with enjoyment. His smooth, handsome face had sharp features and a pointed chin, his eyebrows and lashes so blond they were almost invisible.
Blade knew his animal kin even before the weasel poked its head out of the assassin's tunic and gazed around, twisting its neck with the sinuous grace of its kind. He raised his eyes and locked them with those of the assassin, receiving the satisfaction of the man's slight flinch from the biting frostiness of his gaze. The Cotti assassin stroked the weasel and glanced back at the others before addressing his captive.
"So, you're the assassin known as the Queen's Blade."
"No I'm not."
The Cotti smiled. "I know you are, so don't bother to lie. Prince Dravis' message was delivered to you, and my familiar followed the servant, then gave me the location of the new rooms where you tried to hide. That's how I knew where you were."
"But it doesn't tell you who I am. The message was brought to me because I'm Queen Minna-Satu's courtier and advisor."
"Indeed? And do all Jashimari courtiers wear six daggers about their person, including two in wrist sheaths?"
Blade shrugged. "I've learnt some skill with daggers, and in this land, I keep them to defend myself against scum like you."
The Cotti assassin chuckled. "Most amusing. But we know who you are, without a doubt. I don't make mistakes, you see. That's why I didn't try to sneak into your room and stab you, it wouldn't have worked."
"So instead you used gas, a coward's tool, as bad as poison."
"But it worked. You're here, bound and helpless."
Blade glanced at the dark forms behind the Cotti. "If Dravis hired you to kill me, then why am I still alive?"
"Ah, well, they told me that you're the greatest Jashimari assassin to have ever lived, and since I'm the greatest Cotti assassin ever, I wanted to meet you. I went to a lot of trouble, too. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ice, and I'm also known as the Dancer." He bowed, smiling.
"Well, now you've met me, so get on with it."
"No, it's not as simple as that. You see, I intend to prove that I'm better than you, and therefore the best assassin in two kingdoms."
"And just how do you intend to do that?"
Ice smiled and glanced at the assassins behind him. "By challenging you to a Dance of Death, naturally."
"I see. And the loser, if it's me, dies, I presume."
"Oh, the loser will definitely die." Ice chuckled. "You see, it won't simply be a Dance. Your death has been purchased, and my elders have given their permission for me to kill you in a Dance of Death. A real one."
Blade squinted at the shadowy forms, becoming aware of an ache in his ribs and another in his thigh, probably bruises from being carried from the palace. The tall assassin could not have done it alone. He must have brought another man to help carry Blade over the walls and into the city. He turned his attention to Ice once more.
"And if I win?"
"You will not." Ice smiled in a chilling manner, betraying the reason for his name.
"Indulge me."
One of the shadowy men stepped forward. "If you kill Ice, you'll be free to go, since he's the one who was hired to kill you."
Blade inclined his head, then looked at Ice. "Do you intend to make me fight you with my hands and legs bound?"
Ice chuckled and drew a dagger, slicing through the cords that bound Blade. The Jashimari assassin rubbed his wrists and stood up to stretch the stiffness out of his legs, wincing as his bruised ribs twinged. Ice noticed and smiled, beckoning to a huge man, who emerged from the shadows, carrying a wine bottle and two cups.
"Let's drink before we duel. This is my helper on tonight's jaunt, Oben. He's a strong lad, as you can see. He carried you out of the palace grounds, after I dropped you to him from the window."
Blade eyed the big man, whose receding forehead and small eyes, along with his thick neck and bulging arms, marked him as a man of bulls. Turning his attention back to Ice, Blade found that he was almost a head shorter than
Blade knew his animal kin even before the weasel poked its head out of the assassin's tunic and gazed around, twisting its neck with the sinuous grace of its kind. He raised his eyes and locked them with those of the assassin, receiving the satisfaction of the man's slight flinch from the biting frostiness of his gaze. The Cotti assassin stroked the weasel and glanced back at the others before addressing his captive.
"So, you're the assassin known as the Queen's Blade."
"No I'm not."
The Cotti smiled. "I know you are, so don't bother to lie. Prince Dravis' message was delivered to you, and my familiar followed the servant, then gave me the location of the new rooms where you tried to hide. That's how I knew where you were."
"But it doesn't tell you who I am. The message was brought to me because I'm Queen Minna-Satu's courtier and advisor."
"Indeed? And do all Jashimari courtiers wear six daggers about their person, including two in wrist sheaths?"
Blade shrugged. "I've learnt some skill with daggers, and in this land, I keep them to defend myself against scum like you."
The Cotti assassin chuckled. "Most amusing. But we know who you are, without a doubt. I don't make mistakes, you see. That's why I didn't try to sneak into your room and stab you, it wouldn't have worked."
"So instead you used gas, a coward's tool, as bad as poison."
"But it worked. You're here, bound and helpless."
Blade glanced at the dark forms behind the Cotti. "If Dravis hired you to kill me, then why am I still alive?"
"Ah, well, they told me that you're the greatest Jashimari assassin to have ever lived, and since I'm the greatest Cotti assassin ever, I wanted to meet you. I went to a lot of trouble, too. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ice, and I'm also known as the Dancer." He bowed, smiling.
"Well, now you've met me, so get on with it."
"No, it's not as simple as that. You see, I intend to prove that I'm better than you, and therefore the best assassin in two kingdoms."
"And just how do you intend to do that?"
Ice smiled and glanced at the assassins behind him. "By challenging you to a Dance of Death, naturally."
"I see. And the loser, if it's me, dies, I presume."
"Oh, the loser will definitely die." Ice chuckled. "You see, it won't simply be a Dance. Your death has been purchased, and my elders have given their permission for me to kill you in a Dance of Death. A real one."
Blade squinted at the shadowy forms, becoming aware of an ache in his ribs and another in his thigh, probably bruises from being carried from the palace. The tall assassin could not have done it alone. He must have brought another man to help carry Blade over the walls and into the city. He turned his attention to Ice once more.
"And if I win?"
"You will not." Ice smiled in a chilling manner, betraying the reason for his name.
"Indulge me."
One of the shadowy men stepped forward. "If you kill Ice, you'll be free to go, since he's the one who was hired to kill you."
Blade inclined his head, then looked at Ice. "Do you intend to make me fight you with my hands and legs bound?"
Ice chuckled and drew a dagger, slicing through the cords that bound Blade. The Jashimari assassin rubbed his wrists and stood up to stretch the stiffness out of his legs, wincing as his bruised ribs twinged. Ice noticed and smiled, beckoning to a huge man, who emerged from the shadows, carrying a wine bottle and two cups.
"Let's drink before we duel. This is my helper on tonight's jaunt, Oben. He's a strong lad, as you can see. He carried you out of the palace grounds, after I dropped you to him from the window."
Blade eyed the big man, whose receding forehead and small eyes, along with his thick neck and bulging arms, marked him as a man of bulls. Turning his attention back to Ice, Blade found that he was almost a head shorter than
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