Read Online The Guild of Assassins by Anna Kashina - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Kashina
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enough to risk an injury.
A search of the tracks ahead confirmed her suspicions. A set of prints indicated the place where Mai had noticed the loss and dismounted. She saw some of his tracks going backward, likely in an attempt to recover the lost horseshoe. He must have been hard pressed indeed not to notice it right away. From here, his prints went parallel to the horse’s, showing that he had continued on foot, leading his horse over the terrain. Furthermore, the three-legged horse track indicated that he must have wrapped a cloth around the bare hoof to prevent further injury.
She raised her head, surveying the surroundings.
The light of the setting sun painted the landscape with deep fiery strokes. Long shadows crept off every rock in sight. Ahead of her she could see a hazel grove, with the gleam of a brook running through.
She smiled. She was willing to bet Mai was camping in there right now, trying to find a temporary replacement for the lost shoe. The nearest blacksmith lived in Middledale, a day’s travel ahead. Without a shoe, this was a considerable distance to cover.
She urged her horse onward, keeping to the shadows, until she spotted a faint wisp of smoke rising through the hazel crowns on the distant end of the grove. Good. She hoped he was sufficiently occupied not to keep watch on this side of the tree line.
When she reached the hazel shade she dismounted and let her horse wander, using all her stealth to creep to the campsite without making a sound. In the gathering dusk, she paused at the edge of the glade and looked into the circle lit by the campfire.
Mai was sitting with his back to her, carving a piece of wood with his boot knife. She noiselessly drew her weapon before approaching further, not sure how he would react. Then, she cautiously stepped into the glade.
Mai’s shoulders went still, forcing her to an abrupt stop. Yet, he did not turn around as he spoke. “You may put away your weapon, Aghat. Unless, of course, you’re here to kill me.”
She relaxed and lowered the weapon to her side, but did not sheath it. “You know I have no intention of harming you, Aghat Mai.”
He slowly turned around to face her. His eyes gleamed with mischief.
“I didn’t think so. Why don’t you come and sit by the fire, then? I am guessing you must have had a strenuous trip.”
Kara still held her weapon out as she approached and settled on the other side of the fire, keeping a clear distance.
“Thank you, Aghat,” she said. “But my trip was actually quite relaxing. By the way,” she took out the horseshoe, “I think I found something that belongs to you.”
His eyes darted to the shoe and back to her face. He didn’t reach out to take it.
“I assume there’s a price to pay for it,” he said.
“Yes. Your promise to take me along.”
He sighed. “We’ve been over this, Aghat. The price is too high, and you know it.”
Kara shrugged. “Have it your way.” She put the shoe back into her pack. “It’s quite a ride from here to Middledale,” she went on, “but it takes a lot longer on foot. I think I’ll just ride ahead and warn them of your arrival before continuing on to the Majat Guild.” She glanced at the sky. “In fact, it’s not that late. I think I still have a few hours of travel ahead of me.”
He leaned back, the disbelief in his gaze mixing with amusement. “Where’s your horse, Aghat?”
She smiled. “Close enough to mount it at very short notice.” She raised her weapon just a bit, to make sure he didn’t think of anything foolish.
Mai’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “You certainly know how to bargain, don’t you?” He reached forward and held out a hand. “I’ll take the horseshoe, thanks.”
She held his gaze. “You do promise you won’t try to disable me or run away from me?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“None.”
“I thought so.”
She waited, holding the shoe just out of reach.
He sighed, glancing at her wearily. “I
A search of the tracks ahead confirmed her suspicions. A set of prints indicated the place where Mai had noticed the loss and dismounted. She saw some of his tracks going backward, likely in an attempt to recover the lost horseshoe. He must have been hard pressed indeed not to notice it right away. From here, his prints went parallel to the horse’s, showing that he had continued on foot, leading his horse over the terrain. Furthermore, the three-legged horse track indicated that he must have wrapped a cloth around the bare hoof to prevent further injury.
She raised her head, surveying the surroundings.
The light of the setting sun painted the landscape with deep fiery strokes. Long shadows crept off every rock in sight. Ahead of her she could see a hazel grove, with the gleam of a brook running through.
She smiled. She was willing to bet Mai was camping in there right now, trying to find a temporary replacement for the lost shoe. The nearest blacksmith lived in Middledale, a day’s travel ahead. Without a shoe, this was a considerable distance to cover.
She urged her horse onward, keeping to the shadows, until she spotted a faint wisp of smoke rising through the hazel crowns on the distant end of the grove. Good. She hoped he was sufficiently occupied not to keep watch on this side of the tree line.
When she reached the hazel shade she dismounted and let her horse wander, using all her stealth to creep to the campsite without making a sound. In the gathering dusk, she paused at the edge of the glade and looked into the circle lit by the campfire.
Mai was sitting with his back to her, carving a piece of wood with his boot knife. She noiselessly drew her weapon before approaching further, not sure how he would react. Then, she cautiously stepped into the glade.
Mai’s shoulders went still, forcing her to an abrupt stop. Yet, he did not turn around as he spoke. “You may put away your weapon, Aghat. Unless, of course, you’re here to kill me.”
She relaxed and lowered the weapon to her side, but did not sheath it. “You know I have no intention of harming you, Aghat Mai.”
He slowly turned around to face her. His eyes gleamed with mischief.
“I didn’t think so. Why don’t you come and sit by the fire, then? I am guessing you must have had a strenuous trip.”
Kara still held her weapon out as she approached and settled on the other side of the fire, keeping a clear distance.
“Thank you, Aghat,” she said. “But my trip was actually quite relaxing. By the way,” she took out the horseshoe, “I think I found something that belongs to you.”
His eyes darted to the shoe and back to her face. He didn’t reach out to take it.
“I assume there’s a price to pay for it,” he said.
“Yes. Your promise to take me along.”
He sighed. “We’ve been over this, Aghat. The price is too high, and you know it.”
Kara shrugged. “Have it your way.” She put the shoe back into her pack. “It’s quite a ride from here to Middledale,” she went on, “but it takes a lot longer on foot. I think I’ll just ride ahead and warn them of your arrival before continuing on to the Majat Guild.” She glanced at the sky. “In fact, it’s not that late. I think I still have a few hours of travel ahead of me.”
He leaned back, the disbelief in his gaze mixing with amusement. “Where’s your horse, Aghat?”
She smiled. “Close enough to mount it at very short notice.” She raised her weapon just a bit, to make sure he didn’t think of anything foolish.
Mai’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “You certainly know how to bargain, don’t you?” He reached forward and held out a hand. “I’ll take the horseshoe, thanks.”
She held his gaze. “You do promise you won’t try to disable me or run away from me?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“None.”
“I thought so.”
She waited, holding the shoe just out of reach.
He sighed, glancing at her wearily. “I
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