by James Wisher
“Sorry, my mind wondered.”
“I could tell. Do you wish to continue? I have mate in five moves.”
Xander saw Grandfather had him boxed in and tipped his king over. “I’ll try to do better next time.”
Grandfather laughed then started coughing. When he caught his breath the old man said. “I think that’s enough for today. How goes your search for your family’s killers?”
“It doesn’t.”
Grandfather nodded. “I know. Why haven’t you asked Sorren to talk to the spies?”
“I don’t think I’ve done enough to earn it.”
Grandfather patted his arm. “You’ve done enough. Ask him.”
“I will, thank you, Grandfather.” Xander replaced the pieces on the board, got to his feet, and bowed.
He left the old man to rest. Outside a messenger waited. The boy bowed. “Message, sir.”
“For Grandfather?”
“No, sir, for you. Master Sorren wishes you to join him in the lounge at once.”
Xander patted the boy’s shoulder. “Thanks, I’m on my way.”
He made his way through the mountain and when he arrived at the lounge found Anika and Sorren waiting. “Where have you been?” Sorren asked, a scowl creasing his features. Last month Sorren received the much coveted promotion to elite assassin, thanks in no small part to Xander and Anika’s success. He stood one step away from a place on the council of eight and he wanted that place bad. “I sent the messenger for you an hour ago.”
“I was playing chess with Grandfather and the boy didn’t dare disturb us.” When he mentioned Grandfather Sorren’s eyes narrowed. Since Xander and Grandfather became friends the other assassins had fallen into two camps: those that wanted to use Xander’s relationship with the old man to gain more power and those jealous of him. Sorren seemed both jealous and interested in using him. Xander sat across from Anika. “What’s the job?”
“Who said I wanted you for a job?”
Xander raised an eyebrow.
Sorren sighed. “We’ve been contracted to eliminate a rich old merchant. The target is Sullivan Shale. He lives in a fortified mansion on an island about two weeks form here by ship. The guild hasn’t gotten any spies into his mansion so use your best judgment on how to proceed. A ship is waiting to take you as soon as you gather your equipment.”
“Who hired us?” Anika asked.
“Intermediaries were used so I don’t know the client’s name.”
“Not surprising, this isn’t the sort of thing you want getting out.” Xander stood. “Before we go I wondered if you’d have the spymaster look into who had my family killed.”
Sorren frowned. “The spy network has more important tasks. They aren’t here for the personal benefit of a junior member.”
“That’s what I said to Grandfather, but he insisted I ask.”
“Grandfather told you to ask?”
“Yeah, but if the spies are busy I understand. Forget I mentioned it.”
“I can have them keep their ears open. If they learn anything I’ll pass it along.”
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate it.”
Xander and Anika left the lounge and split up to gather their gear. They’d worked together enough to know who could best handle which task. Xander headed for the armory. Since he didn’t know what they’d be dealing with he decided more weapons would be better than less.
Anika hadn’t reached the stables yet when Xander arrived so he helped the stable boy saddle two horses. They finished a few seconds before she arrived, a bulging pack slung over her shoulder. “All set?” Xander asked.
She swung up on her horse. “I think so. If not they keep spare gear on the ship.”
They rode through the city, one look at their black horses and weapons convinced the locals to get out of the way in a hurry. When they reached the docks they found the ship easy enough. Xander smiled at the grim reaper figurehead and wondered if he’d get a more polite reception this time.
The assassins dismounted and left the horses for a youngster to collect. Xander never gave a thought to someone stealing them; no one would be so stupid. He led the way up the boarding ramp. At the top waited the large figure of the captain. The man’s name escaped Xander, but his face looked familiar enough. “Well met again, captain.”
The captain frowned, it was clear he had no memory of Xander. “Don’t you remember? You were kind enough to give my guide and me a ride here about two years ago. I recall at the time you thought little of my chances of making it as an assassin.”
The captain’s eye widened. “I meant no disrespect. I transport many hopefuls and so few make it.”
Xander grinned. “I hold no grudge. This is my partner, Anika.”
Anika and the captain exchanged polite nods. “How long to reach the island?”
“Ten days if the winds aren’t against us. Would you like me to show you to your cabins?”
“No need,” Xander said. “I remember the way.”
Xander led Anika below deck. He took the same room he used on his last trip and she took the one across the hall. After he stored his gear Xander went up on deck. He stood in the front of the ship like last time; a light breeze blew his hair around his face. He smelled the salt air and smiled. It would be a good trip.
When they were underway and Xander stood in his spot enjoying the breeze. The captain came to join him. “I trust you won’t abuse my men this trip.”
Xander turned a predatory smile on the older man. “As I recall they were the ones looking for trouble last time, not me. If your men mind their manners we’ll get along fine.”
“Fair enough.” The captain returned to the wheel.
After a couple days Anika got her sea legs and joined Xander on deck. One day when he was at his post her soft footsteps came up behind him. “What do you think we’ll find?”
Xander turned to face her. “A big house with a dead old man in it.”
Anika cocked her head. “Doesn’t it ever bother you?”
“What?”
“The killing.”
Xander frowned at the question. He’d never thought of Anika as the squeamish type. “That’s an odd question coming from someone raised around this business. Does it bother you?”
“A little, sometimes. Our first mission didn’t. The bandit deserved to die. But killing an old man in his home, it seems different.”
“It isn’t. Everybody dies. One thing I’ve learned is that life has little value. It doesn’t matter how much you value someone, love them, try to protect them, they still die. Sometimes there’s a reason, sometimes not, doesn’t matter. Someone has a reason why this old man has to die. If we don’t kill him it’ll be a greedy relative. If not that then time will do it. So what?”
* * *
“There it is.” The captain pointed at a distant island. In a sheltered cove someone had built a good sized town on the side of a hill. At the top of the hill a walled mansion loomed over the town, backlit by the crimson sunset. The mark built his mansion near the edge of the jungle that covered the rest of the island. “We’ll sail around to the far side and anchor.”
“We’ll have to cross that line of hills and approach from the jungle side,” Anika said. “The wall doesn’t look like a problem form here. What do you think?”
Xander looked over the town and shrugged. “No problem. A day to cross the hills, an hour or two to get in and out, and another day back. Three days, maybe four tops.”
“It’ll be dark by the time we anchor,” the captain said. “Will you go ashore tonight or in the morning?”
“In the morning,” Xander said. “It’ll take most of the day to reach the mansion, that’ll put us in place near nightfall.”
Anika nodded her agreement and they returned to their cabins to get their gear sorted. An hour later the anchor splashed. Someone knocked on his door and he turned to see Anika poke her head in. “I’m all set.”
“Me to. Better get some sleep. We’ll set out
before dawn.”
She started to withdraw then stopped. “I’ve got a queasy feeling about this job. Something stinks.”
“If you’d rather stay on the ship—”
“No. We’re partners, where you go I go. I wanted you to know how I felt that’s all.”
“Okay, but unless you want to order the captain to raise anchor and sail for home we’re stuck, and I don’t like the idea of telling Sorren we quit without even taking a look at the place.”
Anika winced. “That would be an uncomfortable conversation, wouldn’t it?”
“We’ll take it slow and if anything looks off we’ll fall back, okay?”
“Sure, Xander, thanks. See you in the morning.”
* * *
Dawn’s dim light colored the horizon when Xander and Anika climbed into the rowboat that hung on the side of the ship. Two burly sailors lowered them to the water and Anika unhooked the block and tackles from the boat. Xander set the oars in place and rowed for shore.
“Nice of you to row,” Anika said.
Xander grunted. “Enjoy it because you’re rowing back.”
Twenty minutes later they pulled the boat up on the beach and tied it to a palm tree well above the water line. Xander helped Anika on with her backpack then shouldered his own. He bowed and gestured toward the jungle. “Lead the way.”
He followed Anika through the lush jungle, sweat dripping off his nose. The vegetation was thick, but not so dense they had to hack their way through. They made good time despite the heat and humidity and at noon took a break to eat. They sat on a ridge top with an ocean view in all directions. Xander sighed, enjoying the peace. When they finished their meal they continued down toward the mansion, the only other life they saw was a wild pig that ran squealing from them.
The sun had set when they reached the edge of the forest across from the mansion wall. Thirty yards of open space separated them from the wall. Xander eyed it. “About twenty feet.”
“Taller than I thought but not enough to make a difference.” She must have heard him.
Xander motioned for silence when a man wearing a leather breast plate and holding a naked sword walked by. Xander smiled, amused by the guards’ bare arms and knee length pants combined with the chest protection. Perhaps it was the best compromise between protection and comfort in the heat, but Xander saw a dozen ways to kill the man armor or not.
When the first guard passed Xander counted. The next guard passed at one hundred fifty-seven and the original returned at around three seventy-five. They had a window of about two minutes to get over the wall, no sweat. There was no way to check the inside without exposing themselves and Xander didn’t want to risk it. If the perimeter guards were any indication the inside should be simple.
“Let’s go,” Xander whispered.
* * *
Sorren paced in his room. The spymaster was due to arrive with the information on Kane. For six months Sorren had searched for some information that would let him control Grandfather’s new favorite. With any luck the spymaster would deliver the information.
A knocked sounded on his door. “Enter.”
The spymaster, a bearded little man about four feet tall, slipped inside and shut the door behind him. “I got the information you wanted.”
“Tell me.”
“Seems the boy was born into a house of some rank. Xander’s father held the rank of Knight Commander, in his home country that’s a high rank in the military.” The spymaster told him about the attack and resulting fire.
Sorren growled his frustration. “There’s nothing I can use. The identity of the person behind the attack might come in handy, but I can’t control him with it.”
“I saved the best for last.” The spymaster’s eyes crinkled. “Xander’s brother survived the fire. He’s living in the city of Lord’s Way and is a lieutenant in the city watch.”
A smile spread across Sorren’s face. “I can use that. If I threaten the brother I can force Xander to do whatever I want.”
“Sir.” The spymaster hesitated to interrupt Sorren’s scheming. “I would never try to correct you, but considering what I know about the boy, I suspect if you threaten his only surviving relative you’re more apt to get your throat cut than a useful servant.”
Sorren frowned as he considered the spymaster’s words. He had to admit the man was correct. Xander was too loyal to betray Grandfather. “You have a point. It might be best to keep this to ourselves.”
The spymaster’s eager nod betrayed his desire to avoid angering the dangerous, young assassin. “You may go. I need time to consider how best to use this new information.”
The spymaster bowed and left Sorren alone with his thoughts.
* * *
“There goes the guard,” Xander said.
Anika held a coil of knotted rope tied to a grappling hook. When the guard rounded the corner of the wall they ran across the gap and Anika sent the hook flying over the wall with a well practiced twirl. The sharp points dug into the stone of the wall and after a hard tug to test the setting she climbed up, Xander right behind. When they reached the top he pulled the rope up, flipped the hook around, reattached it to the wall, and tossed the rope down into the courtyard. They climbed down and hid in the shadows of the wall. Anika unhooked the grapple with a deft flick of her wrist.
Aside from the mansion there were three more buildings inside the wall. The largest Xander guest was a barracks, the smallest a storage shed and the last a stable. No surprises so far. A pair of guards stood by the main gate, leaning on spears and trying to stay awake. Another two patrolled the courtyard, for a total of six guards watching the place.
“Pretty soft security,” Anika said as though she’d read his mind.
“Enough to keep the locals from sneaking in and causing trouble. Rich people cut corners on the strangest things.”
In the dim moonlight he saw her shrug. “The family’s lived here for years with no trouble. I bet they don’t even think the guards are necessary anymore. Do you want to take them out or avoid them?”
“We’ll avoid them. If they don’t walk by every so often even those idiots at the gate will notice. Besides if we can’t evade two men we’re in the wrong business.”
Xander pointed to the mansion they slipped like shadows through the courtyard, pausing once near the shed to let the guards pass. They circled to the left and on the opposite side from where they started Xander spotted a second floor balcony. “That’s our way in.”
Anika flicked the hook over the balcony rail. Xander tugged it and climbed up. He slipped over the railing and reached back to help his partner over. Anika coiled up the rope and Xander reached out and touched the door. It opened into an unoccupied bedroom, without a squeak, on well oiled hinges. They slipped inside and Xander shut the door behind him. “This is too easy. I think you’re right, something stinks.”
“Do you want to go back?”
“I find that much more tempting now than when you first voiced your concerns. Still I hate to go back and say we quit because the mission was going too well. Let’s keep going. If it’s a trap whoever’s waiting to spring it will get a surprise.”
Anika didn’t argue, but he saw she didn’t like it. They snuck across the room and Xander peaked out the door into an empty hallway lit a regular intervals by oil lamps. Xander pulled his back in. “If you were an old man where would you be?”
She thought for a moment. “In bed?”
“Right. How many bedrooms do you think this place has, eight, ten? We need more information. There’s got to be a few servants still up. Let’s find one.”
Xander led the way out of the empty bedroom and started down the hall to the left. They passed three doors, none of which showed a light under them. When they reached the wall at the end of the hall they turned back to check the right hand side. They were almost back to the empty bedroom when footsteps sounded from the stairs to the right.
The two assassins ducked back inside. Xander held
his breath as the steps passed the door. He waited another second then stepped out behind a young woman in a black and white maid’s uniform. Xander clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her back into the empty room. With his left hand he pulled his knife and set it against the girl’s throat.
“Please don’t scream. If you scream I’ll have to kill you then find another servant to question. You don’t want me to have to go to all that trouble, do you?”
The maid managed a minute shake of her head.
“Good girl. I’m going to take my hand away and you will tell me where the old man is, right?”
She nodded this time and her tears tickled Xander’s hand. He took his hand away, muscles tense to clamp down at the least noise. “Master Shale lives on the third floor.” Her voice trembled. “There are three rooms, all connected. The staircase is behind the final door on the right.”
Xander took his knife away from her throat. “See, that wasn’t so bad.” She relaxed and he struck her across the back of the head with the hilt of his knife. She collapsed on the bed. “Sleep well.”
“You’re going to let her live?” Anika asked. Whether she was pleased, concerned, or curious he couldn’t tell.
“Why not? We’ll be long gone before she wakes up and she was helpful. Besides, no one paid us to kill her.” Xander checked the hall and found it empty. “Come on, let’s get this done.”
Anika followed him down the hall. Xander opened the door the maid indicated and found a set of wide stairs leading up. He took them silent as a cat. At the top waited a closed door, no light shown under it.
Xander looked back at Anika. “Ready?”
She nodded and Xander tried the door. It wasn’t locked. He pushed it into the room, just enough for them to slip inside. The moment they were inside lights blazed to life. For a moment Xander couldn’t see. He drew blind listening for attackers. When his vision cleared he found four armed guards surrounding a huge bed. An old man, all but invisible amid the pillows, lay in the center of the bed.
