The Assassin's Destiny by K. L. Jones

Author:K. L. Jones [Jones, K. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction
Publisher: K L Jones
Published: 2013-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Festival of the Arcane

Mistral and her brothers left the Valley early the next morning. To everyone’s relief Leo was unable to accompany them. His new Training Lieutenant had sustained a serious injury during a sword session with the apprentices, forcing Leo to take over instructional duties.

Mistral kept quiet while Xerxes regaled the rest with the story of how Nereus had managed to cut his leg open with his own sword whilst demonstrating a flamboyant figure of eight twirl. She was sure the real reason Leo had decided not to attend was because his secret would be revealed. He was a full-blooded Mage. There was no way he would be allowed to enter the festival. His true identity was safe in the Valley where blood-lines and pasts were a forbidden subject, but in a celebration of Arcanes he would stand out like a sore thumb.

‘Nereus is a moron.’ Brutus shook his head scornfully. ‘If you’ve got time to twirl your sword around like a flag during a fight you deserve to be killed!’

‘Noah reckons he can’t walk.’ Xerxes continued. ‘He said Serenity’s recommended a week of bed rest then wants to put him in some sort of chair on wheels until his leg heals.’

‘He’ll love that. Nereus is a lazy git. He just likes to stand in the Arena with the sun on his face nodding and saying “very good” to everything the apprentices do.’

‘You almost sound like you miss our old Lieutenants!’ Saul laughed.

‘No. Not really. But we had some fun moments with them, didn’t we? Like our first Contract when Cain drugged them senseless for three days so we could gamble and drink every night.’

‘Ah, happy times … happy times.’ Cain smiled.

They fell to reminiscing, laughing at each half-forgotten mishap. Mistral rode quietly beside Phantom. He wasn’t joining in with the storytelling but was talking to her about something to do with her gift. She wasn’t listening to him or her brothers. Her mind dwelled anxiously on Fabian. She worried continually for his safety. Putreo was no threat, but the Rochforte tribe were. The irony of being concerned for an assassin with a fearsome reputation was not lost on her. She smiled to herself. Cold-blooded assassin he may be, but he was hers and she wanted him back in one piece.

‘Now if you’re smiling at my advice on mind enhancement techniques I know you haven’t been listening to a word I’ve said.’

‘Sorry brother. I was thinking.’

‘Mage De Winter I assume?’

Mistral sighed, ‘I worry about him.’

There was a brief silence and Mistral could feel Phantom’s incredulous gaze boring into the side of head.

‘I know, I know,’ she muttered, looking down at the leather reins gathered in her hand. ‘He can look after himself. But I can’t help worrying.’

‘I have never witnessed a more ridiculous pairing than you two!’ Phantom exclaimed in an exasperated voice. ‘You’re fretting over an assassin credited with more kills than I’ve had hot dinners and he regularly tries to die protecting one of the most stubbornly indestructible creatures on the Isle!’

Mistral gave a wry laugh, ‘I know.

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