Bloody, stupid, idiotic army. They should have just kept their noses out. May they be shit on by a thousand griffons with diarrhoea. Wiremu and I had Modrica’s death all planned. It would be dramatic and explosive but not too over the top. We would also only lose the stables and caretakers' hut. Plus, the windows on that side of the house.

But all the planning and prep Wiremu put in place is now wasted. The army has some way of finding out when one of its soldiers is targeted for assassination. Some counter-terrorism thing. So they turn up and insist Modrica and Težka move into the army base for the duration. Kelda is her commander, so she turns up with her boss Captain Blythe to enforce the policy. It would look too suspicious to refuse, and then she dies. Kelda has organised some mounted training for her as it wouldn’t be good for discipline to put her with the other recruits. Well done, Modrica.

Our job has suddenly got a lot more difficult. Not only do we have to believably kill someone who is known to be very difficult to kill, and the army knows her skills, but we have to do it in a guarded and alert army base while smuggling a massive orc and even more massive Dire Bear out of said army base. On top of all that, we have to leave enough evidence to claim the bounty.

We definitely want to claim the bounty, as that is the first strike against the person who issued the contract. I only hope I can be there to see their face when Modrica and Težka tear them apart. This will also make the reputation of the Black Arts, the newly formed team of stealth operatives, Black and Dianne Prints.

At least Wiremu picked a decent team name. Dianne Prints is a pathetic name. She should be in the paper business or a scholar, not a black books mercenary. I suppose he tried to combine our names into the team name, so I should be glad he didn’t choose Black Print.

Now that I officially know there is a contract out against me, I need a full-time bodyguard. I looked forward to surprising the first couple of attempts and taking out my competitors for these jobs. I may still get to do that. With Modrica being watched by Kelda, this has freed up the Canine Queens to focus on me. I currently have Drugič playing bodyguard. The wolves and Kryddor are a block out, ready to track any attempt and make sure they don’t get away.

I don’t know where Wiremu is. His main job is tracking down the person who issued the contract, but he also hangs around Modrica and me just to check up. Modrica is separate from us, and he can get into the army base more easily than anyone else. Except for me, and I am stalked. We are not so arrogant to think we will spot everyone stalking us. The army base may add a layer of protection for Modrica, but if we can get in and out, so can others.

The assassins I worry about are the ones I don’t see. Not this idiot walking up to me in the crowd trying to act so innocently. He offends my acting skills. My Spatial Awareness sees the knife up his sleeve, and even Drugič has noticed him. He is just an amateur wanting to make a name and a lot of money. If this kid has an efficiency mark, he doesn’t deserve it.

The real question is whether he is a distraction for the real assassin to strike. Sacrifice is a better word than distraction. As he comes into striking range, he starts his move. I step sideways out of Drugič’s way and let her deal with him while I concentrate on the surroundings. Sure enough, a small slim girl tries to slip a stiletto into my back. I brush it to the side, pickpocket her backup knife and thrust it through her ribs into her heart. She collapses as Drugič withdraws her blade from her partner. There doesn’t seem to be a third attacker, so I step back with a horrified look on my face and let loose a terrified scream.

Those closest to us in the crowd already sensed something wrong, and I drew the attention of everybody and the two constables down the road. Drugič gives me a cross look as she quickly scans the surroundings and hurriedly goes through the pockets of the two. The constables are now pushing their way through the crowd to us.

“Girls’ left pocket,” I whisper to her.

I am pretty sure the crowd will have blocked the view of any watchers, but both Wiremu and I have ways of sensing that don’t rely on sight, so there is no guarantee. I should add Kelda, Ruku and Gwaed to that list. Ruku and Gwaed’s abilities came through their bonds, not affinities. I checked the skies, but I didn’t have Farsight.

I let Drugič talk to the constables while I played the traumatised victim. She was incredible taking out both by herself. One of the constables returned to her the knife she killed the female attacker with. I smiled when Drugič didn’t have a spare scabbard, so she had to hide it in her armour. She is on official contract, and the knives and other evidence from the girl's left pocket made it clear they were out to get me. I wasn’t paranoid. They took our details, but I am pretty famous now from our shows. We were spoon on our way, only half an hour late.

Engulfing Shadows is on the verge of Master Level. I am trying to use it in different ways to push it over. I can sense everything in the Engulfing Shadow, which is bigger than my Spatial Awareness Skill. It does not see through things, though. I am always trying to use it and make it so lightly that you can’t sense it. This will extend my range considerably, especially after it hits the Masters Level. It is most difficult during the day, like now. We will get there. It is very useful when I am performing in the theatre as I can sense what is going on in the whole auditorium as it is already dark in there, and it doesn’t take much energy. The middle of the day, social engagements were where I was left to rely on my relatively short ranged Spatial Awareness.

The other Skill that was on the cusp of Master Level was Shadows Embrace. If I could get it to Masters, Dusk and I could gallop silently and unseen at night and make the most of daytime shadows. We can already do the unseen part at night. It is the silently that needs to wait for the Master level. I am pretty anxious to get my Riding Skill to Masters as well. If I could ride more, it would be there already. I have taken to riding Dusk to and from the evening performances, and we practice. This also makes it safer for me as I can’t be killed if they can’t see me or keep up.

Responding to the assassination contract has meant I have had to drop my infiltration of the gangs for now. I would much rather be working on the gangsters than socialising with the useless nobles. I find the social gatherings tedious.

I have met the Duke and his current wife. His three recognised children all have different mothers, and none is his current wife. I am aiming to get an invite to his mansion, preferably not to one of his orgies, but I will take whatever I am offered. Duke Terry’s current wife, Sarah, doesn’t like me. I think she sees me as her replacement. It was only a bit of light flirting, so I stuck in his memory. Plus, a little bit of boob and butt enhancement. She is the seventh wife in as many decades. Terry is pushing 150 years old, so probably only has time for another two or three wives.

Terry, who hates that shortened name, is keeping in good health. He is not too overweight and handsome enough. He seems intelligent enough. He certainly has the arrogant nobility attitude well practised. His eyes kept track of what was going on around him, especially the ladies. Assassination would be easy. A cute girl in front, the male assassin from the back. He is always with two bodyguards, and they do seem competent, so it wouldn’t be quite that easy.

I invited Terry, his wife, and all three of his children to the after-party, which we will have after the last performance on the weekend. It will conclude our first month of performances. Complementary tickets to the performance, of course. Wiremu is making inroads through the youngest son George. I want to meet him in a posh social setting and also assess his siblings. The hair is Michael, and the backup heir is Harriot, Harry for short. The rumour mill has Michael as a bit of a womaniser after his father. Harry is in a relationship with a local actress, but the betting is heating up about how long that will last. Apparently, the Duke is not happy about the two girls being together. I made sure partners were invited to the performance and after-party.

George is a bit of an enigma relationship-wise. Wiremu says he talks big but never seems to take anyone home for the night or even out for a quickie. He has plenty of offers, and opportunities abound. Wiremu suspects he might swing toward men but be too afraid to admit it. He is not known for his bravery. I am more flexible and can think of all sorts of perversions he might be afraid to admit. We will find this weakness and weaponise it. If he didn’t instigate this assassination contract and is just an idiot, then I would still like to promote him, especially if I have good blackmail material. If I find the Duke is behind the contract, then everybody is getting a promotion.