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THE DIAMOND

Assenieve Silversziene rode his powerful steed through the dark, summer night. His blinding pace ended suddenly as he stopped and quickly dismounted. Using great stealth he circled the camp and found the man he had come to kill.
Assenieve was short for an Ice Hammer; however his small frame supported incredible power. He wore leathers that were reinforced with chain mail. The metal was the lightest alloy, its properties further enhanced by the Karn magical arts that blessed it. He was prepared to unleash war on an unsuspecting thief.
What the hell am I doing here? Assenieve thought as he crouched down, lurking in the bushes beyond the campsite of the four men he was tracking.
He crept slowly closer on his belly as they chatted rather loudly deep into the night. They were celebrating and feasting, gorging on fine meats and the strongest spirits. Assenieve waited patiently as their fire died along with their conversation.
How will I live with myself if I kill again? Assenieve thought. How could I turn down eight thousand? I must kill him.
Armeerja sat just in front of Assenieve. He was a middle aged man and appeared to have more self-control than his companions. While they lay in a drunken stupor, he sat alone by the fire. He had half as much to drink as his grungy friends. Assenieve silently crawled from under the bushes and glanced at the other three men. He did not know who they were; he had only come to kill Armeerja.
Armeerja was tall and lean. He wore an expensive silk shirt and trousers from Feruce. His stature suggested a lack of coordination and resembled a bean pole, however he was deceptively agile. Assenieve had been warned of his cunning and speed but was unconcerned. Now that he saw the skinny crook, his confidence grew. He knew it would be an easy kill.
His companions wore cheap rags and were the type that Armeerja normally did not associate with. Assenieve was unclear whether they were involved with the heist. He didnt care. The contract was for Armeerjas head only because he had stolen the Eye of the Karn, a rare diamond, from the Cult of the Blood night. Prince Durkgar had hired Assenieve to kill the thief and bring back the jewel.
Armeerja leisurely reached for a log to strengthen the dwindling fire. As he hunched over, Assenieve took to his feet. In rising, Assenieve alerted Armeerja to his presence. Armeerja turned to face the trespasser and reached for his blade. Before his steel was unsheathed, he felt the sharpness of Assenieves sword slide deep into his abdomen. The sword was angled to puncture his lungs as well as rip his guts out. Assenieve jolted the sword back and forth as Armeerja mouthed a scream that he could no longer produce. His guts fell all around him as the sword danced around inside his abdominal cavity. He fell backward and died while Assenieve crouched down and pulled out a large knife from his boot. He cut the disemboweled intestines apart and finally found the merchandise.
Armeerja had swallowed the priceless diamond that was the centerpiece of Prince Durkgars collection of artifacts.
This man is a thief, but did he deserve to die? Assenieve stood over the dead man and felt slight guilt. What if this man had a family? But he was a criminal, but so am I. Will this be my fate? He glanced at the other men as they slept and decided that it was time to get out of there.
Assenieve slipped into the bushes and disappeared. He reached his mount and hurried off toward the palace using Armeerjas decapitated head to hold the diamond. He felt ill for breaking his word to his old friend but these were hard times. A revolution had destroyed Assenieve's home and his friend, Lord Perigaal, was now dead. He promised he would not murder for profit again and had kept his word until now.
Assenieve left the war torn plains and entered the Angel-Wood Forest. It was there that he had been drawn back to his former profession. He rode till sunrise then let his horse drink and rest. Assenieve rode the entire next day, reaching Durkgars palace just before nightfall.
After dismounting, Assenieve tied his horse at the small stables outside the wall surrounding the compound of the Blood-night. He was greeted by a guard he did not recognize but still was waived through with no hassle. The soldiers here wore the finest plate armor that bore the crest of the Cult of the Blood-night. Four other soldiers appeared and eyed the bag that Assenieve carried. They pointed and laughed as they shouted at each other. They knew whose head was in the bag and had no pity. They cracked jokes, trying to get Assenieves attention.
Assenieve ignored them and continued down the dirt path. He was well out of range of the soldiers voices when the road suddenly became cobbled making it appear golden. As he neared the palace, the road took on more beauty. It was wider and very smooth with flowering hedges that displayed an array of exotic colors. He soon reached the palace steps and realized that Prince Durkgar was waiting at the top of the stairs. He walked to meet Assenieve as soon as he saw him.
The prince wore a decorative violet robe that resembled the style worn by the Holy Karn. It was elaborate and glowed with runes that protected its wearer. He was well known to be expelled from the holy city of Aukdale yet still wore his royal robes. He considered his new community a personal holy city and ruled in a manner that resembled the Holy Karn.
The palace behind Prince Durkgar was extravagant. It had a central dome and five towers that represented the five holy stones. The arches and stairways were huge and the ionic columns towered thirty five feet overhead. The colonnade path to the entrance was covered by Ehkara-vine that grew so thick and full across the top and sides of the columns that it had become a living ceiling and walls.
Oh good, good, I take it we found our man. Prince Durkgar shook Assenieves hand and invited him to his quarters to discuss the completion of the contract.
They walked under the shadowy vines and emerged on the other side to a large, brightly lit main hall. All eight stories could be viewed from this chamber that rose hundreds of feet. Seven circular balconies gave the illusion that they were spinning toward the hole marking the apex of the dome. The sun shone down on them as the two men continued to a stairway near the first tower.
Durkgar lead him to the fifth floor and into his personal quarters. Assenieve approached the table and plopped the sack down, making a horrible squishing sound. He opened the sack as Prince Durkgar looked on in anticipation.
Yes, now thats the face of an idiot. I loved him, took him in, I really took care of him, what a piece of shit. Where is the diamond?
Well open his mouth. Assenieve answered impatiently.
Oh of course, I almost forgot. Thank you. The prince had instructed him to behead his friend and bring the diamond back in his mouth during a moment of anger. As he looked at Armeerjas face he almost wished he had not. He pulled the diamond from Armeerjas mouth, wiped it clean, and gazed through it toward a flickering candlelight.
You know that the light that shines through this diamond carries immense power. My people harness this power to create wonderful things. It seems now that the corrupt must destroy beauty, steal power for selfish, perverted reasons. Why must we be so savage to one another? Tell me Assenieve, do you feel regret for those you kill?
Not unless I dont get paid. Assenieve snapped back, losing more of his patience by the second.
Oh of course, come with me. The prince took him to the lower vault where he replaced the diamond, inserting it into its decorative, padded case.
Here, he said as he tossed a large leather sack of heavy gold coin. Its Hawks mixed with a few Wheels, but Im sure youll have no trouble spending them anywhere. Gold is gold.
Thanks. Assenieve shook his hand and walked out of Durkgars Palace of the Blood-night.
He felt sick and wished he hadnt killed regardless of the price. His soul felt stained and now it was time to return home. Lord Sahnkar had won the war for control of the southern Blue Bear Plains. Things would settle down and Assenieve hoped that he could too. The money he just received would last him at least a hundred years on the plains.