This was more surprising that being offered one million gold. My jaw dropped and I said, "What? You want me to take him? But don’t you think he’d be much safer here in the castle? I was just asking if I could stick around here a while and protect you three."

"No," Antarlas said, "we can’t risk the loss of life for just one. Even if the life is our son’s. Lily and I have our own plan. But Azzen is too young for the journey. Just take him to Nothelm, find Redgar Thornblade, king of Nothelm, tell him Antarlas and Lily sent you. Mention Azzen."

With a sigh I took the child from Lily, "I’ll need a fast horse and some cover. I hope you know the risks that I’m taking. I could not only lose my reputation, I could lose my life over this. But I wouldn’t do this for anyone, only you, Lily. It’s just that I’m not known for doing nice things."

Lily put a hand on my cheek and said, "I know, Nork, I know. But I trust you’ll do the right thing for this. Now hurry, Antarlas and I will get you ready. Follow me. Antarlas, get the horse ready." With that, the three of us went out a side door. I followed Lily up a few flights of stairs to their bedroom where she gat a basket where she put the child. Then she stuffed some child-care things in a sack and gave it to me. When that was finished we ran back down stairs and to the stables. Antarlas had a black stallion waiting for me. We quickly packed everything on the horse. Then when everything was ready, Lily took the child and held him in her arms.

"Good-bye, Azzen." She said with a quiver of sadness in her voice, "Nork will take good care of you. Know that you are my pride and joy. And I’ll always love you. Someday Antarlas and I will come back to you, but for now, we have to go somewhere you can’t go, it’s much too dangerous. I love you." Then she held him close and kissed his forehead.

Then Antarlas took the child and said, "Good-bye, son. I’ll miss you too." Then he too, kissed Azzen on the forehead. Antarlas put him in the basket on the horse and fastened him in securely.

"Nork," Lily said, "I don’t need to tell you how important he is to us, and the rest of the nation. Now hurry, please." I didn’t need to be told that, I knew full well that other assassins would be on my trail by tomorrow night at the earliest.

"Nork," Antarlas said, "I still can’t believe that I’m trusting the life of my son and the future of this nation in the hands of a cold blooded killer-"

"I am not!" I interrupted, "I am a professional. I may not care for the one who dies, but I don’t necessarily take joy in it either." And it was true; if I’m asked to kill a total stranger I won’t do it unless properly paid. If I’m asked to kill someone I have some sort of respect or emotion towards, I won’t do it. Like Lily and even Antarlas.

Killing someone for no reason is still wrong, but as long as I’m getting a shinny coin or two out of it, I don’t care. My day of judgment is far from now; even so, I don’t plan to see that day anyway, not with I have in store.