Marcum hung his head. He had seen it in the man’s eyes, in his bearing, in his noble demeanor. He had seen it in the way he softened toward the lieutenant even when he was angry with Marcum. He had seen it with the way Rezkin took Tam under his wing and provided him with a weapon and the knowledge of how to use it. He had seen it with the way Rezkin always treated his Adelina with the respect and dignity due the lady of the house, and he had most certainly seen it when Rezkin looked at or spoke to Frisha. Rezkin was not a tyrant or a soulless creature. He truly seemed genuine in his intentions toward Frisha, and the fact that he was willing to accede to Marcum’s authority as Frisha’s guardian said much about the young man’s honor.

One floor above, Frisha lay on her bed crying a terrible mess. These were no ladylike tears of sorrow. She was sobbing, her nose was running, and at one point, she developed hiccups that just would not go away. She knew she was in a miserable state, but she did not care at that moment.

How can Rezkin do this to me? I was willing to give up everything for him, and he rejects me for honor! I just cannot believe there is anything so terrible about Rezkin that I wouldn’t desire him. He is the perfect man. And, somehow, he even had the trust of the king! How could Uncle Marcum reject him knowing that?

Chapter 19

A warm breeze caught the reeds causing them to clack together in a chaotic percussive cadence. Liquid silver ripples danced across the black water under the cool light of the full moon, and in the distance, ship hulls creaked and thudded as they knocked against the wooden piers. Rezkin pulled his sodden feet from the thick muck of the riverbank, taking care to place them firmly so he would not slip on the muddy tract. This night had been his least favorite since leaving the fortress. Breaking into the bedchamber of the grandmaster of the Assassins’ Guild without getting caught and without leaving a trace of his passing was not an easy feat. But, in truth, Rezkin had relished the challenge. That had not been what made this night so frustrating.