The next morning, I requested a formal audience with the Princess. To my surprise, Cleansing Step returned to me immediately and told me that she would see me now, before court began. I dressed as quickly as I could before following the kindly old unicorn to the throne room. He informed me that I was to go in alone, and that he would wait for me outside the doors. I was confused, but I entered the throne room and walked up to my Princess, bowing as I waited for her to speak.
I did not wait long. I paraphrase her speech here:
“Cani, you vowed to serve me when your training was complete. I have been informed of the merchant’s death, and I have been told it was you. I know the traditions of the Assassins, so this must mean you are here to make good on your vow to me?”
I looked up, seeing a faint glimmer of an emotion I could not place in her eyes. I nodded to her, and that glimmer faded away.
“I accept your services, and I ask you: what is your name?”
I told her that I was now Ombra della Lama, and I explained the meanings behind it. She nodded, and she proceeded to make me swear a powerful oath.
Blood is a sacred thing to the Assassins. The fear all ponies feel at seeing their own blood at their hooves is what makes us strong, and our lack of that fear is what makes us so terrifying. You see, when we finish our training, our lives are forfeit. If an Assassin must die to complete their assignment, they will gladly pull the sword through their own throat. The power that blood holds over ponies is what the Princess used to ensure this oath would never be broken. She had me slice my leg with my hidden blade, and pour the blood in to a small vial. As long as that vial remains in her possession, my life is hers to command or end as she sees fit.
I knew then the emotion I had seen in her eyes. It was fear. She knew that if I did not serve her, there was a chance that somepony would use me against her. She knew the Royal Guards could not stop me, and I suspect she doubted even her own magic would be enough to save her should I hunt her. She had lived during the times when the Assassins were strong; she knew exactly how dangerous I was.
She also knew that she could make use of the fear I inspired in others. She bid me to remain by her side through court that day, and she announced me to the nobles with the title of Sicarius. I watched as the gazes of the nobles darted from my scarred lip to my cold, golden eyes. I heard their hearts race when I tested the edge of my hidden blade against my hoof, and drew blood. I felt the tension in the air as a particularly ignorant noble demanded an explanation as to why I was necessary.
With the Princesses prompting, I gave him his explanation. I explained how not all conflicts can be resolved with words, and how I was the solution. My voice rang throughout the great hall, cold, confident, measured, as I explained what I was and what my duties were. As I finished I favoured him with a glare that could silence the wind, and he surrendered to me. He sat down again, discomfort in my presence obvious in his stance and his frequent glances in my direction.
I searched then with my sixth sense. I reached out to all of the nobles gathered there, and I felt their hearts. Most were unnerved by me, some even threatened, but only one truly stood out. A stallion near my age at the far end of the hall saw me as his enemy. I watched him all of that long day, attempting to understand this feeling, but his thoughts eluded me. He kept his face carefully blank, his words and actions noncommittal.
When the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, Celestia stood and court was finished. I searched out this young noble, and asked him why he saw me as he did. He seemed shocked at my knowledge, but to his credit he remained composed. He explained how his father had been one of my old masters targets. He told me that, should he have the chance, he intended to seek revenge. I will never understand what drove him to tell me this, but in his foolishness he doomed himself. I begged a favour of Princess Celestia, and by the next morning he was dead by my hoof.
Word spread quickly among the nobles. By that single deed I had made it known that I permitted no threat, however small, against me. The Guard were equally aware of what I had done, and they resented it. None of them had been aware of my actions until the stallion’s body was found. They were wary of my now proven superiority over them, and so they took it upon themselves to make my life difficult. Wherever I went, I was frequently stopped and questioned over any petty crime that had occurred in Canterlot, real or invented. There was little I could do about this, and so I simply tolerated it. I retaliated only when a physical action was made against me, and I did no serious harm to any of my assailants.
Through these relatively peaceful means, I eventually earned their respect again. It was the work of months, but their grudge slowly faded in to admiration. When his happened, I offered to assist the guard in detecting any other pony using my methods, and the small feud was ended. I taught them the mistakes an amateur would make, being careful to avoid compromising my own ability to travel the palace undetected. The Guard was my ally at the moment, but I was disinclined to reveal all of my skills.
During this time, my assignments mainly revolved around removing violent opposition to the Princesses power. The majority loved their ruler, but there are always those who believe they deserve that adoration. This rarely involved killing, most of these dissidents lost their nerve when they found me waiting for them in their rooms. I would order them to leave Canterlot, and at least ninety percent of them would immediately agree and evacuate. The other ten percent died, and I always left a single white eagle feather on their bodies so their comrades would know they had drawn the Princesses attention.
Of course, I still found time to meet with the mercenaries and thieves. We worked together, the mercenaries could go openly where I could not and the thieves could distract guards while I snuck past. In exchange for these services, I offered my skills as an Assassin when they were needed. Time passed pleasantly, for I enjoyed my duties and the company of my friends. As it always had before, however, darkness again found a way in to my life.
This story is doing it's best to make my head explode. It's pouring out of my mind so fast I wouldn't be surprised to see another chapter within the next six hours or so.