The Guild of Assassins (13 page)

Oden Lan looked out of the window of his study over the rows of warriors assembled in the courtyard below. Even though most of the top gem ranks were out on active assignments, the display still looked impressive. Over two hundred people, the deadliest fighters in existence, formed row after row, the gems in their Majat armbands glistening in the torchlight.

The Fortress housed thousands of ranked Majat, but it was senseless to throw all of them into the challenge. Only the top gems could stand up to Kara for any length of time, given appropriate instructions. She had no chance with what the Guildmaster had in mind. With Mai out of the way, the challenge was bound to be a very short one.

Oden Lan knew he had to go down there and address the troops, but seeing the display from above enabled him to think through the battle plan in more detail before giving them specific instructions. He watched the trainers rush between the standing warriors, checking weapons and gear.

“Impressive, isn’t it, Aghat?” a voice said from behind.

Oden Lan turned to watch the old weapons keeper, Abib, enter the room and approach at an unhurried walk. He silently stepped aside, letting the man stand next to him by the window with a good view of the courtyard.

Abib had been one of the few in the Fortress left from the old guard, trained at the time when Oden Lan himself had gotten his Diamond ranking. Abib’s quiet humor, the ever-shifting expressions of his long, animated face, had always been comforting. And now, despite his stern composure, Oden Lan was glad of the company.

He had mourned Kara’s death once before, and then lived through the relief that she was still alive and through the knowledge that, despite that, he was unlikely to ever see her again. And now, he was about to order his best warriors to do everything in their power to bring her down, and then witness her execution with his own eyes. He almost wished that he was the one to face an impossible fight tomorrow, and that it was his life that was forfeit, not hers. Being a Majat Guildmaster had always suited him. And now, he was finding it more of a burden than he could bear.

“You can still stop this madness, Aghat,” Abib said quietly. “It’s still in your power to pardon them. They don’t have to fight to the death against the entire Guild.”

“
Pardon
them?” Oden Lan sharply lifted his head. Against reason, Abib’s words hit him harder than they should have. He had always prided himself on doing the right thing, no matter what. This meant giving no consideration whatsoever to his personal desires, even if doing so killed him inside. What could Abib possibly know about the sacrifices it took to uphold the Code? His lips twitched in a bitter smile. “You know that if we let their disobedience go unpunished we will throw away everything our Guild has built over centuries.”

Abib shook his head. “These are not regular circumstances, Aghat. Like it or not, the lands around us are at war, and we must stand united.”

“We
are
united,” Oden Lan said. “Look at that force down there. They are the best warriors in existence and they all follow my command. Nothing can possibly stop us.”

The weapons keeper’s lips twitched into a distant smile.

“If you let this unravel, the ranks down there might look far less impressive only a day from now. You are pitching two of our Guild’s best against them.”

“One,” Oden Lan said. “I see no possibility Mai can appear in the arena tomorrow. With the kind of wound he received, he’s as good as dead. He will be, by morning, or so Gahang Khall tells me. He knows exactly how much poison Gahang Sharrim puts on his arrows.”

“And you’ll stand there and watch Kara face them alone?” Abib turned and looked into his face. “Come, Aghat, I know you don’t want to do this.”

Oden Lan’s lips twitched. “It’s not about what I want, Abib. If I did what I wanted…” He paused, his face contorting into a grimace.

“What is it, Oden Lan?” Abib asked quietly.

The Guildmaster clenched his teeth. “Mai. He… He
touched
her. I know it. I can see it in their eyes.”

Abib chuckled. “Come now, Aghat. You can’t possibly be upset about that. Have you forgotten what Mai was like in his teens? One way or another, he probably laid his hands on every woman between thirteen and thirty who was attractive enough to catch his eye and resourceful enough to find her way into the Inner Fortress. And if he missed any, it certainly wasn’t for lack of eagerness on their side. Don’t you remember how bad it was? It almost threatened his training, having all these women follow him like snakes follow a charmer, especially after it became clear he was going for the Diamond ranking.”

Oden Lan shot him a side glance. “It’s different now. Mai is not in his teens anymore. He’s a grown man responsible for his actions. And Kara…” He paused again, controlling an annoying twitch of his mouth.

Abib shook his head.

“They’re both young, healthy, and very attractive,” he said. “And, through your orders, they are stranded together in an incredibly tight spot. Can you blame them for having some innocent fun?”

“
Innocent
?”

“Come now, Aghat. We teach them to channel their passion into fighting, but we never forbid our ranked warriors, especially Diamonds, to have this kind of pleasure if they feel they must. In fact, such things have proven invaluable in providing us with new stock for the gem ranks. Kara and Mai are a perfect match, both in combat styles and in how talented they are. They’re the best our Guild has seen in centuries. What’s wrong with them being together, eh?”

Oden Lan’s face became a mask.

“He… He doesn’t take women seriously. To him, it’s all a game. And, she is not one to be played with. He’s
wrong
for her.”

Abib looked at him with amusement. “And who isn’t?”

Oden Lan regarded him in cold silence.

“No one,” he said. “She’s a Diamond. She’s meant for a different fate.”

“She
was
a Diamond, and one of your best, until you sent killers after her, Aghat. Most likely, she only has hours left to live if you don’t do something about it. You can’t possibly let your jealousy destroy her, can you?”

Oden Lan measured him with his gaze. It was good that he and Abib were old friends. He would have likely had to strike down any other man who said such a preposterous thing to his face.

“It has nothing to do with jealousy, Abib. They were the ones who chose their fate. She – when she decided to abandon her assignment to help that boy. He – when he violated his orders and spared her life. They deserve to die. And they will. No one will stand in the way of justice as long as I’m the Guildmaster.”

“You call that justice, Aghat,” Abib said quietly. “I call it blindness.”

“You’ve said enough, weapons keeper,” Oden Lan said coldly.

“Not yet, Aghat. I have one more question. What about Raishan? Was it part of your justice to get him shot?”

Oden Lan pursed his lips. “Raishan made a choice too. He sided with the traitors of our Guild and tried to interfere with my direct orders. As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of them.”

“You are mad, Aghat Oden Lan,” Abib said. “I will not stand by your actions.”

Oden Lan’s heart raced as he stepped back, looking into Abib’s face.

“You have only one choice, old man,” he said. “Either you take back what you just said, or you’re an outcast too.”

Abib held a pause.

“Given the circumstances,” he said, “I’ll take it back for now. Thank you for giving me the chance, Guildmaster.”

He turned and strode out of the room.

After the weapons keeper was gone, Oden Lan spent a while looking into the courtyard below. Then he rang the bell on his desk and nodded to the man who appeared noiselessly in the door.

“Send him in,” he said.

In a few moments he heard the rustle of feet on the stone steps. The door opened and closed, letting the newcomer into the study.

The man that stood in front of him was clad all in black. Even his face was covered with a mask, a black cloth with slits for the eyes: the mark of the Anonymous from the Inner Fortress, protecting the identity of one of the most important men in the Guild.

Oden Lan had not seen this man’s face in years. And now, after all this time, he wasn’t even curious anymore.

The Shadow Master was not one of the best warriors of the Guild. His value lay in his unique ability to spot the weaknesses of the top warriors that other trainers might miss. He was also a strategist, who knew the exact fighting style of every top gem. But, more importantly, his job was to oversee the Diamonds’ shadow training, where one Diamond in the Guild was taught the exact fighting style and weaknesses of another, in case it became warranted for the Guild to bring this Diamond down. Seeing the Shadow Master now brought bad memories. Mai had been Kara’s shadow, trained to kill her if needed. And now, despite this ability, he had chosen to spare her life and ultimately to commit her to this senseless challenge.

“I would welcome any suggestions, Shadow Master,” Oden Lan said.

The man nodded. “How many top ranked warriors are currently in the Fortress?”

Oden Lan glanced outside the window, then at the list on his desk. “Four Diamonds,” he said, “not counting Aghat Raishan. Thirty-six Rubies. Over a hundred Sapphires. The Emerald Guards. And the Jades, of course.”

“Which Diamonds?”

“Jamil, Rand, Lance, and Shebirah.”

“You assume Aghat Mai won’t be able to fight?”

“I don’t see how he could possibly do it. In fact, I assume we won’t be seeing him at all – except his corpse, which I fully intend to put on display after this is over.”

Shadow Master nodded. “Four Diamonds shouldn’t have a problem finishing her off. Send Lance first. Kara’s main weakness is in the fact that being smaller and lighter than a man, she would have more trouble against head-on attack with brutal force. Lance is good at it. He is bigger and heavier, and he is brutal enough for the task. Have the other three Diamonds cover him and distract her, if needed. It should be a fairly short fight.”

Oden Lan shivered. Lance was indeed a brutal man who wouldn’t hesitate to kill even his own mother if charged with the task. He wished every one of his Diamonds had been so reliable.

“Have the Rubies stand by as a precaution,” Shadow Master said. “And a ring of Jades around the top. Whatever happens in the arena, after she exhausts herself, the Jades will have no trouble finishing the job.”

Oden Lan nodded. Now that they were actually talking about it, he couldn’t help the unpleasant quiver in his stomach at this calm discussion of the fastest way to kill Kara. The reason he was so angry at Mai was not only because the man had disobeyed his orders and stirred up Oden Lan’s jealousy by getting closer to Kara than Oden Lan could only dream of. The worst of it all was the fact that, through Mai’s actions, Oden Lan was now forced to witness and orchestrate Kara’s death.

Perhaps Abib was right and he should give her, if not a pardon, at least a chance to surrender. But in the end it was all the same. He had no choice but to have her killed. Doing otherwise would violate everything he believed in.

“I must go down into the courtyard to address the troops,” he said. “Gahang Khall is already waiting down there. I’ll send him and the Diamonds to your quarters afterward for detailed instructions.”

He swept his cloak back over his shoulders and descended the spiral staircase leading to the inner grounds in smooth, springy steps.

The Jades locked the prison door and left, making a lengthy show of putting the bars into place and clicking the numerous locks. Kara watched them from the depth of the cell, throwing frequent glances at Mai crouching in the corner. He was sitting on the floor with his back to the wall, leaning heavily on his uninjured arm, watching her with wary eyes. In the dim light his face looked drawn, exhausted.

It was to their advantage to make the Jades believe Mai was near death, but only if in the end he could recover and surprise them tomorrow. Kara didn’t believe it was possible. He had taken a poisoned arrow for her. There was no way he could survive this. He was going to die, all because she was too slow to defend herself. She was having a hard time coming to terms with it.

As soon as the Jades were gone she swept to Mai’s side, easing him into a more comfortable position. She knew she should at least get out the arrow. But in the dim light of the waning sky coming in through the open grate of the doorway, she was likely to do more damage than good. Still, she couldn’t possibly have him sit through the night with an arrow in his shoulder.

“Sorry,” Mai said. “How stupid of me to get myself shot.”

Kara swallowed a lump. She shouldn’t cry, she knew. She should maintain all the composure she could. Tomorrow she was going to give their Guild the show of a lifetime, a fight that would go down in history for centuries to come. It wouldn’t make a difference in the end, but she was going to make damned sure Mai’s death had a meaning and that she went through with what he had started.

It crossed her mind that she would be fighting her former comrades, and that this whole thing was madness orchestrated by a devious enemy. If the Kaddim’s goal was to bring down the Majat Guild by taking out the warriors of its top gem ranks, they were succeeding, and there seemed to be no way for her to stop it.

She could refuse to go through with the challenge, of course. But then she would be throwing away everything Mai had fought for. After everything he’d done for her, she couldn’t possibly betray him. She owed him her life, and she was going to pay this debt in spades.

“Let me take the arrow out, Aghat,” she said.

He shook his head. “We both know nothing you can do could possibly stop the inevitable. You should rest. You need your strength.”

She ignored his words, looking for a brighter place where she could put him to do her work. But at that moment she heard a click of a distant gate opened and closed. Footsteps echoed on the cobblestones and she saw a tall man with a crossbow on his back striding through the courtyard toward their cell.

She kept outwardly calm, but went tense inside, ready to spring into action. Did the Guildmaster stoop so low as to send a spy to them?

He probably wanted to know how bad Mai’s wound was. And she was damned if she was going to give him any clue.

She kept to the shadows as the man approached, peering into the darkness of the cell.

“Aghat Kara?”

She strained her eyes to see him more clearly. The newcomer was a young man with short wavy hair. His strong jaw and full lips threw long shadows in the waning light. She was certain she had never seen this man before.

“Yes?” she said.

“Is Aghat Mai all right?”

She glanced at Mai, slumping by the wall. “He’s just fine. Why?”

She imagined she saw the man’s shoulders sag in relief. From this distance she could see his armband, its dim, suffused stone accented by the sharp glint of the metal around it. She couldn’t make out the stone’s color, but she could guess it all the same.

“You’re a Jade,” she said. “Which, at the moment, makes you an enemy. I strongly caution you to approach no further.” She took out a throwing dagger, shifting just a bit into the light and making a show of weighting it in her hand. The man hesitated, the fear in his face suggesting that he might have been one of those in the courtyard who had witnessed her shadow throw.

He took off his crossbow with slow, deliberate movements, and laid it on the ground in plain view.

“I brought you a package,” he said, “from Magister Egey Bashi. May I come closer so that I can give it to you, Aghat?”

She frowned, doing her best to hide her surprise. A package from Magister Egey Bashi was the last thing she expected. Was this some sort of trap?

The Jade straightened up and held his arms out to the sides. A small vial glistened in his hand.

Kara stiffened, feeling her skin creep.

“It’s a healing elixir,” the Jade went on. “He said Aghat Mai would know what it is. If he’s conscious.”

She shot another glance at Mai.

“I’m quite all right, Gahang,” Mai called out. His voice was calm, but she knew how much effort it was costing him to speak like this.

“I’m so glad to hear that, Aghat Mai.” The cautious glance the Jade gave Kara showed that he wasn’t fooled. She stared back, hoping that her expression didn’t betray anything at all.

“This liquid,” the Jade said, “will heal his wound completely, without a trace. You have to put it all the way into the wound, though. Did the arrow go through?”

“Yes,” she said. There seemed to be no reason to deny something he apparently knew so well.

“Have you taken it out yet?” the Jade insisted.

“No.”

“Break off the feathered part of the shaft, coat the rest with this substance and pull it out through the wound, slowly. It should be enough. That’s what the Magister said. He also said that you should treat your own wounds, if you have any. Even if they’re scratches. You’ll need all your strength for tomorrow.”

She nodded. Then she reached out and carefully took the vial from his hand.

“I have something else for you too.” The Jade took a bag off his shoulder and held it out, working to fit it through the narrow grate.

“You’ll need light to do this,” he said. “There’re two lanterns in there, fully fueled. Enough to burn until dawn, even though you probably won’t need that long. And a flint, in case you don’t have one. Also, there’s water and food rations.”

She met his gaze. From this distance she could finally see his eyes, watching her with a mixture of awe and concern. She knew she would remember him if she saw him again.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

He hesitated. “My crossbow shot down Aghat Raishan. I didn’t think he deserved to be shot, but I followed my orders. I did my best, along with the others, to shoot down you and Aghat Mai. When Gahang Khall gave the signal, I was certain you were as good as dead.” He swallowed. “I’ve never seen such fine swordwork. You and Aghat Mai are the best our Guild has seen in centuries. I can’t just stand by and let you two get killed. If you’re doing this, you deserve your best chance.”

“You do know that if you’re discovered you’ll be in a lot of trouble?”

He held her gaze. “I don’t intend to be discovered. But if I am, I’ll answer for my actions. Dying by your side would be an honor, Aghat.”

She smiled. “I don’t intend to die. Neither does Aghat Mai.” She wished she could believe it, but she made certain her voice sounded confident and easy, as if there were nothing to it.

If she could heal Mai’s wound it would ease his suffering. It would make his death as easy as possible for someone shot with Black Death. But it still left no hope that either of them would survive. She bit back the thought, her smile so stiff that it hurt her cheeks.

“Magister Egey Bashi also asked me to tell you one more thing,” the Jade said. “Aghat Mai will not die because of the poison. Its effects should wear off completely by morning. Black Death can’t kill him. I’m not sure why.”

Her eyes widened, the sudden rush of hope making her head spin. It took her a moment to find her voice.

“He said that?”

“Yes, he was very certain. He said he talked to Gahang Sharrim and found out how much poison the arrow was coated with. Aghat Mai should tolerate it well. But, the Magister also warned that Aghat Mai might become delirious for a while, even violent. Black Death does it to people; I heard it, too. This elixir causes terrible pain and at the heat of his delirium Aghat Mai might go berserk, if the wound is not treated very soon. Please be careful.”

Kara let out a breath. “Thank you, Gahang.”

“I wish I could help you more.”

This time her smile came from the heart. “You’ve done enough. I won’t forget it.”

“You’re not asking my name.”

She shook her head. “No. You’re risking enough without telling me your name. When this is over, I look forward to being properly introduced. Now, go, Gahang, before someone discovers you here.”

She waited until the tall slim figure disappeared under the low archway. Then she unclenched her fist and looked at the dark glass vial in her hand.

She knew what it was, even though she had never had a chance to see it in action. The liquid in this vial could make damaged flesh grow whole in mere minutes, without so much as a scar. This elixir was once used on her own mortal wound, so that it healed without a trace while she lay unconscious.

She shivered with relief. If she did everything right, Mai would survive. He might be in shape tomorrow to fight by her side. Against reason, this knowledge filled her with hope, as if facing their entire Guild side by side with Mai guaranteed them victory.

At least she would not have to watch Mai die in her arms. Not tonight.

Kara returned into the cell and lit both lanterns, placing one on the shelf above Mai’s head and the other on the floor next to his wounded left arm. Her own arm was stinging whenever the sleeve touched the long gash grazed by the crossbow bolt, but she ignored it. It was nothing but a deep scratch and wasn’t even bleeding anymore.

Mai’s eyes had a feverish gleam as he watched her movements. The poison was taking hold. She hoped she could finish the worst of the healing while he was still aware of his surroundings and that it wouldn’t be as bad as the effects of Black Death were rumored to be.

She took out a knife. He drew up against the wall, then slowly relaxed as awareness settled in. He was losing control, and it was frightening to watch.

“Did you hear everything?” she asked.

He nodded.

“I’m going to cut the shaft. Then I will coat the arrow with this substance and pull it through.”

He tried to lift up higher against the wall and winced, subsiding back into place.

“You must not move when I’m doing it. It’s going to hurt, far more so than from just pulling the arrow through.”

“I know.” He looked up at her, a smile glimmering in the corners of his mouth. His face was hollow, so pale that he looked like a ghost.

“You’ve been through this before,” she said. “Haven’t you?”

“Yes.” His voice was a near-whisper as he watched her movements with an entranced look.

She took a vial of disinfecting liquid from her pack and wiped her hands and the blade.

“Ready?”

He nodded.

She leaned over him, cutting away his blood-soaked sleeve, trying not to disturb the arrow protruding from his shoulder. One by one, she peeled off the strips of the sleeve, leaving his arm and shoulder bare. The wound was still oozing, blood caking around the entry point.

She reached forward and grasped the shaft, sliding her knife across in a clean, precise cut that snapped the feathered end right off.

He stiffened.

“Are you all right?” she said quietly.

He slowly relaxed his shoulders and leaned back into the wall.

She reached for the Keepers’ vial. His eyes followed her movements. The thought of causing him excruciating pain made her quiver inside, but she knew she had to go through with it, and quickly, if she wanted him to make his best recovery.

The liquid was thick and stayed on like glue when she carefully brushed it onto the arrow shaft protruding from his shoulder. She was careful not to let her movements disturb the shaft too much, or to touch the skin around the wound. Then she screwed the lid back on and put away the vial.

“Ready?” she whispered.

He looked up at her. “Be careful not to cut yourself on the arrowhead. I’m not sure how much poison’s still left on it.”

She clasped his shoulder, holding him in a half-embrace as she reached behind him with her free hand toward the protruding arrowhead on the other side.

“Wait,” he said.

She paused.

“I can feel the poison taking hold. If I snap and go berserk, you must promise you’ll knock me out.”

She swallowed. “The healing will take much longer if I do.”

He turned and met her gaze within her half-embrace. His eyes were feverish. She could feel his hot breath on her skin.

“Promise me,” he insisted. “I don’t want to risk hurting you.”

“I promise,” she said quietly. Then she grabbed the arrow and pulled.

He gasped as the shaft moved through the wound, and she felt him shudder in her hold. She tightened her embrace, keeping him in place. When the arrow was through, she threw it aside and used her free hand to pull the wound closed on both sides.

Each of her movements shook him with a spasm that echoed in her body too, as if she were the one being hurt. Knowing his usual composure, she could only imagine what the pain was like. Tears stood in her eyes, but she took care not to let it affect her actions.

After she had done what she could, she eased him against the wall, keeping her hands on his shoulders to support him, ready to restrain him if needed. His eyes looked feverish, his pupils dilated from the pain so much that instead of their normal blue-gray they seemed black. He was no longer shivering, but she could see in his drawn face how the pain was draining him, robbing him of his strength. Dear Shal Addim, how long was this going to take?

“Are you feeling any better?” she asked quietly.

A ghostly smile creased his lips. He was beginning to look delirious, from the pain or the poison, she couldn’t tell.

“With you touching me,” he said, “I feel I’m in heaven.”

She swallowed. “Don’t joke. I know how much it hurts. I can feel it.”

“I’m not joking.”

She looked into his eyes searchingly. His pupils were still dilated. He was in pain, but he smiled as he met her gaze.