Realms of Valor - James Lowder [50]
comic grimaces as he fastidiously removed the creature. Arilyn Moonblade fought like no other Hasheth had seen. She held her ancient sword with both hands, yet her strike was as quick as a desert snake. Easily she engaged both of the Calishite's flashing scimitars. Within moments the man fell backward, clutching at his slashed throat. The half-elf stooped and cleaned her sword in the sand. Like one asleep, Hasheth slid from the rocky ledge and drifted forward, his eyes fixed in horrified fascination on the dead man. Danilo came to stand beside Arilyn. “If ever I had doubts about your assessment of Hasheth, one look at his face now would dispel them. I'd wager my entire gem collection that the boy had never seen death close at hand-until now, that is.” “He's lived a sheltered life,” Arilyn responded softly. “Few men die in a harem.” “And those who do, die happy,” the young mage murmured. Oblivious to the Harpers' conversation, Hasheth dropped to his knees beside the body. His hands reached toward the man's outer shirt, hesitated, then parted the dark folds. A quilted sash of pale silver silk girded the dead man's under- tunic. Hasheth looked up at Arilyn. “This man wore a shadow sash,” he whispered, “and you killed him with ease.” The half-elf pushed a handful of black curls off her damp forehead and shrugged. “He was better at stealth than at honest combat.” “Even so, the gray sash marks its wearer as an assassin of the highest rank and skill,” the lad said quietly, never taking his eyes from the corpse. “Oh-oh,” Danilo murmured, suddenly realizing what was coming. Hasheth drew in a steadying breath and quickly unknot-ted the sash, tugging it free of the dead man's body. He rose and presented it to Arilyn with grave formality. 'This belt and rank are now yours.“ Arilyn eyed the proffered sash and swallowed hard. ”What am I supposed to do with it?“ ”Wear it with pride,“ Hasheth responded earnestly. ”The sash will bring you much respect in these lands, and many offers from men of wealth and power. The shadow sash also grants you entrance into the Assassins Guild, and even a position in the ruling body of the School of Stealth, should you desire it.“ Arilyn's shoulders sagged. For much of her life, the half-elf had struggled to be known as something other than an assassin. Ironically, she had just earned a badge that proclaimed her false identity anew. ”Two guilds,“ Danilo said softly. ”Between the Assassins Guild and the Wine Merchants Guild, we could surely get the information we need.“ Arilyn cast a rueful glance into Danilo's sympathetic face and gave a curt nod of agreement. She gingerly plucked the sash from Hasheth's outstretched hands and tied it quickly around her waist. ”I was not ready to listen to your words,“ Hasheth said, an apology in his tones. ”Will you now tell me what brings the Harpers to our lands?“ ”We would like Pasha Balik to remain in power," Danilo began.
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The young man smiled. “Already you have my interest. That is my wish as well.” Hasheth listened politely as Danilo spoke, but the boy's face darkened with shock and outrage as the mage related the guilds' plot against the pasha. He sat in silence for many moments after the story had ended. “What's wrong, Hasheth?” Arilyn prodded. The young man shifted uneasily. “Clearly I must withdraw from the School of Stealth if I wish to stay alive, but doing so would be regarded as a failure. The guild would not hesitate to spread false tales of my cowardice, which would bring great