The Guild of Assassins (16 page)

“The integrity of your Guild is about to go to hell,” Egey Bashi blurted.

Oden Lan glared, but before he could say anything, Lady Celana stepped forward.

“I know a better way, Aghat Oden Lan,” she said. “You don’t have to reveal his face to test whether Prince Kythar is right. Have your men open his sleeve at the left shoulder.”

“What?” Oden Lan stared.

“Members of the Kaddim Brotherhood have a brand mark on their left shoulder. It looks like an arrowhead with protruding corners, pointing downward. If Prince Kythar is right, this man should have one.”

Egey Bashi let out the air he was holding, looking at Celana in surprise. “Smoke screen” indeed. This royal lady was far more intelligent than anyone realized.

He opened his mouth to confirm her words, but at that moment Shadow Master darted forward, drawing a knife from his sleeve. He grasped Lady Celana’s shoulder and turned her around, pressing the blade to her throat.

“Back off, everyone,” he said. “Or I’ll slit her throat.”

Kyth stepped forward past Egey Bashi, holding the man’s gaze.

“This man,” he said, “can use his mind control power to defeat any Majat. But I know he won’t be able to stand up to the gem ranks in a fight. If anyone here would try to disarm him, I will protect them from the Kaddim mind control.”

A black-clad shape appeared at his side.

“Allow me, Your Highness,” Kara said.

She slid forward, shooting out her hand in a quick blow to the wrist that forced the Shadow Master to release his blade. Kara finished her movement by grasping Lady Celana and pushing her into Kyth’s arms. Her other hand flew up, hitting the masked man on the side of his head, sending him down to the ground.

Egey Bashi let out a sigh. Compared to the action in the arena, her movements looked easy, almost casual. It was hard to imagine that this slender young girl could put such force into a blow that didn’t even look as if it required any effort on her part.

Kara leaned forward and ripped off the fallen man’s left sleeve. Everyone gasped, looking at the black down-turned triangle marring the man’s skin.

Slowly, Oden Lan reached down and removed his mask.

Egey Bashi surveyed the fabled Shadow Master with quiet curiosity. Now that he was unconscious, he looked unremarkable, with gaunt features that seemed to be the Brotherhood’s trademark, but without any other signs that could identify him as a Kaddim Brother. He probably had some Olivian lineage, his dark skin contrasted by pale bronze hair, cut closely to the scalp. Lying at their feet, he did not seem as imposing or frightening as rumors depicted him. In all respects but one, the Majat Shadow Master looked just like an ordinary man.

“Take them both away,” Oden Lan said. Egey Bashi could not tell for sure, but it seemed that his voice was somewhat shaky.

“You should have them both killed right now, Guildmaster,” he said quickly. “Keeping them alive will only make matters worse. The Kaddim Brothers are all able to communicate with each other. Besides, they can control your men’s minds to disable them, or force them to attack their own. Look at the damage they’ve already done.” He pointed to the battlefield. Now that the action had ceased, he could see medics rushing around, removing the injured men. The row of Rubies had reduced by half, if not more. The Diamonds were still standing, but Egey Bashi could see they were not in as good a shape as before.

“If I may suggest, Magister,” Lady Celana said. Her voice was less steady and she looked shaky as she leaned on Kyth’s arm, but her eyes gleamed with the same cool intelligence. “Alder’s spiders would take care of these men once and for all. To my knowledge, the only Kaddim Brother who was ever killed by their venom was not able to be resurrected.”

Kaddim Cyrros. The former Reverend of the Church. Once again, Egey Bashi admired the lady’s wit. What an amazing Keeper Lady Celana would make. He searched around the rows, singling out Alder’s towering shape. But before the young man could approach, a low whistle echoed through the arena.

Everyone turned to see a black-clad figure run down the rows, holding a round object in his hand that emanated thick smoke.

As if in a bad dream Egey Bashi recognized the man’s gaunt features and his singular eyes, so light brown that they looked yellow.

Kaddim Tolos.
Was this whole place creeping with the Kaddim?

“It’s him,” Kyth breathed out. “I could sense there was a third one, I just couldn’t tell where.”

Tolos stopped a few paces away from the Guildmaster’s group and broke off pieces of his smoking substance, throwing them at his two fallen comrades. The substance popped as it hit the ground, sending showers of blinding sparks into the air.

A blast hit the arena, pressing on everyone’s ears with smothering force.

Egey Bashi blinked. All three Kaddim brothers had disappeared without a trace. In their place smoke dissipated, leaving nothing behind.

“They’re gone,” Kyth said. “Just like before.”

Like before.
Before, the Kaddim had used a similar smoke to transport away a whole battalion, after Kyth, with the help of three Diamond Majat, defeated them in the Illitand Castle. And now it had happened all over again.

Egey Bashi slowly released his breath.

“It seems we’re out of danger for the moment,” he said, “and in no immediate need of the spider venom.” He turned to Lady Celana. “How did you know which one of them to shoot, my lady?”

“His Royal Highness pointed him out, Magister.” She looked at Kyth fondly before turning to the Guildmaster. “Forgive me for opening fire in your arena, Aghat Oden Lan, but there was no time to lose.”

Oden Lan only shook his head. His eyes traced Kara, who gave him a brief glance before returning to the arena and taking her place next to Mai. He watched her for a long time, then stepped forward and took his seat.

“Is every man accounted for?” he asked into space.

“Yes, Aghat,” Abib said. “We lost over a dozen Rubies, but mostly to injuries. All the others are unscathed, I believe.”

“In that case,” Oden Lan said, “the challenge may resume.”

“You
can’t
mean that,” Egey Bashi said in disbelief. “This is insanity, and you know it.”

Oden Lan measured him with a long glance.

“If you address me in that way again, Magister,” he said. “I’ll have you thrown into the dungeons.”

“Forgive me, Aghat Oden Lan.” Egey Bashi turned and retreated, seeking out Abib, who stood aside, watching the arena with an impassive face.

“We must stop this, Master Abib,” he said quickly. “If they continue, more lives will be lost. Is there something in your Code that could possibly enable you to resolve this standoff?”

Abib didn’t respond at once, his eyes drawn to the action below. Egey Bashi followed his gaze.

Once again all six Diamonds drew their weapons in what looked like one single move. But this time none of them rushed to attack. They didn’t look as dashing anymore as they had at the start of the tournament. Sweat-soaked hair clung to their faces. Each of them had rips in their clothes, with cuts showing through. Lance’s face was blackened on the left side where Mai’s staff had hit him near the temple. A nasty blow, Egey Bashi reflected, that could easily have been fatal even without involving a retractable blade, if Mai hadn’t controlled his force at the very last moment.

The Diamonds stood, watching each other wearily, the crowds above them so quiet that every sound echoed clearly through the large space.

After a long pause, Lance lowered his weapon.

“Aghat Mai,” he said. “You could have killed me when your staff came through. Yet, you didn’t.”

Mai shrugged. “I’m not here to kill anyone, Aghat. Not if I can help it.”

“But–”

Mai’s short glance stopped him. “My disagreement is not with you, Aghat Lance. We both know it. However, I am aware of your orders and don’t hold any of your actions against you.” He raised his staff.

Lance kept his weapon lowered as he threw a quick glance at the Guildmaster.

“Your integrity should be an example to all of us, Aghat Mai,” he said. “As far as I am concerned, you have already won this battle.” He threw down his weapon. “I surrender.”

A gasp went through the crowd, and Egey Bashi saw Oden Lan rise in his seat, but before the Guildmaster could say anything, Shebirah stepped forward to Lance’s side.

“Likewise, Aghat Mai,” she said. “I am familiar with your staff. Your hand was right on the spring mechanism when you hit me in the chest. I expected you to release the blade. I thought I was dead when you hit me. Yet, you spared my life. I know I wouldn’t have done the same in your place. You are a great man, Aghat Mai, one that our Guild cannot possibly afford to lose.” She threw down her weapon next to Lance’s. “I surrender too.”

All eyes turned to the other two Diamonds. They stepped forward in unison and silently threw down their weapons.

Egey Bashi let out a sigh.

The Guildmaster’s face contorted in anger.

“Very well,” he said into the silence. “If no one in this Guild can stand up to your challenge, Aghat Mai, I will fight you myself.” He drew his sword and stepped into the arena, approaching the group at a fast stride.

Mai lifted his head. “Master Oden Lan–”

“Draw your weapon, Aghat Mai!”

“But by the Code the Guildmaster cannot–”

Oden Lan charged.

He was an old man long past his prime, but Egey Bashi knew that in his day he had been one of the Guild’s best. It showed, as he wielded his weapon with speed and precision that left everyone gaping. The Diamonds in the arena backed off, their faces frozen in shocked fascination.

Mai used his staff only for defense, dodging and parrying the blows without making any attempt to attack. He stood his ground, but, after the deadly mêlée he had just fought, it was clear that it was costing him a lot of strength. If they kept this up, the Guildmaster would eventually come through, Egey Bashi realized. Along with everyone else, he held his breath, watching.

“Fight me, Aghat Mai!” the Guildmaster barked. “Fight, or surrender.”

Mai’s movements accelerated as he dodged the blows. The air around him whistled as he spun around with a speed that made his slim shape blur. He swung his staff in a wide arc, a streak of black wood sweeping underneath the Guildmaster’s blade, coming up in a spot where it was expected the least. It hit Oden Lan’s wrist at full speed, sending his sword flying.

Mai kept his arm moving as he completed the spin, pressing the tip of his staff against the Guildmaster’s throat.

Oden Lan’s chest heaved as he steadied his breath.

“I
taught
you that move, Aghat Mai,” he said in disbelief.

“You taught me many important things, Aghat Oden Lan,” Mai said. “But the one I value most is standing up for what I believe is right.”

Oden Lan’s eyes flicked to the staff point at his throat. “Is
this
what you believe is right?”

Mai lowered his staff.

Oden Lan’s lips twitched. “Do you wish to continue the fight?”

“I had hoped we could talk, Aghat Oden Lan.”

“I thought I told you before. There is nothing for us to talk about. You’ve made your choice. And now, you are the one who issued the Ultimate Challenge. It is fought to the death.”

Mai shook his head. “Not against the Guildmaster. Once you stepped into this arena, the rules changed. Please hear me out. That is all I ever wanted.”

Oden Lan shrugged. “You have me at a blade point, Aghat. I don’t believe I have a choice.”

Mai held his gaze. “I was hoping I could make you see that we have no quarrel, Aghat. The Kaddim Brotherhood orchestrated all this, and nearly destroyed our Guild’s top ranks in easily the most senseless battle in our history. If they’d had their way just now, we would have lost all our on-hand Diamonds and Rubies in one blow. This must stop, before it goes any further.”

Oden Lan’s lips trembled as he glanced at Kara.

“I don’t see a way to stop this, Aghat Mai,” he said, “unless you surrender first.”

Mai hesitated.

Please don’t do anything stupid,
Egey Bashi prayed. “We must do something, Master Abib,” he said urgently. “Or else this will get out of hand again. If they surrender, their lives are forfeit. I know your Guildmaster enough to predict what he will do to them. This would be no solution at all.”

Abib nodded. “You are right, Magister. This is our time to act.”

He strode out to the arena and stopped in front of Oden Lan.

All eyes followed him, the expectation in the air so charged that it threatened to explode.

“This is the Ultimate Challenge, Aghat Oden Lan,” Abib said, his voice ringing clearly in the silence around them. “You must surrender, or continue your fight. Given that Aghat Mai has just disarmed you–”

Mai moved to speak, but Abib stopped him with a short glance.

Oden Lan swallowed, his eyes darting among the fighters in the arena. Egey Bashi marveled at how everyone returned his gaze impassively, even though he could guess the turmoil within.

“If you won’t surrender, you must continue the fight,” Abib pressed on. “To the death. That is the Code.”

Everyone held very still, watching Oden Lan. Despite his skill, he was no match for Mai. It was clear that if the fight continued and Mai chose to participate in it fully, it would be a very short one.

The Guildmaster’s eyes slid over Abib with regret. He let out a sigh as he turned to his opponent.

“I surrender, Aghat Mai,” he said.

For a moment, the arena and the rows around it kept deadly silent. Then, a hail swept over it. People were jumping to their feet, all eyes drawn to the group in the center of the arena.

Abib lifted his hands to signal silence and waited for the sounds to die out completely. Then, he solemnly stepped forward and lowered to one knee in front of Mai, bowing his head and pressing his fist to his chest in a Majat salute. All the Diamonds and Rubies in the arena followed suit, Oden Lan and Kara the only ones to remain standing.

“Hail, our new Guildmaster!” Abib shouted.

The roar that enfolded the arena this time was so deafening that Egey Bashi resisted the urge to cover his ears. Some stood up, pressing fists to their chests; many lowered to one knee, their faces showing such fervor that, against reason, Egey Bashi felt caught up in it. He looked down to the arena where Mai stood in the center of the action, with a stunned look on his face.

“What just happened?” Kyth asked.

Egey Bashi heaved a breath. “According to the Majat Code, the man who accepts their leader’s surrender becomes the new Guildmaster.”

Kyth’s eyes widened. “
Mai
?”

“Yes. And by the looks of it, his people are just fine with this change.” Egey Bashi looked at Abib with wonder. He had always had the utmost respect for the old weapons keeper, but had no idea what the man was truly capable of. The Majat Code was a tricky thing. It took a devious mind to navigate events and force Oden Lan to surrender, when it was clear that it was the farthest thing from the Guildmaster’s wishes and from everyone’s minds.

Oden Lan had made a mistake when he stepped into the arena. From what Egey Bashi knew about the Majat Code, this action halted the Ultimate Challenge, giving Mai the choice to follow the rules or to strike him down and face the ensuing consequences. Once Mai showed no intention of taking the Guildmaster’s life, a normal turn of events would have been for the senior Majat to remind Oden Lan of his duty and persuade him to return to his seat, allowing the challenge to resume. If it had, everything would have come down to the Rubies and Jades, who hadn’t yet surrendered and were likely up to the task of finishing the job.

Abib had played it differently, forcing everyone to overlook the fact that Oden Lan was in the arena in error and using the heat of the moment to make it seem that the fight must continue to the death. Even if the legitimacy of what he had done was very much in question, no one had called him on it, making Egey Bashi feel that more of the senior Majat were likely in favor of this change of command. And of course, none of it mattered now. Once the Guildmaster announced his surrender, it made the result as irrevocable as if the succession had happened in the most proper way.

Egey Bashi’s skin prickled at this glimpse into the depths of Abib’s mind. The weapons keeper had clearly seen Mai’s potential before anyone else, and waited for the right moment to facilitate the takeover smoothly and without drawing any attention to himself.

By the stunned expression on Mai’s face as he stood accepting his people’s greetings, Egey Bashi knew the Diamond had no idea his challenge could end this way. But Egey Bashi was glad it had. For the first time in centuries the Majat Guild had a reasonable man in charge, one who could be trusted to do the right thing.

And now, for better or worse, Kyth had to negotiate his alliance with Mai. Egey Bashi hoped both men could put their feelings aside and wouldn’t let their prior disagreements drive them to do anything stupid.