Kyren had been prepared to end it quickly. He’d done these assignments a million times, before. Sneak into the Manor, get into the room of his target– the Duke’s son– and end his life before anyone even knew he was there.
The lack of payment still pissed him off, but this was “a favor” for one of his boss’s friends. He couldn’t exactly refuse.
What he wasn’t prepared for was finding the Duke’s son locked away in the room, covered in bruises and blood, trembling from the cold. There was an ankle chain keeping him to the bed, and he was so thin… Kyren’s eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
The Duke’s son looked up, blue eyes wide with fear. He shrank back, the chain rattling softly as he did.
“P-please…” His voice shook when he spoke, tears in his eyes. “Please don’t kill me.”
Kyren’s grip on his blade’s handle loosened. “Are you Wesley?” He asked, hoping he was wrong. The Duke was horrible, but he wouldn’t do something like this to his own son. It felt like a punch in the gut when the trembling boy nodded.
Kyren looked around at the room before spying a key on the wall, just out of the Duke’s son’s reach. He grabbed it and walked towards the bed, which made Wesley whimper and cower away.
“Calm down. I’m taking the chain off.”
He leaned down, quickly uncuffing his ankle. It was hard not to notice the bruises, the exact size and shape of the cuff, wrapping around his skin.
A soft whimper snapped him from his thoughts. The Duke’s son was hugging his knees to his chest, shivering. After a brief hesitation, he looked up and locked eyes with the assassin. “A…a-are you g-going t…to k-kill me?” Despite how terrified he sounded, there was almost a hopeful undertone. Like he wanted to die, but couldn’t say it.
It was a split second decision, and Kyren even surprised himself as he shook his head. “No. I’m not. I’m going to take you with me.”
Kyren wasn’t sure what he was expecting for a response, but it wasn’t this. The Duke’s son squeaked, shrinking away from him and furiously shaking his head. “N-no, I can’t leave! I-I can’t! My father will… w-will be mad!” He cried out, starting to sob.
Kyren tensed. The sudden outburst could get him caught. He grabbed Wesley’s arm and yanked him off the bed, causing the boy to yelp loudly. His hand clamped over his mouth.
Wesley fought against his grasp, close to pulling free at one point. Kyren let out an annoyed growl and yanked out some rope. In one swift motion, he tied the Duke’s son’s wrists together in front of him.
“No, l-let go!” Wesley cried out again when Kyren’s hand left his mouth. “Hel–mmph!” The assassin clamped his hand back over his mouth, yanking him back. He whimpered, starting to let out muffled sobs.
“Look, you want me to kill you? Because that’s why I came here.” His response was a quick head shake. “Then don’t fucking fight me. I’m doing you a favor here. Now come on, let’s go.”
He dragged Wesley to the balcony. “You going to scream if I move my hand?” The Duke’s son weakly shook his head. Kyren moved his hand, still keeping it close just in case. When he was silent, Kyren nodded in approval and pulled him up onto his back. He made sure to wrap the boy’s bound arms around his neck to keep him from falling off, and then jumped.
The Duke’s son yelped, his arms tightening around the assassin as they fell towards the ground below. Kyren caught himself on a tree branch, slowly sliding them both down to the ground below. When he landed, he let out a whistle. Seconds later, a horse came galloping up, and the Duke’s son stared at it in awe.
“You won’t try running if I untie you?”
Wesley looked up and shook his head. “I-I’ll b…be g-good.”
With a simple nod, Kyren grabbed his knife and sliced through the rope. “Hop on, before anyone sees you’re missing.”
After several failed attempts to climb onto the horse’s back, the assassin sighed and tossed him over before jumping on himself. He grabbed the reigns, the Duke’s son sitting in front of him.
“Try and keep still, so you don’t fall off. Lean back into me if you need to.” He paused briefly, pulling off his cloak and draping it over the shivering Duke’s son’s shoulders. Once Wesley seemed comfortable enough, he sent the horse off into a run. He didn’t slow down until the palace was completely out of sight, and even then, the horse kept a steady pace. Looking down at the Duke’s son, who was now leaning against him with his eyes closed, he sighed.
What have I gotten myself into?