Montrose was a decent little town. Not a lot happened there. The local bakery had plenty of freshly cooked loaves of bread. The sounds of livestock would fill the air every morning to wake everyone up to start their day.

The town itself sat on a hill. At the top of the hill was a grand building that resembled a massive church. On the front of the church is a giant stained glass window that had a black figure standing wielding two daggers at its sides and wearing a golden jeweled crown. At the figure’s feet were a group of more black figures, getting smaller and smaller down the glass.

This church has two types of business, it operated just like a normal church. The townspeople can go in and pray and repent and confess all they want to the specific god of their choice. The church itself doesn’t discriminate.

On the inside of the church was the vestibule. In the vestibule, two small tables on left and right walls with two chairs at each table. A long red carpet went down the center of the vestibule, leading into the nave of the church. The nave is the biggest part of the church. It had rows and rows of pews and chairs on either side of the carpet that continues down all the way down to the altar.

The most spectacular sight of the entire church was the image that’s painted on the inside ceiling of the nave. It was a painting that was a mural of the beginning of a secret organization know as the Council of Shadows.

The Council of Shadows is an organization that dealt in the assassinations of whatever country they’re located in. If someone needed someone killed for political reason or personal reasons or any reason, as long as they pay up front, then the Council of Shadows is who they talk to. This church just happens to be one of the many locations that the Council operates out of. That would be the second type of business that this church deals in.

“Where is he?!” An old man can be heard yelling throughout the entirety of the church.

“He is on his way back from his contract. As soon as he arrives, we’ll have him sent straight to you, Cardinal Eldrian, so he can meet the consequences he deserves.” A younger man was assuring the other as they walked down the rows and rows of pews.

Each church is managed by a group men and women known as the cardinals. The cardinals are the highest rank any member of a specific church can go. They have the final word on any ongoings in the church. They decide what contracts that are available and they decide who can become and acolyte within the church itself.

“He better get sent straight to me. This will be the last time he gets away with his carelessness.” Eldrian was one of the five cardinals in Montrose church. “If he doesn’t come to me to when he gets here, the you will get any consequence that he deserves, Archbishop Favian.”

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Archbishops are under the cardinals. They’re the ones that assign contracts to individual assassins or teams, depending on who and where the contract is located.

“I understand cardinal. I’ll find him straight away.” Favian hurriedly walks away and outside of the church. As he does, another young man walks up to the cardinal.

“You know he will defend Fritter to the best of his ability.” The young man said.

“I know. But this is the final straw. Aaron has gone too far with this last contract. Not only did he let the target get away, a civilian was killed in the process.”

“What are you going to do with him?”

“That’s for me and the other cardinals to decide. You’re still a rector, Koen, you’ve got much to learn before you can sit with the cardinals.”

“I understand.” Koen held his head down in disappointment.

Koen always wanted to be a cardinal since his first day as an acolyte. It didn’t take long for him to reach rector rank. A rector is the personal assistant to a cardinal. They are responsible for maintaining the scheduling and needs of the cardinal they’re assigned to. Keon was assigned to cardinal Eldrian.

“You’ll have your moment, Koen. You just need to have patience.”

“Yes sir. Is there anything you need done before the cardinal meeting?”

“Just make sure Aaron finds his way to meeting hall. I’d hate for him to get lost.”

Koen just nods as they go their separate ways.

——

Archbishop Favian was waiting on the outside of the gate leading up to the church. There are numerous headstones and grave sites for the dearly departed all throughout the church grounds. Through the center of it was a brick path leading from the gate to the front doors of the church building.

“Aaron!!” Favian spotted him as he was walking up the hill towards the gate.

Aaron looks up, frustration covering his face. “Favian? You aren’t normally down here. Is Cardinal Eldrian angry?”

Favian looks at Aaron and he knew the answer to his question. “Eldrian and rest of the cardinals want to see you the moment we go inside. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”

“I’m not. The target got away. I’ll take the next contract with his name on it. It’s not a big deal.”

Favian stopped and looked at him surprisingly. “It’s more than just that. You don’t know, do you?”

“Don’t know what?”

“You’ll see when we get inside.”

They both pushed the doors open as Aaron prepares himself for what’s about to come.