Chapters (46)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
What was the most direct path, if one were traveling from ledge to ledge toward the compound wall? If the spy headed south, the buildings led straight to the perimeter. Perhaps he could head him off there. There were a lot of “ifs” in that line of reasoning, but he couldn’t think of a better plan. He detained guards as they ran past.
“We can intercept the intruder at the compound wall,” he told them. “I want men stationed along the length to watch for his escape.” Tristam dealt out assignments as quickly as he could. Once the guards were on their way, he too ran south.
The intruder was fast, but he’d have to slow down at the wall. It didn’t matter how fleet-footed he was—the buildings were too far away for anyone to jump. Once he got there, he’d have to come down to ground level, and he’d have to pause to throw a grappling hook.
Tristam slowed to a stop at the edge of the inner compound. Pathways and grass lined the inside of the wall. The area was usually lit by only a few torches, but guards had come by and added more. With the extra light, it would be hard for anyone to pass undetected. Tristam found a sheltered spot with a wide view and settled down. Only then did he notice how knotted his muscles were, the tight clench of his stomach. This was their first real lead in months. They couldn’t let him escape, not now.
In his mind, he saw the masked figure again. What kind of man did it take, to so coolly and methodically slip through the Palace defenses? To betray his own city to bloodthirsty beasts? It was frightening to realize that the assassin had been inside Malikel’s room while the official slept. His commander was far from helpless, but still…Was this person the secret behind the Assassins Guild’s recent rise?
As he waited, his breathing slowed and heat faded from his veins. He rubbed his arms and stomped his legs to stay warm. It would do no good to see the criminal only to trip over limbs cramped from the cold.
A shadow flickered in his peripheral vision. Tristam strained his eyes toward the movement. A masked figure stood close to the wall, huddled against the stone and doing something with his hands. Tristam’s breath caught, and he scanned the area for backup. The closest guards wouldn’t hear him unless he shouted. It was better to catch the intruder by surprise.