The birth had gone without a hitch. Amanda had a beautiful baby boy; in honour of Juniper and Lis, two soul seers, the boy was named Anam, which apparently meant 'soul' somewhere.

  Preparations were made. A carriage was simultaneously lightened and reinforced. It had to be light for speed, durable wheels and axles for the same reason. The canopy roof had a gambeson lining to block arrows.

  Sharing driving duties would be me and Johann. The old ranger had been keen to tag along, it wouldn't be that hard to go from Amanda's family home back to theirs, plus he wanted an adventure. Amanda, Anam and Gaston would be in the back.

  Emelia had once been a messenger, specialising in speed and stealth, she delivered within enemies lines, across warzones and had been trusted with even the most confidential of messages. It had been delivering to a scout, she'd met Johann.

  No doubt she could ride. As could Isabelle. Juniper and Layla would share a chariot which also served as spare should the carriage fail.

  I could ride a horse... I just was not the best with them. It's said animals can sense darkness, I guess me often stinking of blood and having murderous intent had meant horses never warmed to me. As such, even now, trying to be a healer, I was nervous around them.

  Amanda was soon training herself, she was going to protect her child! Taller than me, and wielding a fearsome glaive, I had no doubt the fighter could. Gaston was a slim, average size man, making it an odd pairing but their love was evident. Always affectionate and having great communication between them, they seemed a strong couple.

  Gaston was an artificer. He had an arsenal of bombs, contraptions, strange crossbows and even some kind of hand cannons, I wasn't overly familiar with.

  One of the modifications he made to the carriage was a top mounted, rotary, repeat firing, crank operated, double crossbow monstrosity. A suggestion I made was implemented, two small rectangular shields either side of the handle. Further to this, the artificer even created a strong clear glass disk for between the shields, protection, plus its markings assisted with aiming (after quite some calibrating).

  As best I could tell, one crossbow fired after the other, one taking a bolt from the rotating mechanism in between, while the other drew back its string. The vertically mounted crossbows fired every other bolt in rotation, while it was fed from a chain of bolts, curled in a basket held underneath, interesting and deadly.

  . . .

  The night before the wedding, two nights before we were to leave.

  "Harvey can I show you something?" Isabelle approached holding her adventurers card.

  I was applying another coating of green paint to the carriage, to make it stealthier.

  "Sure what's up?"

  "A branch appeared on my skill tree, looking at the first exclusive skill and considering it's potential... I've taken it. I'm a variant class of ranger now."

  I stared at her... is she going to say what it is? Do I really need to ask? She blinked, swallowing.

  "So I am now an... Assassin Ranger!" Isabelle exclaimed, raising her card up to show me, as my heart sank.

  I read the words, it was true. An assassin ranger. I'd never heard of it before. Worst of all, I quickly felt as though it might have been my fault. Me not having said anything, Isabelle started talking.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "So I have to face reality, I'm a woman, men— trained ones, are always going to be physically stronger. I figure using stealth, the sorts of tactics you've shown me, evens my odds. I stand a chance when taking out scumbag slavers."

  The routes to being an assassin are limited. From rogue or thief, I had heard enough murder unlocks the class. To go straight into the assassin class, like I had, it's dark magic rituals and deadly trials (killing other candidates). Had killing people with me created this branch?

  "Harvey... are you OK? What do you think?" Isabelle asked, biting her bottom lip, looking at me with a knotted brow.

  "I think it's incredibly fucking stupid." I said in a cold manner. "People are going to know you've killed... Did you even think what it means to be an assassin? How people perceive assassins? Isabelle... you're not getting to be treated as a hero..."

  Her face dropped, her card slipped from her hand. She looked at me, disappointed, then bent down to pick up her adventurers card. As she pocketed it, her expression hardened.

  "I don't give a shite about perception Harvey. I want results. I want to hunt down those responsible for the Xeothea raid, and those that would do similar. Fuck being treated as a hero, I'll protect even those that spit in my face!"

  An expression came to mind, I'd heard it from an idealistic assassin, who had made the mistake of competing with the organisation, and refusing a job offer. Half dead, he spoke it, questioning my morality, as I advanced to finish him off.

  "To serve in the shadows, so others may enjoy the light." I mumbled.

  "EXACTLY! I'M going to serve in the shadows, so other women and girls can enjoy the light!" Isabelle roared at me.

  I said nothing, after a deep breath, I went back to painting. What the fuck more can I say? It was done now, she was locked in, her adventurers card, as far I knew, forever tainted with the word assassin.

  "So... Harvey. I have to ask... have you thought about what we're going to tell Layla?"

  Fuck, I wished this conversation was over...

  "What Isabelle? Tell Layla about what?" I snapped.

  "About us carrying on the hunt..." She looked at me as though that was all the answer I needed.

  "Carry on the hunt? For Xeothea raiders? Isabelle, WE'RE not telling Layla anything. Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to go headhunting, I'm not joining you.

  My hands are bloody enough, I want to be a healer... Sorry Isabelle."

  Before turning my back once more, to angrily paint, I saw her grit her teeth. She let out a disappointed huff then walked away.

  . . .

  "I now pronounce you... Husband and Wife! You may kiss the bride!" Declared Lis, donning fancy high priestess robes. The new couple kissed, to a rupture of applause and cheers

  Ding, Deng, DING, DUNG, DING, Deng...

  The chimes continued being played, as Audovald hoisted Roxie up. She laughed as he carried her from the shrine. The crowd followed, we all head to a feast, approaching the village, Roxie decided to hoist Audovold up, to carry him. We hooted and laughed our way into the decorated longhouse.

  We celebrated well into the night.

  . . .

  The couple wrapped themselves well against the chill, early spring, night air. Torches were lit for them. An extra comfortable tent had been set up, with a basket of supplies, at the vista point. They could spend that night and the next there.

  Before accepting their torches, there were people to hug and cheeks to kiss.

  "Good luck, thank you for sending Audo my way." Said Roxie as we hugged then kissed each other on the cheek.

  "Take care Audovald, and if he does anything daft... please don't beat him up too badly!" My joke got a chuckle, before Layla stepped up for her turn with her sister.

  I waited for my turn with Audovald, seeing him get mild threats as well as encouragement from Lis and Lobo.

  "...look shy all you want, you go put a grandchild in my daughter Audo!" Were Lis's classy parting words, before I could approach Audovald.

  "Yes priestess-Lis-mum, th-thank you!

  Harveyyy!" He lifted me off the ground into a bear hug, kissing my cheek. I just about managed to reciprocate before he put me down. He cut me off before I could speak.

  "Harvey, I mean it, you're like a brother to me, thank you. Thank you for everything! Hey, sorry I ain't joining you for—"

  "Audo! Don't worry! Start your new life, with your new wife— forget us! We'll be fine."

  "I know you'll take care of Izzy and Layla. Good luck my friend!" He eyed me with curiosity as I had started extracting something from within my cloak.

  "Good luck to you too my friend! And please, take this small gift, it'll make a good backup—" The large hunting knife was excitedy snatched from my hands, Audo unsheathed it, holding it aloft for moment in stunned awe.

  "Your hunting knife! Are you sure? I-I love this beastly blade! Thank you! Thank you!"

  We embraced once more, before Audo turned his attention to Isabelle, waiting nearby. I patted him on the back then slipped into the crowd.

  All goodbyes said, torches in hand, the couple left, a crowd cheering and waving them off into the night.