THE ASSASSIN   

 The assassin dressed as a baker was taking the main road up to the castle when a woman came out of the store shed and snapped at him crossly, “Where are you going with that bread?  Bring it in here.”  The assassin obeyed without a word.  When he was on his way again he heard the woman shout to him, “Wait a second. What’s your name?” “Richard,” he replied.  The woman grunted noisily but let him move on.  The assassin found his hiding place and stayed there until midnight. When he was about to get up he heard some people singing drunkenly and he jumped back into the hole in the street. When the drunks had gone the assassin stole away into the night. He took a long time finding the castle because of the tall buildings.  Eventually he say the giant castle towering above him.  Part of him wanted to run but the other part knew that if he returned to his lord without the King's head his lord would want his head.  So he went forward and looked for an open window.  He found one quite high up and set up his climbing equipment.  He scaled the wall without any bother and jumped into the window without a sound.  He almost shouted out with joy when he found he was in the King's bedroom.  Then he looked at the massive bed and saw nobody in it.  He had to jumped for cover when he heard the King enter the room.  It seemed the King had been sleepwalking and was back in bed now.  The assassin took out his sharp knife and silently slit the throat of his target.  When he was about to leave he heard someone behind.  It was a lady and when she saw him she screamed very loudly.  Guards came rushing into the room  and the assassin had nothing to do.  He jumped out of the window and killed himself because he didn't want the guards to kill him.  That is how the best ever assassin died.

THE END