Ch. 1 - The Plot

Alright, um, ya know how I start stuff and never finish it? Well, if anyone's interested, here's the first part of a story I'll probably never resume.

Jessica’s pale, white fingers grabbed the handle of the dagger and thrust it into her boot. Reaching out to grab a knife in her left hand, her right opened up a pocket in which to hide it. Smoothing the crease in her belt a moment later, she stood erect in front of a cracked mirror and examined herself. She looked innocent enough. The reflection staring back at her was clothed in stealthy boots, cotton britches, a dark brown shirt, and a large, cloth belt. None of her five weapons were visible. Donning a simple frock, she was pleased it covered the clothes underneath. The simple maid’s clothes obscured her normal outfit well. Distractedly, she grabbed a band of cloth lying on the old table and tied up her golden hair. Her brown eyes stared back at her from the mirror. Daring her to carry out what she was about to do. The image before her seemed daring, bold, and confident – the mask behind which a small, scared little girl hid.

A knock sounded from the wooden door, and she slid the dagger out of her boot and held it warily behind her back. A few seconds later, it quickly opened and a man with a round face poked his head in. “It’s time,” he stated in a voice higher than one would expect for his bulky appearance. He popped out as quickly as he had popped in.

Jessica let out an uneasy breath and stowed the dagger back into her boot. Glancing over herself once more in the mirror, she strode confidently out into the corridor outside of her room. The hallway was small and poorly lit, and she was thankful when she emerged from it into the main room of the tavern. The only candles lit in the room rested on top of the center table: there were only five people in the room, including herself. Almost all the other occupants had gathered around the table upon which rested various parchments and maps. One lone figure sat positioned at the window, dutifully keeping watch for anyone on the street outside.

Jessica marched over to the table and bent over the papers like those surrounding her. On her left was the inn keeper with the round face who had summoned her. He looked flushed and excited, and sweat dribbled down the sides of his forehead. A large hand waved over the map of the castle, belonging to a tall gentleman across from her.

“Jessica and Andrew, there are a series of tunnels connecting all the rooms of the palace with each other. There is a separate tunnel that leads to the woods surrounding the castle that you can take into its heart.” He pointed to an “x” on the map. “It’s too small for any of our other men to fit in; otherwise we wouldn’t rely on children.” Jessica inwardly bristled. She and Andrew were almost eighteen. They weren’t children anymore. Although, they were the smallest in the resistance. “If you take this tunnel here,” the man continued, unaware of Jessica’s annoyance, “You’ll end up in the kitchen. Once you’re inside, our inside man will meet you there and give you the keys to the chambers.”

A young man on her right asked, “We have a man on the inside? Why can’t he do the job?” His hazel eyes were narrowed suspiciously.

“We need someone on the inside with a clean slate to cover your tracks. He has to be trustworthy in order to belay suspicions that may arise concerning us. Also, if he were to get caught, we’d lose our only spy on the inside,” the man explained, his voice rumbling out and filling the empty room. His dark eyes met each of their faces from underneath thick, black eyebrows. The young man nodded, his brown hair shifting slightly with the motion. The older man resumed his topic with just as much urgency in his voice as before.

“Once you have the keys, you’ll have to enter quietly and carefully into the east tower, where both your targets will be sleeping. Our man reports the guards to be repeatedly drunk, but they are stationed frequently here, here, and here.” The man pointed to various spots on the map. Jessica’s stomach felt uneasy, and it flipped over restlessly as the hour grew nearer and nearer. “If you succeed in eliminating your targets, exit the same way you entered.” She felt lightheaded. It all sounded so simple yet so risky…she had never taken on a challenge this big before. Sure, she had killed before, but this…She focused on portraying a calm, determined countenance.

“You two cannot fail,” the man said in a serious tone. His eyes locked on Jessica’s, and then on the young man’s. “Our cause is riding on you.” Straightening up, he brought a closed fist across his chest. The other members assembled around him mimicked his motion.

“All clear,” the figure at the window reported. The young man approached her and her dark eyes met his.

“Ready, Andy?” she asked. He nodded confidently. They each grabbed one of the hooded cloaks hanging by the front door and slid it over their heads. Andrew opened the door and stepped out into the street, the setting sun lighting up his angular face for a moment before he disappeared. Jessica cast one last look around those gathered in the dusty, old tavern. They all looked edgy except for the tall man. His features had settled into a hard, calm emotion. As if he was strong. Like a boulder in the sea refusing to be moved. She swallowed hard, hoping she would see them again.

Jessica stepped out onto the street and followed Andrew down a side alley. There was a slight breeze. A cold front was coming in with the night. Their footsteps sounded hollow when they ran down the empty back street. Unconsciously, Jessica found herself studying Andrew.

He was short for his age, but still taller than she. His build was toned, with broad shoulders but little mass. His skin was tanned, that which she could see from under his cloak and clothes. For as long as she had known him, she had always wondered if he was a little bit oriental, as his dark hair and eyes would suggest. As if he could sense her looking at him, he turned his head toward her.

“What?” he asked, slowing to a stop. The sun was now facing away from them, and the chill caused Jessica to pull her cloak tighter around herself. The lack of light in the street made her uneasy.

“Can you do this?” she asked, bluntly.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.

Her anxious eyes roamed the street, cautiously scanning for anyone who would watch them. “You know…” she started, convinced for the moment that no one was eavesdropping. “Kill the king.”

Andrew stared at her for a few moments, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Now’s not the time for second thoughts, Jess,” he warned softly.

“I know! I’m not-” Jessica checked her rising voice and resumed in a lower tone, “I’m not having second thoughts. It’s just…this is big.”

He nodded slowly. “It is big, and that’s why you have to have your heart in this. This is everything the resistance is fighting against; the king has made this kingdom a ruin and it’s time someone did something about it.” Andy’s restless eyes scouted out the path ahead, observing every detail and calculating it in that clever head of his. “Once the king and his son are out of the way, the people can finally have things their way. We could start our own republic. Just think of it, Jess – all of us in the resistance would be head of it all!”

Swallowing nervously, Jessica allowed the vision to play before her eyes. There she sat, next to the tall man and Andy, along with forty or so other men and women, all dedicated to their cause. As she began to speculate how she would feel at that moment, Andy shifted and began running again.

“Come on,” he called, “We’re going to be late.” Jessica let out a small breath and followed behind her friend. The doubts still plagued her mind, and she wondered why now, of all times, she was feeling so uncertain. It was like jumping out of a window and then wondering if the ground would still be there when you landed.