Death and Honor: Book 2 of 2 (11 page)

“Hey, we’re supposed to be a team, remember?” Alan said.

Xander shrugged. He’d said all he intended to. He listened to the others for the better part of an hour before the weeks of travel caught up to him. Xander yawned and got up. “If we’re going on our first mission tomorrow we’d best get some sleep. Good evening.”

Xander returned to his room and opened the empty footlocker. He had next to nothing in the way of gear so he put his old mask in the locker so it wouldn’t be empty then undressed and leaned his sword next to the bed where it would be handy. He slipped his fine dagger under his pillow, crawled into bed and went to sleep.

H
igh sun found
Xander and the team riding well north of the city. Early that morning Sorren had gathered them together and explained the mission, it was a straightforward assassination. A group of bandits had taken to raiding the trade routes leading to the city under the mountain. The city council had dispatched a messenger requesting the bandit leader be dealt with as a warning to the rest. Grandfather had been happy to help.

Shadow hand scouts had located the band and determined the group made a regular stop at a mountain village twenty miles from the mountain. They were due to arrive today. Sorren had laid all this information at the team’s feet with the simple order to kill the leader. He didn’t care how or how many others they killed as long as the leader died. They received directions to the village and a detailed drawing of the target.

They rode at an easy pace, intending to arrive at the village around dusk. Olin pointed to a creek flowing near the road and guided his horse toward it. Xander and the others joined him and dismounted. The horses drank and nibbled the grass along the bank with their riders took food from the saddlebags and sat down for lunch.

They ate in silence for a couple minutes before Olin said, “I suppose we should make a plan.”

The others nodded, but Xander kept eating.

“Perhaps I could charm one of the serving girls to slip poison into his food,” Alan said.

“Too many things could go wrong,” Olin spoke around a mouth full of food. “I figure we should wait till morning and when he comes out I’ll put a quarrel through him and we’ll be on our way.”

Anika shook her head. “Tradition demands one of us sneak into the inn and cut his throat while he sleeps. That technique has been used by generations of assassins.”

Xander smiled as he listened to them argue that each of them had the best plan. Alan noticed his amusement. “What’s so funny? You haven’t even offered a suggestion.”

Xander took a pull from his water skin. “There’s no point in making a plan—”

“We have to have a plan,” Anika said. “We can’t rush in with no idea what we’re going to do.”

“If you’d let me finish, I was going to say there’s no point making a plan yet. We need to see the lay of the land, what the inn looks like, how many men we need to get past, and a bunch of other things I don’t know yet. What’s the town called again?”

“Rocky Knob,” Alan said.

“Right, we get there, scout around, and then make a plan.”

“Who put you in charge, boy?” Olin asked.

“I lay no claim to being in charge. I stated the facts and made a suggestion. If you don’t like it make whatever plans you want.” Xander lay back on the grass and closed his eyes.

Ten minutes later found the group back on the road and Olin grumbling. They made no plan after Xander spoke and he’d seem pleased. Alan rode up beside him. “You seem to know more about strategy than I’d expect from a thieves’ guild enforcer.”

Xander glanced at him, trying to decide if he should take offense and decided he didn’t care enough about what Alan thought to get offended. “My father held the rank of Knight Commander before he was killed. He taught my brother and me how to fight and how to think. Most wars are won before the first battle is fought.”

“This isn’t a war.”

“Wrong, all life is a war on one scale or another. Take an old married couple. Are you going to tell me two people married for fifty years aren’t at war?” Xander grinned. “In this little war we have one big advantage.”

“What’s that?” Alan asked.

“The enemy doesn’t know the battle is about to start.”

T
hey reached
the outskirts of the village at sunset. Not far off the road they found a clump of trees and tied up the horses. The group walked into town and down the main, and solitary, street. On the right hand side three quarters of the way into town stood a large building with a couple dozen horses tied up out front. That had to be the inn.

“I’ll check it out,” Alan said.

Xander nodded and when no one else objected he walked up to the door like he owned the place, ignoring the two large men standing beside it. Xander and the others continued down the street.

He turned to Olin. “See any good hiding places?”

The older man nodded. “I see a couple.”

The town wasn’t large and they soon reached the far end. A middle-aged man in a peasant’s smock came out of a shack at the edge of town. Xander walked up to him. “Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me where three weary travelers might find a room for the night?”

The peasant coughed and spat. “You picked a poor night to visit. Town’s got but one inn and she’s full up.”

“I feared as much when I saw the horses. Perhaps we can find a spot on the common room floor. It would be warm if nothing else.”

The villager looked around quick. “I wouldn’t recommend it, son. Rough crew over there tonight.”

“I see. Thanks for the warning.” Xander flipped the villager a copper penny. The man caught it and stomped back into his hovel. “That all but confirms it. Let’s find Alan and make our plan.”

They walked back up the street and Alan ran over to join them when they passed the inn. The four of them continued on to the horses.

“How’d it look?” Anika asked.

“Two guards at the front and two more at the rear. They looked bored but alert.”

Xander raised an eyebrow. “Any ideas?”

All three argued for the exact same plans they had that morning. Xander listened for a few minutes before losing his temper. “Enough!”

They fell silent and looked at him. “We’re supposed to be a team, remember? Here’s what we’ll do. Olin, you hide in one of the spots you mentioned and watch the front. Anika and I will go to the back door and take out the guards. I’ll go in and eliminate the target while she watches the back door. Alan, you stay here. If he gets past us you’re our last chance to finish the job.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be in charge.” Olin said.

“I don’t, but since you three want to argue I guess the job falls to me. Now let’s go.”

Xander walked toward the inn, not caring if the others followed or not. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Olin sneak into position across from the inn. They followed along after all. Anika hurried to catch up to him and the two of them kept their distance as they eased around to the back of the inn. Like Alan said two guards stood beside the back door. A torch burned beside them, looking from the light into the dark would ruin their night vision.

Xander leaned in close to Anika and noticed the faint scent of jasmine. “Let’s sneak around to the other side and make sure no one else is keeping watch.”

He just made out her nod and they slipped silent as mice to the far side of the rear of the inn. They found no other guards. Xander picked up a pebble. “I’m going to take them.”

He flipped the pebble over the guards’ heads so it clattered on the ground opposite form the assassins crouched. When the guards looked toward the sound Xander charged, drawing his sword as he went. The nearest guard looked back in time to get his throat cut. Xander reversed his grip on his sword and rammed through the second guard’s ribs, piercing both lungs, when the guard tried to shout an alarm all that came out was a bloody bubble. Xander ripped the blade free and drove it into the first guard’s chest as he tried to reach for the door.

With the two guards down he looked back toward Anika. She’d come out of her hiding place and stood at the edge of the torch light staring at him, mouth agape. He cleaned his sword and sheathed in. She still stared at him. Xander frowned and snapped his fingers in front of her a couple times. “You want to focus? We’ve still got work to do.”

“Sorry.” Anika shook her head. “I’ve never seen anyone move that fast.”

“Be grateful. If you had you’d probably be dead. I’m going in. If you hear a brawl get ready. The target will most likely try to escape out this door.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Xander nodded and opened the door. He slipped inside in a hurry so none of the staff would see the bodies. He needn’t have worried. There was only one harried cook in the kitchen and he was focused on a stove covered with six bubbling pots. He never registered Xander’s entrance. Happy to leave him in ignorance Xander went through the door connecting the kitchen to the common room.

Noise and the stink of spilled ale and vomit assaulted him when he stepped through the door. A pair of drummers pounded out a drinking song and better than two score voices sang with more enthusiasm than talent. Xander shook his head. It looked like the ale flowed free. He threaded his way through the room unnoticed or ignored by the drunken bandits. He spotted the leader in a booth at the rear on the common room, a buxom blond beside him. The thick black beard and missing left eye made him easy to spot even in this rough crew.

One of the bandits slapped him on the back. Xander spun around and reached for his sword. “Have a drink!” The bandit handed him a sloshing mug of ale.

Xander accepted the mug and clinked it against the bandit’s who took a huge swallow before staggering off. Xander set his drink down on a table untouched. He continued his meandering path to the back booth. When he’d almost reached the target he slipped the stiletto he’d taken from the armory out of its forearm sheath and held it in a reverse grip in his right hand, the blade laid along his forearm.

He stepped up beside the table. “Do you lead these dogs?”

When the bandit chief looked up Xander’s hand shot forward, switching his grip as he went, and burying the blade in the man’s good eye, he fell forward on to the table, twitched once, and went still. The woman started to scream, but Xander clamped his hand over her mouth. She looked at him with eyes wide with fear. Xander grimaced. She’d bring the room down on him the instant he let go. He sighed, balled up his fist, and decked her. She crumpled beside the dead leader.

Xander turned and relaxed when he saw none of the bandits even noticed what he’d done. Satisfied, he turned back to the kitchen staggering in his best imitation of a drunk. He paused to collect his untouched mug of ale and went through the kitchen door.

The cook looked up when he entered. “Do you need something?”

“A little fresh air.” Xander set the mug on the kitchen counter and went out the back. He stepped into the torch light and slammed the door behind him before the cook could spot the dead guards.

Anika stepped into the light. “Well?”

“It’s done, let’s go.”

“Did you have any trouble?”

They skirted around the inn to collect Olin. “No, I could have marched through behind a band and carrying a sign that said I’m here to kill your boss and they wouldn’t have paid any attention.”

Anika motioned Olin out of his hiding place and they left the village. Alan waited by the horses, pacing. “Did you get him?”

“We got him.” Xander untied his mount and swung up into the saddle. “Let’s put a few miles between us and the village. I doubt we’ll have anything to fear before noon tomorrow, but why risk it?”

They rode for an hour by moonlight before going off the road to camp.

“I’ll take last watch,” Xander said. He stretched out on the ground and closed his eyes. The excitement of the last hour left him more drained than a day of hard training. A few minutes passed and the others must have thought he’d fallen asleep.

“What happened?” Olin asked.

“We went around back,” Anika said. “We found the two guards like Alan said. Xander tossed a pebble to distract them.”

“What an amateur move,” Olin said.

“Three strokes in as many seconds and the guards were dead. I’ve never seen anyone move like that. They might as well not have been there for all the difference they made. The pebble trick might not have been the most complex distraction, but it was all he needed. I hope I never find myself on the opposite end of his sword.” Xander heard the shiver in her voice. “Once the guards were down he went in and five minutes later came back and said it was done.”

“He made it easy for the rest of us,” Alan said.

Xander smiled and stopped listening. It would be dawn soon enough.

T
wo years
and dozens of missions passed and a team of four became a team of two. Xander and Anika had made the cut and been accepted as full members of the guild. Alan got reassigned to recruiter, his charm making him a natural for the position. The council deemed Olin too old and sent him to serve as a guard at a guild safe house up north.

“It’s your move.” Grandfather’s voice shook him back to the present. Xander looked over the chessboard at the wizened figure that had become both his mentor and friend.

“Sorry, my mind wondered.”

“I could tell. Do you wish to continue? I have mate in five moves.”

Xander saw Grandfather had him boxed in and tipped his king over. “I’ll try to do better next time.”

Grandfather laughed then started coughing. When he caught his breath the old man said. “I think that’s enough for today. How goes your search for your family’s killers?”

“It doesn’t.”

Grandfather nodded. “I know. Why haven’t you asked Sorren to talk to the spies?”

“I don’t think I’ve done enough to earn it.”

Grandfather patted his arm. “You’ve done enough. Ask him.”

“I will, thank you, Grandfather.” Xander replaced the pieces on the board, got to his feet, and bowed.

He left the old man to rest. Outside a messenger waited. The boy bowed. “Message, sir.”

“For Grandfather?”

“No, sir, for you. Master Sorren wishes you to join him in the lounge at once.”

Xander patted the boy’s shoulder. “Thanks, I’m on my way.”

He made his way through the mountain and when he arrived at the lounge found Anika and Sorren waiting. “Where have you been?” Sorren asked, a scowl creasing his features. Last month Sorren received the much coveted promotion to elite assassin, thanks in no small part to Xander and Anika’s success. He stood one step away from a place on the council of eight and he wanted that place bad. “I sent the messenger for you an hour ago.”

“I was playing chess with Grandfather and the boy didn’t dare disturb us.” When he mentioned Grandfather Sorren’s eyes narrowed. Since Xander and Grandfather became friends the other assassins had fallen into two camps: those that wanted to use Xander’s relationship with the old man to gain more power and those jealous of him. Sorren seemed both jealous and interested in using him. Xander sat across from Anika. “What’s the job?”

“Who said I wanted you for a job?”

Xander raised an eyebrow.

Sorren sighed. “We’ve been contracted to eliminate a rich old merchant. The target is Sullivan Shale. He lives in a fortified mansion on an island about two weeks form here by ship. The guild hasn’t gotten any spies into his mansion so use your best judgment on how to proceed. A ship is waiting to take you as soon as you gather your equipment.”

“Who hired us?” Anika asked.

“Intermediaries were used so I don’t know the client’s name.”

“Not surprising, this isn’t the sort of thing you want getting out.” Xander stood. “Before we go I wondered if you’d have the spymaster look into who had my family killed.”

Sorren frowned. “The spy network has more important tasks. They aren’t here for the personal benefit of a junior member.”

“That’s what I said to Grandfather, but he insisted I ask.”

“Grandfather told you to ask?”

“Yeah, but if the spies are busy I understand. Forget I mentioned it.”

“I can have them keep their ears open. If they learn anything I’ll pass it along.”

“Thank you, sir, I appreciate it.”

Xander and Anika left the lounge and split up to gather their gear. They’d worked together enough to know who could best handle which task. Xander headed for the armory. Since he didn’t know what they’d be dealing with he decided more weapons would be better than less.

Anika hadn’t reached the stables yet when Xander arrived so he helped the stable boy saddle two horses. They finished a few seconds before she arrived, a bulging pack slung over her shoulder. “All set?” Xander asked.

She swung up on her horse. “I think so. If not they keep spare gear on the ship.”

They rode through the city, one look at their black horses and weapons convinced the locals to get out of the way in a hurry. When they reached the docks they found the ship easy enough. Xander smiled at the grim reaper figurehead and wondered if he’d get a more polite reception this time.

The assassins dismounted and left the horses for a youngster to collect. Xander never gave a thought to someone stealing them; no one would be so stupid. He led the way up the boarding ramp. At the top waited the large figure of the captain. The man’s name escaped Xander, but his face looked familiar enough. “Well met again, captain.”

The captain frowned, it was clear he had no memory of Xander. “Don’t you remember? You were kind enough to give my guide and me a ride here about two years ago. I recall at the time you thought little of my chances of making it as an assassin.”

The captain’s eye widened. “I meant no disrespect. I transport many hopefuls and so few make it.”

Xander grinned. “I hold no grudge. This is my partner, Anika.”

Anika and the captain exchanged polite nods. “How long to reach the island?”

“Ten days if the winds aren’t against us. Would you like me to show you to your cabins?”

“No need,” Xander said. “I remember the way.”

Xander led Anika below deck. He took the same room he used on his last trip and she took the one across the hall. After he stored his gear Xander went up on deck. He stood in the front of the ship like last time; a light breeze blew his hair around his face. He smelled the salt air and smiled. It would be a good trip.

When they were underway and Xander stood in his spot enjoying the breeze. The captain came to join him. “I trust you won’t abuse my men this trip.”

Xander turned a predatory smile on the older man. “As I recall they were the ones looking for trouble last time, not me. If your men mind their manners we’ll get along fine.”

“Fair enough.” The captain returned to the wheel.

After a couple days Anika got her sea legs and joined Xander on deck. One day when he was at his post her soft footsteps came up behind him. “What do you think we’ll find?”

Xander turned to face her. “A big house with a dead old man in it.”

Anika cocked her head. “Doesn’t it ever bother you?”

“What?”

“The killing.”

Xander frowned at the question. He’d never thought of Anika as the squeamish type. “That’s an odd question coming from someone raised around this business. Does it bother you?”

“A little, sometimes. Our first mission didn’t. The bandit deserved to die. But killing an old man in his home, it seems different.”

“It isn’t. Everybody dies. One thing I’ve learned is that life has little value. It doesn’t matter how much you value someone, love them, try to protect them, they still die. Sometimes there’s a reason, sometimes not, doesn’t matter. Someone has a reason why this old man has to die. If we don’t kill him it’ll be a greedy relative. If not that then time will do it. So what?”

“
T
here it is
.” The captain pointed at a distant island. In a sheltered cove someone had built a good sized town on the side of a hill. At the top of the hill a walled mansion loomed over the town, backlit by the crimson sunset. The mark built his mansion near the edge of the jungle that covered the rest of the island. “We’ll sail around to the far side and anchor.”

“We’ll have to cross that line of hills and approach from the jungle side,” Anika said. “The wall doesn’t look like a problem form here. What do you think?”

Xander looked over the town and shrugged. “No problem. A day to cross the hills, an hour or two to get in and out, and another day back. Three days, maybe four tops.”

“It’ll be dark by the time we anchor,” the captain said. “Will you go ashore tonight or in the morning?”

“In the morning,” Xander said. “It’ll take most of the day to reach the mansion, that’ll put us in place near nightfall.”

Anika nodded her agreement and they returned to their cabins to get their gear sorted. An hour later the anchor splashed. Someone knocked on his door and he turned to see Anika poke her head in. “I’m all set.”

“Me to. Better get some sleep. We’ll set out before dawn.”

She started to withdraw then stopped. “I’ve got a queasy feeling about this job. Something stinks.”

“If you’d rather stay on the ship—”

“No. We’re partners, where you go I go. I wanted you to know how I felt that’s all.”

“Okay, but unless you want to order the captain to raise anchor and sail for home we’re stuck, and I don’t like the idea of telling Sorren we quit without even taking a look at the place.”

Anika winced. “That would be an uncomfortable conversation, wouldn’t it?”

“We’ll take it slow and if anything looks off we’ll fall back, okay?”

“Sure, Xander, thanks. See you in the morning.”

D
awn’s
dim light colored the horizon when Xander and Anika climbed into the rowboat that hung on the side of the ship. Two burly sailors lowered them to the water and Anika unhooked the block and tackles from the boat. Xander set the oars in place and rowed for shore.

“Nice of you to row,” Anika said.

Xander grunted. “Enjoy it because you’re rowing back.”

Twenty minutes later they pulled the boat up on the beach and tied it to a palm tree well above the water line. Xander helped Anika on with her backpack then shouldered his own. He bowed and gestured toward the jungle. “Lead the way.”

He followed Anika through the lush jungle, sweat dripping off his nose. The vegetation was thick, but not so dense they had to hack their way through. They made good time despite the heat and humidity and at noon took a break to eat. They sat on a ridge top with an ocean view in all directions. Xander sighed, enjoying the peace. When they finished their meal they continued down toward the mansion, the only other life they saw was a wild pig that ran squealing from them.

The sun had set when they reached the edge of the forest across from the mansion wall. Thirty yards of open space separated them from the wall. Xander eyed it. “About twenty feet.”

“Taller than I thought but not enough to make a difference.” She must have heard him.

Xander motioned for silence when a man wearing a leather breast plate and holding a naked sword walked by. Xander smiled, amused by the guards’ bare arms and knee length pants combined with the chest protection. Perhaps it was the best compromise between protection and comfort in the heat, but Xander saw a dozen ways to kill the man armor or not.

When the first guard passed Xander counted. The next guard passed at one hundred fifty-seven and the original returned at around three seventy-five. They had a window of about two minutes to get over the wall, no sweat. There was no way to check the inside without exposing themselves and Xander didn’t want to risk it. If the perimeter guards were any indication the inside should be simple.

“Let’s go,” Xander whispered.

S
orren paced in his room
. The spymaster was due to arrive with the information on Kane. For six months Sorren had searched for some information that would let him control Grandfather’s new favorite. With any luck the spymaster would deliver the information.

A knocked sounded on his door. “Enter.”

The spymaster, a bearded little man about four feet tall, slipped inside and shut the door behind him. “I got the information you wanted.”

“Tell me.”

“Seems the boy was born into a house of some rank. Xander’s father held the rank of Knight Commander, in his home country that’s a high rank in the military.” The spymaster told him about the attack and resulting fire.

Sorren growled his frustration. “There’s nothing I can use. The identity of the person behind the attack might come in handy, but I can’t control him with it.”

“I saved the best for last.” The spymaster’s eyes crinkled. “Xander’s brother survived the fire. He’s living in the city of Lord’s Way and is a lieutenant in the city watch.”

A smile spread across Sorren’s face. “I can use that. If I threaten the brother I can force Xander to do whatever I want.”

“Sir.” The spymaster hesitated to interrupt Sorren’s scheming. “I would never try to correct you, but considering what I know about the boy, I suspect if you threaten his only surviving relative you’re more apt to get your throat cut than a useful servant.”

Sorren frowned as he considered the spymaster’s words. He had to admit the man was correct. Xander was too loyal to betray Grandfather. “You have a point. It might be best to keep this to ourselves.”

The spymaster’s eager nod betrayed his desire to avoid angering the dangerous, young assassin. “You may go. I need time to consider how best to use this new information.”

The spymaster bowed and left Sorren alone with his thoughts.

“
T
here goes the guard
,” Xander said.

Anika held a coil of knotted rope tied to a grappling hook. When the guard rounded the corner of the wall they ran across the gap and Anika sent the hook flying over the wall with a well practiced twirl. The sharp points dug into the stone of the wall and after a hard tug to test the setting she climbed up, Xander right behind. When they reached the top he pulled the rope up, flipped the hook around, reattached it to the wall, and tossed the rope down into the courtyard. They climbed down and hid in the shadows of the wall. Anika unhooked the grapple with a deft flick of her wrist.

Aside from the mansion there were three more buildings inside the wall. The largest Xander guest was a barracks, the smallest a storage shed and the last a stable. No surprises so far. A pair of guards stood by the main gate, leaning on spears and trying to stay awake. Another two patrolled the courtyard, for a total of six guards watching the place.

“Pretty soft security,” Anika said as though she’d read his mind.

“Enough to keep the locals from sneaking in and causing trouble. Rich people cut corners on the strangest things.”