The wagon must have moved much slower than I had thought because within a few moments I'm back where I had woken up. The rain continues to pelt me as I walk further down the path, assuming they weren't going off-roading.

The only thing to be heard for miles is just the sound of my feet slapping into the mud and rain creating more. My eyes wander around to be sure no one is following me. Now that my mission is completed, I can easily "jump away" if I am pursued again, but I just hope I can settle my curiosity before anything like that happens.

I walk for a bit longer when my eyes settle on a dark castle in the distance. Just as I spot the castle, the road forks. I take the path towards the castle just because I have a gut feeling this was where they would take me if they were getting a bag full of gold.

"Going somewhere, Edgie?" I jump out of my skin and turn with weapons drawn as Rider approaches me with a smug smile. I roll my eyes and put my weapons away with a glare as I remove my face mask. "The hell are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me!" I complain only making him smile wider.

Rider is one of the only assassin's that doesn't totally hate me for being younger and more accomplished than him. He's about five years older, though he looks fairly young with his dark auburn hair and striking blue eyes. "I scared Death? That's a strange sentence." He chuckles a bit, making my cheeks turn red with frustration and embarrassment.

Death is my title in the organization and I hold it with pride except for this moment. "It's raining and you're one of the stealthier men we have." I cross my arms, knowing I look like a pouting child, but not caring. Rider shrugs carelessly as he adjusts his weight to one foot. "Careful Edge, if it wasn't me, you could be dead."

It was my turn to shrug and look more smug. "Remember the last one who tried to kill me?" Rider flinches at the memory. "You didn't literally have to shove his head up his ass." We both laughed a little when his sharp eyes snap up to the castle.

"Why're you going to King Bardolf's castle? Death mark?" He asks his brows furrowing as he replaced his hood over his head to keep dry. I glance back to the castle and shrug again. "I was just curious. I had an altercation and I think they were bringing me here. I just wanted to know why."

Rider shakes his head. "I wouldn't go there unless there's a mark. Bad things happen in the castle, even to us." I nod knowing he's probably right, though my curiosity wasn't settled. "Who is he?" I ask as I follow Rider back along the path as if we were having a calm stroll.

"King Bardolf is a power crazed man who only became king by murdering all the heirs and becoming next in line through marriage." I nodded as I listened, a piece clicking in my head. "That's why you warned me off? In case I get caught and used in his power game?" Rider nods, "exactly."

"Anyway, he's killed half his kingdom out of paranoia and most of his staff, his last three wives, and even a few of his children if they held enough potential to overthrow him." Rider comes to a stop as he peers up at the castle with a frown.

"How do you know all this?"

"Because I am one of his bastard children. I just so happened to have been picked up, same as you." My eyes widen with interest as I glance back to the castle. When I turn back to Rider, he's already far down the path and I have to jog to catch up.

"I guess we all have our stories." Rider nods in agreement, "that we do, brother. That we do." We walk for a bit longer when we hear the thundering of horse hooves.

"Shit! I think we were spotted!" Rider grabs my arm and roughly yanks me down a hill and into a thicker part of the forest. I only stumble for a moment before regaining my footing and allowing the male to hide us in the thicket. From here I can see a powerful looking man on a black horse, a smaller man beside him and then men in armor.

"Must be the king, his son, and guards." Rider whispers into my ear, being as quiet as possible.

"Edward Leon Charles! I know you're here! Come out and no harm will come to you... Or your friend!" My eyes widen as the king knew my full name. I glanced to Rider who's eyes also widened when the king knew he was there too.

The horse whined a little as the king turned directions, his eyes sweeping over the trees, though knowing he wouldn't see anything.

"How about this. If your friend gives you up to me, he'll receive as much gold as he can carry and keep his own life."

My blood ran cold as I turned back to Rider only to see him staring emotionless up where the king was standing. His eyes glanced down to me, his hand tightening around my arm. I shook my head in a silent plead before he yanked me hard and began to drag me out of the thicket.