Several days later, Whyte had a large celebration in honor of my success. It's not generally what your average assassin gets for a job well done! However, I suppose I wasn't just an average assassin. There was music, and food, and drink of which I participated in, and I think that a few sellers might have noticed themselves short a few bottles of wine when they checked their stores. A hardworking assassin needs to make sure he has liquor. As evening neared, Whyte had a platform raised in the middle of the village. He told the city that he had found me, and had gotten me to 'free them from Kos' tyranny'. He told the villagers that he was rewarding me with an generous amount of gold, and then he announced my new alliance and status with the village, and last but not least-

“As a final, and wonderful reward, I grant this brave, courageous man with the hand of my daughter in marriage, and my blessings.” Whyte finished his little speech by placing his daughter's hand in mine. the crowd clapped weakly.

“Everything is ready” Christen muttered. “Michel is wearing a red hat and cloak, easily spotted.” I scanned the crowd, and found Michel, a skinny, scranny pale thing. I honestly didn't see what was so special about him, but it's not really my problem. Whoever Christen wanted to vow away her life to was up to her. Or, at least now it was.

I walked to him, still holding Christen's hand. I thrust her hand into his. I heard Whyte sputtering behind me, and people around me muttering.

“I don't want her hand.” I said. “So I give it with you, along with the her fathers blessings, which I want less than her hand.”

The painter beamed. “ Of course! and... Thank you, Stiri!” he said. Christen grasped my hands and thanked me over and over. I pried my hands from hers, and left them to find the priest that should be ready to marry them within the hour.

As I left the crowd, Whyte stopped me.

“How dare you!” he said. “ I offered you my daughter, and you gave her away to some... some-”

“I honestly think that it's better for her to marry a painter than it is for her to marry an assassin.” I said. Whyte sputtered and fumed.“You can't really do anything. The whole village heard me, and they seem happy. You wouldn't really have a good reputation if you tried to stop it now...”

Whyte growled, and started to walk away. He stopped suddenly, and then turned back to me.

***

The full moon hung at it's highest point in the sky. I ran across the village, my worn and now slightly bloodstained cloak fluttering behind me in a self-created breeze. Everyone was fast asleep, exhausted by the festivities of the day. All, except one. I made sure the now bloodstained sack I carried was hidden before I ran across the village square to Whyte's house. I pressed myself against the wall and crept along the side, until I found the one and only lit window. It was open. Peering in, I saw Whyte, drinking wine, staring into the fire. Silently, I slipped into the room. I snuck up, undetected, behind Whyte, and dropped the bloody bag into his lap. he yelped, and jumped out of his chair, almost falling backwards in the fire.

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“You frightened me” he said. He eyed the bag, now sitting on the floor. “This is...”

“The head.” I said. “The painter's head. I believe that is sufficient enough to identify him?” I asked. he nodded, and held out the wine to me. I accepted it, and drank deeply.

“Good job, assassin.” he took the wine back and took another swig. “ I honestly had not expected you to succeed. I thought you and my daughter had formed an...Understanding.”

“I'm an assassin. I understand copper, silver, and gold.” I was surprised that Whyte took that cue, and tossed a bag, heavy with silver at me. I caught it.

“It was a nasty business... But, it's done now” He said, drinking again.

“Indeed” I muttered in response. “Now you needn't marry your daughter off to the scum of the kingdom.”

“Don't be so harsh... It would almost be an honor to have a famous assassin in the family. No one would try to meddle with me anymore...” He laughed and paced the carpet in front of the fireplace.

“Is that why you wanted her to marry me?”

“You, anyone would have done. I told her she could not marry that painter, but I knew that she would try.” He paused and took a deep drink of wine. “That painter was funny.” He said. “I knew it. I caught him. A businessman came to me complaining about him... I guess a few years ago? Said Michel was a 'young master of seduction.' Of course, that was the only reason he could give for his own daughter being caught with him. I didn't do anything, it wasn't really my business... But I couldn't let Christen marry someone like that. I couldn't let her be hurt. I couldn't tell her, because that would just hurt her as well. I knew that the priest may find some loophole. I knew that somewhere, someone would trick me. You did that, but I got the last laugh in the end” He laughed as though to point this out. “What I say goes. I am Lord Whyte, and people listen to me!”

“Yes” I said in a ponderous voice. “Family should be faithful to family first... tell me, if in the case of a family member disobeying the family, or being unfaithful, do you think it is the family member that should suffer, or any outsiders that may be involved.”

“OUTSIDERS!” Whyte yelled. “ The outsiders! Keep your family close. Daughters, sons, even brothers, sisters and wives are valuable assets. When my daughter comes back to me, she will easily bend to my will! She will marry Lord Lee from Rawlin, and we will form a formidable union.” He toasted the non-existent union.

“So, the outsider should suffer?” I asked.

“Of course!”

I grabbed him by the shoulders. “So glad you agree” I said, and pushed him into the fire. He stumbled, and grabbed the mantle I caught him by the pendant that he wore, to hold him up for one moment longer.

“Understand,” I said “That I am but a messenger. Your true grudge lies elsewhere...Lord Necanda sends his greetings” I said. Lord Whyte's eyes widened.

I ripped the pendant from his neck, and pushed him into the fire. He screamed for only a moment, then the echoing crack of his skull on the stone fireplace drowned him out. Fleeing the scene so I would not have to smell the stench of him burning, I put the pendant over my neck. Lord Necanda said that if I only showed it to him as proof that I killed Lady Necanda's lover, I may keep it. I left with Lord Whyte's silver in my pouch, and his screams still in my ears.

All in all, it had been a profitable encounter.