Harshini by Jennifer Fallon Read Free Book Online Page B

had received the bulk of the King’s largesse. It had been faced with marble since Brak saw it last and an impressive pair of fluted columns now supported an elaborate portico carved with cavorting demons at the entrance. It had done him little good, Brak knew. Despite almost thirty years of trying, he had yet to produce a legitimate son, although he had sired enough bastards to fill a small town.
    Finally, Brak turned into a discreet, single-storey inn that sheltered almost directly under the high pink wall surrounding the Summer Palace. A slave hurriedforward to take his mount in the shaded courtyard and he tipped the lad generously. There were slaves that owned more wealth than their masters in Fardohnya, and one could, if one chose to, purchase one’s freedom. Many did not. There was a degree of job security in being a slave that was hard to beat in the uncertain world of the free man.
    The interior of the inn was dim and cool, the entrance separated by a whitewashed trellis from the low hum of conversation emanating from the taproom. The owner hurried forward, took in Brak’s travel-stained appearance, noticed the jingling purse tucked in his belt, did a quick mental calculation, then bowed obsequiously.
    “My Lord.”
    Brak was quite certain he looked nothing like a nobleman in his current state, but the innkeeper was covering himself against the possibility that this new arrival was a gentleman of means.
    “I require rooms,” he announced.
    “Certainly, my Lord. I have a vacancy in the north wing. It is closest to the palace walls. One can hear the joyous laughter of the princesses at play, if one listens closely.”
    Brak thought that highly unlikely. “I also need to contact someone from the Assassins’ Guild.”
    “Did you want anyone in particular?”
    “I need to speak with the Raven.”
    The little man’s eyes narrowed. “The head of the Assassins’ Guild does not meet with just anybody, my Lord.”
    “He’ll meet with me,” Brak assured him confidently.
    “You know him then?”
    “That’s none of your business.” Actually, Brak had no idea who now held the post, and didn’t particularly care. The Assassins’ Guild was simply the best source of intelligence in Fardohnya.
    “Of course not, my Lord!” he gushed, wringing his hands. Only the wealthiest of noblemen could afford to deal with the Assassins’ Guild. Brak had just gone up considerably in the innkeeper’s estimation. “Forgive me for being so forward. I will show you to your rooms at once. If there is anything I can do…”
    “You could be quiet, for a start,” Brak remarked coldly, already annoyed by the man.
    “Of course, my Lord! What was I thinking? Be quiet…Oh…” The innkeeper clamped his lips together when he noticed the look on Brak’s face.
    “That’s better. Now, if you could show me the room? I want a bath too. And some lunch.”
    The man nodded, wisely saying nothing further. With a snap of his fingers another slave hurried forward to show Brak to his rooms.
    Much to Brak’s surprise, the contact from the Assassins’ Guild was a woman. Fardohnya was notoriously patriarchal and it was rare for a woman to hold any position of note. He was not even aware that they had changed the rules to admit women to the Guild. She was small and slender, the long, palegreen robe she wore concealing what Brak was certain would be a body in superb physical condition. It was hard to judge her age; she might have been twenty, or perhaps forty. Brak suspected the latter. Her eyes were too knowing, too cautious and too world-weary for her to be in the first bloom of youth.
    She came to his rooms after dinner, knocking softly on the whitewashed door. He opened it cautiously and looked her up and down. On the middle finger of her left hand she wore the small gold raven ring of the Guild. While he privately considered it the height of arrogant stupidity to announce one’s profession so openly, particularly for an assassin, that