[Pseudosym]

Leoden is an assassin, one of several at the castle. He's not the highest in the chain, but he takes his job very seriously. He's fairly tall with a narrow build, good for sneaking around in the dark, but strong enough to strangle a grown man—when necessary. He wears a lot of black.

--

Leoden led the boy into the back entrance of the castle. He tried not to think about the sizable sum of money he had just parted with. And for what? he scolded himself. A child? What are you going to do with a child?

As they climbed the spiral staircase up to the tower, Leoden said, "I don’t run a charity." It was the first thing he’d said to the boy since he’d bought him ten minutes earlier. "You're not a slave anymore. You're free to leave, if you wish. If you stay, I’ll feed you, clothe you. Give you a place to sleep. In return, you’ll work for me."

Doing what? snipped that annoying voice in his head. Tipping poison darts? Sharpening daggers? Are you out of your mind?

Frowning, Leoden inserted a key into the door at the top of the stairs. The door clicked open, and he held it for the boy. "Welcome home."