Well now that I've told you a bit about me and where I come from. I believe it is time for me to begin the true storytelling. The story I am about to tell you is the story of Senna. A young girl from a rather large city. If your thinking to yourself, that is the girl he was sent to kill. You would be correct. But everything, everyone, has a story. Never forget that. And besides, what good is a story only about me. The guy who kills people on demand. Welcome to Senna beauty of the city.
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Fifteen years before death.
Today, like many days large groups of people enter the city of Gerun through the west gate. Towering arches mark the official entrance to the city proper. Though like all ancient cities the houses and poorer districts expand well past the wall. On the side of the road near the gate walks a girl. She is young maybe eleven or twelve. She is short for her age with bright blonde hair. Her eyes are a deep green almost emerald. Her skin a light brown like most of the people entering the city. She wears the clothes of royalty. A day dress of dark purple with golden embroidery.
Behind her walk a man and a woman. Most likely her father and mother. And if one were to look closely you would notice a small number of armed people stalking them through the crowd. Silently following them, some guards some, not so noble. This man and woman are the king and the queen of the great country of Formani. As they begin to pass under the gate an explosion erupts in the center of the street. The shock from the explosion shakes earth and nearby buildings. Knocking everyone nearby swiftly to the ground. Some of the men who had been following the king and queen quickly regain their feet and rush forward. While others try to stop them.
The girl, being far enough from the explosion to not suffer injury, begins to cry. The shock from the explosion gradually begins to wear off of the less trained individuals. And so begins the chaos. Not knowing what to do the girl looks for her parents even through the tears. Catching a glimpse of them through the mob of people running to and fro in the street she crys out. "Mama! Poppa!" She tries to push through the crowd but with no success as she is too small. Behind her one of the shadows comes alive and grabs her. Covering her mouth and dragging her into a small alley.
Ten years before death
Boom! A loud sound erupted from the door on the other side of the small room. Senna bolted upright in her bed at the sound. She had heard these sounds before and knew what it meant. Tollen had come home drunk again. He always did on the days when she fell asleep before he did. It had been five years since her parents had died in the attack on the west gate. Tollen had pulled her away before the assassins had been able to locate her. She still had nightmares about that day. Getting out of bed she decided to go help Tollen into his bed and away from any liquor he may have brought with him. There was no need to get dressed as she always slept fully clothed, should they need to make a quick escape. As she headed towards the door a new sound came from beyond.
A sharp rasping sound similar to that of a sword being drawn from it's scabbard. Instantly she went for the sword she always kept under the bed in case the assassins ever came again. Clang! The sound of metal on metal rang out. "Run! Senna run! They found us you need to go now before they catch you!" Tollen's voice sounded from the other side of the door. No...this cant happen again she thought. But even as she thought that the part of her mind that had been trained for this made her body move. She went to the window and looked out. Checking to make sure there was nothing to injure her, she jumped. Despite the training Tollen had put her through it still hurt to run away. Hitting the ground with a roll she rose to her feet and started sprinting into the darkness.
Five years before death
Senna never liked small towns. Nothing ever happens, nothing ever changes. Senna had been living in Nettlie for three years now. Stepping out of her small house she began to walk towards the small market near the center of town. Her house was only a five minute walk from the market. She had been lucky that the former resident had moved to the "big city" shortly before she had arrived. In truth the nearby city was more of a way station for passing travelers and only had a few thousand residents living within its palisade walls. As she reached the corner of her street, if you could even call it that, her neighbor Cally stepped out of her house and waved hello calling out. "How ya doin Sadie, it's nice to see you up so early." Senna waved back at her with and replied. "Up as early as you normally are, I'm surprised you would even call this early."
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"Where ya headed goin this early in the morning anyway?" Cally said. "I'm headed to the market to get the ingredients for my famous berry pie." Senna picked up her pace as she didn't want Cally to try and join her on her market run. It reminded her too much of her time with Tollen. She was only in this town because she was laying low trying to avoid the assassins. So far it had worked quite well. She was beginning to think she had finally found a place to call home. Even if it was such a quiet town that she was bored to tears. "Wait up Sadie" she heard Cally call out from behind her. Resigning herself to the company she slowed down enough for Cally to catch up. Cally was a typical small town girl. With the brown hair and brown eyes and deep brown skin. She was still young, close to Senna's age. When Cally reached her she started chatting away about whatever came to her mind.
As we approached the market the volume began to increase with the sound of voices. "Isn't it a bit loud even for the market Senna?" Cally asked. "Maybe a trader came to town?" Senna replied. Occasionally traders would show up to the town and sell interesting trinkets and oddities. But they also came with more important things. Information, salt, various seeds for planting, and of course money. "A trader. Maybe I can get some of those fancy scents." Cally started getting more excited towards the end. Senna on the other hand began to get more on edge the closer they got to the market. What if the assassins had sent someone in the caravan to try and find her. But it was too late for Senna to turn back now, turning the corner to the market traders had indeed made it to the town.
The traders had set up in the middle of the market square. Their carriages were made of wood painted bright colors. Each was designed with a side to open up and display their wares as well as provide shelter if it rained. Inside were the typical trinkets and sundries as well as some other odds and ends. The townspeople had started gathering as well some with things to sell but most looking at the traders wares. "Where do you want to start looking Senna?" Senna was startled by Cally's question as she had been observing the carriage farthest from them thinking it odd. "Hunh..oh how about we split up so I can go get my ingredients." Senna said as she started walking towards the odd carriage. Cally looked slightly disappointed at that but her excitement got the better of her and she almost ran towards the trader with the perfume.
As Senna arrived at the carriage she noticed that everyone seemed to be avoiding it. Even though it was no different from the rest of the carriages. Behind the counter was a grizzled old man with completely gray hair and a long gray beard. "Welcome young one, may I interest you in some of my wares. I have potions and talismans to ward off evil or make any man love you." Senna looked at him blankly as if barely seeing him. "Who are you?" Senna asked. "A wizard. A maker of fine potions. A father. A merchant. Whichever you prefer. However my name is Kind." Kind replied with a smile. "May I ask who you are since I have shared who I am with you?" Almost as if in a trance Senna replied "I am Senna, daughter of the former king and queen of Gerun, I am Sadie a woman who does not speak of her past." At these words Kind looked shocked. His carriage was enchanted to make people who approached more willing to speak the truth. But he hadn't expected to find a princess hiding as a woman in a middle of nowhere town.
Slowly Senna seemed to return to her senses. As she realized what she had said she turned and ran towards her house. It was time to move. She had given herself away and didn't even know why. Kind shouted to her. "Hey wait don't go I still have some questions." This only served to make Senna run faster. Turning the corner out of the market and picking up speed on the straight path. Panic was all she could feel at that moment. But as she neared her house she just felt exhausted. Why did she need to keep running from the assassins? Why did she need to keep making new names and homes? These things bothered her even as she packed her basic necessities. Clothes, daggers, money, food, tent, bedroll. Changing into her traveling leathers she took her things and disappeared from the town and the old man who knew her secret.