The moonlight glistened on the drawn blade of the assassin’s dagger.  Jamel recognized that dagger from the years he spent in the Guild where he received his training.  It belonged to Tallow, a fellow apprentice in the dark arts of assassination.  The killer was balanced on the ledge outside of the Wizard Sorel’s chambers.  He hadn’t noticed Jamel creeping up the stone wall beneath him;  his attention was focused on the inside of the wizard’s chambers.
 
Moving slowly to within ten feet of the assassin, Jamel lowered the cross bow on his forearm and released the death shot, at the same time he yelled “Tallow!”  As the body fell past Jamel, he could see the recognition on the man’s face.  At nearly the same moment, Jamel heard a scream come from the wizard’s chambers.  Panic overcame him as he raced to the window. Swinging himself over the ledge into the room, he immediately saw Sorel lying in a pool of blood on the floor.  Across the room he saw a second assassin climbing out the far window. Jamel did not have time to re-cock his bow; just to his left he saw the remains of the wizard’s last meal. In one fluid motion he grabbed the serving knife and threw it with deadly accuracy, embedding it with such force the handle entered the body.  He didn’t wait to see where the body fell; he rushed straight to the wizard’s side.
 
Gently rolling the man onto his back, Jamel felt the hilt of a throwing dagger protruding from the abdomen. He knew from all his training at the Guild that this was a wound that would not heal. Those stricken would die in agony as the juices from the stomach and intestines invaded the cavity, poisoning from within.
 
Jamel realized there was nothing anyone could do for his Master Sorel. He had a belly wound, and the wizard would be consumed by fever.  All that could be done is to wait for his Master’s passing. But this was not enough for Jamel; he could not just wait here for his Master to die.  This was no longer time for hope and vision, it was now time for retribution.  Jamel then thought quietly to himself, those responsible would pay.
 

“This I vow with my life, Sorel’s death will be avenged.”