Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Isabel removed her mask.

"I snuck into Lord Hidefield's office and was able to hide in one of his cupboards. I couldn't see anything but what I heard should be of some value. Some man named Damien came in and talked to Hidefield."

Cormac understood now where Damien had gone and why he couldn't find him. "Continue," he said.

"They were talking about some project they were starting. It was really unclear as to what they were referring to because they didn't mention anything about the guild..."

Cormac looked up, here was the mention of the project again.

"...Halfway through the meeting another group came in, all they said was 'we are ready' or something like that. Then they left. Soon after both Hidefield and Damien left. I didn't dare move from my spot until I was certain they were gone. By the time I left, Hidefield had already left the estate and I had no way of knowing where he could have gone."

She stopped and looked at Cormac. He nodded to show he was thankful.

Rider was next to speak.

"I can tell you where Hidefield went. He came to the palace and met with the King." Cormac straightened up. "You know the prince went south a few weeks ago?"

"Yeah," both Isabel and Cormac replied. Cormac had only ever seen it as an insignificant fact before.

"Well, the prince won't be returning for another few months. The treaty is taking a lot longer than they thought to get signed. Turns out it was Hidefield's idea to send the prince in the first place. He said it would look better for Dayrius."

"That means it's a part of his grand plan then?" Cormac said more to himself than anyone else.

"That's what I thought," Rider agreed, "But wait until you hear the rest of it. The King had a very important discussion with Hidefield." Rider smiled knowingly. Cormac still couldn't see how sending the prince away was connected to the project within the guild. Isabel looked just as confused.

"Turns out Hidefield wanted the King to sign a document which would make him heir to the throne if the king dies."

Both Cormac and Isabel jumped.

"So he does want to rule after all," Isabel said.

"Why would he not just kill the king and be done with it?" Cormac spoke.

"Lord Hidefield may control the assassins but to kill the king so openly would be declaring war on the kingdom," Isabel said, her eyes full of understanding, "he wants to do it in a way that no one can refute his position."

"What about the prince? Surely once he is eighteen he can claim his birthright?" Cormac reasoned. He didn't want to believe that Lord Hidefield would become king.

"Luckily," Rider interrupted, "That was not a part of the contract. The king refused to sign it unless the prince would be given his title upon his coming of age."

"No wonder he is growing so impatient," Isabel mumbled.

They all fell silent, absorbed in their thoughts. It was a lot to take in. Cormac was happy that they had uncovered so much. After a moment Isabel turned to him.

"What about you Cormac?"

Cormac flinched at the sound of his name. Pulling his thoughts together he began, "I found out similar stuff to Isabel. About the project. Hidefield had given the guild a lot of money to set it up. I later found out that the project is an elite force within the guild. They are a collection of the best assassins in the guild. While I was waiting for Isabel a group went past, they said something about that they were ready but Hidefield wasn't..." He trailed off as it clicked inside his head. He had no idea how he had not seen it before. It was all so obvious.