Master of the Dance by T C Southwell Read Free Book Online Page A

persuade him, my love. He does seem to respect you."
    When Kerrion pushed open the door to Blade's rooms, they found the assassin newly risen, splashing his face in the basin by the window, clad only in his trousers. He shot them a sour glance, particularly Kerrion, who settled on a chair in the sitting area. The rooms were furnished in Cotti style, and lacked the cushions that Jashimari favoured. Blade rubbed his face with a towel, then pulled on a clean shirt before he turned and bowed to Minna.
    "My Queen."
    She inclined her head. "My Lord. Are you well?"
    "Well enough. Perhaps a little tired. I assume that you have heard of Chaymin's death?"
    Minna sat beside her husband, nodding. "I would like very much to know how you did it, My Lord."
    "As would a great many people, I would wager."
    "Indeed. Not least the guards who did not see you."
    He sat opposite them, lacing up his shirt. "What does it matter how I did it, so long as it is done?"
    "I am filled with curiosity, My Lord, as well as admiration. Will you not tell me?"
    A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "I will not brave your powers of persuasion, My Queen. I know them to be considerable, and relentless. It is easy to understand how I did it, when you consider that I am good at picking locks."
    She tilted her head. "Through the balcony gates?"
    "Yes."
    "And to reach the balcony, you climbed the wall?"
    He shook his head. "I climbed down from the roof. There were less guards there."
    "Were you in the room when the guards came to check on the Prince, after hearing him speak?"
    Blade nodded. "I had to ensure that the man in the tub was not a manservant serving as a decoy, so I woke him up. Had Trelath thought to have Chaymin sleep elsewhere, he would still be alive. Either he is not as clever as he appears, or he wanted Chaymin dead. I must assume that these precautions were taken too late for Kerrion's spies to report them."
    The King looked up from his perusal of the floor. "I knew nothing about this trap, Blade, or else I would have warned you. The last thing I want is for you to fail. Perhaps you should not rely too heavily on the information my spies provide. It is possible that some of them are compromised."
    "I will not, in future," the assassin agreed. "Chaymin was supposed to be unaware of his danger, but the kill was easy enough, despite his precautions. Trelath will be far more difficult, and I have decided that I will disguise myself as your brother Dravis. I shall require a good description of him, and some of his clothes."
    "Dravis?" Kerrion's brows rose in surprise. "Why Dravis?"
    The assassin rose and stretched, then tucked in his shirt and walked over to the window. "He is plotting against you, is he not?"
    "Yes, but how do you know?"
    Blade shrugged. "Does it matter?"
    "If you have been spying on -"
    "I have not. Now, can you get me the clothes, and one of his daggers?"
    The King nodded, frowning. "Yes."
    "Describe him."
    "He is young, only eighteen, and handsome. Some say he is a bit of a dandy, for he takes great pride in his appearance. His hair is shoulder length, as you used to wear yours." Kerrion glanced at the assassin's cropped hair. "Pale blond. His skin is lighter than mine, since he spends less time in the sun. But he is taller than you, and broader."
    "A little padding will change that. I do not need to look exactly like him, only enough to fool the guards from a distance."
    "Of all my brothers, he looks the most like you. The rest of us have our father's nose, but Dravis does not."
    Blade turned from the window. "Can you get the clothes and dagger today?"
    "Yes. I will send a manservant to his rooms when he is out on his daily stroll in the gardens."
    "And when would he be alone in his chambers?"
    "At dusk, I would assume, when he bathes."
    The assassin strolled back to the chair and sank into it. "Find out for certain, your spies must know. He too may have been forewarned by Trelath, and change his routine. What is his familiar?"
    "A