Chapter 46-Executions

Tasim unraveled the small piece of paper and began to read again.

Coiled Tithe has ordered you, Tasim, the One-Winged, to save a merchant on the outskirts of the town known as Stansey. The merchant is being held captive by a group of four rival merchants who want to sell him off. Rescue him by any means necessary. A map can be purchased in East Havefard

‘Why do I need to do this? Can’t they get someone else to do it?’

Tasim sat resting in the carriage, the ground continuing to be bumpy beneath it as the horse dragged him. He didn’t know exactly how long it would be until he revived in Stansey, but he also didn’t care. For now, he enjoyed being able to rest, no matter how little it was.

Tasim used a small bag that sat in the back of the carriage as a pillow as he layed down on his side. On the other side, another passenger had been brought along, a figure cloaked in dark clothes, their hood was covered, but the small glimpses of skin that were revealed were pale, also as white as paper, and the nails that adorned the person’s hand were practically transparent.

The person before him sensed the stares, hiding their hands and any skin that was able to be perceived, turning away. Tasim didn’t know if it was them being shy or secretive, but for now, he decided not to look too much into it.

A gruff voice cut through the silence. “We have arrived at Greengate, the south side of Stansey. Please depart immediately, or you will be forced to depart.”

Tasim sighed and opened the gate to the carriage, stepping out, the other person following behind him.

The carriage with the horse drawing it soon turned around on the main road, departing immediately with haste. Tasim watched the carriage disappear, and once he turned back around, the person was already completely gone. Just vanished without a trace, not even a footprint was on the ground, despite how soft the ground was.

Tasim reopened the message that the Coiled Tithe had given him, hoping for it to point out where the captive was located. To his disappointment, it did not; it only stated the outskirts.

Tasim sighed again, his mind staying blank as he walked into the city.

He walked up to a random guy who was sitting at a bench, and asked as politely as he possibly could.

“I heard there was a group of people living on the outskirts around here. Would you happen to know where?”

“Oh, yeah, I heard about them too!” The man smiled, “They are located on the east side. Go out of Light Mill gate, look north, and then you will see them, or go up to Tanners Market in the north east, then look south.”

“Thank you very much, sir.” Tasim forced a smile and turned away, his face instantly turning back to normal.

‘I hate interacting with people.’

Tasim, disgusted with the human interaction dissapeared, walking through the town, finding his way to Tanner’s Market, which was one of the areas within Stansey that was heavily focused on trade, markets, and the selling of items. Tasim was eventually let out of the gates located there, which were extremely guarded, due to them leading directly to the Castle.

After a few minutes of walking, he found the camp, which was within a flat grassy plane, just a few minutes from the outer walls of Stansey. The camp had no fences, nor guards, but he could see a group of five people, four of whom were obese and weak-looking, while the fifth was menacing with a broad, powerful build.

He set up about a hundred meters from their camp (~330 ft), trying to stake out the camp, which comprised one major building, two carriages, two horses, piles of crates and goods, and then four minor buildings, which were rugged. The four small buildings, which were tents, had a small white sheet draped over them, barely covering the outer layer.

As Tasim crept closer, he could hear screaming from within, along with a bunch of voices yelling at the screaming person.

‘So they are telling him to stop calling for help?’ Tasim guessed.

He continued creeping closer, using the large tent-looking building as his cover while watching his surroundings.

“Stop yelling, you piece of shit, no one is going to come for you.” A manical voice demanded.

A weak man replied, spitting on the ground, producing a weak splat. “I’ll just pay the person who’s trying to buy me to capture you all,” forcing out a weak laugh.

“I guess we just need to kill you now, what do you think?”

An ominous voice broke through the silence that ensued the question. “If he doesn’t give us what we want, then we will. All we want is the Black Purity, and we all know that you know where it is.”

“I don’t know what that i-” he tried to respond, followed by a sharp whip, and a yelp from pain.

‘Is The Coiled Tithe after this thing as well?’

A man soon walked out, disappearing behind one of the small tints, leaving two merchants and the captive inside. Tasim snuck around, avoiding the burly man’s eyes. Once he was in position, hidden from all, he could see one of the obese merchants, pulling his pants down and beginning to piss.

‘Anyone could see you. Disgusting.’ Tasim sighed, summoning a whip made of water using his left hand, which allowed for a more efficient and powerful summoning.

Without producing any sound, he muttered beneath his breath, ‘Sorry, just you chose the wrong business.’

Tasim then threw his whip forward, cutting the man’s head off his shoulders in one fell swoop, a powerful cracking sound filling the air, then a thud, along with a small splash was created, as the body collided with the wet ground beneath where he once stood.

Tasim was disgusted at the fact that he had to just kill one of his own, but it was for the group to which he belonged. He knew they worked in mysterious ways, but they were also not evil. They killed when they needed to, and saved people in mass, and they said to rescue by any means necessary, telling Tasim he was allowed to kill if needed, and he knew, since the merchants were willing to kill, they wouldn’t speak to him even if he wanted to.

Tasim looked away from the body, studying where everyone else went. Two merchants sat in the large tent building, while one talked to the mercenary who guarded them.

“Remember, if anyone steps within thirty meters of this place, execute them instantly, no questions asked,” the menacing, deep voice said.

The tired, grumpy, and irritable mercenary responded, “I know.”

“You'd better, ‘cause if you don’t, then you don’t get paid.”

“I know.” The man simply nodded.

‘I think I can get him to help me if I pay him more than them.’

Tasim sat there, running scenarios through his head, trying to find out the fastest way to do it, but in the end, all he did was waste time. Ten minutes passed before he made a decision. Now, everyone was sitting together, making the mission that much more difficult. Tasim could hear the group eating, smacking their lips as they chew, and laughing alongside, while beside them was the merchant, bound on a cross.

Tasim moved around the camp, glaring into the tent. One of the merchants quickly turned his head in Tasim’s direction and said. “Doofus, get back to work. You had a ten-minute break. Go make sure the surroundings are clear. Hurry up.”

He ducked behind a few crates in which he stood, hiding himself without turning back. There was currently nowhere to run if the mercenary approached; now, he was forced to think of a way to escape.

He began to hear steps leaving the tent and getting closer to him, then a loud thud as something heavy smacked against the ground, followed by a shout.

“Get your weapons, you fat asses, attack that bastard, we can’t lose this merchant, we need to find the Black Purity.”

Tasim summoned the water whip, letting it flow to the ground, then stood up and turned, knowing he must confront them and not let them get a sneak attack on him, though it wouldn’t be much of a sneak attack since they were loud. And as he stood, looking past the crates, he saw a figure wearing a dark, onyx hood, their face hidden, looming over the dead body of the mercenary with a knife in the back of their skull.

‘Who-’

The skinny merchant, who was seemingly the leader as he commanded the others, sat there as the round merchants charged towards the being.

The being began to dance and weave, cutting through their attacks, cutting the merchant’s arms, sides, thighs, hips, cheeks, all before slicing their throat. The sight of the onyx figure toying with the merchants sent shivers down his spine, causing goosebumps all over.

“Who the hell are yo-” The remaining merchant tried to ask, but they were shut up by a final dagger piercing their throat, causing them to choke and drown in their own blood.

A feminine, but eerie voice then cut through the gurgling sound caused by the dying merchant, “You talk too much, merchants know when to be quiet, and they know when to talk to make a good sale, that's why you aren’t the best.”

“Who are you?” A terrified voice spoke. “I’m not saying where the Black Purity is.” Tasim looked forward, seeing it was the captured merchant speaking. His body was covered in cuts and blood, but despite this, he was speaking crystal clear currently.

“I don’t need it.” Responded the feminine voice.

“Then why are you here?”

“To rescue you.”

The man’s expression shifted to pure shock, looking to the being in front of him.

“Who do you work for?”

“The Coiled Tithe.” She said softly, then began to talk with a much more menacing and booming voice. “Tasim, the One-Winged. Come out.”

The person then turned, and Tasim looked them in the eyes.

“The girl from the carriage-”

“I am Emma, the Twin-Coiled. Return to Havefard, continue your journey until you come across a man known as Hagrid. When you do, I need you to contact command. He is a large man, approximately two hundred centimeters tall (6’8”), one hundred and five kilograms (320lbs). He has a deep, booming voice, long, thick, dark brown hair with streaks of grey within, a large beard that hangs to his chest, green eyes, and tan skin with scars across his fists.”

Tasim stared blankly at the woman, wondering how he would remember so many details, but surprisingly, he could repeat everything that was just stated.

“How do I know you are speaking the truth?” Tasim asked, giving the mysterious lady a skeptical look.

The lady simply looked up as a crow landed on her shoulder, “Emma,” the crow cawed. “Command.” It cawed once more. “Emma! Command! Emma! Command! Emma! Command” It repeated until Emma spoke up.

“I know, now go away.” She said to the crow as it flapped its wings, flying off, then turned to Tasim. “Is that enough proof?”

“No.” He said simply, keeping the skeptical look.

“Here.” She took off her hood, revealing long, jet black hair that goes down to her hips, pristine, white, doll-like skin, and emotionless brown eyes that could kill with a glance. Under her hood was another jet black shirt; on the back was a white shield, with a staff, and coiled around it were two snakes.

Tasim’s eyes instantly stopped their skeptical look, accepting the facts for what they were. This lady- this strikingly beautiful lady before him was his higher-up.

“Yes, ma’am.” He said simply, knowing not to mess with anyone above him. He knew that within the Coiled Tithe, it was extremely difficult to climb ranks; only the most powerful and trusted would be able to climb.