Can't you hear the ticking noise?

Only slowly Lejan’s eyes got used to the dim light breaking the darkness around him. The lantern was in his master’s hand, giving Lejan only a small cone of light to work with. Lord Taran moved his chin curtly and started walking without further explanation. The servant tried to follow him as quietly as possible. The wet stones under his feet drew more of his attention than he wanted. Each step felt like he might slip. The darkness wasn’t absolute, but Lejan felt it even hugging his mind.

Why the sewers? Aren’t you a lord? A carriage wasn’t available?

The guard pushed away the thoughts, which popped up with every second step. This was something he couldn’t afford to think. Still, his steps slowed.

As if sensing something was amiss, Lord Taran turned around. His dark eyes reflected the lamp’s light. The stare was fierce. With a curt bow Lejan started moving again. No words were uttered as they followed the sewers. Lejan tried to remember the conversation before they entered the tunnels. But his memory was as hazy as the air around them. The thoughts vanished each time before he could catch them.

“We’re here.”

They had stopped in front of a ladder. A faint metallic smell reached Lejan’s nose. Mere seconds after the statement the light in his master’s hand was extinguished. Darkness engulfed them.

The heck! How am I supposed to do anything now?! Not everyone has gone through assassination training as a child.

It took Lejan some moments to keep his anger down. He felt his master moving and after breathing a few times, he fumbled forward until his fingers hit the moist metal beams. The ladder vibrated with every step they took. A few times, dirt from his master’s shoes or rusty flakes of the ladder hit his face.

I should’ve taken Lord Slutton’s offer all those years ago.

He bit his inner cheek to not grunt, when another chunk hit his face. The nightly excursions were new on his master’s schedule. A development which Lejan didn’t like at all.

“Argh!”

The ladder didn’t just vibrate but started to sway slightly. Lejan gripped the rusty bar while his feet tried to find hold again. There was no comment from Lord Taran, but Lejan could feel impatience radiating from above. After a few moments of struggle, his feet found their safe spot on the ladder again.

Guess I’ll hear about this later. God, do I wish to just be back at the mansion.

The thought alone made Lejan want to slow down again. But his livelihood depended on his position as personal guard to his lord. If his master decided to let him go, it would make it difficult to find another lucrative position in Urt’s aristocracy.

Eccentric and rich. What an annoying combination.

His fingers brushing his master’s boots, made him realize that the other man had stopped. There was metal scraping against stone, and a faint beam of grey light found its way into the sewer duct. With more agility and grace than Lejan could ever muster the noble climbed out of the manhole. Without wasting time checking if his servant was following him, he rushed out of Lejan’s field of view.

Sure, let me get caught. Maybe then I can take a break for the next few weeks.

Lejan closed the sewer entrance as quickly and silently as possible. There was a dull pain in his lower abdomen and his fingers smelled like mold and rust. With the manhole covered again, the guard looked for his charge. The lord had already reached the second house of the lane. Lejan made sure his sword was still properly fastened to his hip. Then he sprinted to catch up with his master. Lord Taran’s expression had grown even more rigid than usual.

I wish all those ladies would see him now. Would save me quite the hassle to ward them off of him.

Out of the dark tunnel Lejan tried to recognize his surroundings. They were still in Rodek, but the houses were worn down. There were heaps of trash in front of the small lanes leading into narrower alleyways. But in contrast to the heavy air in the sewers Lejan almost couldn’t catch any smell at all. He frowned. With the summer being quite warm, the garbage should have impregnated the air with its heavy sweet scent of decay.

There was no time to dwell on it as his master pushed on. The street lanterns cast their dim light on the empty streets. The last few times Lejan had been brought to a nightly outing they had gone to the Merchant district of the capital.

Why here of all places? What’s the connection?

When Lord Taran finally stopped, Lejan felt exhausted. Their destination had been an old shop building. The windows on both floors were dark. The streetlight nearby made the façade look even gloomier and run-down. There was a faded sign which might have depicted bread in the past, but by its looks it hadn’t seen any customers or tradesmen in years.

“Master, are you sure we are at the correct …”

“Shhh.”

Lord Taran nodded upwards. Lejan’s eyes grew bigger. He was sure that mere moments ago there hadn’t been any lights in the upper windows of the shophouse. But now a weak flicker of washed out yellow was visible.

“Stay here. If I’m not back in thirty minutes come and get me.”

Lord Taran pressed a tiny pocket watch in Lejan’s hands and left him without any further explanation. Lejan wanted to call him back, but they were in an empty street in the middle of the night after curfew.

Better not to draw any attention.

There were not many officers stationed in the nightshift in this district of the capital, but any kind of disturbance would activate the checkpoints. So, the servant sighed and positioned himself next to the shop door his master had just vanished through. He pressed the sword and short sword on his belt in position.

From time to time, he cast a glimpse on the pocket watch, but the arms only moved slowly. Everything was quiet. Lejan yawned. He started to count the cobblestones in front of his position. After having counted forty-seven stones today’s conversation with Lord Taran bubbled up in his mind again. But it still felt as if he tried to remember his actions after a drunk night out. No matter how hard he concentrated, everything he could recall was just a foggy impression of him talking to his master.

Another glance at the pocket watch told him that the arms had only moved to the ten-minute mark. He put the watch away when he felt a movement nearby. Quickly he looked around. No shadows, no person, nobody was there. Yet Lejan’s stomach clenched. His feet changed positions.

A giggle. High. Echoing eerily in the deserted street.

Lejan’s hand shot to his sword hilt.

I was right. I just knew it. They caught us!

The giggle echoed off the empty streets. Lejan’s eyes darted around. But he only saw the deep shadows hugging every building. Every time the echo seemed to fade, a new wave emerged. Still, there was no person in sight. Except for the faint light in the house Lord Taran had disappeared in, the windows stayed dark.

Eventually, the guard made a few steps and scanned the street again. The night watch hadn’t appeared yet. The checkpoint usually triggered easily. Anything out of the ordinary was marked as a threat. But now, nothing but the giggle could be heard.

Not knowing what to do, Lejan checked the pocket watch. Just fifteen minutes had passed. The giggle made his head hurt and he could do nothing more than staring at the arms of the watch.

Is it broken?

Listening carefully to detect the faint ticking sound, he managed to block out the other noise. Yet the pounding headache prevailed. He dropped his hand and was about to put the watch away. The giggle grew louder again. Lejan felt nausea wash over him.

Then a figure appeared at the corner of the shop house. Swallowing the bile, Lejan made a step forward. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword again. A person, slender and on the shorter side turned in his direction. The face was hidden by the shadows of the hooded cloak. Even if the servant couldn't make out the face, he knew that the person was looking at him.

Shit, shit, shit! I don’t need that. This isn’t worth the pay.

Everything in him screamed to either attack or run. But if he had learnt one thing from his master over the years, it was to wait.

Appear calm. You are in control. This is for sure just a coincidence.

The giggle got softer but was still lingering in the air. After the stranger had spent enough time measuring him, he slowly moved nearer. The gait was relaxed and while he moved Lejan could see that the person wasn't armed. While the stranger strolled up to him, Lejan tensed further.

The other person had almost reached him. Just a few steps separated them. Lifting their hand as if to push back the hood they stalled in their movement.

What now? Are you scared? I sure am. Keep the hood on. Turn around. Walk away!

As if they had heard his thoughts, the hand was pushed in the coat pocket.

“My friend, it is late. You shouldn’t have any business here.”

Lejan made sure his voice was low and calm, trying to channel his master’s vocal qualities. The snort wasn’t the expected response.

“You are not completely right.”

The voice was rich and patient. Lejan bristled as he was reminded of his mother’s tone when he had done wrong in the past.

“True, this shop, I have no interest in it. But I am very curious about its guardian.”

“What?!”

The stranger reacted with a short chuckle. A shiver ran down Lejan’s spine.

It’s not the same. They sound different. He isn’t the source.

"You have a unique ability. I've been looking for someone like you for some time."

Lejan knit his brows together. This time it was him who couldn’t contain the snort.

Yeah, sure. That would be a first.

"Maybe you are looking for my master.“

"I have no interest in his lordship. But I can see that I might have acted a bit too rashly. You seem quite agitated. Maybe we should meet again later. Forget that I talked to you."

"How can I forget this conversation?!"

But the hooded person was already retreating. The shadows grew deeper around him. With every step he took, the giggle got louder again. The stranger slowed down.

Turn around! Explain yourself!

But the cloaked figure lifted his left hand and waved. Then he vanished. The guard ran into the street. The giggle was filling the air again, just as loud as the checkpoints’ alarm. Lejan’s was heart was racing. A sour taste filled his mouth. To calm himself down he fidgeted at his belt pouch. With his fingers shaking it took him some time to produce the watch Lord Taran had given him.

It’s time, right? He should be back any minute.

The lid of the pocket watch sprung open. Lejan froze. He closed the lid again. Just to open it immediately again. Two times, three times, four times.

“It’s just broken. Nothing to panic about. It’s just broken. Just broken.”