A light morning breeze danced through the streets, busy men were walking along it and merchants sitting on their carts, dragged by mules, were trying to get to the market square. Not only because they feared that every good spot on the square could be gone. No, it was because they wanted to watch today’s execution out of the first line. Many people were executed in these past weeks, it was a difficult and dangerous time under this new government. A group of people tried to topple it, at least that’s what they were told. Some people murmured that the government just executed random people, to sow fear among the citizen and to keep up their reign of terror. Nobody knew how it could come that far. It was like from one day to the next one, like the sun is sinking behind the hills into shadow and leaving the whole country imprisoned in darkness. Their army crossed the borders only about two weeks ago, wiping out their defences in no time. After three days their army already was at the gates to the country’s capital. Standing alone, without allies against this overwhelming enemy force, the king surrendered and to the citizens surprise he was executed the same day. Nobody knew what they were up to. A wizard was with them or something other unnatural being, was the first thing that spread among the people. Otherwise they couldn’t have an army with such strength, that’s what they thought.
But above all those people in despair and sorrow, stood a man, not moving, disguised with a black cloak, the hood pulled down, deep into his face, at the top of a building opposing the hangman’s platform.
He was waiting, waiting for his prey to arrive. Normally he wouldn’t accept such tasks but he needed the money. “I cant think of a better person for this job”, that guy said, who was his friend and his manager at the same time. He grinned. Those were hard times for him, too, nobody needed someone like him, because everyone was just too afraid of this new unknown enemy that conquered this country. So, why risking to get caught by the members of the occupying force. Just as he was about to drift away in thoughts, a horn was blown, which marked the beginning of the execution.
The people down on the market place became silent, as a person dressed in a silver armor stepped onto the hangman’s platform, followed by two guards dragging a man with them. “Just in time…” the assassin mumbled. They lifted the men onto a chair in the middle of the platform and put a snare around his neck. “All of you…”, the men with the silver armor said, “will see what it means to stand against us! We came here to free your country from the stranglehold of ill knowledge, that poisons your minds!” he was so into his speech, that he didn’t recognize the person which was trying to make its way through the bystanders.
The more the Assassin neared itself its target, the more nervous he got. Charging right into the scene wasn’t his style, he preferred to solve his tasks silently.
Then the moment came. The speaker just turned his back to the crowd to speak to the men who was just about to get his chair kicked away from under his feet.
He jumped onto the platform, jumped again, in mid-air he drew a dagger from his belt and…
