A Ballet of Blades

Chapter One (Sira)

It seemed like I was incapable of going an entire day without killing someone.

It was the time of day when afternoon danced with twilight in an elusive ballet across the sky; when the sun was still up but shadows were beginning to creep into the golden rays, and darkness and light intertwined for a brief moment before the careful balance was tipped and the black rushed in, bringing with it the night. Blues and pinks and oranges and purples blended seamlessly into one another like paint, drenching the island of Valencia in a peculiar mixture of both light and shadow.

The marketplace was as busy as usual. Trade was not wholly ruled by the laws of time and the changing of seasons. While fishmongers and spice merchants and craftsmen ruled the market by day, the night was the domain of entertainers, tavern keepers, and whores. From the seediest alehouse in Saltsand Harbor to the most luxurious brothel in Queensport, people were out looking to have a good time...or to take advantage of the unsuspecting.

I was well aware of the presence of those who might have more sinister intentions than merely enjoying themselves. I was as alert as ever as I walked beside one of my captains, Malina Mirabel. The first Mirabel had been initiated into the League of Assassins during the Righteous Restoration, which was one hundred and some years past. An offshoot of a Castilyan noble family, the Mirabels were notorious for their skill with the Liangii stiletto, which was a small, slender blade with a wickedly sharp point that noblewomen from Liang were fond of disguising as ornate hairpins.

Neither I nor Malina were on duty that particular night, though my father used to say that a good Commander was always on duty. As such, I was still wearing the crimson and red of the League and my sword belt. "Would you prefer a chilled Thaleian white or a strong Meraliti red?" I asked Malina while we strode through the Square of Spices, lanterns made of colored glass flickering on as the sky darkened. I brushed a piece of my ashen brown hair away from my face.

"The chilled Thaleian white, if it please the Commander. A strong Meraliti red has even the most seasoned drinkers as drunk as the devil after a few cups, and I would like to keep my wits about me tonight...and on the morrow as well. Elenei Evysse has taken out a contract with me, and I plan to see it completed."

I had to crack a smile at that. "Very well, then. The Thaleian white it is." We continued in the direction of Queensport. I was satisfied to see that there were plenty of assassins out and about, guarding the precious cargoes of the spicers. True to its name, the Square smelled of spices from half the world and back. I caught a whiff of saffron and a trace of parsley; a hint of nutmeg and a smidgen of ginger.

The Square itself was wide and spacious, featuring a fountain carved in the likeness of Silvano Silvertongue. The area was filled with hundreds of stalls and carts and crates and people of all walks of life. Rapid Castilyan mingled with the intricate dialects of Najareeq and Mukherjee and elegant Meraliti. Spicers loudly proclaimed the superiority of their wares, hagglers struck bargains and most certainly cheated many an unsuspecting soul of their rightful payment, and League assassins stood guard.

The League of Assassins had been formed approximately four hundred years ago, when the commander of the Queen's Legion in Castilya fled across the Strait of Portaya to this island. The rule of the final Evalisse queen of Castilya, Queen Vhalerina the Daring, had been brought to an abrupt end by her assassination. In the wake of her death, several different factions rose in a contest for the throne. Lord Veneceslao Viladi, later known as King Veneceslao the Cruel, emerged as the victor with the backing of the Alysian Empire. After fleeing Castilya, Valerie Evalisse-Queen Vhalerina's cousin and the commander of the Queen's Legion-opened up this island to trade and merchants, for although it was then-uninhabited, the First Commander could see that it had the potential to become powerful due to its advantageous position at where the Shimmering Sea met the Sarein Strait. The merchants would be permitted to conduct trade on this island, later named Valencia, with the League guarding their cargoes. In return, Commander Valerie Evalisse would have anonymity and alliances. This shrewd ploy successfully kept King Veneceslao from discovering First Commander Valerie's whereabouts for a time.