Training at the Crimson Blade had continued in the same vein as day one. As the first week drew to an end, every member of the team had shown more enthusiasm. They excelled in the mundane as well as the more challenging tasks. Skill, stamina and ability had notably improved, much to Ylwen's delight.

It had been during the second week Ylwen realised whichever team Tiene was in always won: she was never on the losing side. The trainer made a mental note to inform Sauren, as he demanded reports on all his new students, paying particular attention to any that showed exceptional promise.

Her original indifference towards Tiene had now changed to something akin to liking the girl. The blonde could be feisty, but she was focused and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Although Ylwen had not known the Firefurys personally, from what she had heard, the daughter was a credit to them. She just hoped this was a trait that would continue.

Some other students, particularly those more advanced than the new-starts, had been inclined to goad Tiene, and sometimes the insults were also aimed at her teammates. It was not so much because she was new, but because of who she was and the preferential treatment Sauren had bestowed upon the girl.

Ylwen could understand in a way why he had chosen to do this, the name Firefury, after all, was revered among rogue communities. But still, she thought he might not have entirely thought through the reaction from fellow students. The little Firefury, nonetheless, seemed able to handle herself and she gave as good as she got. Ylwen knew that not everyone would warm to her, though, so, she decided to keep a close eye on events. She sensed some would take joy in any mishap which befell the Firefury girl.

The evidence of that came in the fourth week of training. The top-grade students helped trainers setting up an obstacle course within the courtyard for young trainees to test their agility and learn how to scale particular structures. It was one of the sessions most new starts dreaded, and was nick-named 'The Fall of Death Trial'. Large nets were placed at various stages of the test, providing safety should anyone fall. The height of the construct was indeed daunting to many. A keen sense of balance was necessary for this test, as well as agility, and was considered a crucial part of the students training.

Lexie watched the construction from the sidelines, with a degree of dread. She knew only too well how awful this test was. The Trial was where she had stumbled, her confidence and nerves having let her down twice already. She knew this would be her third and final attempt. Failure this time would mean expulsion. Her eyes drifted to the main tower. The man she so desperately wanted to please observed the construction works too.

From the walkway above, Sauren stood, leaning on the rail-guard, observing intently. Brett approached from his right.

"Are we almost ready?" he asked the burly rogue without looking at him.

"In about twenty minutes," Brett replied.

"Good. I'm looking forward to seeing how Tiene does in this."

"Hmm."

The brown eyes turned to the older rogue. "Is there something bothering you, Brett?" Sauren asked, his voice cool, with a hint of intolerance.

"It's just that, this could be Lexie's last chance," Brett replied.

"Yes, and I have no doubt she will fail again," Sauren replied dismissively, turning his attention back to the obstacle course.

"Sauren, the girl is good in every other task and skill, surely if this goes against her, she can try again."

The guild leader looked back at his right-hand man. "She will be treated the same as all others who fail three times at this. No exceptions."

The older rogue bit his tongue, but Sauren was no fool. He could see there was something on his mind. "And why do you care so much? Are you going soft in your old age?" He pushed back from the railing and turned to face the older man, taking a step closer.

Brett shook his head, trying to rid his misgivings. But Sauren would not be deterred. "Come now, spit it out."

Taking a deep breath, the second in command finally spoke up. "I know Lexie is one of your - night-time girls."

Sauren smirked, unphased by the old rogue's admission. He knew Brett did not approve of his nocturnal habits. "And why would that concern you?"

"I am concerned that she may do something - foolish."

The Guild Master's eyes widened. "So, let me understand this - you are saying she will kill herself if I don't allow her to stay, even though she will fail this test?"

"The girl is besotted with you, Sauren and -"

"So what? I should let her stay, waste her parents' hard-earned money, my trainer's time and effort, all because I bang her now and again? You are contradicting yourself, old man."

Brett had not meant that at all, and he fumed over Sauren's twisted take on the matter. However, the Blade's leader, annoyingly, had a point too. The guild had never been lenient on any student who failed this test three times. Granted there had only been a total of four - poor Lexie looking likely to be number five. Of course, Lexie's failure had not been his entire concern, and Sauren knew it. "I have known you since I was a boy, Brett, and you have never been one not to speak your mind when it suited you. So come on; what is it that is truly bothering you?"

Brett took another deep breath. "Who will you replace her with, for your... ?" he faltered.

Sauren grinned, but still, he looked menacing. "Try again."

"Teine! Will it be Teine?"

Sauren circled his right-hand man; he noticed how Brett's posture stiffened like he expected some physical retaliation. The Guild Master laughed, deep within his chest. "She is not a child, Brett, in case it has escaped your notice."

"I am well aware of that Sauren," Brett said hoarsely.

Sauren moved back to the railings and leaned on them again, scanning the courtyard for any sign of Tiene. And there she was, milling around with her teammates, waiting for the task to begin. The guild leader continued watching her, hungrily. "She is all woman, perfectly capable of giving ... and receiving pleasure."

He looked over his shoulder at the older man and laughed. Brett's face was sombre with underlying scorn. "Do not worry; your friend's daughter is safe. She has amazing potential as an assassin, and I do not want to stray from her training. Now, go and see when the trial will start. I shall be down to watch."

Brett, with a little relief, nodded, curt then turned and left. Sauren continued to watch Tiene for a few moments. "Safe ... for now," he mumbled to himself. Laughing lightly still, he turned and went inside to get ready for the training to commence.

*****

First on the course was Shenyssea. She was lithe and sailed through the course relatively quickly, with only one minor slip which she recovered from expertly. Her fellow night elf, Thil'las also performed brilliantly. It seemed to Tiene that Night Elves had a natural knack for throwing themselves around and scaling great heights without fear or trepidation.

Next up, Emmek. Tiene was worried for him and Tishleen. Compared to the elves, of course, they were considerably shorter and a good bit chunkier. But she need not have worried, for they had their methods of scaling obstacles and she applauded their acrobatic abilities as each arrived safely at the end of the course.

Humans were next and Lexie, being first, moved to the starting point. She glanced at Tiene and her teammates; they gave her the thumbs up and cheered her on.

Although she tried not to, she quickly looked in Sauren's direction. He sat, chin resting on fist, watching. He gave her the briefest of nods.

Taking a deep breath, Lexie started the trial. The first stage was a steady climb, which she managed easy enough. Next, a jump to a platform - a very narrow platform at that, but bending her knees, Lexie propelled herself forward. A gasp rose from the spectators as she grabbed the supporting rope, wobbling as she landed. Success!

She glanced down. There was a safety net at least. Still, she did not want to fall from this height.

Catching her breath, she steadied herself and shimmied along the platform to the next part. Another jump faced her. The following section she had to crawl through and make her way upward, before emerging on to another plank - this was a real test of balance.

Students had to manipulate two planks by shifting their weight and align them with the corresponding beams. A wooden path would then be created, leading the student to the opposite tier. And this was the one bit which had let her down on her last two attempts.

Her nerves were starting to kick in. Quickly she glanced down to her teammates again. They were shouting words of encouragement. She allowed herself a moment to try to collect her thoughts. If she failed here today, that was it, she would be out of the guild. No future as a rogue, at least not with the Crimson Blades.

Furthermore, it meant no more nights with her leader; the one thing she ached for above all else. Sauren had a rapacious, sexual appetite, one she knew she never had the monopoly for trying to sate. Out of the three lovers she had had in her life, he was by far, the most experienced and satisfying and she had been more than willing to participate in his little games.

But that last evening before training restarted, he had made it clear to her that their dalliances would be coming to an end. He made no secret of wanting to focus on the Firefury girl and her training.

Lexie had objected, saying there was no need to stop their nightly frolics; surely he could still concentrate on Tiene's training. He had seemed alright about that until she added, "Providing that is the only thing you plan on doing with Tiene." That comment had resulted in his brutal ploughing of her that evening. He told her, one word per savage thrust as he held her by the throat, that what he planned for Tiene was none of her business. It had been the first time she had felt a tinge of fear.

Subconsciously, her hand moved to her throat. He had not called upon her to share his bed since, but still, she held on to that tiny bit of hope that things would resume as usual.

Her eyes focused on Tiene, who was watching her with bated breath. Regrettably, Lexie had been 'off' with her new friend a while ago. As the day had progressed, she had come to realise it wasn't Tiene's fault. The elf had been friendly, caring, even wanting to help her that morning, for all Lexie had been unpleasant.

The Firefury skills were indeed hereditary going by what Lexie had seen so far, and Tiene was a sincere person - if a little hot-headed sometimes. Lexie decided, whatever way this went today, she would confide in the blonde elf.

She moved on through the crawl space and emerged at the end of it, to climb up and face the pivoting plank. With one final haul upwards, she planted her feet then jumped to the beam. Again the spectators gasped and roared.

Frantically, her arms waved around as she tried to regain her balance. Then her eyes found Sauren watching. From this height, she couldn't read his face, but she sensed he had reached a foregone conclusion about how she would fare.

She shifted, readying herself for the leap. She moved forward, but her foot slipped, and just like that, she felt herself losing the fight to remain balanced. Down she plummeted and bounced safely in one of the nets.

The crowd "Awed", but applauded her effort. Trainers came to the edge of the net and told her to turn and swing down. She fought back the tears of disappointment and failure, then somersaulted off the net and headed straight for her dorm. She could not bear to look at her Guild Master.

Tiene wanted to speak with her and made to run to the dorms, but Ylwen told her to stay put, she could see Lexie once her turn was over.

Sauren glanced over to the remaining students in Tiene's team. Once their trial was over, another three teams were up for the challenge. He sighed; it could be a long day.

Next Zachery, who admittedly was a little more nervous now that Lexie had failed. However, he climbed to the starting point amid shouts of encouragement. By all accounts, once Zach was up, his confidence returned, and all doubts seemed to vanish. He jumped, balanced, crawled, and swung on ropes as required then landed at the finishing post with a flourish.

He bowed to the spectators as they applauded - he even sought commendation from Sauren, who could not help but smile at the human's triumph. The Guild Master acknowledged his effort with a show of hands.

Finally, it was the High Elves turn, and Keeaen moved forward. Like his counterpart Night Elves, he had agility and strength, but he also possessed boldness, making his navigation of the course seem effortless. He slipped, once, but quickly regained his footing. Not surprisingly, he sailed home in the fastest time for the team. Wild applause erupted. He rejoined his colleagues who in turn congratulated him then turned their attention to Tiene; the last of their group to go.

She moved up to the starting point. Only shouts of encouragement from her team sounded. A hush descended over the other spectators; it was strangely unnerving.

Sauren scanned the crowd. Although Ylwen had voiced her concerns, he nevertheless sensed something too. Someone wanted Tiene to fail.

The silence in the courtyard lent an uncanny acoustic, and he thought he heard someone stifle a snigger just across from where he sat. His eyes narrowed as he combed the students on the stacked seats. Nothing, no evidence of anything untoward - but he had a feeling something wasn't right. He motioned for Reed and Don to close in. "Keep an eye on the seats across from us," he whispered behind his hand.

"What are we looking for?"

"Not sure, maybe nothing, but be vigilant." The men stood back and instantly started scrutinising the students across from them.

The crowd were waiting with bated breath to see the Firefury girl complete the trial. Sauren looked up and saw Tiene ready to begin. "You can do it," he muttered under his breath.

She flitted over and up the first climb with ease. Across to the platform, she was half crouching, half running; quick, nimble. Next, she was through the crawl space and out onto the pivoted planks. She took a moment, but with arms outstretched she lined up the first plank, crossed to the second then the third and onto the next platform.

Tiene looked down as some of the crowd cheered; she thought she heard some boo as well. A little unsettled by that she took a few seconds to shake off the negativity, then looked straight ahead.

Three enormous poles at different levels were the next section, and she had to jump on to each one to reach yet another, higher platform. First one. Second one. Third one. She made it! A smile of victory stretched her lips.

Then something hit her on the side of her head. Instinctively, she raised her hand, and it caused her to lose her balance. The crowd gasped.

Some shouts rose from below, and she saw Sauren's bodyguards running across the courtyard. Brett joined them. Her vision became oddly blurry; then, overwhelming nausea hit her. Her fingers felt damp where she had clasped her hand to where she felt something hit her. She held her hand in front of her eyes, but she could hardly see anything, other than a bluey-green colour coating her fingers.

Then the sting started. Her fingers went back to her head. She touched something long and thin protruding from her scalp. The ground came racing towards her, blocked only by a safety net, but she sensed she was slightly off centre.

Sauren was racing over to the net along with Ylwen and three other trainers.

Tiene landed in the net too close to the side and bounced right off. With a dull thud, she hit the dry ground. Pain shot through her right arm up to her shoulder. She vaguely remembered seeing Sauren's concerned face hovering over her before blackness consumed her.

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