Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas Read Free Book Online Page A

us out of Rifthold right now. Needed to get us out of the city for a month.”
    A chill went through her. “Arobynn wouldn’t do that.”
    “Wouldn’t he?” Sam asked. “Did we ever find out why Ben was there the night Gregori got captured?”
    “If you’re implying that Arobynn somehow set Ben up to—”
    “I’m not implying anything. But some things don’t add up. And there are questions that haven’t been answered.”
    “We’re not supposed to question Arobynn,” she murmured.
    “And since when do you ever follow orders?”
    She stood. “Let’s get through the next few days. Then we’ll consider whatever conspiracy theories you’re inventing.”
    Sam was on his feet in an instant. “I don’t have any theories . Just questions that you should be asking yourself, too. Why did he want us gone this month?”
    “We can trust Arobynn.” Even as the words left her mouth, she felt stupid for saying them.
    Sam stooped to pick up his boots. “I’m going back to the tavern. Are you coming?”
    “No. I’m staying here for a little longer.”
    Sam gave her an appraising look, but nodded. “We’re to examine Arobynn’s slaves on their ship at four tomorrow afternoon. Try not to stay out here the whole night. We need all the rest we can get.”
    She didn’t reply, and turned away before she could watch him head toward the golden lights of Skull’s Bay.
    She walked along the curve of the shoreline, all the way to the lone watchtower. After studying it from the shadows—the two catapults near its top, the giant chain anchored above them—she continued on. She walked until there was nothing in the world but the grumble and hiss of the waves, the sigh of the sand beneath her feet, and the glare of the moon on the water.
    She walked until a surprisingly cold breeze swept past her. She halted.
    Slowly, Celaena turned north, toward the source of the breeze, which smelled of a faraway land she hadn’t seen in eight years. Pine and snow—a city still in winter’s grasp. She breathed it in, staring across the leagues of lonely, black ocean, seeing, somehow, that distant city that had once, long ago, been her home. The wind ripped the strands of hair from her braid, lashing them across her face. Orynth. A city of light and music, watched over by an alabaster castle with an opal tower so bright it could be viewed for miles.
    The moonlight vanished behind a thick cloud. In the sudden dark, the stars glowed brighter.
    She knew all the constellations by heart, and she instinctively sought out the Stag, Lord of the North, and the immovable star that crowned his head.
    Back then, she hadn’t had any choice. When Arobynn offered her this path, it was either that, or death. But now …
    She took a shuddering breath. No, she was as limited in her choices as she’d been when she was eight years old. She was Adarlan’s Assassin, Arobynn Hamel’s protégée and heir—and she would always be.
    It was a long walk back to the tavern.

CHAPTER
6
    After yet another miserably hot and sleepless night, Celaena spent the following day with Sam, walking through the streets of Skull’s Bay. They kept their pace leisurely, pausing at various vendors’ carts and popping into the occasional shop, but all the while tracing each step of their plan, going over every detail that they’d need to orchestrate perfectly.
    From the fishermen along the docks, they learned that the rowboats tied to the piers belonged to nobody in particular, and that tomorrow’s morning tide came in just after sunrise. Not advantageous, but better than midday.
    From flirting with the harlots along the main street, Sam learned that every once in a while, Rolfe covered the tab for all the pirates in his service, and the revelry lasted for days. Sam also picked up a few other pointers that he refused to tell Celaena about.
    And from the half-drunk pirate languishing in an alley, Celaenalearned how many men guarded the slave ships, what manner of weapons