The Guild of Assassins

by Anna Kashina

  He bowed his head to the Prince, saluting him with a fist to the chest.

  Egey Bashi continued to stare as all the Majat in the courtyard followed suit, saluting the Prince.

  The sight of a hundred Majat saluting an outsider was something he had never imagined seeing in his lifetime. He hadn’t even known this salute could be extended to a non-Majat.

  He thought he knew Mai reasonably well, but this man had just surprised him yet again.

  Kyth stood with a dumbfounded expression, and Egey Bashi could just guess what was going on in the Prince’s head. All this time his rivalry with Mai had driven them to the point where they couldn’t be trusted to remain civil in each other’s company, let alone have a constructive conversation. Whatever Kyth’s part in this interaction had been, Mai hadn’t made it easy on him at all, taking full advantage of his superiority, forcing the Prince to back down and publicly acknowledge it whenever possible. Egey Bashi knew that on Mai’s part this animosity was driven by the fact that he considered Kyth to be his successful rival for Kara’s affection. Even the most remarkable of men could be blind when it came to women. And now, even though to Egey Bashi’s knowledge Mai still believed it to be the case, he had just handed Kyth all the credit, with the gallantry and chivalry that Egey Bashi had never thought him capable of.

  The Prince shifted from foot to foot and Egey Bashi saw him make a visible effort to regain his composure.

  “Thank you, Aghat Mai,” he said. “You are most kind in saying these things. However, I am sure you know that without you this attack would have been impossible. I will always remember everything you taught me and cherish the honor of having fought under your command. And,” he added quietly, “I hope that some day I can be half as good a leader to my people as you are to yours.”

  Mai held his gaze.

  “You make your people proud, Your Highness. And, while I believe you understand now that we can never be formal allies, I hope on a personal level you can accept my friendship.” He stepped forward and extended his hand.

  Kyth swallowed, looking at Mai in disbelief, as if suspecting a trap. However, nothing but good-natured honesty showed on the Guildmaster’s face. After a moment, Kyth took the offered hand and shook it.

  The courtyard went very quiet. Egey Bashi could actually feel his mouth falling open this time, and closed it with a snap.

  This was easily a first for any Majat Guildmaster – the man whose post notoriously discouraged any possibility of friendship. And of course, with this one gesture the alliance between the kingdom of Tallan Dar and the Majat Guild was sealed, without taking any official steps that could possibly pose a risk of finding their way into the chronicles.

  Did Mai do these things on purpose? Or did it just come naturally to him?

  The King cleared his throat.

  “You’ve just made a father very proud, Aghat Mai,” he said. “Your praise of my son means so much to me.”

  Mai bowed his head. “Praise well deserved, Your Majesty.”

  The King smiled, and Egey Bashi imagined he saw tears standing in his eyes.

  “In addition to everything else you have done for us, Aghat Mai,” the King said, “I’d like to thank you also for rescuing Father Bartholomeos. I am rejoiced to see him safe and well.”

  Mai nodded. “It was no trouble at all, Your Majesty. Actually, we have Prince Kythar to thank for the part he played in the rescue. Importantly, however, I wanted to let you know that I took steps to ensure that the Reverend’s election by the Conclave cannot be disputed this time. Just in case, we have brought the entire Conclave here to confirm this in person.” He gestured to Father Bartholomeos’s suite. The priests acknowledged his attention with uneasy glances.

  The King raised his eyebrows. “I appreciate this, Aghat Mai,” he said. “But isn’t this quite unprecedented?”

  “The Holy Fathers assured me it would be no trouble.”

  The priests averted their eyes, studying the courtyard pavement with forlorn expressions.

  “I can confirm, Your Majesty,” Bartholomeos said into the awkward pause, “that the Holy Fathers were more than happy to abide by Aghat Mai’s wishes. He and his men made quite an impression at the Monastery, not to be easily forgotten.”

  The King measured Mai with an amused glance.

  “I have no doubt of that,” he said. “Aghat Mai makes quite an impression everywhere he goes.”

  That, he does, Egey Bashi thought. While Mai’s act at the Monastery wouldn’t be forgotten in a hurry, he continued to be worried about the impression Mai had made on their enemies, transported Shal Addim knows where. He had no doubt that in any future attack plans Mai would be the primary target. They had to form a plan that would prepare them for that.

  He cleared his throat.

  “If I may suggest, Your Majesty,” he said, “after the festivities, which I’ve heard you planned in honor of your high guests, we should perhaps convene a council to discuss further plans?”

  “Further plans, Magister?”

  “Despite the success of Aghat Mai’s attack, I am afraid some of the Kaddim Brothers have escaped. We must consider the possibility that they might still pose danger in the future.”

  The King nodded, the irony back in his eyes.

  “Of course, Magister. I’m sure this couldn’t possibly wait.”

  The festivities took the form of a state dinner, at which Mai was offered the honor place at the head of the table on the King’s right, next to Mother Keeper. Egey Bashi settled for a place down the line on the left, a few seats away from Kyth, who would have looked out of place at the high table if it wasn’t for Lady Celana by his side, radiant and seemingly determined to keep the Prince company. Egey Bashi was relieved at the way the Prince laughed at her jokes, his cheeks actually lighting up with color as she threw some of her admiring glances at him. He knew that Kyth’s heart wound was deep, but watching the scene he could imagine a recovery, and a speedier one than originally seemed possible.

  Egey Bashi realized that with the deep understanding Kyth had for Kara, with the remarkable empathy the Prince showed for everyone he cared for, he was likely able to see the obvious, no matter how much it hurt him. Kara and Mai were meant for each other. Forcing them apart was impossible on so many levels that no one should even consider it seriously. Kyth was bound to understand that in the end, and Egey Bashi was glad that the Prince not only had, but was prepared to move on in due time.

  From his own experience the Keeper realized that it was impossible to stop loving someone who had been your whole world, as Kara had been for Kyth. This kind of love never went away. But it was possible to find another place in your heart for someone else, who could bring you comfort and match with you in different ways. He was confident that, given time, Kyth would find the happiness he deserved.

  Egey Bashi tore his eyes away from the Prince, surveying the rest of the gathering. Father Bartholomeos and his priests took the entire left side of the high table, opposite the Diamonds and Rubies from Mai’s retinue. The other Majat could be seen further down the table, but no matter how hard Egey Bashi looked, he couldn’t find a very important member of their group. Kara was not sitting anywhere at the high table. In fact, as Egey Bashi searched further, he realized she wasn’t in the room at all. He had no doubt she had been invited, and had been offered a place of honor next to her fellows in rank, not in the least because her participation had been so instrumental in realizing all their plans.

  His heart quivered. Unlike Kyth’s, Kara’s heart wound might take some interference, and he hoped he knew the remedy. He also knew he had to hurry. Kara was unlikely to be inactive for long. With her training and resolve, Egey Bashi was sure she would not delay taking matters into her own hands, and not in a good way – simply because she likely believed her happiness was impossible. In fact, he felt he could do more good if he left the table and looked for her right now, but he couldn’t leave just yet without offending the King, so he tried to distract h
imself by watching the interactions around the high table.

  By now he should have stopped feeling surprised every time he saw Mai embrace yet another aspect of his new role as naturally as if it were his birthright, but he couldn’t help reflecting on it once again. Mai had spent four years at the King’s court in servitude, present at all the official functions only in his role of bodyguard. And now, only weeks later, he looked so natural as an equal by the King’s side, easily supporting the conversation that contained enough politics and etiquette to overwhelm most men groomed into such posts. This seemed especially surprising given that Mai was easily half the King’s age and possessed no known ancestry or the upbringing of a noble. Some things in life just worked out, and this was one of its most amazing examples.

  By the time dessert was served, Egey Bashi felt he couldn’t wait any longer. He made his excuse to his neighbors, scowling in response to Mother Keeper’s ironic gaze as he hastily retreated through the large double doorway.

  The castle seemed emptier than usual, and became all but vacant as he reached the outer hallways. Strange, how every servant and courtier gravitated toward the festivities even when they had other things to do.

  Speeding through the blessedly deserted passages, Egey Bashi found his way outside into the Majat training grounds. He was certain he would find Kara here, but, despite looking very carefully, he nearly missed her. She was sitting by the wall in the corner of the main training platz, hugging her knees pulled up to her chest, so still that she looked like one of the carved stone ornaments protruding from the wall.

  As Egey Bashi approached, her striking violet eyes surveyed him with a calmness that he knew had been carefully put into place to conceal the turmoil inside.

  “Mind if I join you, Aghat?” he asked.

  She nodded, but didn’t move, her eyes watching the Keeper warily as he lowered onto the paving stones by her side.

  “I was surprised not to see you in the King’s dining hall,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I know I was supposed to be there, Magister, but I just wasn’t in the mood. I hope my absence didn’t cause any problems.”

  The Keeper sighed. “I know Aghat Mai, among others, would have liked to see you there.”

  The quick smile that slid over her lips looked bitter.

  “I’m not part of his official suite.”

  Egey Bashi turned toward her, watching her intently.

  “I heard you could be, if you decided to. He made his offer for you to return to the Guild very public.”

  She lowered her eyes. “He was most kind. No other Guildmaster would ever have done a thing like that for me.”

  Egey Bashi slowly shook his head. “I’m sure neither of us should pretend that he is like any other Guildmaster. Nor could you possibly ignore the fact that there is very little Aghat Mai wouldn’t do for you.”

  Her shoulders stiffened.

  “I’ve always valued your tact, Magister, but I heard that, on occasions, you’ve demonstrated surprising resolve in prying into people’s personal feelings. If you feel inclined to do this to me, I hope you can choose a better time.”

  Egey Bashi shook his head.

  “I hope, Aghat,” he said, “that in addition to my reputation as a meddler, you might also have heard at least something about my skill as a healer. Sometimes to heal a serious wound one must prod deeply into it, even if it hurts like hell.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “I fail to see the relevance, Magister.”

  “I’m sure you are smarter than that, Aghat. You are wounded, even if this fact may not be obvious to everyone. If I thought you could deal with it on your own, I wouldn’t be here, believe me.”

  Her lips twitched. “Like I said, Magister. I’m not in the mood. Perhaps we could have this conversation another time?”

  “You mean, after you deal with the worst of your pain on your own and do something foolish with your life for no reason whatsoever?”

  “No reason?” Her eyes narrowed. “Do you presume to know everything about everyone, Magister?”

  Egey Bashi sighed. “I wish. And no, of course I don’t. However, I believe I know something you don’t about the situation you find yourself in.”

  “Really?” Her lips twitched into an ironic smile, but Egey Bashi could also sense the strain behind it.

  He leaned back into the wall.

  “Something not commonly known about this castle,” he said, “is that it possesses an amazing library – alas, greatly under-used. I couldn’t help thinking that with your current desire for solitude you might find that place... comforting. In particular, their section on the history and customs of the Majat Guild rivals the one you have back home, and is especially rich in those chronicles that your Guild prefers to keep from circulating too widely among its members.”

  “Library?” she echoed. “But I…” her voice trailed off as she continued to watch him warily.

  “You might find interesting things in there, Aghat, especially regarding the post of the Majat Guildmaster and the kind of privileges it affords.” Egey Bashi paused, relieved to see the way her eyes widened as she listened. “I hope you read on it as soon as possible. It breaks my heart to see you like this, even if it is, in a way, none of my business. Perhaps you’d find my motivations easier to understand if you consider them as purely pragmatic. If we are ever to expect a strike back from the Kaddim, your presence would be instrumental to our success, not only because of your unique resistance to their power, but also because of your efficiency and brilliance – which, I cannot help noticing, might be somewhat hindered if you were to remain in your present state of mind. For all these reasons I feel that if you, for instance, decide to go to the library right now and spend, oh, a day or so searching, you might just be surprised at the information that section has to offer. You’ll find it in the east cloister, under ‘M’. Some of the chronicles are stacked deeper inside, on the second row on the shelves. You might want to start with those. I especially recommend the one stashed into a hidden compartment on the left side of the shelf. The latch that opens it looks like a griffin head, different from the rest of the ornaments. I don’t think you’ll need my help with it, but, if you do, please don’t hesitate to ask. You know where to find me.”

  He held her gaze for a moment longer, making sure all the information settled in. Then he got up and walked away.

  37

  SURRENDER

  The Majat Guildmaster had the rank of a king, entitled to his own apartment in a prime area of the castle, with a complement of servants and enough room to accommodate all his men. But Kara knew that Mai had rejected this arrangement and chose to reside in the Majat grounds, occupying the old room that had belonged to him when he had been leader of the Pentade. When Kara approached it along the bare stone corridor, she felt her heart quiver, echoing with a weakness in her knees a fighter of her rank was not supposed to have.

  She took a breath before raising her hand and knocking on the door.

  Mai’s eyes lit up with quick surprise as he saw her standing in the doorway. She swallowed, hoping that her voice would not betray her nervousness.

  “Aghat Mai,” she said. “I came to have a word with you, if this is a good time.”

  He silently stepped aside, letting her into the room, and closed the door, watching her with a wary expression. He wore no weapons, clearly unprepared for visitors. The absence of his staff tip protruding above his shoulder made him look strangely open, as if caught off guard at a very private moment. She glanced around to see the staff leaning against the wall within easy reach, its black polished wood giving off a quiet, suffused gleam.

  Kara had never been in this room before. Its simple furnishing mirrored her own quarters, but some additional touches indicated Mai probably cared about comfort more than she did. His low bed by the far wall was much wider than hers, covered by spotless white sheets. A curtain adorned the window, which overlooked the lake, admitting a spectacular view. A shelf in the corne
r next to a massive desk held books and scrolls, as well as an elaborate writing set gleaming with heavy silver carvings. The latter was likely an addition required by his new station, but she glanced over the books with interest, finding them mostly related to the topics of history and military strategy.

  She looked back at Mai, feeling his gaze burn her as he continued to watch her. She swallowed.

  “I came to give a formal answer to your very generous offer to allow me to resume my rank in the Guild.”

  She waited for a response, but it didn’t come, so she went on.

  “I have given it very careful consideration and I have decided to decline.”

  His gaze wavered and she saw his shoulders sag just a bit, as if a tense string inside him had suddenly given way.

  “I understand,” he said. “This is a big loss to our Guild, but I respect your decision... And I am happy for you. As I mentioned before, you are free to do whatever you will, and no Majat will ever pursue you because of your past.” His gaze softened. “After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to live out your life in peace and to pursue your happiness.”

  “Thank you, Guildmaster,” she said. “This means a lot to me. Because of your generosity, I now find myself the first in the history of our Guild with freedom to pursue personal happiness. No words could possibly express my gratitude.”

  His gaze hovered on her with a glimpse of feeling that receded before she could catch what it was. As she peered, his eyes became tranquil, like the summer sky.

  She took a breath. “One of the most important reasons for my decision was that my freedom now enables me to have a conversation with you that would have been impossible if I were your subordinate.”

  He lifted his eyebrows in a silent question.

  “Once, you asked me if I was in love with Kyth.”

  He went very still.

  “Forgive me,” he said. “I shouldn’t have.”

  “I’m not.”