The Queen's Blade III - Invisible Assassin

by T C Southwell

  "But that doesn't explain the tattoo."

  Blade shot him a smile. "If you wished to hire an assassin, how would you go about it?"

  Jayon shrugged. "Find a likely looking man, I suppose, and ask him if he's an assassin. Or maybe go to a place where assassins are known to be, like a particular inn or taproom."

  "And this man you approach, who may claim to be an assassin, how would you know for certain that he was?"

  "Oh, I see. So you show the tattoo to a potential client. But surely anyone may have such a tattoo?"

  "No." Blade chuckled. "A few did try that, but the Guild hunted them down and removed the tattoo rather painfully. The Guild doesn't look kindly upon imposters stealing from them."

  "But why don't the city guards hunt down assassins and execute them as murderers?"

  "Because we're not. The people who hire us are the true murderers, but an assassin will never divulge their names. Assassins are therefore regarded as tools, rather like a dagger or sword. Executing assassins would merely force us into hiding or eliminate us, which would bring back the old chaos. Also, a person who hires an assassin to kill a rival or enemy is not the same as someone who murders for pleasure. It's an imperfect system, but it works."

  Jayon nodded again, and for a while they rode through the sun-dappled woodland in silence, then, to Jayon's surprise, Blade broke it.

  "You seem curious about my former trade. Is there a reason?"

  "It's quite fascinating. Anyone would be curious. Assassins are so secretive; no one knows much about them."

  "True. But there's more to it than that. No one helps an assassin unless they hope to profit by it. Most men would pass a dying assassin by, if they didn't spit on him as well. You saved me in the desert, and you've claimed nothing in return except my friendship, which you didn't get. Why did you do it, truly?"

  Jayon hesitated, staring into the woods ahead. "I don't know, really. I couldn't leave you to die, even though you were an assassin. You were still Jashimari, and wounded by a Cotti."

  "Very noble, but there's more."

  Jayon glanced at him. "Yes, I suppose there is. My father was assassinated four years ago."

  Blade frowned and looked away. "I see. Or rather, I don't see. Why would that make you save my life?"

  Jayon shrugged. "I suppose I felt it was poetic justice to save a man who was of that trade, and to have him indebted to me, or so I thought at the time. I was also curious about you."

  "So you thought to earn my undying gratitude, and then what, find out who had your father killed?"

  "Yes, but I soon realised my mistake."

  Blade looked thoughtful. "A fiendish plan. Save an assassin, give him your father's name and hope that he would know who had hired his killer. Then what, hire him to slay your father's murderer?"

  "Something like that."

  "But when you discovered how ungrateful I was, you didn't even bother to ask me."

  Jayon shook his head. "I didn't think it would be as easy as that, so I sought to befriend you."

  "Because a friend may help you where a stranger would not. You would have done better to have made it your price for saving my life."

  The young commander looked downcast. "That would have worked?"

  Blade smiled. "No."

  "Will you help me now?"

  "No."

  "My father's name was Pernal, and he was throttled with a thin rope."

  Blade shot him a hard look, frowning with irritation. "I've already said no. Besides, I have no idea who hired the man who killed your father, and the assassin's name would do you no good."

  "But you do know it?"

  Blade's frown deepened. "From his method, I would say it was Cord, but it could have been Snare. Both use the same technique. That's all I know, and even the elders wouldn't know who hired him. Only the assassin knows that, and he won't tell you."

  "But he might tell you."

  "No. Even if I agreed to ask him, which I will not, he wouldn't tell anyone. He would be breaking our laws."

  "What if I paid you to kill the assassin who killed my father?"

  Blade chuckled. "For one thing, I'm retired, so I'm no longer for hire. But even if you tried to hire another, he would refuse. Assassins don't kill each other, it's another law. Don't try it. The man you hire may tell your intended victim, and he may make you regret it. When one assassin is hired to kill another, they sometimes do this, although the Guild frowns upon it. The assassin you wanted dead could break every bone in your body. He's allowed to, so long as he doesn't kill you."

  "So it's hopeless. I'll never find out who killed my father."

  "I'm afraid so. I couldn't help you even if I wanted to. You would do better to try to find out some other way, if you're determined. Visit your father's enemies, try to make them confess.

  "That's how I was almost killed. A feuding family hired me to kill the patriarch of another. Of course, the offended family knew who had done the deed. They not only tortured and killed several members of the offending family in a bloody brawl, but learnt my name in the process. It's not the assassin you want to kill; it's the man who hired him."

  Jayon looked away, staring into the forest while the horses followed the winding path that led through it. Blade left him to his thoughts, and they passed the remainder of the day in silence.

  The small, muddy town of Bardim on Blade's estate seemed almost deserted. A few people peered from doorways, and a couple of belligerent looking men armed with rusty swords emerged to confront them. They stood aside to let Blade pass, and he rode on towards the castle. Burnt houses sagged beside the road, and the graveyard boasted many new headstones. Frightened, hostile people cast them suspicious looks, and women swept stray children from their path. Their horses' hooves rang on the cobblestones of the castle's deserted courtyard, and they had to stable the animals themselves.

  The front door hung drunkenly on its hinges, scarred by the signs of forced entry. They wandered through the echoing halls to the room where Blade had eaten his first meal on his previous visit. Most of the finery had been torn down. Expensive tapestries were trampled and muddy, fine furniture hacked and broken. Little remained of the glory to which he and Lilu had restored it, and that which had not been broken had been stolen. Blade sighed as he pulled off his riding gloves.

  "Well, we have plenty of work to do. Let's hope we can hire some people from the village to help."

  Jayon righted a table with a bang and picked up a fallen chair. "Right now I need a meal and a hot bath."

  "You'll have to get them yourself then, as will I."

  "Where are the kitchens?"

  Blade led him through a hall into the vast kitchens. The ovens were cold and long disused, the pantry empty. He sighed again. "We'll have to ride into the village for food."

  "I'll go, you light the fires."

  Blade nodded, then turned as a shape scuttled from the pantry and headed for the door. Jayon leapt into the fleeing figure's path, and it veered towards Blade, who snagged the imposter. He almost dropped her in shock when he found himself holding a thin girl child who screamed like a banshee. Blade struggled to retain his grip as she scratched and bit.

  "Look out!"

  Jayon's shout made him drop the child and whip around in time to grab the wrists of a filthy, wild-haired woman who charged him with a cleaver. Blade staggered under the force of her attack, holding her away with difficulty. She dropped the cleaver and stared up at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.

  "Blade?"

  He frowned at her. "Lilu?"

  Lilu flung her arms around his neck in a throttling grip, weeping hysterically. The assassin endured it as best he could, for her stench made his stomach churn. Jayon came closer, looking puzzled, but Blade signalled that it was all right. He tried to pry her away.

  "For God's sake, Lilu, let go!"

  "I thought you were dead!" she wailed.

  "And I thought you were too. My God, you smell like you've been sleeping with the
pigs!"

  "I have."

  Blade freed himself and guided her to a chair, pushing her onto it. Lilu covered her face and wept. He moved away, brushing at his clothes. Jayon watched him with a frown.

  "Your sympathy is a marvel to behold."

  "You haven't smelt her."

  Jayon shook his head and stepped towards Lilu to offer her a spotless handkerchief. She took it and wiped her face, blowing her nose. Blade spotted four urchins peeping around the corner and groaned.

  "I see that your brood survived as well, Lilu."

  "All but my eldest boy. He tried to protect me from the Contara soldiers."

  Blade caught Jayon's look and bit back the cutting remark that leapt onto his tongue, saying instead, "What happened?"

  "The Contara came, burnt, pillaged and raped, then the Cotti soldiers came and drove them out."

  "An admirably brief account," Blade drawled. "Why are you still hiding in the pigsty?"

  "Bandits."

  "Ah." He frowned. "What sort?"

  "Contara and Jashimari deserters, hiding in the woods."

  "No Cotti?"

  "No." She wiped her eyes and looked up at him. "I'm so glad you're back at last. I heard you were dead."

  "So did most everyone it seems, but here I am."

  "You brought soldiers?"

  "No."

  She cast a hunted look over her shoulder. "Then you must hide."

  Blade's brows shot up. "I have no intention of hiding."

  "They'll kill you."

  He glanced at Jayon. "I think we're a match for a few bedraggled Contara deserters."

  Lilu followed his gaze. "Who's he?"

  "Commander Jayon."

  "You can't stay here. They come every night."

  "What for? There's nothing left to steal."

  She pulled a face. "For me."

  "Ah. Well, we'll just have to stake you out in the courtyard, then they won't bother us."

  "That's not funny."

  "I wasn't joking."

  Jayon snorted. "Really, Blade, that's no way to treat a woman."

  "She's a whore," he said. "She just doesn't like to give it away."

  "Even so, she seems fond of you, and that's no way to speak to her, or about her."

  Lilu sniffed. "It's all right. I'm used to him, it doesn't bother me. He would never do what he says."

  "I wouldn't wager too much on it," Blade growled.

  "How do you know him?" Jayon asked.

  Lilu forced a watery smile. "I saved his life. I know him very well. He's the greatest assassin who ever lived, and now a lord. He brought me here out of kindness -"

  "Is there any food about the place?" Blade interrupted.

  "I have a little..."

  "Good, we will share it tonight, and tomorrow we'll buy more from the village. Let's get the fires going and start cooking, light some lamps. Jayon, we still have a little food in the saddlebags, why don't you go and fetch it?"

  The commander smiled, pausing as he walked past Blade to mutter, "Kindness, you?"

  "No such thing," Blade said. "I did it to get her out of the city and away from me."

  "Of course."

  That night, Lilu cooked them a frugal meal, after which they waited for the bandits to put in an appearance. As Blade had suspected, the feared brigands turned out to be four scruffy, furtive men who crept into the castle on heavy feet. Blade wounded two with well-aimed daggers that impaled their thighs, causing a great deal of shouting and confusion. They fled back into the forest, two limping. Lilu wept with gratitude, praising Blade's goodness and generosity until he told her to go and have a bath or sleep with the pigs.

  Chiana looked up when one of her advisors entered her study, carrying a roll of parchment. In the two tendays since Blade had left, she had resigned herself to his absence, keeping herself too busy during the day to think about her loss. At night, when loneliness kept her awake, she missed him terribly, and yearned to receive his first letter.

  Often she longed for the freedom to follow him to his estate and be with him. The attraction of high office paled to insignificance when compared with her pining for his company. All that sustained her was the prospect of his letters and the hope that she would see him again, once he had solved the problems on his estate and agreed to visit her. The advisor stopped before her and bowed, and she gazed at the letter, hoping it was the one she craved.

  "Regent. I have just received disturbing news. Spies have seen a force of Cotti soldiers moving through Jashimari lands to the north of the city."

  She frowned. "I have had no notice of any plans from the Cotti. Are they coming here?"

  "Not if they keep to their present course."

  "Where are they going?"

  The advisor shrugged. "We do not know. There are no cities on their route, only forests and a few estates."

  "Who leads them?"

  He glanced at the parchment. "Prince Armin."

  "What would Armin be doing roaming around the countryside to the north of the city?"

  "Perhaps hunting Contara deserters?"

  She shook her head. "That is not his concern, and besides, it does not take a prince to run down a few deserters. Why did we not know of this earlier? To be north of Jondar, he must have crossed the border some tendays ago."

  "He has avoided all the towns along the way. He keeps to the forests, and by the account we received, he moves fast, with only mounted troops."

  "Have we any troops in the area?"

  "No, Regent. The Contara overran and looted the towns in that region during the war. All the forces we had there were either slaughtered or withdrawn by Queen Minna-Satu."

  She looked thoughtful. "Where exactly is the Prince now?"

  "At the last report, he was a tenday's ride to the north, moving west."

  Chiana rose and walked over to the vast map hanging on the wall, tracing Armin's route. Her finger came to rest on a name, and her heart went cold.

  "Oh, God."

  "What is it?" the advisor demanded, clearly alarmed by her pallor.

  "He is going to my husband's estate. He is going to kill Lord Conash." She swung around. "Send a message at once! Find me a man or woman of ravens, crows, hawks, anything that can fly at speed!"

  "Yes, Regent." The man fled, and Chiana grabbed her desk as her legs threatened to buckle. Mustering her strength, she forced herself to walk to the door and shout for Captain Redgard to attend her at once. When the captain arrived, panting from his run, she had resumed her seat at her desk, her legs shaking too much to support her.

  He had barely completed his bow when she said, "Take a company of men, no, a battalion. Ride at all speed to Lord Conash's estate at once. You will lead them yourself, and make sure you take only the best soldiers and the swiftest steeds. Prince Armin goes there to murder my husband. You will arrive before him and defend the estate, do you understand? No harm is to come to Lord Conash, or I will execute every last man of your battalion."

  Redgard held up his hands. "Calm yourself, Regent. Where is Prince Armin now?"

  "I do not know exactly. A tenday's ride to the north, moving west."

  "Lord Conash's estate is a tenday's ride away, seven days if we ride half the night as well. What must I do if Prince Armin arrives there first?"

  "Save my husband!" Chiana banged on the desk.

  "At all costs?"

  "Of course!"

  Captain Redgard licked his lips. "What if we are too late -?"

  "Make sure you are not."

  "Regent, we cannot fly, much as we would like to. If we arrive too late to save Lord Conash..."

  She raised her chin. "Kill them all. Execute Prince Armin, if he does not die in battle."

  "Yes, Regent." Redgard bowed. "May I say how pleased I am to learn that Lord Conash still lives?"

  As he turned to leave, she remembered Blade's words on the night that she had sworn to avenge his death. She struggled to disobey them, but the wisdom and truth of them could not be
denied. If she attacked Armin, the Endless War would start again, and thousands would die.

  "Wait."

  Redgard turned, looking surprised. "Regent?"

  She drew herself up, forcing her words through stiff lips. "If my husband is already dead..." She gulped. "You will do nothing."

  "Nothing?"

  "You will not impede the Prince in any way. Only if Lord Conash is still alive have you permission to recover him. If he is not, you will do nothing." She looked down. "Only bring his body to me."

  "But attacking a Jashimari lord of such high rank is unpardonable. He must be avenged."

  "Lord Conash is charged with the deaths of four Cotti princes, Captain. To attack Armin in revenge is to start the war again."

  Redgard's face became blank. "Then we will save him."

  "See that you do. Fail me and you will face execution. Now go!"

  Redgard marched out, and Chiana composed a letter to Kerrion, asking him to declare Blade safe in Jashimari and to prevent Armin's action with a message to the Prince. She hinted that it would be seen as a hostile act if Blade was murdered on Jashimari soil, and severely damage relations between the kingdoms.

  Chiana forced herself to be objective, for if she allowed her emotions to rule her, she would have threatened Kerrion with war if her husband was harmed. She handed the missive to the man of hawks whose familiar would carry it to the border, where a messenger would have to ride across the desert to deliver it to the Cotti King. At the same time as the hawk set out for the desert, a rook winged away in the opposite direction, carrying a warning to Blade. Chiana gripped the edge of the balcony as she watched the bird fly away, praying that it would reach Blade in time. Even by air, his estate was four day's journey for the bird.

  Below, men shouted and horses neighed as the battalion prepared to ride out, forming up into ranks under Captain Redgard's gimlet eye. Packhorses laden with provisions huddled together with their handlers, each carrying a load that it could bear at a gallop and for a long distance.

  No carts or wagons would slow the battalion, and the seasoned troops knew how to move fast across country, especially Captain Redgard. A spurt of pride shot through her as she watched them. They were caparisoned in the finest armour, their steeds glossy with health and prancing with eagerness. The cream of the Jashimari army, these warriors had fought and survived many battles. They knew the cost of war, and how to win it.