by Arthur Slade
“Carnda,” I said immediately.
“Oh. A good name! You chose it so quickly.”
“It was my mother’s name,” I said.
“Ah, good, good. Well, you have brought Carnda to a wonderful home. Thank you; now you may go.” Then, without even giving me a chance to say goodbye to the egg, he closed the door.
I was surprised that I felt so disappointed. Were you going to kiss the egg goodbye?
Chapter 12
Things Come, Things Go
I took the lift down to the student dormitory level, then followed the long, winding hallways. I’d no memories of my mother or my father. Both my parents had died in a fire, as far as I knew. I wasn’t even certain what they did for a living or which country they came from.
“You are our children now,” Maestru Alesius had explained once when I pressed him about my parents. “The past is wiped clean.”
I only knew my mother’s name because Corwin had snuck into the records office and saw that it was written down above our own names. My father was Ector Dore.
I went to the showers. No one else was there, which didn’t surprise me since it was already midmorning. The water was always cold, but I was able to clean off the sweat and wash out all the cuts. The bruise that circled my arm was growing slightly darker.
I thought I could smell the dragon scent being sloughed off. For some reason, that made me feel a little bit sad.
I relaxed under the cold blast of the shower. I hadn’t even taken a moment to enjoy the fact that I’d be graduating and getting the red cloak of an assassin. I was not going to be at the top of the rolls as I had imagined years ago, but I’d be an assassin. The gates would open in three days, and all fifteen of the graduates would walk out to start our own shops.
I knew that Banderius, the most famous of assassins, had his own palace in Trella. I bet the water was hot in his home. He was said to dine only on chocolate, caviar, rare crocodile meat, and fine wines. The other recurring rumour about him was that he had grown soft.
I wrapped myself in towels and went back to my room, feeling quite refreshed despite the fact that I’d been out the whole night. There was still time to visit the library before attending afternoon classes.
After dressing and switching my eye patch, I made my way to the library. An impressive set of spiral stairs led down into a giant room with rows and rows of book-stuffed shelves. There were tomes on every poison and every creature in existence. This included the tracks they made, how to imitate those tracks, their smells, and their calls to fool our prey. There was even a chapter in one book on recreating fox droppings to throw suspicious soldiers off your trail. I hoped I’d never have to do that.
I loved this room of words waiting for me to read. I’d spent so much time here, often reading until my eye was dry. I wandered the stacks, passing by Weremonsters of Yore and Lore of Lodenstones, until I came across Here Be Dragons.
I’d never seen the title before. I hefted the book from its shelf, brought it over to an empty table, and carefully flipped it open.
The illustrations inside were startling in their detail. The dragons were drawn from the tips of their snouts to the tips of their tails, with every talon and scale in between. I found a long list of dragon types, though most were only rumoured to exist because dragons lived far away from human lands.
I finally came to a chapter about Scythian dragons. The image that had been drawn was larger than Brax, which meant he was not full-grown. But this beast had the same black wings and black-as-night scales. According to the description they could release both a poison gas and a flame. Here I was worried about being burned to death when I could have easily been poisoned. I kept reading. The Scythians were perhaps the most intelligent of the dragon species.
I skipped ahead. The book went on for pages about the shape of their scales and included an article on how to skin a variety of dragons and use their organs for potions. Their teeth could become part of powerful ward spells. I was glad I hadn’t told Maestru Alesius. I trusted him, but he’d have done what was best for the assassin school. A good stock of dragon parts would be a treasure trove.
Finally, I came to a section about regeneration. The Scythians could grow back their tails, their talons, their ears — nearly every part of their body. Unless, of course, you cut off their head.
The regenerative blood of Scythian dragons had been sought by emperors and kings who wanted to extend their lives and their reigns. None had succeeded. There was even a wizard who’d removed a Scythian dragon leg and attached it to his stump. It was said to have grafted itself there, and so he attached another leg and an arm. It didn’t explain what happened to his original arms, but the dragon blood eventually drove him mad, and he jumped off a cliff believing he could fly. He didn’t magically grow wings on the way down, and he died.
That was insanity. But people would do anything for power. I kept reading and came across an interesting passage that I then read several times:
The Scythians are powerful magical creatures. But they are also oath bound — if they swear an oath, they will keep it until they are dead. There are rumours that these dragons can grant three wishes. These are not true.
Of course, they weren’t. But—
“What are you reading?” a woman asked.
I shuddered. I glanced up to see Maestru Beatrix, the keeper of the library. She was a short, pudgy woman with the most amazing blue eyes. Her hair was grey and tied back by a black ribbon. “Oh, nothing,” I said. “This book just caught my eye.”
“Books do that, don’t they?”
I nodded. We’d had a thousand conversations about the importance of books. Maestru Beatrix was so happy that one of the assassin students was actually a reader.
“Ah, the Scythian dragon. Are you writing a piece about them for extra marks?”
“No. I just picked the book up. I don’t have a particular interest. I really don’t.”
“It’s fine to be interested in dragons. The Scythian dragons are said to be as clever as solicitors. Very, very intelligent, those ones.”
I knew that first-hand. Brax would outwit me easily if I wasn’t careful. But I didn’t want Maestru Beatrix to become suspicious about my interest in dragons. “I have a different question. Has anyone ever made a magical eye that works?” The question surprised me. I hadn’t been thinking about my eye.
“I’m not aware of such a creation. It doesn’t mean it’s not possible, but you won’t discover that now. Perhaps make that a long-term goal. You’re formidable enough with one eye.”
I blushed. “That is a kind thing to say.”
“It was only an observation. I am so pleased you’ve made such good use of the library. As you know, I trade books with other libraries in the Five Realms. One can never have too many books. Or read too many books.”
“That’s true.” Normally, I’d ask to see all the new books, but I held my tongue. I wanted to keep reading.
“You seem extra intense today, Carmen,” Maestru Beatrix said. “Is it the news of the emperor?”
“Yes. Yes.”
“Don’t worry. These things come and go. Take that from someone who has read every historical text written. We’ll find who is behind the murder of his child, and that assassin will be punished in a very public way.” She didn’t say this with any relish, only stating a fact. “And that will go a long way to correcting this matter.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Now is there anything else I can help you with?” Maestru Beatrix asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Do you happen to have any new books on spells?”
Chapter 13
A Frozen Moment
I read spell books until my eye grew dry. I was close to giving up when I found a short chapter on enchanted chains and bindings. At the very end of the description was a word and hand gesture that were often used together to unlock locks. The word was Enderos. The chapter made it sound like even an apprentice enchanter could master thi
s spoken spell.
I wasn’t an enchanter and had only been taught a few easy spells to erase footprints or scents, but I had a good memory and was always willing to try. Perhaps if I spoke the word aloud as I tried to pick the lock, I’d succeed.
“Enderos,” I said aloud. It did sound magical.
I wondered what Brax was doing with his time. Was he reading the books in his cave for the thousandth time? Could he use his own flames to see the pages? The smell of the dead mercenaries would keep anything but the bravest carrion birds away.
I closed the book and put it back in place, running my hands along the shelves as I walked back toward the entrance.
“You carry the library with you wherever you go,” Maestru Beatrix had once said. I knew it was true.
The afternoon bell rang three times, which meant I’d have to rush to get to Pressure Points class. I slid into my place at the table just before Maestru Olgra turned around to face the class. “Well, well,” she said. “This will be our final class. I’ll miss your ugly faces.” She had spent the last few years teaching us the various points of the body that would knock someone out, stop their heart, or collapse their lungs. We had memorized the exact locations of livers, hearts, spleens, certain vertebrae, and nerve endings. “For our final class I would like you to choose a partner and explore the various nerve points in each other’s hands.”
My heart sank. I hated having partners, especially since I didn’t like any of the other assassins. Since there was an odd number of us, that meant someone always had to partner with Maestru Olgra. She was known to thumb pinch a student, leaving them in pain for weeks — just to teach a lesson. I’d long given up trying to partner with Corwin. He preferred to be with Scyllia or Gregum.
Thord began walking toward me, and I sucked in a breath. He’d be better than Maestru Olgra, though I didn’t like the idea of exploring his hands for nerve points. It was just too personal.
My hands were suddenly sweaty.
Just as he was two steps away, Megan sat down across from me, effectively blocking him. He went to another table.
“Uh, hello,” I said.
“I’d like to be your partner.” Megan flipped her hair back over her shoulder. She had what looked like a friendly smile on her face. At least she hadn’t said I’d like to be your partner, Cyclops.
“Um. Yes. If you must.”
“Good. Good.” We joined hands, and I wasn’t surprised to discover that Megan’s palms were rough. She worked hard, especially at her hand-to-hand fighting. She wasn’t the smartest of the graduating class, but she made up for that with tenacity. “I was not very observant this morning,” Megan said. It almost sounded like an apology. “I was shocked by the news of the emperor princeling’s death. Only later did it dawn on me that you were carrying a swan egg. That’s amazing. How did you get it?”
“I went to the swan nesting ground and stole it.” I thought it best to keep the story simple.
“Oh, why?”
“To get points. To pass.”
“Impressive!” she said. And she really did look impressed. “That’s very brave. And did you get the points?”
“Yes.”
“So, you’ll be the first assassin with only one eye to graduate?” She didn’t seem to intend this as an insult. It was a genuine question.
“I don’t know.”
“I bet you are. That’s something. You’re in the historical records now. Congratulations!”
“Um. Thank you.”
“I was just thinking about how that eye patch makes you look.”
I tightened my grip, but Megan didn’t seem to notice. “How does it make me look?”
“Older. I mean not too old, but like you’ve done stuff. I think we should be partners once we’ve graduated.”
My mouth popped open in shock. I quickly shut it. “P-partners?”
“Yes. Partners. New assassins often team up. You have better scores than me on all the potions and poisons and stuff. And you’ll look good at the front.”
“The front?”
“Yes,” she said, now sounding very excited. “I’ve really thought it out. I’m so proud of myself.” Her smile showed perfect teeth. She had a perfect face too. I kind of hated the fact that nothing was out of place. “You see, people will trust you. I mean, not to do their missions, but you can speak to them about everything that an assassin does. And the way you look, that will be helpful for anyone who approaches our business. They talk to you, then they hire me to finish the job. We’ll make a perfect team.”
“So, I don’t work as an assassin then?”
She looked genuinely puzzled. “Of course not. I mean, you’ve come to this conclusion, right? No one is going to hire a one-eyed assassin. Maybe a farmer who has a particularly mean chicken to kill.” Her chuckle was punctuated by a couple of snorts. “Seriously, it’s so perfect. You look the part. I look the part. And you keep twenty-five percent.”
“So, you only want me for how I look?”
“Yes. Of course! And your potion skills too. So, what do you say?”
I didn’t think too long about my response. There was a nerve point between the thumb and forefinger that froze people. There was always a small chance that the person would never come out of the frozen state, but I was pretty sure I’d do it right.
“C’mon, Carmen. Give me your answer. You won’t get a better offer.”
I jabbed my thumb into the pressure point, and Megan froze so that she could only move her eyes. A drop of saliva dripped from her perfect lips.
“No,” I said. “I will not be your partner. I will be starting my own business, and I will find my own clients. Never will I ever work for you.”
I pushed myself away from the desk and stomped out of the room. Maestru Olgra had her back to us, so she didn’t see me leave.
Chapter 14
An Important Word
I stomped down the stone stairwell, into the open hallway and down another set of circular steps before I started to admit to myself that I probably shouldn’t have frozen Megan.
But the offer is so insulting! I am an assassin. I was right to freeze her. To show her and anyone else that I have the skills. I will work twice as hard to be the best assassin in all the kingdoms. People will know my name.
I’d never just sit as a prop at a table in someone else’s shop. Never!
It dawned on me that there might be punishment for not finishing the final class (and leaving Megan in that state). I wasn’t certain what form it would take, but the other students would remember not to cross me.
I returned to my room and yanked on the door, but it, of course, was locked. I reached for my lockpicks, then remembered what I’d read about enchantments in the library. The instructions had said to speak the word aloud. So, with the thought of unlocking in my head, I said, “Enderos.”
Then I moved my hand in a circular motion.
My door unlocked.
I drew in a breath. I moved my hand again and the door locked. It was as if I could see the lock through all the wood. I should have learned this spell long ago!
There was no sense waiting around for punishment. I had to try this spell out on Brax’s chain. I dashed into my room, threw on my warmest cloak, picked my best boots for climbing, and then started the long walk down flight after flight of stairs to the three hundred and eight doors.
As I passed the kitchens another idea crossed my mind. The cooks were already busy making the evening meal. I’d spent plenty of time there as part of my training, because it was important to know how meals were prepared. Often assassins would have to disguise themselves as servants to complete a mission.
I sneaked into the kitchen, glanced around to see if any of the cooks saw me, then slipped out, unseen, with the largest ham I could find, hidden in a burlap sack. I continued on until I reached the thirteenth door.
I tried the spell, but the lock wouldn’t move. There were incredibly ancient wards on the locks to prevent any type of magic us
er from entering. So I picked the lock and went outside. The open air refreshed me.
By the time I got to Brax’s cave, the sun was beginning to set. I passed the bodies of the mercenaries. They didn’t smell any sweeter. Then I stepped into the shadows. Having come from the bright light, it took time for my eye to adjust, even though I often trained in darkness.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Brax said. “I’d made a bet with my dead guests that you wouldn’t come back. I lost the bet.”
“I gave an oath.” I still couldn’t see him.
“I know. But you’re human. And oaths and lies are often the same to you.” He snorted out a small flame, lighting his face. He was grinning. I shivered at the sight of his teeth. Gods, what was I doing in front of such a fearsome beast? “You’ve brought me a snack. Ham, by the smell of it.”
“Yes, I thought it at least might stop you from eating me.”
“For a few eyeblinks,” he said. “Toss it.”
I pulled the ham from the bag and hefted it into the air. The chain rattled, his head appeared in the light for a moment, and then the ham vanished down his throat.
“Salty,” he said. “Just how I like it. Did you happen to bring any wine?”
“I’m not a walking market.”
“A shame! Just remember that I do like wine.” He made a sucking sound, which I realized meant he was sucking the pieces of pork out from between his teeth. “That was a tasty morsel. I suppose if you’ve come here, you intend to release me.”
“I’ve learned a spell that might unlock the chain.”
My eyes had adjusted enough that I could clearly see his look of doubt. “You’ve become an enchanter overnight?”
“No. But I learned a magical word from a book of spells.”
“Ah, book learning! So often it fails in the real world. What word was it?”
“If I tell you, then you’ll escape and maybe eat me.”
“I guess there is that possibility,” he said. He’d touched a talon to his jaw, as if in thought. Such a human-like pose. “I suppose you want me to swear something?”
