Free Imperial Assassin by Mark Robson Page A

chance of her being attacked twice in one day, but she took the precaution of switching some of her less accessible weapons to where she
could get to them quickly should the need arise.
    A glance at the sun told her she was running ahead of schedule. ‘Just as well,’ she decided. ‘It wouldn’t be good to keep the Emperor waiting.’
    When she arrived at the door to the Emperor’s study later that afternoon, she was surprised and delighted to find Reynik also waiting in the corridor. After their adventures together in
Thrandor, it was like an unannounced visit by a brother. He greeted her with a very gentle hug, clearly mindful of her healing ribs. Having crunched them against the pommel of her saddle earlier
that day, Femke was very glad of his thoughtfulness.
    ‘What brings you here today?’ Femke asked in a whispered tone, noting that Reynik looked embarrassed after their brief embrace.
    ‘Emperor Surabar summoned me. He probably wants to talk to me about the assassin I caught last night,’ he replied with an offhand shrug.
    ‘You caught one of them? Do you know who it was? Has he given up any information about the Guild?’ Before Reynik had a chance to answer her excited barrage of questions the study
door opened, cutting short their talk. The Emperor was standing in the doorway looking grave. He waved them both inside.
    ‘He won’t be talking about anything,’ Reynik whispered in her ear as they moved to comply. ‘I killed him.’
    Femke’s head turned sharply to look at the young soldier’s face as they walked forward, but he hid any emotion well. In the Emperor’s presence, Reynik was every inch the young
soldier. He marched forward smartly and came to an abrupt halt in front of the Emperor’s desk, making Femke feel positively slovenly in comparison. A guard positioned outside the door closed
it behind them.
    ‘At ease, Legionnaire,’ Surabar ordered. He sat down behind his desk, rested his elbows on the table and steepled his hands. His eyebrows drew together in a strange expression,
halfway between a frown and deep contemplation. ‘It seems that I cannot keep you two out of things even when I want to. I want reports from both of you, but as we are likely to be here for
some time, you had better pull up chairs. Do the honours, please, Reynik.’
    Reynik immediately went and fetched a chair for Femke. He held it for her in his best courtly fashion as she sat down, though he felt awkward doing so. Then he fetched another and sat down next
to her.
    ‘Thank you. Now, Femke, let’s start with you, shall we? I asked you to do some quiet information gathering, yet I have been hearing nothing but tales of your lavish little gatherings
at the Silver Chalice. I thought I was quite clear about what I wanted you to do.’
    ‘You were, your Imperial Majesty. My orders were to gather information about the loyalties of the Nobility without drawing attention to the fact that I was doing so. I was further to
ensure that I minimised any personal danger. That is exactly what I did. Nobody would suspect Lady Alyssa of being a spy. The gentry are far too caught up with her outrageous behaviour and her
lavish lifestyle to think beyond the façade. I can assure your Majesty that there was no one at any of my little parties who suspected for one second that I was information
gathering.’
    ‘Lavish, yes. Outrageous, yes. Outrageously expensive tastes, I would certainly agree! I don’t even want to think about what your little expedition cost, young lady. Please, next
time you have the urge to spend half of the treasury, could you at least warn me first? I nearly had a heart attack when I realised what you were doing.’
    ‘But, your Majesty,’ she protested innocently, ‘the results were clearly worth the expense. I can provide you with an extensive list of those amongst the Nobility who are now
supporting your rule. Not only that, but a list of those whose activities border on treason. Surely