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"Amateurs," I thought with a smirk.

I slipped past them with ease, entering the building through a side window. The interior was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of decay. I moved silently through the corridors, my senses alert for any sign of my target.

It didn\'t take long to find him. He was in a room at the back of the building, surrounded by ledgers and chests overflowing with ill-gotten gains. He didn\'t notice my presence until it was too late.

"What—" he started, but his words were cut off as I pressed my dagger to his throat.

"Quiet," I hissed, my voice a mere whisper. "Make a sound, and it will be your last."

His eyes widened with fear, and he nodded frantically. I quickly bound and gagged him, then began searching the room for any useful information. As I rifled through his papers, I found evidence of his dealings—proof that he had been siphoning resources meant for the city\'s restoration.

I pocketed the documents, then turned my attention back to the merchant. His eyes pleaded with me, but I felt no pity. He was a parasite, feeding off the misery of others. And tonight, his time had come.

With a swift, precise movement, I ended his life. He slumped to the floor, the room falling silent once more. I wiped my blade clean and took a moment to survey the scene. Satisfied that everything was in order, I made my way back to the window.

As I prepared to leave, a figure suddenly blocked my path. A man, judging by his attire, a knight.

"A dangerous job you have there, miss," the man said, his tone casual.

"Who are you..." I readied my knife, eyeing him warily. But then the door suddenly opened.

"Not quite the welcome I expected, forgive me," an old man entered, his voice calm yet authoritative. "But this is the order of the lord. And I can\'t find myself refusing it as you\'re a criminal, young lady."

I recognized him immediately. Alaric von Merriden, the former steward of the Drakhan Earldom. He was a very bright and capable man, but I had heard that he got into trouble with the Earl. What was he doing here?

Before I could ask anything, the knight approached me, his hand on his sword.

"By the command of the Earl, you\'re coming with us, Lady Silent Merchant," the knight uttered.

Wait. How did he know my alias?

"Or should I say, Lady Liora?" the knight added, his eyes narrowing.

I was stunned. My cover was blown, but how? I had been so careful. The tension in the room thickened as I weighed my options. Fighting my way out was a possibility, but Alaric\'s presence complicated matters. He was known for his strategic mind and had surely planned for every contingency.

"Why would the Earl send you?" I asked, stalling for time.

Alaric stepped forward, his expression inscrutable. "The Earl has his reasons, Liora. You\'ve been disrupting his plans, and he doesn\'t take kindly to interference."

"Interference?" I scoffed. "I\'m cleaning up his mess."

The knight chuckled, a low, humorless sound. "Believe what you want. You\'re coming with us."

I glanced at the window, calculating the distance. It would be a risky jump, but I had made worse. As if reading my thoughts, the knight shifted, blocking my escape route more firmly.

"Don\'t even think about it," he warned.

"What\'s the real reason?" I demanded, my eyes darting between them.

Alaric sighed, a hint of weariness in his eyes. "The Earl\'s rule is more precarious than it appears. Your actions have been both a hindrance and an unexpected aid. He wants to control the narrative, and you, my dear, are an unpredictable element."

"So he sends you to capture me?" I said, incredulous.

"To offer you a choice," Alaric corrected. "Join us and use your skills for the Earl\'s benefit, or face the consequences of your actions."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. I had always worked alone, my loyalty to none but myself and my orphans. Yet, this proposition was unexpected and intriguing.

"Why would I ever work for a tyrant?" I asked, my voice steady.

"The Earl is many things, but not a fool," Alaric replied. "He knows potential when he sees it. And you, Liora, have potential."

I studied their faces, searching for any hint of deceit. The knight\'s expression remained stern, but Alaric\'s eyes held a glimmer of sincerity. It was a gamble, but perhaps aligning myself with the Earl, even temporarily, could provide the leverage I needed.

"I\'ll hear him out," I said finally. "But I\'m not making any promises."

Alaric nodded. "Fair enough. Let\'s go."

I followed them, my mind racing with potential escape plans. Alaric led the way, the knight close behind me, his presence a constant, oppressive weight. We moved through the dimly lit corridors in silence, the tension palpable.

I needed a distraction, a moment of weakness to exploit. My hand subtly moved toward a small vial of powder hidden in my cloak—a concoction designed to create a thick, disorienting smoke. We approached a narrow staircase leading to the building\'s upper level.

"Why not take the front door?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"The Earl prefers discretion," Alaric replied without turning around.

As Alaric stepped onto the staircase, I seized my opportunity. I tossed the vial to the ground, and it shattered with a faint pop. Smoke billowed out, filling the corridor. The knight reacted instantly, his hand clamping down on my shoulder.

"Nice try," he said, his voice muffled by the smoke. He dragged me forward, but I twisted, bringing my elbow up to his face. He stumbled back, more surprised than hurt.

I darted toward the nearest window, but the knight was fast. He lunged, grabbing my cloak. I spun, slipping out of the cloak and kicking him in the chest. He crashed into the wall, and I bolted down the hall.

"Alaric, go!" the knight shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

Alaric hesitated only a moment before continuing up the stairs. I could hear the knight recovering behind me, his footsteps pounding against the floor. I sprinted around a corner, only to find myself in a dead-end corridor.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. I turned just as the knight rounded the corner, sword in hand.

He advanced cautiously, his eyes locked on mine. "You\'re skilled, I\'ll give you that," he said. "But you can\'t escape."

"Watch me," I replied, drawing my daggers.

The knight smiled grimly. "As you wish."

He lunged, his sword slicing through the air. I parried with one dagger, striking with the other. He twisted, avoiding the blow and bringing his sword down in a powerful arc. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade, and countered with a series of quick strikes. He blocked each one with almost preternatural speed.

The confined space limited our movements, making every strike and counter more intense. I feinted left, then slashed right, but he was already there, his sword meeting my dagger with a resounding clang.

"You\'re good," he said, his breath coming in steady, controlled bursts. "But not good enough."

I narrowed my eyes, focusing. I needed to end this quickly. I feinted again, this time aiming for his leg. He anticipated the move, stepping back just as I shifted my weight, and brought his sword up in a sweeping arc. I barely had time to block, the force of his blow sending vibrations up my arm.

We danced around each other, our movements a blur of steel and intent. I could feel my stamina waning; the knight, however, seemed tireless. I had to change tactics. I threw one of my daggers at him, aiming for his face. He dodged, but it gave me the opening I needed. I rushed forward, aiming for his exposed side.

But he was ready. He pivoted smoothly, grabbing my wrist and twisting. Pain shot up my arm, and I dropped my remaining dagger. He pulled me close, his sword pressed against my throat.

"It\'s over," he said softly.

I glared at him, breathing heavily. "What now? You kill me?"

"No," he replied. "You made a promise to hear the Earl out. And you\'re going to keep it."

I struggled, but his grip was unyielding. Reluctantly, I nodded. He released my wrist, but kept a firm hold on my arm. We returned to the staircase, the smoke from my earlier distraction still lingering faintly in the air.

Alaric was waiting at the top, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "I see you\'ve had your fun," he said to the knight.

"She\'s quite the challenge," the knight replied, his tone respectful.

Alaric looked at me, his eyes hard. "Let\'s hope you\'re worth the trouble, Liora."

We continued up the stairs and through a series of twisting corridors until we reached a grand door guarded by two imposing sentries. They stepped aside as we approached, opening the door to reveal a lavishly decorated chamber.

Inside, sitting behind a massive wooden desk, was the Earl of Drakhan. He looked up as we entered, his gaze piercing and unreadable.