Chapter 5 - The Silent Siege
"Where is the anchor?" Adrian demanded, his heart dropping.
"Ambassador Kael carries it," Elara answered, leaning against his shoulder as another wave of exhaustion hit her. "It is a black obsidian talisman bound with dark blood magic. As long as he holds it, he controls the curse."
"Then I will take it from him," Adrian said grimly.
Before he could stand, a faint scrape sounded from the balcony windows. Adrian drew his dagger, motioning for Elara to remain hidden.
The balcony doors swung open silently. A masked assassin, dressed in the dark leather of Norwyn’s elite shadow-guards, slipped into the room, a poisoned blade gleaming in his hand. The killer moved directly toward the bed, aiming to strike where a sleeping king should have been.
Adrian lunged from the shadows.
Metal clashed against metal with a deafening ring. The assassin parried Adrian's strike and swept his blade around, aiming for the King's throat. Adrian ducked beneath the swing, lunging forward and slamming the assassin into the stone pillar near the balcony.
The assassin snarled, drawing a hidden dagger with his left hand and slashing across Adrian's shoulder. Blood soaked Adrian's tunic, but the King did not flinch. He grabbed the assassin's wrist, twisted it back, and drove his own blade through the killer's chest.
The assassin collapsed to the floor with a muted gasp.
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Adrian leaned over the dying man and ripped off his black face mask. He recoiled in shock.
The assassin was not from Norwyn. He wore the crest of Lord Vane’s personal house guard under his leather armor.
