Iorek, Dictator of Alethis, sat atop his golden throne, sneering down at the messenger bowing at his feet. He had no need to worry that the messenger would glimpse his feelings - no one dared look him in the face - and he didin't care if the messenger did. He indicated that the messenger should rise and cursed for the hundredth time that day as he cut his hand on one of the thousands of sharp jewels lining his throne. He didn't know why he had decided to have this throne made, but it was the most expensive one to be had and it was only right that it find its way to the Dictator of Alethis' stronghold, the Tower of Demons. Besides, he had more money than he knew what to do with.

Iorek was pretentious. He was especially proud of his looks, but in truth, he was a most hideous individual. His beard was long and untidy, hiding the scarred skin underneath. He was balding and his lust for eating was beginning to show. His unsightliness was made even more pronounced by the expensive clothes he wore, the large amounts of jewellery and the fine sword he always kept with him.

The messenger rose slowly, fear etched in every line on his face. Iorek's sneer grew even more pronounced as he bathed in the power he commanded over his subjects. Finally, Iorek broke the deadly silence. "Worthless scum!" and his sneer threatened to outgrow his face as he saw the messenger recoil in fear. "For what petty reason do you dare defile my castle? Speak quickly and leave, you piece of dirt!"

The messenger, too scared to move as the spit fell on him, stammered softly, "I'm Baruch. I bring-"

"May Slamik curse you! May Torin curse you! Do you think I care for your vile name? And how am I meant to hear you, dog-face?" Iorek stormed.

The messenger tried again, slightly louder this time, "I bring news from General Sulla... About the war... He says... He... He requests more troops. He says the war against the Order is going well-"

"Then why does the maggot want more stinking troops?"

At this, the messenger shrank back even further. "I do not know, oh Great Dictator. He merely-"

"Very well, he will get what he asks for. Guards, seize this man. I am in the mood for a burning tomorrow evening."

Ignoring the doomed man's pleads, he turned his mind to other matters, but the sharp edge of one of the jewels interrupted his thoughts again. Letting out an unearthly scream, he seized an axe from one of his guards, decapitated the man and destroyed the throne with repeated blows of the axe. He dropped the axe and went walking about the room, thinking about the war.

Selena regretted having sent the man to the dictator, knowing in advance she may never see him alive again. Baruch had been pleasent enough, but she knew it was neccessary to have the troops out of the way if her plans were to succeed. Iorek had tyrannized the land for long enough and it was time to fulfil her self-appointed destiny. Perhaps if she was fast enough, she could even save Baruch.

Selena was waiting for someone at a cheap tavern, the Singing Tiger. She could immeadiatley see why the man had chosen the place: it was noisy, crowded, anonymous and there wasn't much chance of anyone overhearing them. Another important reason for her though, was the warmth provided by the flames and the crowds inside: a huge relief on such a cold winter's day.

It was then that the cloaked figure appeared, carrying a single tankard of the watered ale sold at the Singing Tiger. Very little of the man was visible under the cloak: only his eyes could be seen. She saw him giving her the once over, stopping only to inspect the scar running down her cheek, an old wound she had received during the many years of her training. They said he usually appraised one first and then left if he didn't like what he saw. Selena hated being looked at like this: it brought back memories of her childhood on the streets of Alethis, a bad place for a young girl to be. However, she needed the information and would do anything to get it.

Finally he sat down. They closer over the table and the man quickly whispered to her the secrets she wanted. Soon, he got up and left with his ale and an unseen sack of gold.

The rhythmic beat of soldiers' footsteps soon came to dominate her senses. The slightest trace of a smile graced he face as she realised the first part of her plan had worked. Baruch had played his part perfectly. Scratching her wrists nervously, she rehearsed in her mind what she would have to do next. She knew she may not escape and the chances of failure were great despite these added precautions. Selena was driven forward only by the debt of blood she owed the man. The blood of her parents...

Iorek settled down in his bed beneath the silk covers. He wondered which of the girls would be entertaining him tonight, hoping that it would be his favourite, Atia. The faint scratch on the door was enough to excite him. Something fell over outside and he was about to get up and find out what was happening when the door opened. A frown crossed his forehead as he eyed the girl doubtfully.

It wasn't that she was ugly. She was quite good-looking in fact, but the scar down her cheek was a pity and she was dirty, like a common plebeian. She had lush black hair and deep blue eyes and he could see her filthy clothes under her cloack. The thing that made Iorek uneasy though, was the wild and fearless look she wore.

Iorek quickly regained control. "Who are you, filthy rat? How dare you come here! Guards!"

Selena scratched her wrists in nervous anticipation, looked Iorek in the face and answered, "Your guards will not come, Iorek. I have drugged them both. They may survive this night, but you will not."

Stunned by the girl's bravery, Iorek did not reply. Then he drew his sword and lunged at her. In a flash, Selena dropped her cloak, revealing two daggers and, executing a move she had practised many times in preperation for this very moment, parried the attack with her left blade. In that moment, her right flickered forward, driving the steel through Iorek's icy heart.

Selena hastily withdrew from the figure, knowing that staying too close could mean her death as well, before spitting her message at him, "Your tyranny is ended. The blood of my family and people will soon be repaid many times over by the gods. May Slamik and Torin punish you for all eternity!"

Seconds later, the guards came crashing into the room. They found the dictator dead, a single wound through his heart. Otherwise, the room was empty. Selena, crawling through the secret passage to try and find Baruch couldn't help but feel the bag of gold well spent.