Free Imperial Assassin by Mark Robson Page B

this information is worth a few gold coins?’
    ‘Indeed it is, but I doubt that the bill was limited to a few gold coins! I’ve seen the prices at the Silver Chalice. I’m sure that thief Matthiason charges for the ground you
stand on from the moment you walk through the door.’
    Femke laughed.
    ‘When I write out the list of names for you, your Majesty, I’m sure that you will feel every copper sennut was well spent.’
    ‘Very well, I shall reserve judgement for now. I take it that everything was comfortable in your lodgings? I suppose I cannot complain that you were taking physical risks with your choice
of accommodation.’
    Femke winced as she thought about the attack outside the city that morning. There was no point in concealing things from the Emperor. If it ever came out later that she had been attacked and she
had not told him, he would never trust her again. Strangely, trust was the primary basis on which effective spying was built. Betraying the trust of one’s employer was the greatest mistake a
spy could make.
    ‘Actually, your Majesty, it wasn’t such a great choice after all.’
    ‘Really? In what way?’
    ‘My apparent wealth attracted a criminal element that I hadn’t anticipated. It was foolish. I should have foreseen it. My agent and I were attacked shortly after we left the city
boundary. My agent was killed by an archer. The thieves sought to rob me. What their intentions were beyond that is unsure.’
    The Emperor looked at her expectantly. Reynik was listening with fascination as well.
    ‘So? What happened? How did you escape?’
    ‘I was lucky. They did not expect me to be armed, nor to have the nerve to take the fight to them. I gutted one and left a knife buried in the belly of another. There was a third man whom
I never saw. He was some distance behind me, and hidden in the trees as I made my escape. I made my rendezvous on time and changed identity, but I should have thought to take more of an escort.
It’s easy with hindsight to see how my character would attract such an attack. My agent was a good man. I will miss his loyalty.’
    The Emperor gave her a hard look. ‘You take too many risks,’ he stated in an uncompromising voice. ‘I don’t want you back out in the field until your ribs have fully
healed. I’m not going to accept any arguments, so don’t even try. Clear?’
    ‘Yes, your Majesty.’
    ‘Now, aside from the list of loyalties, did you manage to make any progress on the whereabouts of the Assassin’s Guild?’
    ‘No, your Majesty,’ Femke replied with a sigh. She hated to admit failure, but there was no point in glossing up the little bit of information she had gleaned from her subtle
questions. ‘None of those I spoke to appeared to know anything useful. A lot can be deduced from body language, your Majesty. I doubt those whom I questioned were such expert liars that they
could hide the tell-tale signs one gives when not telling the truth. There were none amongst them who knew anything of great interest about the Guild. Some of the older Lords might. Have you asked
Lord Kempten? He may know something.’
    ‘Kempten knows nothing of use. I’ve already exhausted his knowledge. Reynik might be able to fill in some of the gaps, which is one of the reasons for his presence. Last
night’s strikes by the Guild of Assassins were clearly a message of defiance meant for me, but I’m not going to be intimidated. I will not be dictated to by a secret society of killers.
They’re an outdated throwback to a previous age. I do not accept that they’re a desirable, or necessary part of Shandese society. My decision to outlaw them has now been validated by
their actions. I intend to see them driven from Shandar. Can you tell us about your encounter last night, Reynik? It may give us an insight into the way they work.’
    Reynik explained the circumstances in which he had spotted the assassin, how he had thought it was Shalidar and how he had tracked