killed doing a job
you told me would be routine?"
Ral held his tongue as the servant reappeared with a silver tea service. He took a steaming cup out of courtesy, but didn't taste the contents.
What he wanted was a tall draught of good wine.
"I did as you demanded," he said. "You wanted men who could be
trusted to keep their mouths shut. Ambitious men, you said, who could
be manipulated with ease. I found the best available. If they failed, it is
no fault of mine. I wanted to handle the matter myself, but you commanded otherwise."
Vassili glowered over the rim of his cup. "Mind your tone."
Ral bowed his head, as much as it grated. "Apologies, Your Radiance.
I only mean to point out that matters would have gone smoother with my
hand on the knife."
"You know well that my plan could not allow for that. The timing of
the Belastire job had to take place exactly as it did, far from Othir and
with no suspicion thrown in my direction. That you did well, but still it
was a mistake to involve the other assassin."
A spider crawled from under the desk and scurried across the hardwood floor. Ral extended his foot to crush it.
"Caim is lowborn scum who needed to be put in his place." He examined the sole of his boot. "Anyway, it makes little difference. With
Donovus out of the picture, another obstacle on the Elector Council has
been eliminated."
Vassili slammed down his cup, splashing tea on the desk. "Earl Frenig
was the crux of this scheme! His daughter escaped from your men and ran
off to God-knows-where. And what's worse, your dupe is free as well.
With them loose, all my plans are in jeopardy. Do you know how long I
have labored, how many assets have been expended, all to see this day? I
will not waste this opportunity."
Ral tugged at his chin. Was it possible Caim had taken her? But why?
What did he think to gain from it? He couldn't possibly know her value.
"I don't see the problem." Ral held up a hand to forestall any protest.
"Please, Radiance, hear me out. All Caim knows is that he killed an old
nobleman and a few soldiers."
"He knows more than that. Earl Frenig was dead before your man ever
entered the house."
"Dead? I don't understand. The plan-"
"I modified the plan. I did not trust your men to time their entrance with precision. A moment too soon and they would be party to murder,
leaving more loose ends to clean up. Too late and we'd have what we have
now, an unaccounted asset free in the city with knowledge that could
destroy everything. Two assets, if the girl saw anything, and she likely
did. So I sent another agent."
Ral chewed on that for a moment. What other machinations had the
archpriest devised without consulting him?
"You never told me why we're making all this effort over an old man,
not even an elector at that, and his brat of a daughter."
"Never mind the reasons. Your job is to carry out your orders to my
satisfaction, and I am very unsatisfied tonight."
"Be that as it may, it hardly makes a difference.
Caim is alone now, a
fugitive with an entire city searching for him. He cannot go to the authorities. If he's hindered with a girl, he'll soon be caught, and then we'll have
them both."
"You mean the prelate will have them. Don't you think this thug, this
Caim, will spill everything he knows for a chance to save his life?"
"He doesn't know anything of import. Besides, he'll never make it to
the dungeons. I will make sure of that."
Vassili shook his head. "I'm not willing to gamble with happenstance.
I want them both eliminated immediately. My forces are in place. Before
the next new moon, Benevolence will suffer an untimely mishap. The
Council will convene to elect a new prelate, and I will offer myself as a
candidate for the high office, a motion which will meet with quick
approval."
"And as your faithful servant, I expect my promised reward. Our
agreement called for a lordship, lands, and title."
The archpriest picked up another scroll. "You will
you told me would be routine?"
Ral held his tongue as the servant reappeared with a silver tea service. He took a steaming cup out of courtesy, but didn't taste the contents.
What he wanted was a tall draught of good wine.
"I did as you demanded," he said. "You wanted men who could be
trusted to keep their mouths shut. Ambitious men, you said, who could
be manipulated with ease. I found the best available. If they failed, it is
no fault of mine. I wanted to handle the matter myself, but you commanded otherwise."
Vassili glowered over the rim of his cup. "Mind your tone."
Ral bowed his head, as much as it grated. "Apologies, Your Radiance.
I only mean to point out that matters would have gone smoother with my
hand on the knife."
"You know well that my plan could not allow for that. The timing of
the Belastire job had to take place exactly as it did, far from Othir and
with no suspicion thrown in my direction. That you did well, but still it
was a mistake to involve the other assassin."
A spider crawled from under the desk and scurried across the hardwood floor. Ral extended his foot to crush it.
"Caim is lowborn scum who needed to be put in his place." He examined the sole of his boot. "Anyway, it makes little difference. With
Donovus out of the picture, another obstacle on the Elector Council has
been eliminated."
Vassili slammed down his cup, splashing tea on the desk. "Earl Frenig
was the crux of this scheme! His daughter escaped from your men and ran
off to God-knows-where. And what's worse, your dupe is free as well.
With them loose, all my plans are in jeopardy. Do you know how long I
have labored, how many assets have been expended, all to see this day? I
will not waste this opportunity."
Ral tugged at his chin. Was it possible Caim had taken her? But why?
What did he think to gain from it? He couldn't possibly know her value.
"I don't see the problem." Ral held up a hand to forestall any protest.
"Please, Radiance, hear me out. All Caim knows is that he killed an old
nobleman and a few soldiers."
"He knows more than that. Earl Frenig was dead before your man ever
entered the house."
"Dead? I don't understand. The plan-"
"I modified the plan. I did not trust your men to time their entrance with precision. A moment too soon and they would be party to murder,
leaving more loose ends to clean up. Too late and we'd have what we have
now, an unaccounted asset free in the city with knowledge that could
destroy everything. Two assets, if the girl saw anything, and she likely
did. So I sent another agent."
Ral chewed on that for a moment. What other machinations had the
archpriest devised without consulting him?
"You never told me why we're making all this effort over an old man,
not even an elector at that, and his brat of a daughter."
"Never mind the reasons. Your job is to carry out your orders to my
satisfaction, and I am very unsatisfied tonight."
"Be that as it may, it hardly makes a difference.
Caim is alone now, a
fugitive with an entire city searching for him. He cannot go to the authorities. If he's hindered with a girl, he'll soon be caught, and then we'll have
them both."
"You mean the prelate will have them. Don't you think this thug, this
Caim, will spill everything he knows for a chance to save his life?"
"He doesn't know anything of import. Besides, he'll never make it to
the dungeons. I will make sure of that."
Vassili shook his head. "I'm not willing to gamble with happenstance.
I want them both eliminated immediately. My forces are in place. Before
the next new moon, Benevolence will suffer an untimely mishap. The
Council will convene to elect a new prelate, and I will offer myself as a
candidate for the high office, a motion which will meet with quick
approval."
"And as your faithful servant, I expect my promised reward. Our
agreement called for a lordship, lands, and title."
The archpriest picked up another scroll. "You will
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