Assassins' Dawn by Stephen Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

your forces,” he said. “They interfered with the two assassins and were in part to blame for Gunnar’s escape. I wouldn’t bring that up before the Assembly, Li-Gallant, but let’s not try to deceive ourselves here. You sent four killers of your own—and without declaring bloodfeud, which the Neweden Assembly might find interesting—and they failed. Accuse Hoorka, Li-Gallant, and Hoorka will speak the truth. Again, with no disrespect.”
    Vingi didn’t deny the veracity of the Thane’s words. The raised fist struck the desk with soft anger. Papers scattered there didn’t move.
    “Almost,” he said.
    “They killed Ricia Cuscratti, Gunnar’s mistress, I believe.” The Hoorka’s voice seemed devoid of any emotion, but behind the words was contempt. “I understand that, as kin-lord of a competing guild, you’ve sent a tithing to defray the expense of the death rites. A gift. I hope it eased your conscience.”
    “M’Dame Cuscratti’s death was unfortunate but almost unavoidable. She was harboring Gunnar.” Vingi smiled. “And if those people responsible are ever found, my government will punish them. They’ll pay the fine for accidental death.”
    “Ahh.” So he won’t admit it, even privately.
    “I fail to see, in any event, what bearing that has on the failure of Hoorka.”
    “It caused the two Hoorka trailing Gunnar to lose several hours. Had, ahh, the person who sent the intruders more trust in the Hoorka, you might have had your death.”
    “I’m not interested in excuses.”
    “We’ve no need for excuses. The Hoorka had to deal with interference. It doesn’t matter who caused it. But I intend to post notice of feud with the Assembly, should we find those responsible. So I wish your investigation success, neh?” The Thane waved a disparaging hand. “The Hoorka can also play the game of pretended ignorance.”
    Vingi shrugged. The cloth of his robes glistened with interwoven metallic strands. The Thane allowed himself another brief moment of amusement. Vingi compounded distrust on distrust. That fabric would turn back the sting of any hand weapon, and the Thane was certain that when he’d arrived he’d been surreptitiously searched: beamed and probed. He also knew that if he intended to kill the obese man before him, he wouldn’t need any weapon other than his hands. The Li-Gallant didn’t trust him—that was obvious, and it was disturbing. The Hoorka-guild was based on the precept that no Hoorka would kill unless threatened or contracted to do so. Never without warning, unlike the other guilds, who declared bloodfeud at the slightest provocation. Vingi’s uncertainty in the face of that code was a bad omen.
    The Thane decided to waste no more time. “You have our payment, I suppose?”
    Vingi’s face became a rictus, a snarl. “You demand a large price for small results.”
    “You know the code, and you declined to pay in advance.” There was no apology in the Thane’s voice. It lashed at the Li-Gallant with feigned nonchalance. Yet the Thane knew that this was a dangerous moment. He felt uncertainty in his tactics. Do I doubt myself so much? Where is the vaunted confidence?
    “I’ve registered a complaint with the Neweden Assembly.” There was a triumphant sneer on Vingi’s face, a vestige of bravado. “The Alliance Regent, m’Dame d’Embry, has expressed her interest in this situation, and I felt it might aid her, as she has said that she would like answers to the questions I’ve raised.”
    “You play dangerously, Li-Gallant, if I may speak frankly. I wouldn’t care to have a bloodfeud between your kin and mine, were I you. We are trained for fighting.”
    “You’ll be notified when to appear, Thane. You must admit that circumstances—despite any protestations of interference from, ahh, outside sources—are suspicious. If the Hoorka are aligned with Gunnar’s party, they’re a danger to the stability of Neweden government. Surely you see that. No disrespect