Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,226

He would hate to be a source of irritation because the old man deserved better.

Over the next six Peaks, Double D scouted the castle and settled on the perfect spot to assassinate the prince. He moved around the royal house with his mask on and remained invisible to everyone. His plan was perfect and required just the right set of circumstances to carry it out. But first, the general needed to be ended.

Gessler Village

George arrived in Gessler with Kepler not due for another 6 Peaks. There was still plenty of sunlight. The mage asked around until he found the Bloody Trough Inn. He figured out which window would be best for Kepler to enter and paid the owner of the inn to reserve that room before leaving to survey the area. The mage needed to find the perfect spot to teleport when returning to the village.

After a while, he stumbled across the entrance to a mine just east of the village. About 20 paces to the left of the opening was a tree that was tucked against the hillside. He walked over, looked around its base, and realized there was enough room between the hillside and the branches to teleport. To ensure the spot was perfect, he watched how many people came and went from inside the mine. There was little traffic.

Using his sword, George created a pocket within the limbs and cleared away the branches he felt would interfere. At the base, he smoothed the ground to make sure it was level. By the moment he finished, he was familiar enough with the area to avoid a mistake. Just to be sure, he stood inside his wooden cocoon to memorize every detail.

Once confident his surroundings were committed to memory, he walked to the other side of the village and took a practice run. Crossing his fingers and taking a deep breath, the mage closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was standing behind the tree, tucked in his branched alcove.

A smile crossed the mage’s face. Satisfied with his success, the next stop was his mother-in-law’s guesthouse. George closed his eyes and disappeared.

The General Absolute Prepares for Battle

The City of Brandor

Double D arrived at the arena early and hid beneath the stadium where the fighters prepared for battle. He was invisible and had worn his mask since leaving the old man’s home. He hid in the wooden rafters above the staircase that ascended to the fighting surface. He was waiting for the moment when the trumpets would sound.

The assassin reached inside his pouch and produced a dart. He had laced its tip with his finest poison, Polasadis—a poison extracted from asp harpies found in the forest of Kyll, a dark forest on the world of Trollcom. He put the dart into a slender tube that was four hands long, lifted the weapon to his mouth and then waited.

The trumpets sounded. As expected, the general ascended the dark staircase. There were torches on the walls, but they cast just enough light to keep the men from stumbling.

As the general passed beneath him, Double D blew into the tube as soon as he saw the nape of Justin’s neck. The dart flew through the air, hit its target and delivered its wicked poison into the general’s bloodstream. Justin reached back and swatted at the back of his neck and knocked the dart into the shadows.

“Are you alright, General?” one of his bodyguards questioned.

Justin held up his hand to see if there was blood, but the darkness of the passageway prevented him from seeing it.

The assassin was apprehensive. He felt as if the general was going to investigate.

Instead, the general shrugged. “I’m fine. Let’s get going.”

With the prick of the dart being pushed aside as a mild irritation, the murderer relaxed as Justin continued up to the arena. Double D’s smile widened as the crowd erupted at the sight of their champion.

Justin Graywind absorbed the screams of the mob. He had been in this position on many occasions, and his nerves were chiseled from the hardest stone. He walked into the sunlight and took his spot where no other fighter had been allowed to stand. After lifting his sword in the direction of his opponent, Justin pulled it back in front of his face and bowed to honor his next victim.

The general watched as the king gave the signal for the battle to commence. He turned to face his new enemy.

The man began his assault and darted toward him. Justin met this