In a dark room in a small house on a small back street of D`eshkar, a figure shrouded in black from head to toe sat at a table and waited. After a few moments, the door opened, and a second figure in black entered. The clothing was the only similarity between the two, for while the seated man was tall and thin, the other was short and heavy set. The newcomer entered, walked over to bow before the table, and promptly banged his forehead on its edge. The seated figure sighed.

"Take off your veil, Gonron. You may sit. I have some questions concerning this last assignment."

Gonron unfastened his veil to reveal a swarthy, cherubic face, and sat. "This isn't going to take long, will it Master? I told my sister I'd watch her take her vows as a priestess this afternoon. What about the assignment? I did good, didn't I?"

The Master of Assassins of D`eshkar regarded the apprentice with cool eyes. "Let's discuss your instructions first, shall we?"

Gonron nodded vigorously, his turban slipping down over his bald head to nearly block his eyes. He pushed it back with a chuckle. "I never get these to sit right. Umm, the instructions. Yes, Master."

"Yes. We were contracted to help one Halim. a rug merchant, settle a long-standing feud with his competitor, Rashal. A simple killing, no extra touches, just get in, hit the target quietly, and then get out."

"Uh huh. Yes, Master! And it went well, very smoothly."

The Master Assassin made no reply. He shifted a piece of parchment on the desk, but didn't look at it; it was too dark in here to read. Besides, he had every word on it burning away in his mind. "Apprentice Gonron, you were instructed to go to the souk, enter from the north end, and look for the man at the booth next to the seventh pillar on the right. Correct?"

"Uhh…yes…on my right." Gonron nodded once more.

"You do know your left from your right, don't you Gonron?"

Gonron held up his right hand. "Right." He smiled. "See, Master, I'm learning."

"You then approached the man…"

"On my right, yes, Master."

"Engaged him in conversation, and then performed the killing. Is that correct, Gonron?"

"You would have been proud, Master. I talked with him about buying a rug for the temple. Very everyday sort of encounter."

"I see. And then, my sources tell me, you stopped, pointed up at the ceiling of the souk, and said, quite loudly: "Look! A birdie!"

Gonron smiled. "Worked like a charm. He looked up, his throat was exposed, and sssssssssss" he drew his finger across his own throat "I slit it. He never saw it coming."

"Yes. Unfortunately, the two dozen merchants who looked over when you yelled did. The guards are looking for a fat bald man with a sister about to take vows. How many men of D`eshkar do you think that description will fit, Gonron?"

"Umm. A lot? Alright, maybe not. But I got the job done, didn't I?"

The Master Assassin of D`eshkar cleared his throat softly. "You killed Halim. You killed the man who hired us."

"No! Oh, no! I feel horrible, Master."

"That's more than Halim can feel, you idiot. How could this happen? This was so simple any…almost anyone could have done it. And you kill the wrong man. The seventh pillar on the right from the north entrance. How could you botch this, Gonron?"

"Did you say the north, Master?" He shook his head. "Ah, that's what happened! I visited my sister first, and came in from the south. I'm so sorry I failed you. But it was an error anyone could make, no? I'll do better the next time. Nothing like this will ever happen again. I really have to go watch my sister at the temple now." He rose.

The Master nodded, then stood as well. "I'll walk you to the door." He smiled, put one hand around Gonron's shoulder, and when they reached the door, he opened it. "Goodbye, Gonron." Then he pushed the fat man backwards down the stairs.

It made a great deal of noise.

Out of guilt, the Master attended the ceremony in Gonron's stead. He easily spotted the deceased apprentice's sister. She was the acolyte who spilled hot oil on the hands of the high priestess.

As for the dead apprentice, he managed to achieve a form of immortality. For many years later within the Assassins' Guild, whenever an operation went horribly astray, it was said to be one that was Gonron.