Shadowblade by Anna Kashina

Author:Anna Kashina [Kashina, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2019-05-06T22:00:00+00:00

A NEW ASSIGNMENT

Naia paused in the doorway as she saw Gassan, sitting in a deep chair in the headmaster’s study. The sight of him brought back all the memories of their first meeting, the starting point in a chain of events that ultimately led to her becoming a Shadowblade today. Was she about to learn the true reason behind it? The idea seemed far-fetched, but she couldn’t quite rid herself of it.

“You’ve met Dal Gassan, I believe,” Arsat said.

“Yes, I have.”

“He is your employer on this assignment.”

Naia frowned. She had always been under the impression that Shadowblades had a say in these decisions, but she wasn’t about to question this now, after she had just been ranked.

“What’s the assignment?” she asked.

Arsat and Gassan exchanged a quick glance.

“One far more complex than usual,” Arsat said. “So, let me start with the background. I have been assured that your tutor, Dal Mehtab, has familiarized you with the story of Princess Xarimet of Challimar.”

“She did.” Naia looked at Gassan again. My employer. She couldn’t overcome her disbelief. Gassan was not only her likely benefactor, but also, as she’d learned at some point, one of the most influential people in the empire. Why was he taking such a personal interest in her?

“We need you to impersonate Xarimet at the imperial court,” Gassan said.

“What?” Naia’s eyes widened. This made no sense. No one could say something this absurd with such a straight face.

“I know you are surprised,” Gassan said. “You surely have questions. The Daljeer will answer all of them when you report to our serai tomorrow.”

Dear Sel, they’re bloody serious, aren’t they? Inadvertently, Naia’s gaze drifted to Ilhad, who had entered the room in her wake but hadn’t moved or spoken since the start of the conversation. Why was he here? Was it usual for him to be present when the assignments were given out to the Jaihar warriors? Or was this honor reserved for the Shadowblades, or those about to embark on a quest that made no sense at all?

“I assume you have a purpose in mind,” she said. “Other than a desire to test the quality of Dal Mehtab’s tutelage and my impersonation skills.”

Well, she probably should have phrased that better. She felt mildly guilty when she saw Arsat flinch and Ilhad abruptly look away. Politics at this high level was new to her. No one ever bothered with phrasing on the training range. Her ranking fight had happened too recently for her to acquire the finesse that was probably expected in conversations between Shadowblades and the Jaihar Order’s important patrons.

She contemplated an apology, cut short when she saw Gassan’s lips twitch into a quick grin.

“You certainly wasted no time picking up the attitude characteristic for a blademaster of your rank,” he said.

Naia smiled too, carefully avoiding any look at her superiors. “This attitude is a special focus of our training, Dal Gassan.”

Gassan’s grin widened, his glance holding approval she found odd under the circumstances. “Good to know. And no, I have no doubt about the quality of Dal Mehtab’s tutelage or your impersonation skills.

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