Imperial Assassin by Mark Robson Page A

you’re letting yourself in for”,’ Surabar said with an
amused grin. ‘I suggest that you listen to my idea before you agree. My plan will put at least one person in extreme danger. I will not order anyone to do it. I’ll only accept a
volunteer.’
    ‘We’re listening, your Majesty,’ Femke encouraged.
    ‘I want someone to infiltrate the Guild. I need a volunteer who is willing to become an undercover assassin. Once we have someone on the inside, the two crucial pieces of information
needed to bring the Guild down should be ours for the taking. It is of paramount importance to find out where the Guild headquarters is located. Second only to this is the identity of the
Guildmaster. Once we know these things, breaking up the Guild will become relatively straightforward.’
    Femke did not hesitate. ‘I’ll do it, your Majesty. I have the requisite background training. It will take me a little while to create a suitable new persona, but it should be
possible with the appropriate support.’
    ‘No, Femke – not this time. You’re not suitable for several reasons. First, you have not fully recovered from your injuries. Do not think I’m going to cast aside my vow
about your returning to the field before you are fully fit. Second, Shalidar must be a member of the Guild and he knows you too well. If he returns to Shandrim, you would be discovered and killed
very quickly. We don’t know what sort of induction procedures the Guild has, or how they screen their recruits. Your various personas have all been seen around Shandrim for some years. I
wouldn’t be surprised to find that you are already marked by the Guild.’
    ‘Which leaves me, your Majesty,’ Reynik said coolly. ‘If I were to accept this mission, would I have to kill in order to be accepted into the Guild?’
    ‘Yes,’ Surabar said grimly. ‘The hypocrisy of it galls me, but I am not blind to the necessity of giving you a solid cover. If it brings any comfort, I will feel any lives we
are forced to take as darker stains upon my soul than any I gained for my decisions as a soldier. I can assure you that any targets I assign you will already have been marked for the death
sentence. There are a lot of prominent Noblemen out there set on treasonous activities. I abhor the whole nature of killing for money, but it will be necessary for you to become a real assassin if
you are to successfully infiltrate the Guild. Moreover, you’ll need to do something spectacular if you are to grab the Guild’s attention.’
    ‘Your Majesty,’ Femke interrupted, ‘if I might be so bold, Legionnaire Reynik, for all his good intentions, is trained neither as an assassin, nor as a spy. He will be spotted
easily.’
    ‘That’s why I’m making it your job to train him. You have three weeks. No more.’
    ‘Three weeks, your Majesty! But that’s impossible! Three months would be hard, but . . .’
    ‘You have three weeks, Femke,’ Surabar interrupted. ‘Events are moving quickly. With hindsight, I was rash to declare the Guild
anaethus drax.
I should have waited
until I had more information. Three weeks is as much time as I can allow. The longer we delay, the more people are likely to lose their lives for no purpose. Legionnaire Reynik will have to learn
quickly. He has proved himself resourceful before. I’ve no doubt that he will be able to absorb enough information in that time to become convincing. Accept and your first hit will take place
in three weeks. I will place any resources you require at your command. What do you say, Reynik?’
    ‘I remain yours to command, your Majesty. I will do as you ask.’
    ‘We will both do our best, your Majesty,’ Femke added.
    ‘See that your best is good enough. Good people are dying because of my miscalculation. A location and a name – that is all I ask.’
    Reynik bowed, recognising the dismissal in the Emperor’s final statement. As he turned to leave, his mind raced. In three weeks, he would be