Aaron stood in the center of a big circular room on a pedestal. In front of him, halfway up the wall, was a mezzanine balcony. On the balcony sat five people. The cardinals.

“Aaron Fritter, you are here because we need more information about your latest contract.” Cardinal Eldrian, the cardinal sitting in the middle, was looking at Aaron with frustration and disappointment.

“My latest contract was a man named Bloodhound. I discovered that he was going to be at a specific tavern early in the morning so I decided to take him out at the tavern.”

“What happened when you arrived at the tavern?” Cardinal Thomas, who was sitting to the left of Cardinal Eldrian, spoke with more curiosity than anything else.

“Well, when I got to the tavern it was already dark. I got a room so that way I can get some rest and I’ll deal with the target in the morning. I woke up-“

“Was the target already at the tavern?” Cardinal Minerva interrupted. She was sitting on the end to the right of Cardinal Eldrian.

Aaron looked up at Cardinal Minerva and back at Cardinal Eldrian. “I believe the target was already at the tavern when I arrived.”

“Then why did you not complete the contract that night?” Cardinal Minerva asked getting more impatient.

“I had travel quite a bit of distance on foot. The tavern was the only time I had to rest and get some strength to kill the target. If I had attempted to kill him that night-“

“Then we wouldn’t be in this situation right now.” Cardinal Minerva interrupted again. “Your need to rest not only caused nine unnecessary deaths, but you also allowed the target to escaped. Not to mention, one of the royal guards had caught you in the act.”

“The guard isn’t a complication. I’ll go back and finish him.”

“You think you would even be able to get close to him?” Cardinal Minerva stands up and leans over the balcony towards Aaron.

“I know I can do it.”

“And what about the target? How are you going to finish him?”

“I’ll hunt him down to complete the contract.”

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“This is unbelievable. He overpowered you with ease. What method do you intend to use? Poison? We already saw how that played out. You killed his entire group as well as an innocent with that.”

“No one drank that poison other than those intended. There wasn’t a single innocent that was at the tavern. The only other ones there were the barmaid and the cook. And they were in the back of the tavern.”

Cardinal Minerva starts to speak but before she could get a word out, Cardinal Eldrian speaks up, “The pitcher that you poison had gotten picked up and moved to another part of the tavern before it was washed out. One of the other customers that stayed there overnight had walked down and poured themselves a drink and drank some before anyone could notice. They died minutes afterwards.”

Aaron looked surprised and processed everything that he had just heard. He looked back up. “That’s not my fault. That was out of my-“

“The entire contract was your responsibility. Everything that happens during your contract is your responsibility. You poisoned the pitcher. You should’ve cleaned up your mess and finished your target before you decided to come back here.”

“But I had to get out of there so I wouldn’t get caught by the guard. I had no time to get rid of the pitcher.”

“Enough of your excuses.” Cardinal Minerva yelled. He voice echoed all throughout the room. “Let’s move onto his punishment.”

Cardinal Raylen, who was sitting between Cardinals Minerva and Eldrian, stands up and begins reading from a paper in front of him, “Aaron Fritter, you caused nine unnecessary deaths, one of which was an innocent. You failed to kill and complete your contract. You were spotted by a royal guard while engaged with your target. All of this, you have done on your own.”

Cardinal Eldrian stands up, “Aaron, you are one of our best assassins. I have expected a lot from you. Because you are one of our best, I’m going to give you a choice. You can be executed or you can be assigned to a team. Your choice?”

“So you’re telling me that I can be part of a team, which won’t go well, or die?”

“That’s correct.” Cardinal Eldrian nodded.

“And how exactly will you kill me?”

The five Cardinals all stared at Aaron and Zeki stands up, “We give you the chance to live and you choose to die?”

“Well I’ve never been part of a team and I’d prefer to not be.”

“Your talents would make any team you’re assigned to instantly better. You’d be able to show and teach those you work with.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not a teacher. I’m an assassin. The best assassins are those who can handle any contract on the own. They don’t need a team.”

Cardinal Eldrian raises his hand and motions for Cardinal Zeki to sit down. “Aaron, the choice has already been made. We already have someone who is interested in being on your team.”

“I don’t want them or anyone. I refuse to be part of a team.”

“Luckily for you, you don’t have a choice.”