Sespian lifted a hand. “Now, before you get huffy…” He glanced at Maldynado and Basilard and whispered, “Does he ever get huffy?”
Not in a manner that would cause most people to notice it, Basilard signed at the same time as Maldynado said, “Yes.”
Sicarius stared at them briefly-this caused defensive shrugging, then squirming from Maldynado-before returning his attention to Sespian.
“I’ve volunteered myself for the mission too,” he said.
Maldynado gaped at Sespian. “You did what?”
Though also surprised, Sicarius kept his face neutral. “You wish to go on a dangerous mission with me?”
Sespian grimaced. “I’m not sure wish is the word, but I sense that this might improve General Ridgecrest’s opinion of me. He hasn’t been rude, but from a few comments… I had the impression he doesn’t have a lot of respect for… what did you call me?” He glanced at Maldynado. “Bookish?”
“Bookly.”
Basilard signed, Is that a word?
Maldynado pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you start. I get hounded about words enough from Books.”
“Bookly, yes,” Sespian said. “I don’t think Ridgecrest respects bookly types as much as warriors.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Maldynado said, dropping his goofy expression in favor of a more serious mien. “He came by the house some when I was a boy. He’d served a few years on the west coast and was a contemporary of Lord Admiral Starcrest. He had all sorts of respect for him, and by all accounts Starcrest was on the bookly side. But he used his smarts to succeed in war, and the stories say he was the type to lead men into battle, a cutlass in one hand and a pistol in the other.”
Sicarius had wondered if Ridgecrest had ever met Starcrest. If the two had a past bond, it could prove useful if-
“Perhaps I should have been asking you for cutlass- and pistol-wielding lessons these last weeks,” Sespian told Sicarius with a sigh.
Sicarius refrained from pointing out that he’d been available and that if someone hadn’t been sulking someone could have had as many lessons as he wanted. “We can begin anytime you wish.”
“Can we gather intelligence for Ridgecrest first?” Sespian asked. “Everything Maldynado said makes me believe my impression was correct, and that Ridgecrest might respect me more-no, be more willing to ally with me-if he saw that I’m capable of the sorts of physical feats that Turgonian emperors have always demonstrated. He needs to know that I’m a man who’s not afraid to walk into danger; I won’t simply hide in the Imperial Barracks and send others out to die for me.”
Normally, Sicarius would approve of this line of reasoning, but the earlier howl of the soul construct concerned him. If the creature was, as he suspected, after Sespian, he’d be safer inside these walls and surrounded by thousands of people. Heroncrest might be the man who’d allied with the Nurians. If Sespian walked into their camp and was captured… Heroncrest would get rid of him in a second to make his own route to the throne simpler.
Sespian cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had fallen upon the clock tower. “I know I’ll slow you down, but I thought… maybe you could show me a few things out there-the things you do so well. Less the throat-cutting ideally. Amaranthe said… I mean, it seems like you want to. Show me things, that is.” He gave a self-deprecating eye roll at the awkwardness of his words. This must mean much to him-perhaps he saw Ridgecrest as his only chance.
Basilard and Maldynado’s heads swung toward Sicarius. He sensed that they were enjoying the chance to see a side of him that was more than the assassin. Sicarius, however, didn’t care to share that side with anyone except Sespian. And Amaranthe. He did his best to ignore them.
“I thought you were more interested in fishing,” he said.
Sespian managed a wan smile. “Wrong time of year for that, I fear.”
“Are we coming too?” Maldynado asked.
“As I recall, you’re here to spread rumors about Ravido,” Sicarius said.
“Preferably not through Ridgecrest’s daughters,” Sespian added.
“They’re absolutely no fun, either of them,” Maldynado muttered to Basilard.
Basilard ignored him, signing toward Sicarius, And me?
Sicarius considered the question. He’d prefer to take no one and gather intelligence on his own-or simply eliminate this Heroncrest-but if he had to take someone, he’d rather have the more proven Basilard than Sespian. Practically speaking. But if he went with his heart, something Amaranthe would doubtlessly encourage, he’d take Sespian and Sespian alone. How could he refuse to do so when Sespian had finally asked for it? He’d made no mention of taking Maldynado or Basilard.
Hoping this decision of the “heart” wouldn’t get his son killed, Sicarius said, “Keep watch from in here, Basilard. If an alarm is raised or if we’re captured-” or killed, he added silently, thinking of the soul construct, “-let Amaranthe know what’s happened.”
Understood, Basilard signed.
“A word,” Sicarius said, waving for Sespian to join him to one side.
“Yes?”
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the logic of assassinating your rival instead of spying on him,” Sicarius said.
Sespian sighed. “I knew you’d bring that up. We’re not killing anyone.”
“It’s unlikely we’ll make it in and out without casualties.”
“I thought you were better than that-in and out without anyone knowing you’re there. Or are you worried I’ll be the one to snap a twig and alert someone of our presence?”
Yes, Sicarius thought, but he didn’t say it.
He didn’t need to. Sespian sighed again. “If that happens, just knock the person out or otherwise subdue him. I know you can do that. We don’t need to kill anyone.”
“You’re being optimistic.”
“Better than pessimistic.” Sespian set his jaw.
Sicarius flicked away the argument-the guards were inconsequential anyway-but he wasn’t ready to concede on the enemy commander. “If we’re going through the effort of sneaking past the perimeter, which won’t be easy because they’ll be expecting spies, it’s logical to kill Heroncrest while we’re there. If these two armies clash, he’ll be a target in the battle anyway. You or Ridgecrest will be standing on the wall, directing artillerymen to shoot rounds at him. He’s someone who is plotting to take the throne. With you still alive, that’s treason, punishable by death. Getting rid of him in the beginning could save lives later. Further, there’ll be a headless army out there without a candidate to back. If you show your face, you’ll be their logical leader. You could have thousands of men, at which point Ridgecrest might be more likely to back you as well. The combined forces would rival those Ravido can claim.”
Sespian shook his head and walked to the window. He gripped the sill, hands tight on the cold snow and stone. Sicarius didn’t know if that was an utter rejection or not-Amaranthe was always more vociferous about her rejections. He went to stand beside Sespian, curious if he’d be pushed away.
“I understand your logic, and I won’t try to pretend that it’s false,” Sespian said, “but you can’t always use logic when it comes to human beings. There are methods that are honorable and others that aren’t. I won’t win Ridgecrest’s respect by sending in an assassin to kill my competition in his sleep. And I won’t… respect myself either. I refuse to believe that a man has to give up his self-respect, his sense of honor, to rule a nation.”
Sicarius doubted many leaders of nations, especially ones not born into the position, had reached such lofty heights without trading their honor for gains somewhere along the way. For good or ill, Hollowcrest and his tutors had chosen to instill practicality into him, not honor. If he saw an opportunity to assassinate Heroncrest, he’d take it. Sespian’s honor need not be besmirched if he wasn’t a part of it.