Minor Update

Hey everyone! I just wanted to apologize for these lengthy amounts of time in between each continuation of the piece. Not only does it have to do with things such as school, sports and get my daily fill of social interaction, but it is also my writing process. You see, I physically write everything down on lined paper. Everything. In fact, I always have a pencil and paper at hand for when an idea comes into mind. It takes a while to write down something to the length of this update and comb it over for obvious errors. Then, I have to type everything down, while checking it for further grammatical errors, spelling errors, things I need to rephrase, logical errors (i.e. saying  the protagonist is in Uskbight, but it's hot and sunny), and even omitting pages of work that I found redundant towards the plot of the story. But, I'm determined to keep posting onto this blog, and I will bring more content as I create it.

TL;DR - Sorry for slacking on the post dates, life's hard, writing's hard, sob sob, I'll put up more content as I deem it available to share.

Wolf of the West, Chapter 4, Part 2

Warmth tickles Ryuden’s cheek as his eyes open. No longer in the destroyed inn, his eyes adjust to the dim, grey glow of crystals placed in torch sconces lining the walls. There are no other furnishings in the room, spare the bed he lays on. A single door -- the only way out -- is made of wood as black as night, spare a grey feather painted into it; some kind of emblem.

The door swings open, and through it comes the blonde woman -- Yanna. “I trust you slept well?” she asks. “I know the accommodations aren’t quite that comfortable.”

“You’re smarter than you look.” Ryuden sits up at the edge of the bed. “Had you not disarmed me, I would have put an end to you this conversation already.” He glares at Yanna, his fists clenched.

“Easy, easy.” Yanna raises her hands with an innocent expression. “If you do that, you’d kill the woman who saved your life twice.”

“Twice?”

“You think my companions wanted to keep you alive?” Yanna closes the door, taking a few steps closer to Ryuden. “You single handedly cost us one of our most frequent employees. I convinced them to not feed you to the dogs. You could at least show a little gratitude.”

“For kidnapping me? Knocking me out cold? Nearly strangling me to death?”

Yanna chuckles softly. “For realizing what you can be.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, she observes the crystals. “Tell me; why did you kill that man in Oner? Was is for coin?”

“I have my own reasons.”

“Don’t play games. You had not the slightest idea where you were the night prior, and you suddenly hunt him down and murder him. And, I take it you were told to by the innkeep.”

Quiet for a moment, Ryuden stares at Yanna. She is pressing her luck. “Information.”

“Much better.” Yanna smiles, standing up. “I have… a proposition for you.”

“That sounds familiar.”

“I bet it does.”

“What do you want?”

“I won’t talk circles around you.” Yanna looks at Ryuden. “You have such potential, that killing you would have just been a waste for both of us. I want you to grow with us, to become a Night Raven.”

“Night Raven?”

“We are a ring of assassins,” says Yanna, running her fingers over one of the light crystals. “We have a few rules and regulations, yes, but we take contracts and kill just like any other individual in this line of our work.”

“Why train with you?” Ryuden stands up, approaching her with an unmoved frown. “You left me with barely any clue of my whereabouts--”

“-- which you were able to cope with --”

“ -- and came back strangling me --”

“-- which you survived. Listen, you don’t understand what you’ve done.” Yanna stands up, in front of Ryuden. “You killed a kingpin in the guthryl trade, along with his wife and cousin. A score of dealers and producers want your throat to sheathe their knives, and they would have their way if not for us taking you in.”

“They’d more than welcome to try,” Ryuden retorts. “You wanted me to join your ring, the Night Ravens?”

Yanna nods. “We give you the tools and talents necessary for this profession, and in return for your contribution--”

“I care more of my freedom than coin,” Ryuden interjects. “Tell me what price could justify being put under another’s rules.”

Biting her lip, Yanna takes a step back, sinking in thought. She starts to slowly pace back and forth around the room. “You wanted information, correct? We can get information. We know people who let not one uttered word be forgotten.”

“I would have had what I needed, if you didn’t kill --”

“You killed our client as well. We both lost out on something important.”

“And that is?”

“None of your concern.” Yanna runs her fingers over the legacy of seared flesh on her palm. “Are you going to join us or not?”

Ryuden is silent for a moment. As it stands, her offer is the only one that can lead him back to the others from Uskbight. And, perhaps after she gives him the information, he could just desert them. Sighing softly, he gives Yanna a reluctant nod. “I want all the information you can find --”

“Not so fast,” Yanna says. “I require you do two things, first.”

Ryuden frowns.

“They’re simple necessities if you’re going to join us. I need your name.”

“Ryuden.”

“Interesting.. that sounds like an Ar’taian name.”

“What makes you stay that?”

Yanna gives a light shrug. “I used to study Ar’taian culture. They’re an interesting civilization, despite their infamy as horrid slavers. That aside, you will have your chance to prove yourself to the others soon.”

Ryuden raises a brow. “How so?”

“We’ll need as much help as we can for an upcoming assignment. Come, let’s see how well trained you are.” She opens the door, leading Ryuden up a narrow stairwell. The walls and floor imitate the dull features of the first room.

“This is the home of a group of assassins?” asks Ryuden as he follows Yanna further up. The breeze of cool air flows by him as they reach the top.

“A facade,” Yanna explains. “We don’t want to have the lawmen raising too much suspicion over an abandoned outpost.” She stops at a large, wooden door. She opens the door, revealing a room without light. Leaving the doorway, she slips into the pitch darkness.

Following her, Ryuden stops as the door closes behind him. He frowns as his visual perception is all but stolen from him. “What is this?” he asks, trying to feel his way through.

“You were sly, using the darkness of night to keep hidden before,” says Yanna, seemingly from everywhere. “The shadows are your allies, your weapons, your armor. But, they are not yours alone.” Yanna is quiet for a moment, before her voice comes from right beside Ryuden. “You’re just as vulnerable as your targets are, should you not learn to discern the denizens of the shadows.”

As Ryuden whirls to face Yanna, a shove from behind sends him staggering forth. “How am I supposed to do so?” he asks, recuperating his balance.

“The answer is rather clear.” Yanna’s voice echoes from near and far. “You’ll either find out how to function without sight, or I’ll have to start actually beating you.” She giggles as Ryuden is sent backwards by another push. “It’s up to you how long this training lasts, be it from mere moments to hours.”

Ryuden manages not to fall over, listening past her words. They are but a clever disguise to her true position. He focuses until he can hear his own heart pumping blood through his veins…

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.. thump.

The third beat is not of the heart. It is a footstep, as quiet as snowflakes hitting the ground. And, it is coming f--

A hard shove to the side knocks Ryuden onto the ground.

“Come on now, Ryuden; think faster!” Yanna’s order holds onto the slightest hint of genuine encouragement.

Picking himself off the ground, Ryuden listens for the unnatural thump again.

… Thump-thump, thump.

Behind him.

Whirling around and grasping forth, Ryuden grips tightly on Yanna’s shoulders, squeezing them with an iron grip. “This ‘training’ is over,” he states, shoving her away. As a door opens, light floods into the empty chamber, and Yanna clasps Ryuden’s shoulder.

“Pretty good, for fresh blood,” she comments, walking across the chamber. “You’ll need more work, but I have a feeling you’re well on your way.” Another set of doors await her. The quality of the outpost may be poor, but it seems endless in size. “Are you ready for your next test?”

Ryuden nods. “Where do we begin?”