The Guild of Assassins (15 page)

When Abib left, they polished their gear and laid out their clean outfits for later. There were still a few hours left before dawn, but Kara didn’t feel like sleeping. Neither did Mai, it seemed, as he went through the preparations with the speed and efficiency that made every piece of his gear look as if it were clicking and sliding into place entirely on its own. It was good to see him back to his normal self.

“You are no longer poisoned,” she said.

“It seems that the worst is over.” He raised his eyes to her. “I hope I didn’t do anything... improper.”

She felt a blush creep into her cheeks.

Mai frowned. “That bad, eh?”

She held his gaze. “That good.”

A quick smile slid over his face as he returned to his task.

“Do you remember any of it?” she asked.

His upward glance lit up with mischief. “Do you want me to?”

“I suppose not.”

“Then I don’t. Not a thing.” He grinned. “I hope, though, it was better than going berserk and violent.”

She couldn’t help but smile. In a way, it was exactly like going berserk. The way he ripped her clothes when he stripped her. The way he claimed her, possessive like a conqueror savoring his prize. The way he drove into her, as if his life depended on releasing every bit of his strength inside her. It would have been frightening, if it hadn’t answered her own need so well.

“Just don’t get poisoned with Black Death again, all right?” she said.

“Not if I can help it.” He turned away, repacking his throwing knives.

She sat against the wall and watched him, remembering everything that had happened. Her skin shivered with pleasure just by thinking about it. She could think of no better way to spend the last night of her life, on the eve of the execution that awaited them in the morning. And now, it was such a relief to know that he was alive and well and that they could fight side by side one last time.

He noticed her look and stopped, raising his eyes to her. “What is it?”

She took a breath. “You also talked.”

Alarm stirred in his gaze. “I did?”

“Do you remember?”

He lowered his hands from his task and sat back, facing her.

“Do you want me to?” he asked quietly.

“Yes.”

He hesitated.

“I remember everything that went through my head before I... went berserk. I hope I didn’t say too much of it out loud.”

“You said quite a bit.”

“Did I?”

She watched him. “Did you mean any of it?”

His gaze drifted for a moment, his eyes becoming dreamy.

“I... I remember losing it at some point, when I was in pain and you held me so close. I spoke about your touch, the way it makes me feel... And yes, I did mean it. This is exactly how I feel when you touch me. Even the pain couldn’t take it away.”

She held her breath.

“That’s when you started talking.”

“
Started
?” His eyes widened in alarm.

“Yes.”

He peered into her face. She saw him shiver as her gaze told him everything that had happened. She shivered too, remembering. In his delirium, he had said so much...

“I said everything I was thinking, didn’t I?” he asked quietly.

“I believe so.”

His gaze wavered. “Please forgive me. I never meant to say these things to you. The last thing I wanted was to let you know how I feel about you.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“I have no right to burden you.”

“
Burden
me?”

His gaze burned her.

“I’m probably saying this because I am still poisoned,” he said. “But if I’m not mistaken, you’re in love with another man.”

She swallowed.
Kyth.
She
had been
in love with him. But she wasn’t sure anymore. The last few days, since Middledale, had distanced her from him so much. And now, she was going to die, and none of this even mattered. But if, by some miracle, she were to survive and face Kyth again–

“Are you?” he asked quietly.

She hesitated.

“I… I don’t know.”

He lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry for prying. The times we were together – they’ve made my life worth living. I can’t possibly ask for more.”

“Yes, you can.” The words came out so quietly that she barely heard them herself.

The intensity of his gaze made her skin prickle.

“If I asked you for more,” he said, “I’d be forcing you into a choice.”

“It’s a choice I will have to make anyway, won’t I?”

“Only if you want to.”

She reached over and touched his cheek, running her fingertips down his skin. He shivered, a barely perceptible ripple of muscle visible on his bare, left arm. His eyes were dreamy as he looked at her.

She leaned forward and kissed him.

For a while, they lost track of time, their embrace so different this time from the violent passion before. He tasted so good, his pine scent clouding her mind, his tenderness as he held her making her heart quiver.
When you touch me, you make me dizzy, like I’m dreaming and never want to wake up,
he had said to her during his delirium. And now she realized that this was how she felt too. He made her dizzy when he held her like this, enfolded in a dream that was too good to last.

After a while she finally found strength to draw away from him and sat up straight, looking at him in the wavering lantern light.

“Let’s live through this first,” she said. “If we do, there will be time for choices later on.”

“Fair enough.” He turned, the defenses in his eyes clicking into place, hiding his feelings inside.

They finished repacking their gear, laying it out so that it would be easy to don.

“I suppose we still have time for some rest,” he said, glancing at the dark sky outside.

She nodded and spread her cloak next to him, settling down. He reached past her to retrieve his staff. As he did, his hand brushed her forearm, inadvertently disturbing her wound, hidden under the sleeve.

Dear Shal Addim, how could she possibly have forgotten all about it?

She stiffened as his hand retreated, only for a brief moment, but he sensed it.

“You’re injured,” he said in disbelief. “All this time…” He grasped her hand and pulled up her sleeve to look at the long streak of red grazing her forearm.

“It’s just a scratch.”

He frowned.

It looked worse than she imagined. She couldn’t believe that in the heat of things she could forget the pain. It stung now that he brought it out into the open, the damaged flesh on the inside of the deep cut packed with dust and dirt.

He shook his head. “I’m sure I made it worse by what I did to you... Why didn’t you say something?”

She shrugged. She doubted if she had said anything he would have understood her in his delirium. But more than that, back then she hadn’t wanted to risk that he would stop. “Sorry. I guess I forgot.”

“How did it happen?”

“A crossbow bolt. It slid parallel to the skin. I didn’t realize it had left such a cut.”

He frowned, inspecting it more closely. “We need to treat it.”

Wordlessly she rolled up her sleeve. She felt ashamed. Pleasure or not, she shouldn’t have forgotten to treat a wound before going into battle. She hoped the Keepers’ elixir was potent enough to take care of it in the time they had left.

He placed her arm over his bent knee as he crouched in front of her, thoroughly cleaning the cut with strips of bandage and water from his flask. It throbbed, but she braced herself, knowing that the worst was still to come.

He spread some disinfecting liquid over her cut and the skin around it. It stung as it evaporated, leaving behind a clean medicinal smell. Then, he reached for the Keepers’ vial, carefully unscrewing the lid.

“This is going to hurt like hell,” he said. “It feels as if someone is packing hot coals into the wound. Except that this pain doesn’t go away until the healing is complete. Fortunately, it will only be minutes for a cut like this. You must keep your arm relaxed and absolutely still to make the healing effective. Are you ready?”

She nodded.

He leaned forward and used the small brush in his hand to spread the sticky liquid on the inside of the wound.

When the liquid connected with the flesh, it felt like a stab of a hot poker, except she had to force her muscles to stay relaxed as she took the pain, again and again, with every touch of the brush. The pain was searing. It took all she had to keep still, so that the healing elixir could work its course. Mai appeared to ignore it, slow and careful as he pulled the edges of the wound closed, making sure that no scar remained in its place.

Through clouds of pain she remembered how she had used this elixir on his shoulder just a short time ago. His pain must have been much worse with the penetrating wound he had. The poison must have made it even more unbearable. Now that she knew what it was like, she couldn’t believe he had been able to handle it as well as he had.

When he finally put the brush back into the vial and screwed on the lid, she felt drained, grateful that his bent knee still supported her arm. He put the vial away and sat, looking at her with concern.

“I’m fine.” She flexed her arm, surprised at how it felt completely undamaged, with only the memory of pain and no visible scar whatsoever.

“We have about two hours left before the break of dawn,” Mai said. “I suggest we get some sleep. We can discuss battle plans in the morning on the way to the arena. I expect whatever they are planning will all go awry when they see me, anyway.”

She nodded. She felt so drained that she found it hard to move. Too many things had happened to them in the past few hours, and they were beginning to take their toll. Sleep sounded like a very good idea right now.

Mai reached forward and pulled her into his embrace. Gently, he eased her down onto his spread cloak and stretched next to her. She relaxed against him, slowly giving in to the calmness he emanated. She knew he was stilling his mind, a technique they had both learned, and he was just so good at it.

As she slowly drifted into sleep, she felt complete like she never had before in her life. They may not survive what was coming tomorrow. But being with him made it all worth it.

The Tournament

The arena in the center of the Outer Fortress blazed in the morning sunlight, covered with sand so white it was blinding to look at. Egey Bashi had never seen the arena so full. Many of the spectators looked like simple citizens from the outer grounds, but the majority wore Majat armbands without the stones, indicating their non-gem ranking prevalent among the regular fighters at the Guild. Egey Bashi knew that warriors of lower ranks were not asked to participate in the challenge, even though he had no doubt the Guildmaster would not hesitate to throw them into the action if required. However, looking at the display of battle-ready gems lined up for the fight made the very idea that the reinforcements may be needed seem ridiculous. Sitting next to Kyth and Lady Celana at the head of the arena, two rows behind the Guildmaster’s seat, Egey Bashi was surveying the assembled ranks with a sinking heart.

A ring of Jade archers lined the top of the arena. They stood still, like statues, with their bows lowered. The ground below them, where the action was going to take place, was surrounded by another ring of men with rubies set into their armbands. Egey Bashi counted thirty-six, evenly spaced along the edge of the large oval space. His heart sank as he watched their impassive faces, the only movement about them the glint of their ranking gems as the sun slowly moved higher into the sky.

Rubies were the second highest rank in the Majat Guild, a deadly force in its own right. They also had special training, fighting in groups so that they could coordinate their actions and attack an opponent in unison, which made them so valuable for the Royal Pentade duty. Egey Bashi doubted even Kara and Mai together could stand up to thirty-six of them, or even half that number for that matter. But he also knew that even this deadly Ruby force was there only for backup, and that they were not expected to join the action unless things got very far out of hand.

The Diamonds had not yet made their appearance, but from a late-night conversation with his old friend Master Abib, Egey Bashi knew that there were four, all of them drawn to participate in the fight. The Guildmaster had clearly spared no effort to ensure that Kara and Mai had no chance in hell of winning the challenge.

He hoped seeing Mai in top shape – his personal contribution to today’s challenge and a small present to the insane Guildmaster – would stir some reaction. But in the end, nothing short of a miracle could possibly resolve this impossible standoff.

Egey Bashi settled into his seat, listening to the horn blast followed by cheering that announced the arrival of the defending Diamonds. They entered the arena at an unhurried walk, moving with the powerful grace of prowling tigers circling their prey, and stopped at its four sides. Egey Bashi recognized the taller one on the left as Aghat Lance, the man he had had some dealings with back in the past. The woman to his right, whose gender could be identified only by the way she wore her dark hair in a knot at the back of her head, was Aghat Shebirah, as far as he recalled. The other two, dark and lean men of average height, were unfamiliar, even though, like everyone else among the spectators, Egey Bashi was informed of their names and rank.

Another horn blast preceded the arrival of the Guildmaster, surrounded by a small group of black-clad men. Master Abib kept to his right shoulder, one step behind. The sight of the masked man on Oden Lan’s left made Egey Bashi shiver. The fabled Shadow Master, the trainer who knew everyone’s weaknesses and easily the most dangerous man in the Majat Guild, was here to personally oversee the battle and offer last-minute advice, if needed.

The Guildmaster exchanged greetings with the Diamonds at the arena and waited out the cheer before settling into his own chair. The fighters, and many in the audience, acknowledged him with a silent Majat salute, a fist to the chest, but to Egey Bashi’s surprise quite a few others didn’t join in, averting their eyes as they watched the Guildmaster take his place. He wondered briefly if punishment was warranted for such a display of disapproval, but he also knew that at the moment Oden Lan had other things on his mind. Could the sympathy of the crowd toward the challengers be used as a wild card that could be played to prevent the impending bloodbath?

A distant horn blast echoed through the arena, followed by rising noise at the entrance at the far end. Egey Bashi could guess rather than see the approach of the challengers, surrounded by Jade guards in such a tight ring that, from this distance, they were not visible at all. The Magister wondered if this protection was in place to prevent Kara and Mai from escaping, or to ensure that the crowds wouldn’t crush them in their eagerness to see them up close.

People in the rows were standing up and gaping. Many shouted, and Egey Bashi saw some of the faces light up with surprise and relief. He could guess the reason for this upheaval, but, once the challengers came into full view, he got caught up in it anyway. Even though he knew Mai would be there to fight, the sight of him and Kara walking side by side was captivating. Their faces were set into calm masks of deep concentration, the air around them crackling with charge. They looked so fit and ready that even the Diamonds waiting for them in the arena did not seem so impressive anymore.

Egey Bashi allowed himself a smile as he briefly looked down the rows at the Guildmaster’s contorted face. Of all the times the Keeper had used their elixir to save lives, this one possibly brought him the most satisfaction. He could see the men around Oden Lan stir in heightened conversation, and the fighters in the arena exchange hasty glances. They had planned to fight Kara alone, and they had assembled a ridiculously large force to bring her down. And now, the stakes had just doubled, and by the rules of the challenge no additional instructions could be issued to the fighters before the start of the action.

Kyth sat very still by his side, his eyes fixed on Kara. Egey Bashi felt sorry for the boy. He didn’t deserve this messed up love affair with one of the best killers in the world, on top of the burden of being the heir of a turmoiled kingdom facing a powerful enemy. And now, he was going to witness the woman he loved being butchered for sport, with nothing whatsoever he could do about it. Egey Bashi squeezed Kyth’s shoulder, exchanging a quick look with Lady Celana on his other side. The lady’s smooth face held quiet compassion as she sat there with the composure of a queen receiving her court, a long Lakeland bow strapped over her shoulder. Egey Bashi reflected that this crowd was probably one of the few that found nothing odd in a refined seventeen year-old lady in an elaborate royal gown carrying a longbow. As far as the Majat were concerned, Lady Celana fit right in.

People in the audience cheered, many pressing their fists to their chests in the Majat salute as they watched Kara and Mai being led into position. Egey Bashi glanced at the Guildmaster’s gloomy face, wondering if he was making a mental list of people to execute.

What a mess they were all in. Egey Bashi had an uncomfortable feeling that there was more to it than anyone realized as he inadvertently remembered the conversation he’d had with Mai back in Middledale. It was just as they discussed – all the Guild’s top gem ranks down there on the chopping block. Had the Kaddim orchestrated all of this, like Mai suspected? And if yes, how?

With a sinking heart he watched Kara’s and Mai’s Jade escorts dissipate, receding to the safe distance at a fast run. The challenge had begun.

Having witnessed many tournaments, Egey Bashi expected speeches and explanations, perhaps an exchange between Mai and Oden Lan, or at least an announcement of the rules to the spectators before the start of the action, but none of this ensued. The six Diamonds in the arena drew their weapons in one single move and sprang into action, so fast and violent that an unprepared observer would have trouble even understanding what was happening.

Kara and Mai moved in perfect unison. Having some experience with Majat training, Egey Bashi could immediately see that their very first moves had thrown all their opponents’ carefully prepared tactics to the wind. He watched Lance’s attempt to attack Kara smoothly averted as Kara and Mai changed places, leaving her opposite the lighter Shebirah, with two other Diamonds attacking from the sides. Their weapons, more versatile and exotic than the other Diamonds’ swords, also made it more difficult for their opponents. While Egey Bashi knew that all the Diamonds in the Majat Guild were more or less equal in skill and it was only a matter of time before this four-on-two fight ended in disaster, it was clear that getting through to Kara and Mai would take a while.

It was captivating to watch how they acted together like a single being, as if anticipating each other’s actions regardless of whether they were even in each other’s line of sight. Absorbed in the gripping mêlée, Egey Bashi found himself thinking that he had never before seen such a perfect match, making him feel, against reason, that these two people were meant for each other. Of course, there seemed to be no possibility of them coming out of this alive, and that in itself was such a bloody waste.

The crowd were on their feet, holding their breath as they watched the deadly dance down below. Very likely in all the existence of this arena that housed the Majat top ranking tournaments and many of the historical challenges during past centuries, it had never encountered an audience so quiet. It almost seemed as if the outcome of this battle was personal to everyone, and nobody wanted to make a move or sound that could disturb the balance.

In the ensuing silence, the clashing of weapons rang loudly to Egey Bashi’s heightened senses. He heard a screech as Kara twisted her sword out of a deadlock, trapped by two Diamonds while the other two attacked Mai side by side. She dropped down and bounced off the ground, coming up to her feet next to him. Their faces showed nothing but calm concentration, and only by knowing them well did Egey Bashi sense that they were both coming to an end of their strength and that any time now one of their enemies’ weapons was going to come through.

A barely perceptible sensation pressed on his ears. He saw Lance in the arena stumble as Mai’s staff connected with the side of his head, sending him to the ground. The crowd gasped as Mai went for the resulting gap, the tip of his staff hitting Shebirah in the chest. She fell flat on her back, releasing her weapon.

A roar swept the arena, everyone leaping and shouting. Egey Bashi marveled at the way the fighters continued without interruption, as if Mai’s blow had not just reduced the odds by half. The Guildmaster was on his feet, barking orders. Egey Bashi saw the Rubies around the arena baring their blades, rushing forward into action.

The pressing on his ears was back, for another brief moment. A Ruby, rushing face-on at Kara, stumbled and fell on her blade, collapsing on the ground. And then, suddenly, too many people tumbled around in chaos, the action too dense to comprehend.

A hand grasped Egey Bashi’s arm. He turned and met Kyth’s gaze.

“The Kaddim!” the Prince said urgently. “They’re here! I can sense their power.”

“Where?” Egey Bashi’s eyes darted around the arena.

“Please, Magister,” Kyth urged. “We have to stop this! Quick!”

Egey Bashi nodded and rushed forward to the Guildmaster’s side.

“Stop the mêlée, Aghat Oden Lan!” he shouted. “Now!”

The Guildmaster turned to him, his face contorted into a grimace.

“The Ultimate Challenge is to the death, Magister.”

Egey Bashi shook his head. “We have detected foul play. The Kaddim Brothers are trying to interfere with the outcome of this tournament. Please, Aghat Oden Lan, we must stop it before all your best fighters down there kill each other.”

The Guildmaster hesitated, looking back to the arena. More Rubies were now on the ground, with the Diamonds rushing in between. It no longer seemed like a well-planned battle. As they watched, they saw one Ruby stab another as a third one hit him on the back of the head with the pommel of his sword.

“Stop the fighting, Aghat!” Egey Bashi shouted. “Now!”

“Don’t listen to him, Aghat Oden Lan,” Shadow Master said. “This is Guild business. He’s an outsider.”

Egey Bashi opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment a movement caught his eye in the rows above.

Lady Celana stood up in her seat and raised her bow, flicking an arrow out of a quiver at her belt. She took aim and released it across the arena, toward a dark man in an Anonymous mask standing on its other side.

Egey Bashi gasped.

The man was clearly not expecting it as he stood with his outstretched hands pointing to the ground, in a gesture that looked suspiciously like...

A Kaddim Brother, using his power.

Egey Bashi’s skin prickled as he watched the arrow hit, sending the man down.

A horn blast rang over the arena.

All the action stopped.

Egey Bashi glanced briefly at Lady Celana and turned back to the Guildmaster.

“Have that man brought here, Aghat. Quickly. He might still be dangerous.”

For once, Oden Lan did not hesitate. He nodded, giving quick hand signals to his men.

In moments the masked man with the green-and-yellow Illitand arrow protruding from his chest was dragged before the Guildmaster. He seemed barely conscious as the Jades holding him pulled off his mask, revealing a sharp-featured face with a halo of unruly brown hair standing around his head.

Egey Bashi froze, feeling a chill creep down his spine.

Nimos.

“A Kaddim Brother,” he said, “in the heart of your Guild, using his powers to affect the outcome of your tournament. Do you believe me now, Aghat Oden Lan?”

He felt a hand touch his sleeve and turned to meet Kyth’s gaze. Lady Celana followed behind him, looking at the result of her archery with quiet interest.

“There’s one more, Magister,” Kyth said. He raised his hand and pointed at the Shadow Master. “Him.”

Everyone froze.

“This is preposterous,” Oden Lan said. “This man–”

“See for yourself, Master Oden Lan,” Kyth said. “Have his mask removed.”

The Guildmaster shook his head. “The integrity of our Guild depends on keeping this man anonymous, Prince Kythar. I don’t expect you to understand our ways.”