden owl insignia was blazed into the middle of the door.
Monsa removed her lock picks and quietly began to shuffle with the lock. A faint click resounded as the door unlocked. She slowly pushed the door open and held her breath and anticipated the creaking that followed the open door. Luckily no sound was emitted as she snuck into the room.
Clothes were strewn across the floor as a warm breeze blew in from the open windows. Maps and old books were stacked against the nearest wall as a bed assumed most of the space. A light snoring masked her footsteps as she made her way deeper into the room. In a swift leap, Monsa was on top of one of the occupants in the bed. It was a woman as she stirred and she quickly slashed her throat to keep her from screaming as blood stained the sheets and dripped onto the floor.
Monsa was quickly back on the floor as she poked the sleeping man that lay next to the woman. The sleeping man took a few seconds before turning over. His eyes went wide and his face went pale.
"So, you are King Cortdz," Monsa said before the king could scream or say anything. "What a shame that your head is my next target."
Monsa jumped back onto the bed and straddled the King as shock still filled his eyes. She sheathed her daggers and pulled a long blade from a sheath that rested on her back. Flames filled the handle as she raised it over her head.
Heavy, multiple footsteps sounded outside the door and seconds later the door swung open to reveal three guards and a man that didn't wear any of the blue of the guards. She had to hurry. Monsa brought the sword down.