The Tiger Within 144 Anything Interesting?

"I will. Till then, care for yourself." he ordered gently before letting the spell fall. His body blurred into the night before dispersing in wisps of magic.

Kyera stood still for several moments staring at the place he disappeared. "Did you hear anything interesting?" she asked turning her eyes to the alcove to her left. The shadow of the palace hiding his form in its deepest parts.

The soft cold chuckle tainted the air as Kyera squared her body off to his. He shook his head, the moonlight catching on his black tunic and mask. The markings on his chest clearly made of similar black but a shade lighter. She could make out his sent better than the symbols. Fire, cold steel, blood, and the black ink of many dead on his hands. An a.s.sa.s.sin.

"You are observant for a healer." he replied chuckling. "Not that it would have saved you." just as he finished the words a knife flew from her hand. Before he could move, the tip was p.r.i.c.king the skin over his heart.

"You sure about that?" she asked as the dagger hung there suspended by her power but trembling with the force she threw into it. It was like a tiny dog on a leash trying to break free.

"I thought healers couldn't take life?"" he asked as she retracted the blade back to her hand. He walked forward to lean on a tree. Kyera kept him in view but was undisturbed. His kind were not unfamiliar to her. The wind pa.s.sed over him carrying the faint trace sent off of him and to her nose but it was too faint to identify.

"The those who are not observant don't have long lives in the palace or the wood." Kyera countered looking him over more closely. She could sense curiosity and vague wonder from him. "But those who can not react to the danger they sense are to be pitied, for they will be slaves of fear."

"That they do not. Now what do you want of me?" He asked lazily pus.h.i.+ng himself off the door sauntering toward her. Kyera stood her ground.

"Oh?" Kyera asked as he got close enough for her to see the deep green of his eyes. Her back lightly pressed to the tree behind. He was trying to make her back down, and her body responded submissively but her eyes burned with fire daring him to make a move. It was clear even though it felt like he had control, it was only because she was allowing him to. A game of cat and mouse where the mouse wasn't sure if he was the hunter or the prey. He chuckled no longer advancing on her, knowing there was a high chance she had several other weapons on her enticing form.

"You sensed me and spared my life, by my code that means I owe you a favor." He replied. She could hear the grin hidden by the mask. The air between them filled with several kinds of tension, one small tip of balance could result in love or war. Kyera was aware of this and held a steady balance.

"Then perhaps when I come of need, i will ask for it. Till then, I shall part ways." Kyera replied nodding at the a.s.sa.s.sin who seemed quite surprised as her small hands met his chest and lightly shoved him back. A small smile curved his lips as he gave her ground. His aura testing hers for strength and to see if she would hide her power. She did not. The shadows forming a warning barrier between his reach and her power lines.

"You won't ask my name? Or why I am here?" he asked tilting his head to the side, eyes twinkling with curiosity once again. Kyera chuckled softly shaking her head. She stopped and glanced back at him over her shoulder.

"Would you have told me if I asked? No, I didn't think so. As far as why your here... I have a vague idea. So since you brought it up…" she straightened herself to full height looking forward down the trail. "Don't choose your side too hastily. There are some things very similar to cooking rice that will decide your fate. Don't make my request be your death." Kyera replied softly. And he stated after her.

At first his hand gripped the dagger in his belt, slipping it free of the sheath. His wrist twitched, but then he put the dagger away. Watching her walk out of site. She was a threat to the one who hired him, but then again… that wasn't his problem. She wasn't his mark, and he hadn't accepted payment…. Yet.