Authors: Mark Robson
‘Lavish, yes. Outrageous, yes. Outrageously expensive tastes, I would certainly agree! I don’t even want to think about what your little expedition cost, young lady. Please, next
time you have the urge to spend half of the treasury, could you at least warn me first? I nearly had a heart attack when I realised what you were doing.’
‘But, your Majesty,’ she protested innocently, ‘the results were clearly worth the expense. I can provide you with an extensive list of those amongst the Nobility who are now
supporting your rule. Not only that, but a list of those whose activities border on treason. Surely this information is worth a few gold coins?’
‘Indeed it is, but I doubt that the bill was limited to a few gold coins! I’ve seen the prices at the Silver Chalice. I’m sure that thief Matthiason charges for the ground you
stand on from the moment you walk through the door.’
Femke laughed.
‘When I write out the list of names for you, your Majesty, I’m sure that you will feel every copper sennut was well spent.’
‘Very well, I shall reserve judgement for now. I take it that everything was comfortable in your lodgings? I suppose I cannot complain that you were taking physical risks with your choice
of accommodation.’
Femke winced as she thought about the attack outside the city that morning. There was no point in concealing things from the Emperor. If it ever came out later that she had been attacked and she
had not told him, he would never trust her again. Strangely, trust was the primary basis on which effective spying was built. Betraying the trust of one’s employer was the greatest mistake a
spy could make.
‘Actually, your Majesty, it wasn’t such a great choice after all.’
‘Really? In what way?’
‘My apparent wealth attracted a criminal element that I hadn’t anticipated. It was foolish. I should have foreseen it. My agent and I were attacked shortly after we left the city
boundary. My agent was killed by an archer. The thieves sought to rob me. What their intentions were beyond that is unsure.’
The Emperor looked at her expectantly. Reynik was listening with fascination as well.
‘So? What happened? How did you escape?’
‘I was lucky. They did not expect me to be armed, nor to have the nerve to take the fight to them. I gutted one and left a knife buried in the belly of another. There was a third man whom
I never saw. He was some distance behind me, and hidden in the trees as I made my escape. I made my rendezvous on time and changed identity, but I should have thought to take more of an escort.
It’s easy with hindsight to see how my character would attract such an attack. My agent was a good man. I will miss his loyalty.’
The Emperor gave her a hard look. ‘You take too many risks,’ he stated in an uncompromising voice. ‘I don’t want you back out in the field until your ribs have fully
healed. I’m not going to accept any arguments, so don’t even try. Clear?’
‘Yes, your Majesty.’
‘Now, aside from the list of loyalties, did you manage to make any progress on the whereabouts of the Assassin’s Guild?’
‘No, your Majesty,’ Femke replied with a sigh. She hated to admit failure, but there was no point in glossing up the little bit of information she had gleaned from her subtle
questions. ‘None of those I spoke to appeared to know anything useful. A lot can be deduced from body language, your Majesty. I doubt those whom I questioned were such expert liars that they
could hide the tell-tale signs one gives when not telling the truth. There were none amongst them who knew anything of great interest about the Guild. Some of the older Lords might. Have you asked
Lord Kempten? He may know something.’
‘Kempten knows nothing of use. I’ve already exhausted his knowledge. Reynik might be able to fill in some of the gaps, which is one of the reasons for his presence. Last
night’s strikes by the Guild of Assassins were clearly a message of defiance meant for me, but I’m not going to be intimidated. I will not be dictated to by a secret society of killers.
They’re an outdated throwback to a previous age. I do not accept that they’re a desirable, or necessary part of Shandese society. My decision to outlaw them has now been validated by
their actions. I intend to see them driven from Shandar. Can you tell us about your encounter last night, Reynik? It may give us an insight into the way they work.’
Reynik explained the circumstances in which he had spotted the assassin, how he had thought it was Shalidar and how he had tracked him with only a shovel for a weapon. He told of how the guards
had failed to stop the man at the guard post, the chase, and his first short encounter.
Femke noted that for all his impassive face, the Emperor was clearly impressed that Reynik had survived that first meeting. Having parted the assassin from his sword during the fight the balance
had swung in Reynik’s favour, so it was strange that the assassin had chosen to attack a second time, when he could clearly have outdistanced Reynik and made a clean escape. When he had
finished telling of how he had knocked the man unconscious, he paused, unsure of whether to tell the Emperor about the strange silver talisman.
‘There is more to this story than you’re telling, isn’t there?’ Surabar asked, his cold eyes boring into Reynik.
‘Am I that obvious, your Majesty?’ Reynik replied, flushing with embarrassment. ‘You’re right. There was something else – something most curious. The man was
wearing a strange talisman around his neck. It was a silver replica of a wolf spider hanging on a leather thong.’
‘So what happened to the talisman? Do you have it? It wasn’t mentioned in my briefing by Commander Vascilly last night.’
‘That’s the strange thing, your Majesty. It disappeared. It melted away before my eyes, exuding a sparkling energy that did not look natural. I’m assuming that the talisman
possessed magical properties, but its purpose remains a mystery. What’s particularly interesting is that it should disappear at the same instant the man died.’
‘Melted away, you say? When the man died – hmm, that is interesting. Have you ever seen anything like this before, Femke? Does Shalidar have one of these spider talismans?’
Femke shook her head. ‘Not as far as I know, your Majesty. I’ve never heard of the Guild having any sort of symbol before, nor of them using magic. A magician in their ranks would be
a fearsome adversary.’ She paused in thought for a brief moment, then continued. ‘If they’ve adopted the wolf spider as their mark, it’s not something they’ve
advertised. The wolf spider would be an appropriate symbol for their profession, but I find it hard to believe, given that we’ve not come across it before.’
Emperor Surabar scratched his nose thoughtfully for a moment. He looked first at Femke, then Reynik, then back to Femke again. There was much to consider, but he already had a plan in mind. The
two young people had brought nothing new that would affect what he had in mind, so he decided to go ahead and put his strategy into motion.
‘I agree, Femke. The disappearing spider talisman is interesting, but I’m not convinced that it has any real bearing on what I’m trying to achieve. I need to know more about
the Guild of Assassins. I intend to destroy them, but only a fool destroys something without knowing all of the implications of his actions. By declaring them
anaethus drax
I’ve made
clear my intention to drive the Guild from Shandrim. I didn’t expect them to go quietly, but neither did I anticipate their strike against the Legions. It was a clever countermove on their
part. Whoever leads the Guild is no fool. I need to know more about this Guildmaster whom I’ve set myself against. “Know your enemy” was a tenet I was taught very early in my
military career, but how do you get to know an enemy you cannot find? It’s a difficult question. I have a solution, but it involves risks. Risks to my person I would never shy away from, but
my plan will involve risking the lives of others.’
When Surabar paused again, Femke smiled. ‘By “others”, would I be right in assuming you mean us?’ she asked, indicating to include Reynik and herself. The Emperor nodded.
‘Then what would you have us do, your Majesty? I am yours to command.’
‘I too,’ Reynik added, bowing his head.
‘Another tenet I learned a long time ago was “Never volunteer for anything without knowing exactly what you’re letting yourself in for”,’ Surabar said with an
amused grin. ‘I suggest that you listen to my idea before you agree. My plan will put at least one person in extreme danger. I will not order anyone to do it. I’ll only accept a
volunteer.’
‘We’re listening, your Majesty,’ Femke encouraged.
‘I want someone to infiltrate the Guild. I need a volunteer who is willing to become an undercover assassin. Once we have someone on the inside, the two crucial pieces of information
needed to bring the Guild down should be ours for the taking. It is of paramount importance to find out where the Guild headquarters is located. Second only to this is the identity of the
Guildmaster. Once we know these things, breaking up the Guild will become relatively straightforward.’
Femke did not hesitate. ‘I’ll do it, your Majesty. I have the requisite background training. It will take me a little while to create a suitable new persona, but it should be
possible with the appropriate support.’
‘No, Femke – not this time. You’re not suitable for several reasons. First, you have not fully recovered from your injuries. Do not think I’m going to cast aside my vow
about your returning to the field before you are fully fit. Second, Shalidar must be a member of the Guild and he knows you too well. If he returns to Shandrim, you would be discovered and killed
very quickly. We don’t know what sort of induction procedures the Guild has, or how they screen their recruits. Your various personas have all been seen around Shandrim for some years. I
wouldn’t be surprised to find that you are already marked by the Guild.’
‘Which leaves me, your Majesty,’ Reynik said coolly. ‘If I were to accept this mission, would I have to kill in order to be accepted into the Guild?’
‘Yes,’ Surabar said grimly. ‘The hypocrisy of it galls me, but I am not blind to the necessity of giving you a solid cover. If it brings any comfort, I will feel any lives we
are forced to take as darker stains upon my soul than any I gained for my decisions as a soldier. I can assure you that any targets I assign you will already have been marked for the death
sentence. There are a lot of prominent Noblemen out there set on treasonous activities. I abhor the whole nature of killing for money, but it will be necessary for you to become a real assassin if
you are to successfully infiltrate the Guild. Moreover, you’ll need to do something spectacular if you are to grab the Guild’s attention.’
‘Your Majesty,’ Femke interrupted, ‘if I might be so bold, Legionnaire Reynik, for all his good intentions, is trained neither as an assassin, nor as a spy. He will be spotted
easily.’
‘That’s why I’m making it your job to train him. You have three weeks. No more.’
‘Three weeks, your Majesty! But that’s impossible! Three months would be hard, but . . .’
‘You have three weeks, Femke,’ Surabar interrupted. ‘Events are moving quickly. With hindsight, I was rash to declare the Guild
anaethus drax.
I should have waited
until I had more information. Three weeks is as much time as I can allow. The longer we delay, the more people are likely to lose their lives for no purpose. Legionnaire Reynik will have to learn
quickly. He has proved himself resourceful before. I’ve no doubt that he will be able to absorb enough information in that time to become convincing. Accept and your first hit will take place
in three weeks. I will place any resources you require at your command. What do you say, Reynik?’
‘I remain yours to command, your Majesty. I will do as you ask.’
‘We will both do our best, your Majesty,’ Femke added.
‘See that your best is good enough. Good people are dying because of my miscalculation. A location and a name – that is all I ask.’
Reynik bowed, recognising the dismissal in the Emperor’s final statement. As he turned to leave, his mind raced. In three weeks, he would be expected to kill someone in cold blood. It was
not a thought that filled him with joy.
‘How is your search going? Have you found me an assassin willing to kill the Emperor?’
Lacedian shook his head. ‘No one has responded. Are you sure this is a good idea, Tremarle? Others have tried and been hanged for treason recently. It would only take one word in the wrong
ear and it’ll be us swinging from the gallows next.’
‘I’m not about to back down. Find me someone who won’t fail. I want revenge for the loss of my son and the loss of my House. Surabar must die.’
A shiver ran down Lord Lacedian’s spine. There was a look of madness in his old friend’s eyes. It was possible that the death of Danar had unhinged Tremarle’s mind. Should he
continue to act on the request? He wanted to see the Emperor replaced by one with true Noble blood as much as anyone did, but was an assassination truly the way ahead?
‘I’ll try, my friend,’ he said finally, feeling forced to speak in order to break the pregnant silence. ‘There are few who are likely to accept the hit, but I will
enquire.’
‘You can offer them four thousand gold pieces to see if that will help them to decide.’
‘Four thousand! Have you got that much gold? There may even be some in the Guild who would overlook their creed for that sort of money.’
‘Lacedian, I would beggar myself to see Surabar dead now. He has destroyed my family’s future. I will not rest until he dies.’
By chance, a passing cloud eased in front of the sun. The light in Lord Tremarle’s drawing room dropped dramatically. Lacedian shivered again. He was not normally superstitious, but the
timing of the sudden darkness gave the feeling of an omen. No matter how Lacedian tried to shrug it off, he could not shake the feeling that he should back out now before it was too late.
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He bowed his head and his heart sank. It was no good. He could not deny his friend. Doomed or not, Lacedian would find someone willing to take
on the hit. Four thousand in gold would buy a lot of interest. The problem would be keeping the contract a secret from the Emperor’s spies. If he failed, it would mean death – a
powerful incentive to keep from making mistakes.