by Mark Robson
Reynik took the glass and drank without hesitation when it was offered. He felt better immediately. His senses sharpened and he felt more alert. The hooded assassin watched on with interest.
‘I remember my first time entering the Guild. It was not pleasant. Water is a good restorative. Help yourself to more from the jug, but do not leave the room. Wait here and I’ll return shortly.’
The man went out through the larger of the two doors. Reynik glimpsed a dim corridor outside before the door shut with a firm thud. He got to his feet and began to prowl around the chamber. Where in Shand’s name could he be? He could not have travelled far from the rain-soaked street in the north west quarter, or could he? The sensation he had experienced had been most unusual. Could it have been magical?
Even as the thought occurred to Reynik, the image of the silver wolf spider talisman leaped to the forefront of his mind. His hand had tingled uncomfortably when he had touched the spider necklace taken from the assassin a month before. The tingling had not been the same as he had felt today, but the fact that the spider had dissolved with a strange sparkle of magical energy gave him cause to wonder again what had happened to it. Were the two events linked? Had the spider simply melted away to nothing, or was there more to the incident than he had cared to think at the time?
‘Yes, Brother Viper? Did you get him?’
‘We did, Guildmaster. He is in my quarters.’
‘Excellent! Advise him to remain there if you would. I would appreciate it if you would stay in Brother Falcon’s quarters tonight. They have been cleared of his belongings. Place guards in the corridor outside your own quarters. I will see our potential recruit tomorrow morning. Assuming he elects to join us, I’d like to gather those of the Guild who are in the complex to witness the induction ceremony. Do we know any more about his background?’
‘Nothing, Guildmaster. His hit was . . . spectacular, if flawed. I doubt that much will remain of Lord Lacedian’s residence by morning. The last I saw, the fire he set during his escape had a firm hold. He made mistakes, but he improvised well. He has much to learn if he is to become a master, but he clearly plans well and can think on his feet. If he is not a plant, then he should do well.’
‘You remain unconvinced, then, that he is a genuine assassin? He’s made two high-profile hits in two weeks on targets that are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. I have had people working on a possible link between Lords Kempten and Lacedian, but our best people have drawn a blank. The only connection between them appears to be their deaths. What is it that makes you suspect him?’
Viper looked at the Guildmaster, pursed his lips and shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘It’s a gut feeling. I’ve been wrong before.’
‘Yes, but you’ve also been right. I’ll bear your hunch in mind when I speak to him in the morning. Thank you, Brother Viper. Please pass on my thanks to the rest of the team too. You’ve all done a good job tonight.’
‘Ah, Femke! Good. I was hoping you would get my message.’
‘Message, your Imperial Majesty? I got no message,’ Femke replied, as she entered Surabar’s bleak study. ‘I came to inform you that Reynik was successful last night. At least, he was successful in the first part of his mission. Tattle touts all over the city are talking of nothing but the killing of Lord Lacedian. The fact that Reynik has subsequently disappeared without trace leads me to believe he has also made contact with the Guild.’
‘I’d like to say excellent, but I don’t feel very excellent about this affair at all. I allowed my determination to outweigh my morality. Let’s pray the Guild accept him. I’d hate to see him turn up dead in a back alley somewhere, and I’m not ready to sanction any more killing of this nature.’
Surabar’s words echoed Femke’s worst fear. She had thought of nothing else since she had parted with Reynik the previous afternoon. Sleep had not come easy. Even when her body had finally succumbed to the need for rest in the early hours, bad dreams had tormented her through what was left of the night. Her ribs ached terribly today, more than they had since the early days after her fight with Shalidar. She knew it was due to nervous tension, but also realised there was little she could do to alleviate it until she knew Reynik was safe.
The Emperor looked at the dark rings beneath her eyes and smiled sympathetically. He had lived for years with decisions that had sent men to their deaths. As a spy, Femke would have made similar decisions when sending out her agents, but it was always different when you had worked closely with the people whose lives you were risking. The sense of responsibility was heightened above the importance of the actual mission. He had suffered sleepless nights on many occasions in his days as a junior officer in the Legions. Even now he could remember what it was like to worry oneself sick over a particular plan. He knew there was nothing he could say to make it better for Femke. She would have to deal with the emotions in her own way. If anything, what he had to tell her would only make matters worse.
‘Femke, I’ve decided to call in the Legions,’ he said softly.
‘Which Legions, your Majesty? You have most of them here at the city already. You’re not planning to break your agreement with King Malo, are you? I’m not sure it would be a good idea.’
‘No, Femke, you misunderstand me. I’ve decided to call the Legions into the city to search for the Guild. I’m going to have them take Shandrim apart – literally if necessary. One way or another, I will find the Guild and destroy them once and for all.’
‘But what about Reynik, your Majesty? Are you not going to give him a chance? If he’s been accepted by the Guild, you could have the location of their headquarters within the next few days.’
‘That’s true, but I might also save lives if I begin the search now. Another Legion Commander was murdered last night. This time they went too far.’
‘Commander Sateris?’ Femke asked, noting the deep hurt in the Emperor’s expression.
General Surabar nodded. ‘He has been a good friend for many years. The Guild chose the wrong man to kill if they think this will persuade me to let them be. I have sworn an oath over the body of my old friend that I will hunt every last one of those murderers down if it’s the last thing I do. I take such oaths very seriously. If I achieve nothing more in my short reign as Emperor, then ridding Shandar of this outdated abomination shall be my personal legacy. I intend to purge the streets of Shandrim, driving them out of whatever dark holes they live in. One way or another, they will answer for their crimes.’
‘Your Majesty, I know you want to act swiftly, but we have worked so hard to get Reynik where he is. Will you not give him a chance? Lord Lacedian was killed last night on your orders. Reynik killed him in cold blood, just as one of the Guild killed Sateris. I know what Reynik is feeling at the moment, your Majesty, for I abhor killing as he does. Reynik wants to be a soldier like you. He would like nothing more than to be back with his unit, marching and drilling against the day he would be called to action for the Empire. Instead, he is carrying out a dangerous secret mission for you that goes against his philosophy. Why is he doing it? Because he respects and trusts you, your Majesty. Your reputation for fairness and fighting for just causes has won his loyalty. Does loyalty not work both ways? Will you not let him finish what you had him start?’
Emperor Surabar’s expression during Femke’s impassioned plea changed from cold and dispassionate to angry. Femke stood her ground defiantly and looked him in the eye as she asked her final questions.
‘You dare to lecture me on loyalty, young lady? I respect you for your skills, and I value your support and your ideas, but I will not have you lecture me. Do I make myself clear?’
Femke nodded, but her eyes smouldered with an inner fire.
‘Yes, it was my idea to infiltrate the Guild,’ Surabar continued. ‘Reynik was my choice of agent. I will therefore take responsibility for his actions. I will also take responsibility for his death if he should die in the course of his mission. However, I also have wider
responsibilities to the citizens of Shandrim. Do you think I like making decisions like this? All my life I have made decisions that have resulted in good men losing their lives so that my plans, or those of my superiors, will be fulfilled. Well, Femke, I no longer have a chain of command above me that I can blame for these decisions. I carry the full weight of responsibility for all the deaths.’
He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. When he continued, much of the anger had gone from his voice. His face looked more lined with age than Femke had ever seen it. The weight of the Mantle was clearly taking a heavy toll.
‘The Guild of Assassins has been blatantly flaunting their illegitimate trade under my nose for the last month. Last night they went one step too far. I’m not blind to the advantages Reynik’s information would bring. It was my plan to put him there in the first place, damn it! However, this is a very fluid situation. Plans change. I’ll give him his chance, but I’m not willing to wait long, Femke. He has two days. No more. After that time, I will begin taking the city apart. I suggest that if you have any strings left to pull, you pull them now. I’m sick of the killing. I intend to put a final end to the Guild of Assassins this week.’
‘Send out messengers, Sasso. Contact the tattle touts. I want to speak with someone in the Guild of Assassins – today if possible. I want to place a contract, and I’ll pay a thousand gold sen to the man who completes it.’
Lord Tremarle’s personal manservant bowed and left the room. His face was pale as he left. One of the other house servants was hovering outside the door as he emerged.
‘How did he take it? Not well from the look on your face.’
Sasso shook his head. ‘I’ve never seen him like this,’ he said, cringing as he thought of his master’s expression. ‘I thought when he lost his son that he was as low as any man could be, but I was wrong. He’s hurt. He’s shocked. But more than anything, he’s angry. I’ve never seen a man so angry. It’s scary. I’m not sure he’s entirely sane any more.’
‘What makes you think so?’
‘He’s ready to spend every last sennut he has to gain revenge, yet I don’t think he really knows who is responsible. I think he’ll strike out at whoever he feels to be the obvious enemy. I think we both know what that means.’
‘I’ll start enquiring about jobs with other Lords right away, Sasso. We don’t want to get caught up in anything treasonous.’
‘Good idea. In the meantime, though, I’d better do as Lord Tremarle says. In his current mood, he’d have anyone flogged for the least deviation from his orders. Where are the messenger boys?’
‘One’s down in the basement, the other two are running errands for the cook.’
‘Thanks. I’ll see you later.’
Reynik woke with a start. What time was it? How long had he slept? It was impossible to tell in this underground prison.
When the assassin had returned and told him he was to remain in his quarters until the following morning to await an audience with the Guildmaster, Reynik had not known what to think. Was this normal? Were they deciding what to do with him in his absence? What had they found out about him? Did they know the Emperor had sent him?
‘Don’t be a fool, Reynik,’ he had told himself. ‘If they knew what you were doing, you would be dead already. Do as you’re told and ride out the uncertainty.’
It had not been easy. The living quarters were not small by any stretch of the imagination, but they had not taken long to explore. There was a sleeping area, a separate dining area, a bathing area and a small toilet chamber. Indeed, the complex was luxurious, with more than enough living space for several people. Where the man who normally lived here had gone for the night, Reynik had no idea, but given the size of his underground apartment, Reynik did not think living space was something the Guild lacked.
The man had told him not to exit the room through the larger of the two doors on pain of death. He had not, though he had been sorely tempted. The temptation teased him again now. There was a corridor there. Where did it lead? When would the Guildmaster come? If only he knew what the time was.
He paced up and down the room a few times before stopping next to the exit to listen. Was there anyone out there? Did he dare peek around the door? Would it be such a crime to look?
‘Patience, Reynik,’ he muttered. ‘He’ll come when he’s ready.’
While he was waiting, he decided to have yet another look around the living chamber. It was a fascinating room, with lots of interesting things to look at. The image which most intrigued him, though, was the hanging depicting the viper. The fact that the image was repeated on the wooden shields above the two doors was clearly significant. Was it the Guild emblem? It would make some sort of sense. Snakes struck with venom, and assassins often did the same. But if the viper was the Guild emblem, then why had this never been discovered before?
Reynik was still standing and contemplating the picture when the door opened and two figures entered. One was the man who had led him here. The other was shorter, but also dressed in a cloak and hood that was so deep he could not see the face under its shadow. Although the man did not stoop, Reynik instantly recognised the man as being advanced in years. It might have been the way he stepped, or some other subtle body language sign Reynik had subconsciously picked up on, but he was pleased when the man spoke, for his voice had the slight rasp of age in it that confirmed his instinct.
‘Welcome, young man, to the headquarters of the Guild of Assassins. Judging by your expression, I gather you have deduced I’m the Guildmaster here. Has Brother Viper told you why you were brought to us?’
Brother Viper! That explained the snake emblem, he thought. ‘He has, Guildmaster. I understand I’m being considered for membership of the Guild. May I ask if a decision has been made yet?’
‘You may ask what you like. That’s why I’m here – to answer your questions, and for you to answer mine. You will be inducted into the Guild shortly, but you will not become a full member until your first contract for the Guild has been successfully carried out. Until then, you’ll be on probation. Most members keep secrets – it goes with our profession. However, if you join us and do not follow our creed, or your presence prejudices the future of the Guild in any way, then you should know that you will die at the hand of one of the Brothers. That is no idle threat. I have had to order such deaths in the past. I will have no hesitation in doing so again.’
‘I understand,’ Reynik replied solemnly.
‘Good. Brother Viper, please leave us for a few minutes. I don’t think our friend here will be foolish enough to try to harm me. He does not have the look of a suicide killer to me.’
‘Very well, Guildmaster. The guards will remain within earshot, should you need assistance.’
The assassin bowed and left, his feet once again making no sound as he moved. Reynik watched him leave with a sense of fascination at the man’s smooth, flowing movements. He would begin practising again as soon as he got a chance. Devarusso had been able to move with cat-like grace when he wanted to, but the assassin known as Brother Viper took the art to a whole new level.
‘Now, young man, I will only ask you this question once. It will be for my information only. No other member of the Guild will learn of your answer unless you choose to reveal the answer for your own purposes. What is your true name?’
‘Reynik,’ he replied, looking straight at the Guildmaster’s shadowed eyes as he did so. Reynik knew enough about reading body language to know that he could not lie easily to a man who could read others well. His was a fairly common name in central Shandar, so when Femke had built his false identity for him, she had decided not to alter his birth name. For someone inexperienced in the art of maintaining the façade of a false identity, it would reduce the chances of his making a mistake from which he could not recover.
‘It is good to meet you, Reynik. I would tell you my name, but the fewer people who know that information, the better. I’ll not lie to you. Some in the Guild do know my
real name, but this is because they knew me before I took over as Guildmaster. It is tradition that when being inducted into the Guild, the newcomer bares his face to the assembled assassins. This is the only time the others will see your face, and you will never see theirs unless they choose to reveal it to you. This, I feel, is one of the wisest of the Guild traditions, as it means only the very senior, most trusted, members of the Guild will have ever seen the faces of the majority of the other members. By the time they become senior members, it will often have been many years since they last caught their one glimpse of many of the others. In the event that a member is captured and tortured for information, none of them can reveal much current information about the others. It works well.’
The Guildmaster watched Reynik’s face intently as he explained this aspect of Guild life. He was always interested to see how the new members reacted to information about the Guild. The young man was thoughtful and listening intently to his every word. Most did to begin with. If they were going to stray, it normally took a year or more for their baser instincts to tempt them into ignoring rules for personal gain. When members did stray from the creed, there were no second chances. However, they had to be caught for the Guild to exact its harsh justice. The Guildmaster was more than aware that not all infringements were discovered. There were certain members, even now, who lived life precariously – constantly straining at the boundaries of the creed.
‘I can see the logic behind such precautions,’ Reynik said carefully. ‘But surely someone must know what everyone else looks like, or how would you guard against impostors?’
‘A good question, Reynik. The answer is two-fold. Firstly, it is impossible for someone to enter here as an impostor. The founders of the Guild made robust security plans when they had this complex built over six hundred years ago. Some of the most powerful magicians of their time created a series of magical icons. Each new member accepts one when inducted into the Guild. It is this icon that allows access to and from the Guild complex. It cannot be stolen, for it is magically bonded to the life force of the Guild member. If it is taken more than a few paces from the person it is bonded to, then the person will die and the icon will magically return here to the complex.