Imperial Assassin Read Online Free

mood.
    ‘Of course I want this,’ he muttered determinedly under his breath. ‘I was born for this. I couldn’t be more suited to the military life. I will not allow the pettiness
of a few individuals to stop me living my dream. Bring on the pain. Bring on the tiredness. I will not let Sidis break me. It won’t take the others long to see that I’m above his little
vendetta.’

C HAPTER T WO
    ‘Dead? Danar is dead? How?’
    Lord Tremarle sat down with a thump onto his chair, his complexion draining of colour until he was ashen grey. The lines on his face deepened as the weight of the grim news settled on his
features. Lord Lacedian wondered for a moment if the tidings would be too much for his old friend.
    ‘I’m not exactly sure, Tremarle. My source wasn’t flush with details. Rumour has it Danar was poisoned, but I stress this
is
only a rumour.’
    ‘First Espen, now Danar. My sons are spent. My line has failed.’
    Tremarle fell silent. His shoulders slumped and his eyes became distant. Lacedian looked on in helpless pity. What consolation could be offered at a time of such loss? Danar had been
Tremarle’s firstborn son. It had been but a matter of weeks since his younger son had been killed in a hunting accident. Tradition was that upon the death of a Lord the eldest living son
would adopt the name of his father’s House. Lord Tremarle had daughters, but a daughter was not allowed to inherit the leadership of a House. He was too old to father more children. Without
sons his death would see the end of the House of Tremarle. The House, together with the family estates, would be taken over by the family of his eldest daughter’s husband, thus ending a four
hundred year history. It was a bitter blow.
    The silence dragged into minutes. Lacedian’s eyes started to rove restlessly around his friend’s expansive study and he wondered if he should take his leave. Should he go and allow
his friend to deal with his pain in solitude, or stay to offer him comfort in his time of mourning?
    ‘Was there a woman involved?’ Tremarle asked woodenly, causing Lacedian to jump at the unexpected question. Tremarle had never displayed an active disapproval of Danar’s
dalliances with the young Ladies of the Court, but he had long felt that if anything, a woman would prove to be his son’s undoing.
    Lacedian shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, old friend,’ he said soothingly. ‘As I said, information is sparse, but I wanted to save you hearing the news from the
Emperor’s lips. I didn’t want you to say anything that we might all regret.’
    ‘Of course, Lacedian. I understand. Thank you.’
    Lord Tremarle did understand. Everyone who had been involved in the movement against the new Emperor, Surabar, was on edge at the moment. Several of the Lords had been hung for treason in recent
weeks by order of the Emperor’s Regent, a man they had thought to be one of their own. The Emperor had returned from his trip to Thrandor. There was every reason for caution.
    ‘Shall I leave you in peace, Tremarle?’
    ‘No, Lacedian. Stay. There are things that we need to discuss, questions I would like to ask.’ Tremarle looked at his friend and noted the discomfort in his face. He smiled
encouragingly. ‘Don’t worry, old friend, I don’t expect you to have answers to the questions, but it will do me good to ask them anyway. Thank you for taking the responsibility
for bringing me these tidings. It was bravely done.’
    The old Lord gestured for Lacedian to take a seat in one of the large armchairs. Tremarle leaned forward and pushed up out of his own chair. He walked across to the drinks cabinet.
    ‘Drink, Lacedian?’ he asked, opening the front of the cabinet and taking out two glasses.
    ‘It’s a bit early for me, Tremarle, but under the circumstances a drop of something would be welcome. Thanks.’
    Tremarle took out a crystal decanter of dark red wine. With care, he filled the two glasses with generous