The last rays of light reflected over the water as he sat himself down near a fire. The flames warmed him. He had need of the warmth. He felt cold to the bone. Thoughts about his age, his past life, his experiences made him feel old. Perhaps it needed to make him feel wise too.
As he looked into the flames he could see his childhood. The playfulness of a young child that played with wooden swords. That played kite with his brothers. How much had changed since then. He had experienced the sense of freedom when he was with his tarn up in the sky. The rush of adrenaline when faced with combat or battle. The pain when hit by an arrow or cut of a spear of blade.
And although he had become a pariah for many due to his profession, he still felt they judged him wrongly. He never took a contract for the sake of gold. He never took a contract for the sake of his personal revenge or agenda. In all his time he had tried to be the one that would bring some justice when the laws within the city could not do so.
He valued life. He valued the beauty of his world. He always tried to be respectful to Freeman and woman. He had loved deeply and still did. He had a treasured love for his girl starling. How she had awakened something he had considered dead and buried.
He thought of her at this moment. How she only seemed to see the goodness in him. All the while he tried to bury it underneath his cold and calculated exterior. He knew that his life depended on his wits. He knew that any sign of weakness could make him vulnerable in this life.
He knew he had many weaknesses. Thankfully they were well kept secrets. Perhaps the only one that truly knew there were some was she. she who had made his winter to spring. she whose touch was so soft as velvet or silk. her smile that could turn a dark day into one of warmth and laughter. her look could see further than to what most would see. Perhaps she even knew to hide her knowledge even for him. she was aware of the danger of knowing him truly.
For a moment, he turned his eyes to the sun that seemed to dive deeper into the water. Would she love him in fear of her own death? Did she love him, because she was simply bounded to his will? Did she submit to him, simply because she had no strength to fight him? The mere thought that she might be all of this because he once had obtained her, scared him. He wished and hoped that she was the only one capable of seeing him for the honourable and strong man he was. Even after all his time of murder.
A deep sigh escaped him as it turned darker and only the flames were there to cast their shadows.
And with the last ray of light gone, the song of the starling seemed to dim in volume as to the silence of the night.