"He would have completed the training and become a layman, but Rohini's marriage was arranged by my elder brother under my father's direction, so they had no choice," Sunil explained.
Bhai Sundar nodded, thoughtful.
"I hope they went as far away as possible," he said.
"I gave them all my money, and so did my mother," Sunil replied. "They took a barge to Akulina and hopefully found a ship there to take them north. I told them to get to Godwalkar, where they'll probably be safe."
"Good." The abbot nodded. "I'll say an extra prayer for their safety. But Sunil, are you sure it's all right for you? Bishma is your best friend..."
"And he loves my sister and she loves him. I want them to be together. Yes, I will miss him, especially as a sparring partner, but I will finish my studies." Sunil shrugged. "I guess I'll have even less distractions for the last two years."
"Or maybe you'll find another friend." Bhai Sundar smiled. "Some of the younger students adore you. But." He raised a warning finger. "No sex within these walls."
Sunil smiled. "I won't play Girish on anyone," he promised, since he was seventeen like Girish had been when they'd first met. He'd noticed a couple of younger boys eyeing him, but his heart felt dead and his body sedated. He had learned to control his urges and didn't see himself falling in love anytime soon.
So the year of the violet vestment started. Tushar had come back subdued and eventually told the dorm that his father had found him a suitable bride. In two years' time he'd be a married man and couldn't bother with childish bickering anymore. He was nineteen and Sunil felt relieved – and hoped it wasn't another cruel prank.
Since Bishma was gone and they were now of the same build, Bhai Muskurana paired them for the weapons practice. Tushar was an excellent swordsman by now, and he helped Sunil get better, sparing him nothing. Their mock fights were serious, though, without the teasing of previous years. Tushar seemed really changed. Not that Sunil wanted to be his friend, but at least they weren't enemies – or even rivals – anymore.
Two months into the school year, Bhai Muskurana came to call Sunil out of his literature class and took him to the abbot's office. Sunil knew it wasn't a disciplinary call and wondered what was going on. Maybe his father had sent word that he had arranged his marriage?
"Sit down, Sunil," the abbot said, while Bhai Muskurana remained standing by the side of the desk. "You might have noticed that some brothers had to hastily leave the canteen for an emergency."
"Yes." Sunil glanced puzzled at Bhai Muskurana who was very serious under his brown hood.
"Someone called us to stop a lynch mob," the monk said. "When we reached the square, they had already started throwing stones at the young couple. Both families. The pair were huddled together, him trying to protect her."
Sunil held his breath. His eyes widened as he stared at the abbot. "Tell me it wasn't..."
Bhai Sundar slowly nodded. "Bishma and Rohini. They found them, dragged them back to town and punished them."
"When we managed to stop the stoning, it was already too late," Bhai Muskurana added with tears in his eyes. "Bishma had taken most of the beating and was already dead. Rohini died shortly after from her wounds. I gave her what comfort I could during her last moments."
Sunil's jaw dropped. Rohini and Bishma were both dead? Stoned by their families because they had dared defy them?
"Does my father know about this?" he asked with a strangled voice.
"I don't think so." The abbot shook his head. "It was your elder brother and Bishma's father who led the stoning. They found the fugitives on the southern coast – the assassins did, but Bishma's family was very happy to join in the carnage."
At least his father wasn't involved. But now he had another brother to punish. Chakram, Pata... he'd earn his assassin's name by killing his brothers?
Sunil clenched his teeth and stared at the floor. He really hated his family now.
"Sunil, are you all right?" the abbot asked, concern in his voice.
"Yes," he snapped. He stared at Bhai Sundar, determined. "I will do everything in my power to stop my family and the assassins' trade," he swore. "There's too much blood on their hands and with the help of Zindagi I will put an end to that."
"When you finish your training, you will be given a pole-arm with the seal of Zindagi," the abbot said. "Use it wisely."
I know I'm entitled to have it, but that won't be enough. My father will never have such a thing in his hands, even if it's the reason why he sent me here. And I know a scar won't stop my brothers.
But he bowed his head and kept his mouth shut.
***
The rest of the year, he studied more than ever to keep his mind busy. He visited his mother every month, and they reminisced about Rohini and Bishma's love. The woman couldn't stop the killing of her daughter and felt guilty about it. But she wasn't an assassin – in her own, sour words only "a breeding cow" for Sunil's father – and had no voice in the house.
She'd notified her husband and had received a gruff reply. Pata had gone back to Akulina and was still unpunished. As months went by, she managed to convince Sunil to let it go, that some things were bigger than pesky human beings and should be left in the gods' hands.
The abbot kept telling him that if Zindagi had wanted Rohini and Bishma to live, the fighting monks would have reached them in time. But Sunil still thought that his family was evil and must be stopped.
He spent the two weeks break in the library and prepared for the final year. He became the best student of the monastery in spite of being two years younger than his classmates. He was proficient with all weapons, more well-read and devotional than anybody else. Many thought he'd be ordained, since he spent more time in the temple than the monks.
Sunil had gone back to the temple to build his spiritual strength. He knew his final exam wouldn't be at the monastery, but when he went back to his father, and he wanted to make sure he could resist the pressure of his powerful family. He was determined to take them down or die trying.
And then he turned nineteen, and the day came the abbot handed him a pole-arm with a proud smile.
"You earned it, Sunil. Take it, spend the night in prayer and tomorrow tell us your choice."
Sunil glanced at the offered pole-arm, but didn't touch it.
"I cannot accept it," he said.
The abbot exchanged a puzzled glance with Bhai Muskurana who was also present for the private ceremony.
"Why not?" Bhai Sundar asked. "You worked really hard over the past six years, in spite of everything that befell you..."
"Because that's why my father sent me here. To steal your secret spell. I've known for some time now that you're the only one who knows how to weave it, Bhai Sundar, and we only learn how to activate it. But I wanted to complete my training with you before going back to him with my failure."
"Why did he want to learn the spell?" the abbot asked, incredulous. "It's not lethal!"
Sunil scoffed. "He knows that. He was marked in his twenties, and he's still strong and healthy. I don't know what use he intends to make of the seal, therefore I will not provide him with one."
"You're still determined to take down the Assassins' Guild all by yourself?" Bhai Muskurana asked, amused.
"Maybe not." Sunil lowered his eyes. "Maybe I will only stop my father from expanding north of the desert. He started a new, secret assassins' school and plans on reaching Argantael and Godwalkar."
"That's Genn territory now," the abbot said. "I doubt assassins can do much against a Magical Race." He put down the unwanted pole-arm and opened his arms. "Good luck, then, Sunil. May you bring life instead of death wherever you go."
Sunil gulped down the sudden lump in his throat and hugged the abbot who had been more gentle and understanding in the past six years than his own father.
Then he looked at Bhai Muskurana who grinned and gave him a bear hug. "Zindagi bless you," he whispered in his ear.
Sunil pulled away from both and smiled weakly.
He took off his white vestment and handed it back to Bhai Muskurana. He joined his hands and bowed again before going to pack and leave the monastery – probably forever.
***
Sunil reached the camp in the ruins at the same time as a messenger, so he waited outside his father's tent until the man was shooed out. He entered the tent and found his father thoughtful.
Khopesh brightened at the sight of him.
"Sunil! You came back at the right time! You're all manly now! Tell me the good news!"
"I'm afraid the news is not so good," Sunil said, stopping next to his father and not sitting down. "The abbot decided an assassin shouldn't be given the pole-arm of Zindagi."
Khopesh cursed under his breath. "But you know how to activate the spell?" he asked with a frown.
"Yes. Why, you have a seal?" Sunil replied, genuinely surprised.
"I'm sure there's still one in Godwalkar," Khopesh answered through clenched teeth. "We couldn't find it when we went there fourteen years ago."
Sunil nodded, but didn't comment. So the other assassin had kept his pole-arm and still ran an assassins' guild. He should really get rid of all the Assassins' Guilds – Zindagi would be pleased.
Khopesh caressed his chin as he pondered.
"We're going to retrieve it," he said, showing the folded message. "Chakram and Shamsher are back in Godwalkar. We're going north. You will earn your assassin's name by killing the Head of the Guild of Argantael."
Sunil nodded, impassive. Khopesh gave a brief laugh that sounded like a cackle.
"When we find Talwar's seal, we will mark all the dissidents and establish our own rule." He glanced at his youngest son and smirked. "And if you want to get rid of your brother, afterward, know you'll be rewarded."
Sunil half-smiled. "Thank you, Father. Sorry I disappointed you."
"Nah, it's not you, it's that son of a bitch of an abbot," Khopesh grumbled. "I sure hope he didn't brainwash you into worshiping Zindagi. We are assassins, we've been such for generations. It's in our blood."
Our evil blood. I will wipe it away.
"Yes, Father," he said staring ahead. His father probably didn't have much time left to live, but he must be careful. He'll kill Shamsher, Chakram, Pata and Nimcha one at a time. The hardest would be to find Shamsher and Chakram away from each other, so he'd start with them.
He hadn't seen any of them in six years, but they were going to meet soon. Sunil was ready to avenge Girish and get rid of the northern assassin who had disrupted his family.
Acknowledgments
A special thank to beta-readers B-Abby, Michael, Lissa, Nancy and mostly Camila who loved "Saif's Legacy" so much, she prompted me to write more about those characters.
And thank you Mighty Editor Zoe Markham for proof-reading.
If you'd like to read the birth of the Varian Empire from another point of view, check Books of the Immortals – Fire.
***
Interviews with Kilig the Sword
http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/character-interview-number-twenty-three-kilig-the-sword/
and
https://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/interview-with-kilig/
***
About the Author
Barbara G.Tarn had an intense life in the Middle Ages that stuck to her through the centuries. She prefers swords to guns, long gowns to mini-skirts, and even though she buried the warrior woman, she deplores the death of knights in shining chainmail. She likes to think her condo apartment is a medieval castle, unfortunately lacking a dungeon to throw noisy neighbors and naughty colleagues in. Also known as the Lady with the Unicorns, these days she prefers to add a touch of fantasy to all her stories, past and present – when she’s not wandering on her fantasy world of Silvery Earth or in her science fantasy Star Minds Universe. She dabbles into historical fantasy with her Vampires Through the Centuries series and has started post-apocalyptic/steampunk series called Future Earth Chronicles. She’s a writer, sometimes artist, mostly a world-creator and story-teller. Two of her stories received an Honorable Mention at the Writers of the Future contest and one was published in Pulphouse Magazine #5 (March 2019). She writes, draws, ignores her day job and blogs at: http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com.
For more info on the series or other titles go to Unicorn Productions.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on your retailer of choice, thank you.
Did you love Kilig the Sword? Then you should read Male Lovers of Silvery Earth by Barbara G.Tarn!
5 stories of male lovers throughout the history of Silvery Earth.Collection of the novellas "The Death of Queen Amazonia" (1300s), "Saif's Legacy" (1600s) and "Allan de Sayek" (1700s) and the short story "The Lords of War" (from Tales of the Southern Kingdoms vol.2 – 1500s).New story: "The Young King", the first of "More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms" (1400s)
"The Death of Queen Amazonia"Being a man in the Queendom of Maadre is tough, especially with the founding Queen, Amazonia.When Smeraldo is called to the Queen's bed, he doesn't expect the cruelty awaiting him. Only a foreign merchant can help him to recover from the shock.But Amazonia, who is almost two-hundred years old, is relentless."The young king"A mighty warrior kills his own general to save the gorgeous young king, and then struggles to keep control over his emotions."The Lords of War"Foreign men, foreign culture; the continued destruction of Akkora. Not a love story."Saif's legacy"The southern kingdoms are no more, but the Assassins' Guild is still there – honorable men who would never hurt women or children. Saif has been living as a woodcutter for fifteen years, but on his deathbed he calls for his former apprentice, Kilig. Saif's legacy – his son Hakeem – will avenge him, and possibly mend Kilig's broken heart."Allan de Sayek"A forbidden love. A marriage of interest. A second chance.An endless love only death can end.
Read more at Barbara G.Tarn’s site.
Also by Barbara G.Tarn
Future Earth Chronicles
Brainwaves (Future Earth Chronicles Book 1)
Wanderlust (Future Earth Chronicles Book 2)
Across Continents (Future Earth Chronicles Book 3)
Himalayas (Future Earth Chronicles Book 4)
Airships (Future Earth Chronicles Book 5)
Silvery Earth
Books of the Immortals - Air
Books of the Immortals - Earth
Books of the Immortals - Ether
Books of the Immortals - Fire
Books of the Immortals - Water
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 1
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 2
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 3
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth
Amazon Spring
Amazon Summer
Books of the Immortals
The Hooded Man
Kilig & Hakeem
Saif & Kilig
Kilig the Sword
The Young King
Firebird
Beautiful
Amazon Fall
The Path of Water (Quests Book 1)
The Path of Fire (Quests Book 2)
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 1
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2
Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth
Tales of the Queendom of Maadre
More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
The Path of Air (Quests Book 3)
Quests Volume One: The Paths of Water and Air
The Path of Earth (Quests Book 4)
Quests Volume Two: The Paths of Fire and Earth
Talwar and Khanda - Assassins in Love
Saif's Story
Honorable Assassins
Axelle, Wanderer (Silvery Earth Heroines)
The Complete Chronicles of the Varian Empire Box Set
Assassins Guild of Silvery Earth Box Set
Fall of the Southern Kingdoms
Angelica, Scholar (Silvery Earth Heroines)
Two Stories of the Varian Empire
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 3
The Sun Sword (Legends of the Moren Empire Volume 1)
Quests Box Set
Star Minds Italiano
Angelo Tecnologico (Star Minds #1)
Mercanti di Schiavi (Star Minds #3)
Star Minds - la trilogia
Stella Cadente
Legame Mentale (Star Minds #2)
Star Minds Frammenti - Donne
Star Minds Frammenti
Star Minds Universe
Star Minds - The Trilogy
Star Minds Snippets
Star Minds Next Generation
Star Minds Next Generation Diaries
Star Minds Chasing Stardom
Star Minds Interregnum
Star Minds Third Generation Snippets
Star Minds Starter
Adventurer (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Pilot (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Hacker (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Thief (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Mercenary (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Freelance (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Star Minds Lone Wolves Shorts
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 1-5
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 6-10
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 11-15
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 16-20
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 21-25
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 26-29
Rogue (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Terra d'Argento in italiano
Amori Maschili a Terra d'Argento
Kilig the Sword Page 31
