The Assassins’ Guild was not large in numbers when compared to the numerous thieves throughout the cities. In fact, there was only one Assassin’s Guild for all of Ashai, and they maintained a few smaller units in other kingdoms that they referred to as chambers. The guild boasted only three master assassins in Ashai, including the guildmaster, whom they referred to as the grandmaster, and half a dozen assassins, more commonly referred to as slips. The remainder of the residents of the guildhouse were trainees. At any time, about two dozen young men and women were in training, starting as young as seven or eight years of age. Only a few would survive long enough to become slips.

The Hall was located in the hills to the east of the capital city across the Tremadel River in the northern Fendendril Forest. The location of the Hall was not exactly a secret in the upper echelons of society, but neither was it easy to find. The guild existed because corruption and competition amongst the houses demanded it. Therefore, the nobles whose job it was to oust such a villainous organization were its most lucrative clients. The singular tower, plain and ugly, had no windows up the sides, only a single door at the base, and a conical cap of slate for a roof. The tower itself was really just a giant, highly functional gatehouse for the extensive structure below the surface.

Getting into the Hall had been tense and tedious but not as difficult as Rezkin had anticipated. He watched and waited. After a few hours of surveillance, one of the slips who emerged from the Hall was sufficient to suit the young warrior’s purposes. The man was a bit shorter than Rezkin, but his frame was similar, and the dark clothing and long cloak the man wore could conceal the discrepancy. Rezkin had tracked the man a ways into the forest before finally descending on him.

The slip detected Rezkin’s presence at the last second, and the man was fast. He ducked the strike intended to render him unconscious and dove to the side. Rezkin spun, kicking out at the man, but landed only a glancing blow to the man’s shoulder. As the Slip sought to regain his feet, he launched two throwing daggers at the young warrior. Rezkin deftly avoided the gleaming projectiles as he jumped to grasp a not-so-low-hanging bough. The slip seemed surprised by the attacker’s agility only for a moment, shaking himself back into action as Rezkin’s momentum carried him forward, straight toward the assassin. Rezkin landed steadily on his feet and immediately assaulted the assassin, preventing him from drawing any additional weapons. After a flurry of kicks and punches interrupted intermittently by swift ducks, dodges, and blocks, he finally managed to land a stunning blow to the man’s temple. This was quickly followed by a strike to the back of the slip’s head, rendering him unconscious.