The troop had grown in size over the years and they now boasted over a dozen performers ranging in age from five years to seventy, plus three that were still too young for the stagework the rest did. Their supplies and belongings were all held in two wagons and they had two other wagons that with short work could be combined and converted into a stage for smaller towns and villages that didn't have a hall or inn large enough for their shows. The women and children rode in the wagons while the men of the group, including Aservus, rode beside them. Varney, Aser's foster father, intended to put as much distance between them and their last host as possible so they traveled until well past dark before circling the wagons. Everyone had their own chores to perform and thet were tired enough that there was very little talking.

 

This suited Aservus just fine. He'd been a part of this 'family' all his life but still never felt a part of them. He had his roles on stage and his chores while traveling that he performed with an excellence that kept others from being too insulting, but he knew that they didn't really accept him. They problem was that he was just too smart and that worried them, for they never knew what he was thinking or what he would do.

 

Soon enough dinner was served and the children had been put to bed. The adults all gathered around the fire in the center of camp to chit-chat or practice on the instruments a few of them played. It was al so very peaceful and idyllic, and it was driving Aser crazy. These people claimed to serve the Great Lord but what that meant for them was to carry on with their lives however they saw fit and hope they were never called upon to fulfill their vows. Aser looked on the scene of tranquil familiarity with contempt and loathing.

 

He had to get out of there. He had to find a way to serve. As an acrobat he had speed strength and agility beyond that of most other sixteen year olds and he had intelligence and cleverness to boot. He knew his talents were being wasted here. Then something on the other side of the fire caught his attention. Varney was discussing with one of the other men their traveling plans for the coming days. Orville was trying to convince the others that they since they were so close to Fairhaven they should stop in and offer their services for a time to a high ranking darkfriend that reportedly lived on a ranch near there. Varney though, coward that he was, was trying to convince the others to side with him in his decision to steer clear of any who might actually make them fulfill their vows.

 

Aser slinked away from the fire without any noticing, anger and hatred boiling up inside him. He'd heard enough already to learn the location of Fairhaven and he knew that the troop would follow Varney. He couldn't let this chance slip by, he was leaving tonight. He slipped in the back of one of the pack wagons and found the small trunk with his personal belongings. He took from it only what he thought would be most useful and stuffed it into his saddlebags. Included in this gathering was the box with various hair samples and powders he used to change his appearance on stage. The only clothes he brought were two pairs of flat black pants a few black shirts and a spare pair of black boots. Lately black had been the only color he felt comfortable wearing unless he was on stage and had to wear something else. He slipped a pair of long daggers Orville had taught him to use onto his belt so they hung on each hip, grabbed a spare waterskin and a bag of fruit then made his way silently to where the horses were picketed.

 

As usual Night, his solid black horse that seemed capable of melting into even the smallest shadows, was on the end of the picket line. This was because Night was the fastest horse they had and if a thief tried to make off with something of the troop's Aser would have the best chance of catching them. As he saddled Night Aser glanced over the horses back toward the campfire. The men were still arguing but he could see already that by now most were siding with Varney. He mounted the horse and turned slipped into the shadows of the trees around them. He felt no remorse for leaving the only family he'd ever known, but felt instead nothing but hatred for them and relief to be rid of them. They had trained him as an acrobat and actor and for that he'd always be grateful but he couldn't find it in him to care for any of them. He knew they'd each assuming he was bedded down elsewhere and not even notice his absence until morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As dawn's bright light crossed the horizon Aser found himself in front of the Silver Bow inn. Leaving Night outside he went in and found the innkeeper. A man named Ansama Checero turned out to be the innkeeper and after a few moments of polite conversation gave him directions to the Rashad Ranch. Aser thanked the man, walked back outside and mounted Night. Turning west Aser left the town and soon found himself entering the gates of a substantial cattle ranch.

 

Aser didn't know who to talk to and everyone seemed rather busy with chores so he simply dismounted and waited there in the center of the yard hoping that soon enough someone would get curious as to why he was there.

A man with a black horse stood in the clearing just beyond the ranch house. He didn't look lost, just confused about who to talk to. She had just finished her chores, so Cari approached the man, rather boy as she approached him.

 

Cari smiled at him and flashed a known darkfriend sign as she started to talk. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" She didn't know what he would say but he did respond in kind with a darkfriend sign. "I'm sure I can direct you to whatever it is you seek, friend."

 

There had only been a few people who ever actually stumbled upon the ranch with out knowning what they were doing here. She wondered if he was a wanderer or if had business with Nathan. It really was anyone's guess, she could only wait for his answer before thinking up some contrived notion of his needs.

 

Cari

Luckily Aser didn't have to wait long in the middle of the yard lost in his own confusion. Soon enough a woman approached, walking purposely and confidently. As she came closer she flashed a darkfriend sign with her hand, a simple gesture that might have gone unnoticed had he not been on the lookout for one.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Well, that would depend on where she ranked within the hierarchy here at the ranch. He had to watch himself until he knew where people stood and how things worked here. He shot her another innocent-looking gesture that identified that he recognized her sign and was a darkfriend himself as well. This seemed to satisfy her and she went on, "I'm sure I can direct you to whatever it is you seek, friend."

 

She spoke with a confidence that assured him that she really was capable of helping him so he decided to open up a bit and share the bare bones version of why he was here, at least enough to get the help he needed. "I'm hoping you can. My name is Aservus N'Taldin. I swore my oaths to the Great Lord as soon as I was old enough to understand the words, but my family seems to have forgotten that they swore those same oaths themseleves. So I left them and made my way here where I heard there was a man ranked high enough to train me and provide me a chance to serve."

Cari looked around to make sure no one had heard what he said. "You can find what you are looking for. While most of us are friends, your allegiences should still remain quiet, there are others here who do not share our views." Cari gave the man a few names to remember who were darkfriends, in hopes that he'd not flash the hand signal too often to figure out who was who.

 

Cari indicated for him to follow her. "I am Cari Namere, among other names, but that is it here. Do you have any skills with horses, or is mucking stables a good profession for you?" It was a joke of sorts but if he wished to stay on the ranch he needed to work for his room and board, like everyone else. It really mattered little what the lad did, he could still be of schooling age if he wished it and stay within the house hold and help around the house, but it was his choice.

 

Cari nodded at his reply and then moved on to the more important question and his reason for being here. "What is it you wish to do to server our master, we've many different disciplines here, including the ways of the One Power, if that is your game." Cari looked him up and down, "But I don't think Mistress Nalia would be able to help you in that matter, we'd have to find someone who could."

 

Cari indicated that others were now around. "Speak quietly of your master and what your desires are, but speak quickly so I can introduce you to your the Master of the Ranch."

 

Cari

"You can find what you are looking for. While most of us are friends, your allegiences should still remain quiet, there are others here who do not share our views."

 

"I apologize," Aser whispered. "I grew up in a troop of actors and performers who were all darkfriends and we only had to hide such things in the company of others. I assumed once you flashed that sign that were we free to speak here. It won't happen again."

 

She introduced herself as Cari while she was showing him around the ranch. "Yes, I do have some talent with horses. I was the one that cared for all the animals of our troop. My training has been in acting and acrobatics but I've taught myself much in the way of animals. I'd be glad to pull my weight around here and take care of the animals."

 

"What is it you wish to do to server our master, we've many different disciplines here, including the ways of the One Power, if that is your game. But I don't think Mistress Nalia would be able to help you in that matter, we'd have to find someone who could. Speak quietly of your master and what your desires are, but speak quickly so I can introduce you to your the Master of the Ranch."

 

"There have been a few instances as we've traveled when the troop had the chance to make some extra money through assasinations. I have discovered that I have some skill in this area but not much training. I would like to learn the ways of the assasin and serve the Great Lord that way. Is there one here who can train me?"

Cari smiled, another youngster willing to kill. There seem to be a multitude of them as of late. "There are several here who can show you the way. Myself included." Cari lead the way to the work area Nathan Rashad was working and made the introductions.

 

"He's looking for some work and is a friend. You'll have another to send out for your usage after a time."

 

Cari knew that Nathan would understand. He gracefully hopped off the fence he'd been standing on while Taylor was working with the horse in the yard. "So what can you do for me lad, short of what Cari can teach you? You'll be earning your keep just as the others do if you stay with us."

 

OOC: Have a conversation with Nathan and he'll send you off for Cari to show you around and give you instructions... for now you'll have to stay in the ranch house. I plan on having a house building party for individual houses for people who want their own designs and we need more anyway lol.

 

Cari

Cari soon introduced him to Nathan Rashad, the owner of the ranch. Aser supposed he must be the high-ranking darkfriend Orville had mentioned. It was important then for him to make a good impression. When Cari explianed why he was there Nathan immediately grew more interested and hopped off the fence to speak to him.

 

"So, what can you do for me, lad, short of what Cari can teach you? You'll be earning your keep here just as the others do if you stay with us."

 

"Well Sir, I'm an acrobat and actor by trade and training but whether that's of any use to you I couldn't say. I have discovered over the years though that I have a special affinity with animals of all types, but especially horses. I looked after all the animals for our troop, feeding them and nursing them back to health when they took sick. I was also in charge of training them. I broke many a wild horse over the years and trained them and our dogs to obey simple commands as well as perform tricks that would bring n money during a show."

 

"Excellent, I can always use another that the animals will trust. You can work with them when you're not with Cari. I've work to do now so go with Cari. She'll show you around and we can talk more later." With that he went back to watching the horses in the paddock and Aser followed Cari as she turned away. It seemed his training would take place under this strange woman's command. He was curious to see what it would entail.

Cari lead the new recruit around the ranch, showing him the barns and their names so he would not be lost when assuming his duties. She also showed him where others lived before taking him to the Ranch house to his room.

 

"We are currently experincing a few too many people with their own homes, that Nathan has decided to build some more in the near future, so in the mean time until we have more houses you will have to stay in the Ranch house."

 

Cari took him too a room and opened the door. It was unfortunately in Nalia's wing and she quickly moved into the room and took a key from the top draw of the bedstand. "Here is your key. Only Mistress Sarah has another copy if you lock yourself out and to insure you keep your room clean." Cari smiled. "She has this think about keeping her house clean."

 

"Dinner is required meal for all people to have in the ranch, here at the house. It'll be a few hours before then, do you need any help adjusting or any questions. As for your other training, we can begin when we are both free, just come to me and we can start when you are ready."

 

Cari

 

OOC: you'll be staying in room 6 of the ranch house. I'll get the pictures uploaded so that you can actually see where it's at lol.

Aser looked around the room. It was sparse, but still more than what he was used to while traveling. It was much more than sufficient, it was practically extravagant compared to the life he'd lived so far. Not that he planned on spending much time in the room, but it was kind of nice to have a place to call his own.

 

"Thank you, Cari."

 

Aser set his stuff down on the bed and turned back, catching her attention just as she was leaving. "Excuse me."

 

Once he had her attention again he couldn't find the words he needed. "I didn't travel very far today, and I'm anxious to get started on my training. If you're not terribly busy, could we start now?"

Cari nodded. "I have a few chores to do, you can help with them and then we can start your training if you are that eager to start."

 

Cari smiled and lead the way to the stables. It wasn't alot of work but it was still work, the horse's needed their stalls cleaned and preped for the night and then they could begin.

 

The work itself wasn't complicated nor did it take long with two doing the work of one. And soon they found their selves outside of Cari's house in the makeshift training field she'd set up for the children.

 

"It's time to see what you can do."

 

OOC: Not sure which training you want so take a look at the reqs and/or tell me what you want to learn first and we'll get right on it.

 

Cari

Aser certainly didn't mind helping Cari with her chores, he liked helping people and it would give him something to do to pass the time. Besides which she had said she couldn't start his training until she'd finished and he was anxious to start.

 

The chores consisted of mucking stalls and doing some grooming. Nathan owned some beautiful horses and his stable was well appointed. It would be nice working with such fine animals, especially in such a wonderful place, when he wasn't busy with his training.

 

"It's time to see what you can do."

 

"Lead on, Cari, I'm anxious to get started."

Cari smiled. He was at least eager to learn. Tests were always fun, but Cari disliked putting future friends into the depths of the basements, but he wanted to learn. "Follow me."

 

Cari lead Aser into her house and down stairs. She stopped at a tapestry along the side of the wall and reached behind it and pushed a brick. A rush of air bellowed out of the opening making the tapestry flutter. Cari moved aside the tapestry and indicated for Aser to move inside. It was dark and he could see nothing, she knew where everything was, she kept it percise just for moments like this.

 

Aser bumped into a table as he walked a short distance in. Cari smiled and then closed the secret door behind her. Cari walked in the dark to a corner where a lamp was placed. She quickly lit the lamp and let light flood the room. It wasn't a pleasant sight. Blood stained the walls, the floor and the ceiling. Blood was an aweful stain to clean out of things, including clothes. On the walls hung various objects of torture and shelves ladden with vials and flasks of liquids. In one corner stood an closed fire place. It could get smokey in the small room if she lit it but it was rare Cari actually resulted to brands as torture but it was there for her use if necessary.

 

Cari spoke softly in the dimmed light as if ghosts were present. "Remove your clothes."

 

Cari didn't wait to see if he had responded as she took the the shackles from the wall. The floor held four loops sunk deep into the ground, here Aser would stay for a week. How well will he do?

 

Cari

Aservus followed Cari to a small house and watched as she fiddled with something behind a tapestry. Then she pulled it aside to reveal an opening that wasn't there before. Where could she be taking him? She held out her hand to indicate she wanted him to enter the room on the other side of the curtain. Only a small light from the main room made it past the curtain, Aser found himself walking into darkness. He took small, careful steps to compensate for the blindness but still bumped his shins into what felt like a table. It smarted, but he held back the wince that rose to his lips.

 

Aser decided he'd gone far enough into the room in such darkness and simply waited while Cari closed the door and joined him in the darkness. He followed her footsteps in his mind, trying to visualize where she was in relation to him. Then she lit a lamp and the room was bathed in a golden glow. This did nothing to improve the situation as he found himself struggling to hold back the bile that rose in his throat.

 

There was blood everywhere. It was on the walls, and the floor, and on everything else as well. The shelves were filled with blades and other tools for torture. The purpose of this room was evident, and it changed what he thought of Cari. She was not just the sweet woman she'd been showing him so far. Then again, that was probably a good thing. If she was to train him to be an assasin than it was probably good that he see that she knew what she was doing.

 

Her voice was soft and shook him from his thoughts. "Remove your clothes."

 

Woah! Remove his clothes? For a split second he considered questioning her, after all no woman had yet seen him naked and this was a woman he'd only just met. Then again, she was older than his mothers, both the woman who'd raised him and the one they'd told him about that had given birth to him. She probably had children of her own, there would be nothing sexual to come of this it must instead be a part of his training. In addition, he certainly wasn't about to object to or question the very first order his trainer had even given him.

 

As he removed each item he folded it neatly and piled them up in a corner. Soon he stood nervously naked in the center of the room, trying his best to keep his hands at his side and fight the urge to cover himself. Just what had he gotten himself into? "Now what?"

Cari was impressed by several things, he followed orders well, but he was an attractive boy. It was odd, he was probably only a few years younger than Demus and he did not envoke any emotional response, perhaps it was because he was still way too young but she thought there were other reasons behind it. Her emotional state was by far gone when it came to men as of late, too many of them left memorable times in her mind and in her heart...

 

Cari indicated for Aser to come forward. "Lay here." He obliged but caustiously. "I'm not going to hurt you." It was the truth, she wasn't going to do anything but chain him to the floor and then leave him.

 

Cari gently took one of his wrists and clasped the shackle around it, then looped the chain end through the ring on the floor. She did that for each of the chains. She locked the left leg in place first pulling it so that he would end up spread eagle on the floor, and unable to move anywhere. His arms were above his head and he lay on the floor chained immoviable.

 

"I will see you in a week." Cari blew out the lamp and moved towards the door. "You can scream all you want, no one will hear you.

 

Cari

As the light went out and Cari left the room Aser heard her say, "I will see you in a week. You can scream all you want, no one will hear you." He didn't beleive a word of it. Did he think she would leave him down there by himself that long? yes, but he certainly wasn't going to rely on her to keep her word and return in a week's time. Nor did he believe for a second that his screams wouldn't be heard. He imagined she'd find great amusement out of sitting in the other room and listening to his screams for mercy. He vowed then and there that no matter how bad things got over the next week, or however long she left him there, no sound would escape his lips.

 

His arms and legs were stretched tight in their bonds, a very uncomfortable position, and his muscles were already starting to cramp. He could hardly imagine what shape he'd be in when she released him, he probably wouldn't even be able to stand let alone walk out of here on his own two feet. Then there was the cold. It seemed he must be in a basement, there was no warmth in this room at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Without light or meals he had no way to mark the passage of time. It could have been three hours or three months for all he knew. He tried counting time in his head but he'd given up when he realized that there was no way to know how long he'd slept. And he certainly couldn't stay awake the whole time.

 

Boredom was surely a part of the torture, he was a man used to activity. His thoughts swirled around in his head flitting first one direction and then another. Why was he here? What had he gotten himself into by coming here to seek training? Would he have been better off staying with the performing troope after all? He couldn't believe that, they were cowards, the whole lot of them. He was the only one willing to fulfill his oaths, the only one he'd ever known to be not just willing but anxious to kill for the Great Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He floated in and out of consciousness, alternately tugging at his bonds with his arms or legs. He'd long since given up on Cari coming to get him. She must have forgotten for surely it had been longer than just a week. His stomach felt as though it were trying to eat his spine and his head was pounding. He needed food. No, what he needed was water. He thought he needed light but he'd come to develop a vision of sorts in the darkness. Not that he could truly see anything but he'd noticed that some places in the room were darker than the general darkness of the rest of the room. Maybe he could use this? Maybe after spending time here in this pit he would be able to see in the near-darkness that less enlightened folk called night. It would be interesting to see. If he ever got out that is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been three months now, not just a week, he was sure of it. Well, as sure as he could be anyway. But then, he also knew that the human body was incapable of surviving that long. He didn't know how long he could survive but he was beginning to wonder.

 

He'd come to a conclusion though. He knew now why he was here. Cari obviously thought he still had too many connections his past. He must erase all emotioanl ties to who he was. That really wasn't all that hard, he'd never fit in anyway. He'd found it to be no surprise at all when they told him he wasn't their son. But instead of provoking his anger as they'd feared he had accepted the truth with gratefulness that they had delivered him to the Great Lord's service.

 

But there were still connections. He had to obliterate all ties to that former life. He had to erase all memories except those that would help him in his training. So he erased from his mind every pleasant experience he could recall and every unpleasant one too. All that he allowed himself to remember was the training he'd been given. The acting, the tumbling, and other acrobatic skills he'd learned as a performer he kept but he erased all thoughts of how he'd learned them. He did the same for his riding and his fighting abilities too. He still retained the same level of skill, or so he hoped as it was hard to know while chained to the floor, but he no longer remembered how he'd gotten them or who had taught him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was still here. It must not have been enough to rid himself of the emotional ties to his family. No, he must rid himself of all emotion period. He had thought that anger, hate, or even love would strengthen his resolve to kill in different circumstances but he could see the folly in that line of thought now. To be the perfect killer he must be cold, completely devoid of all emotion. He must be able and willing to kill anyone at any time without any hesitation. Emotions would only get in his way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He heard the mechanism working as the door opened. It seemed Cari had not forgotten him after all. As she came in he lay there totally still. He had his eyes closed as he waited for the light to come on, hoping that it would protect his pupils that would be so vulnerable after all this time in the dark.

The children had left for school, and it was time to let Aser out of his cage. Cari left the secret door open this time to let in what little light the tapestry would into the darkened room. She knew it well enough to get around in the dim light, but she didn't want o hurt Aser's eyes, his eyes were important and he would need them staright away.

 

Cari knelt down beside the boy. "Learn anything?" Cari reached for the locked chain she was closest for and released the tension in his body. She moved slowly around him, so not to cause any panic. It wasn't her that would hurt him, at least not at this moment. She hoped he'd learned something, that he'd not talked him self out of becoming an assassin, sometimes they did that, the pain and suffering was alot to ask for, but the loneliness of the job was the worst. There were few friends you could make, but here on the Ranch he'd have a few who would understand on every level.

 

When all the shackles were undone Cari removed them from his limbs. Cari laid a pile of fresh clean clothes on his chest. He'd know what to do with them, when he was ready.

 

Cari

Aser saw a dim light through his eyelids. It seemed Cari was in the mood to show kindness as she had yet to light the lamp and had simply left the door to the room open. Aser took a chance and squinted through one eye. Even that small amount of light was painfully bright after a week or so in darkness but it was no more than he could handle. He opened his other eye and forced himself to hold them open without squinting.

 

Cari knelt over him and asked, "Learn anything?" Wow, it seemed that his eyes weren't the only things to become oversensitized from deprivation. He had managed to maintain his vow and not scream, but that had meant he'd lived in absolute silence in this basement.

 

He tried to speak but found his throat was too dry. Nothing came out but a small squeak and a raspy cough. Rubbing his throat he hoped Cari would catch his meaning and get him some water while he dressed.

Cari smiled, he'd kept quiet the whole time, either that or he'd screamed himself horse. But Cari moved for the other side of the room and found the water jug left in the room, for other purposes of course, but it was clean and wet and that was what he wanted. Cari searched the shelves next to the jug for a suitable drinking cup. It was good it was dark so he couldn't see the blood that would mar it. Blood marred everything in the room, and alot of the time it even marred her. Grim details he didn't need to know.

 

Cari handed him the cup with water. "Perhaps that will help a little."

 

She sat down on the bench that provided a bed for times she actually let her charges sleep comfortably after a day of torture. She was not a mean host, she beleived in taking care of her charges so they wouldn't die before they gave up the much needed information. She was not like Glen who tortured to torture. She did enjoy the act, but it wasn't her greatest pleasure.

 

Cari wasn't sure if he was aware she watched him dress the rest of the way. Cari had an eye for all things of the body and that included the way it moved. You could learn a lot by watching.

 

Cari