Imperial Assassin

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any more. I’ll live, but
I’d appreciate getting it seen to before it turns bad.’
    ‘Looks like you could do with a hand getting there. Hey! You and you,’ he called, pointing at two nearby soldiers. ‘Help this young Legionnaire . . .’
    ‘Reynik.’
    ‘Help Legionnaire Reynik to the nearest medic’s tent. I’m sure that someone will want to debrief you on how you caught this man. There is bound to be an inquiry. Who is your
File Leader?’
    ‘Sidis.’
    ‘Sidis, eh?’ A slight sourness in the File Leader’s tone gave Reynik the clue that he was not fond of Sidis either. ‘Well, I’ll speak to File Leader Sidis later. Go
and get seen to by the medics, then you’d better get some sleep. I think you’re going to need it.’

C HAPTER F OUR
    Lady Alyssa had been back in Shandrim for a few days, and everyone who was anyone knew about it. She had been up to all her usual tricks. Her trademark high-handedness and
imperious manner had brought quiet havoc back to the Silver Chalice
.
    Versande Matthiason, proprietor of the inn, was not sad when the young Lady announced that she was returning home. He was flattered that she had returned to his inn, for she was notoriously
difficult to please. That she would choose to return spoke volumes amongst those who followed which establishments were in fashion. He was also happy to extract large quantities of the young
Lady’s gold from her seemingly endless wealth, but her visit had once again proved a trial to his normally imperturbable demeanour.
    From the moment Alyssa had arrived, she had sent him an endless stream of demands. He had organised soirées in the inn’s private function room for the Lady’s chosen guests. He
had organised visits by perfumers, merchants of cosmetic paints, clothiers, merchants who sold ladies shoes, and had called on the services of Rikala, the dressmaker, to make another outfit for
her. He had been harassed about every little detail of how the private function room should look for each of her elitist gatherings. Florists, specialist food suppliers and artists – all had
been required to make the room ‘just so’. It had been exhausting.
    As she left, Lady Alyssa, sweet as a rose, politely thanked Versande for his services. ‘Sorry if I’ve been a little picky,’ she said with a coy smile. ‘I do get a bit
carried away sometimes.’
    ‘You are always welcome at the Silver Chalice, Lady Alyssa,’ Versande replied, wondering how forced his smile looked as he clenched his fists behind his back. ‘Have a safe trip
home.’
    Femke, consummate actress though she was, had a difficult time maintaining a straight face at Versande’s parting words. The man was a treasure – utterly professional and
wholeheartedly determined to uphold the reputation of his inn. How he had kept from cracking under the pressure she had applied over the last four days, she did not know. She had made sure he
earned every last gold sen of his outrageous fee for her short stay.
    Playing the part of Lady Alyssa was always fun. This time had been no exception. As she rode along the Eastern Avenue, her servant led the baggage horse ahead of her. Mentally she compiled her
report for the Emperor. It had been a productive week. She had wined and dined many of the sons and daughters of the more influential Nobility of Shandrim. With a subtlety that few possessed, she
had pumped them for information about current affairs, attitudes to the new Emperor and the Assassins’ Guild. Asking anyone about the final subject was a risky business. If the Guild got to
hear of her enquiries, they might decide it would be in their interests to eliminate her. Femke had picked her guests with a great deal of care. She did not wish to inadvertently draw attention
from the wrong quarters. Had an interrogator watched her, he would have marvelled at the indirectness of her questions. She made the acquisition of useful information look to be an art form of the
highest

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