Imperial Assassin by Mark Robson Page B

his stare. His striking blue eyes were almost purple in colour, and his
square-cut features and sweeping, jet-black hair made him the perfect swashbuckling hero for any play. He was broad-shouldered and rakishly handsome enough to set any girl’s heart racing, yet
Femke knew his secret: the real Devarusso was a man who liked to be with other men. Devarusso was the consummate actor, but where he had concealed his inclination from the rest of the troupe, he
had not been able to keep his secret from her. Femke had been trained to observe behaviour and to see beneath the surface.
    ‘Dana, you know how busy a schedule I run. You, more than most, know how much effort goes into making our productions polished,’ Devarusso said, the words tumbling out of his mouth
in a spluttering stream. ‘Besides, the authorities would hang me and shut down the company if they found out. All of my hard work would crumble to dust in a matter of moments – and for
what? No, I couldn’t countenance it. It’s impossible, Dana. I’m sorry.’
    Femke gave him her best puppy dog, begging look. Her eyes filled with tears to order and she clenched her knees with her fingers until her knuckles whitened. To judge by the effect it had on
him, she had lost none of her acting skill.
    ‘And this man is . . .
special,
is he?’ Devarusso asked, flexing his fingers uncomfortably.
    ‘More than you could imagine, Devarusso,’ she answered fervently. ‘Please. I’d really appreciate your help for a little while in tutoring my friend. I’m not
expecting you to take him in and hide him. I just want you to teach him to move in a way that will conceal his military manner. He has three weeks to become convincing. Could you help him in that
time? He would only be able to visit you for about two hours a day. I can pay. We have some money saved. I can pay four senna per day. What do you think?’
    Devarusso frowned thoughtfully. He took a deep breath.
    ‘Three weeks is not long, and yet it could feel like a lifetime if trying to keep a secret like this. I suppose I should be grateful that you’re not asking me for more. Dana, if your
friend is planning to run away from the military, or if he has already done so, you know I would be risking everything in becoming involved. Aiding someone to desert from the Legions is a serious
crime.’
    ‘I know, but I don’t know who else to turn to,’ she said, squeezing out a single tear so that it trickled down her right cheek. ‘You were always so kind to me whilst I
was in the troupe. I came to you because I knew I could trust you. You’re also the best teacher I know. I’m sure you could do it with no one the wiser.’
    Flattery had always worked well with Devarusso. Femke played him like an instrument, plucking at each string with such skill that he was sure to sing her tune. If she had to, she could resort to
blackmail. She suspected that Devarusso would do anything to conceal his secret, but using that information would destroy her friendship with him, and she wanted to avoid that if possible. He was a
soft touch. He would give in very quickly now.
    ‘If I were to do it, then it would be best to conduct his lessons early in the morning,’ he said, as if thinking aloud.
    Here it comes, she thought – right on cue.
    ‘The troupe rarely rises early after the late night performances, so I could make some time then. So long as we didn’t attract attention to ourselves, then I suppose there would not
be too much danger of being caught. Would your friend be available in the early mornings?’
    ‘He would.’
    ‘Very well, Dana. I’ll do it, but I don’t want to rob you of all your silver. I’ll teach your friend for two senna per day. Please, though, don’t breathe a word of
this to anyone. Have your friend come to me at the dawn call each morning. I’ll do what I can for him. I’m a sucker for a sob story, but then I’m sure you knew that all along,
didn’t you?’
    Femke did not answer,