The Guild of Assassins by Anna Kashina Read Free Book Online Page A

you call the severed head they sent along a pleasantry, Magister...” The King spread his hands in a wordless gesture.
    “I think,” Mother Keeper said quietly, “it is quite clear that this Conclave is no longer run by the priests.”
    The King stared unseeingly into space.
    “I see only one possible course of action,” he said. “We must assemble an army and go to the Monastery to dislodge this hornets’ nest and rescue Father Bartholomeos.”
    Mother Keeper shook her head. “The people of Tallan Dar would never support it, Your Majesty. They would never believe rumors of the Dark Brotherhood to be a sufficient reason to lead an open armed force against peaceful servants of Lord Shal Addim.”
    “ Peaceful ?” Evan threw another glance at the letter. Only now Kyth noticed a rust-colored splotch staining the corner of the parchment. He hastily placed the letter back on the table.
    “You are right, of course, Your Majesty,” Magister Egey Bashi said. “But common folk don’t know that. If you were to lead such an army, this would result in a revolt.”
    Evan frowned. “Do you suggest I do nothing?”
    Mother Keeper shook her head. “Not at all. A response is warranted, and fast. But I think our only chance would be to send a small force of highly skilled warriors to rescue Father Bartholomeos.” She glanced at Raishan.
    “The Majat.”
    “Yes.”
    “How many?”
    “How many can the crown afford?”
    The King sighed. “Not enough, I’m afraid, even though I am willing to empty our treasury for this cause. If only Aghat Mai and Kara would agree to fight on our side. Their skill – as well as their resistance to the Kaddim – could make all the difference.” He looked at Kyth, but the Prince averted his eyes.
    Seeing no response from his son, Evan turned to Raishan. “Can’t we still try to convince either of them?”
    The Diamond shook his head. “Aghat Mai has already left, Your Majesty. He seemed pretty determined.”
    Evan shrugged. “I must confess I still can’t quite understand his decision.”
    “Aghat Mai is a man of duty,” Raishan said. “He has always put the Guild above all else. For him, it is unthinkable to do otherwise.”
    Egey Bashi’s lips twitched. “You forget that his current predicament resulted from disobeying his orders in the first place.”
    Raishan’s face darkened. “I spoke to him about it. While personally I am glad that he chose to spare Kara’s life, I have to say that it was very unlike Aghat Mai to do a thing like that.”
    “And how did he explain it?”
    “In a strange sense, he believes he has done what’s best for the Guild.”
    “I hope Master Oden Lan sees it that way.”
    Raishan sighed. “For Master Oden Lan, this has become personal. Far too personal for him to see straight.”
    Egey Bashi shifted in his seat. “Yes. I wouldn’t want to be in Aghat Mai’s place when they face each other over this. And, I can’t escape the feeling that we should do our best to help this situation. We simply can’t afford to lose a Diamond of Aghat Mai’s skill, someone who is able to resist the Kaddim.”
    “Do you know how he and Kara managed to acquire this resistance?” the King asked.
    The Keeper threw an uncomfortable glance at Kyth. “I am not exactly sure, Your Majesty. I believe that it comes from their deep ability to focus their minds.”
    “Can other Majat be taught this?”
    The Keeper kept his eyes on Kyth, making the Prince feel disconcerted. What does it have to do with me?
    “Perhaps, Your Majesty,” Egey Bashi said. “I guess we’ll never know without trying.”
    “Can it be used as a bargaining chip with the Majat Guild? We can offer that, if they accept our alliance, we could teach them to become resistant to the Kaddim. This way they would likely lend us more warriors than the crown could afford.”
    Egey Bashi tore his eyes from Kyth and turned back to the King. “It’s a possibility, Your Majesty. But I believe Prince