Darian side stepped with a swift, practiced motion, the assassin's knife flashing past his ear. He had seen the move coming. He dodged her second lunge, weaving back and forth like a shadow. He waited for the right moment, a subtle shift in her balance as she prepared for a third strike. Just as she attempted, Darian's foot found a small rock on the ground and he kicked it hard. It didn’t hit her, but the sound was enough of a distraction. She faltered for a fraction of a second, and that was all Darian needed.He moved in, not to attack, but to disarm. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it just so, and with a quick, fluid motion, he snatched the knife from her hand. The girl gasped.He sent two kicks to her belly and gave her a shove that floored her. Before she could regain composure, he was towering over her. The knife was pointed in her face. "Move a bit, and you will see your insides pour out. I promise you that."The girl could taste her own blood. She could also see the fury in Dar

Darian arranged all the books back the same way he had met them. The last thing he wanted was Dimitri noticing that he was searching for ancient sacred writings that hardly anyone in their generation knew about.Darian left the room and quickly went to the place where he had gotten the paper from. Dimitri was not there. Darian walked back to the spot he had taken it from, and kept it with the rest. As he walked out the door, he came face to face with Dimitri."And what are you doing here?" Dimitri asked looking down at him.Darian wore a confident posture. "I wanted to keep the list for yesterday's books 'read and bought'. You were not around, so I thought I would drop it on the table."Dimitri bent as if Darian would not hear him when he was standing, "Get lost."Darian met his gaze without flinching. Then he nodded his head and walked away without uttering a word.Darian found Noel cleaning some books in another room. He stood on a ladder with a rag in his hand. "Darian, are you tir

Darian and Noel walked to the front of the Pearl household. On the walls were engraved images of fish and water. At the entrance of the mansion, two guards in armor stood with their spears and swords. Darian took out a scroll from beneath his sleeve. He walked towards the guards and said, "I bring a scroll from Master Blade to the young master of the Pearl mansion, Jean Pearl."One guard stretched his hand to collect it from Darian. Darian put back his hands. "Master Blade also wants me to show him some reference points privately. He also told me to make sure that the young master writes everything quickly and returns it back to him today."The two guards exchanged glances. They moved aside from the way and Darian walked in with Noel."That was really smart of you," Noel whispered."Don't blow our cover," Darian whispered back.The entrance led them to a big courtyard surrounded with several rooms. The floor was made of cut stones. Some parts of the floor shone as sunlight poured on i

Darian wondered how things were going inside. He wondered how soon the signal would come. Darian had told Noel to sit this one out in a safe place. Maybe he was with dirty Patrick at the moment.A man beside Darian was eating bananas. "Want some?" the man asked. The place was dark, so Darian could not really see his face. Before they had entered the chariot, Darian had remembered that he was bald with a tattoo on his head. Darian took the banana from him and peeled it slowly, then he ate it.***Lucius flung the book at the feet of Adam. “You look at the crimes and evidence against you! You can't even refute it!”“Would you let me do that?” Adam asked Lucius in a bold tone, still not losing his cool, but he was tasting a bit of anger.Lucius rose to his feet. He straightened his clothes and began pacing the platform. “I am so disappointed in you Minister Adam Pearl. For years, your family has been an anchor in the west border land, but it is a pity that decades of hard work are being

Lucius suddenly became excited. “I know who you are. I know you! You should not be here! You are odd! I know you.” Lucius tried to hurriedly move forward on his knees. The guards hushed from behind him to pull him back.Adam's and Jean's attention was piqued. Jean leaned forward. Darian felt sweat break out from his brow. He wondered if Lucius meant what he said. Did he really know him? Darian could feel the echoed beating of his heart in his ears. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, careful not to give any idea that he was scared of revelation.At that moment, they heard a call from outside. “I hope I am missing nothing?” It was the familiar voice of Master Blade ringing from the pavement as he walked into the side hall.Lucius froze back immediately without much effort. Master Blade entered and Adam and Jean rose to give him a bow. Darian did the same. Blade moved to sit on a chair next to Adam. “At ease everyone,” Blade said.Adam and Jean took their seats.Blade cleared his throat. “I