Assassin of the Damned (Dark Gods) Read Online Free PDF Page A

swords.”
    “I saw you punch Ox,” she said. “He was the strongest man I knew. You manhandled him like a child. By your story, you chased off White Company killers. I will tell you a secret. I’ve a trick that will surprise Magi Filippo. Kill him and the others will scatter. That I know for certain.”
    I nodded. “First tell me who the lady in the castle is.”
    “She’s particular about that sort of—”
    “No more excuses,” I said. “If you want my help, you must speak.”
    Ofelia scratched her scalp. Under her hood, she had bristles for hair. “Have you heard, signor, of the Moon Lady?”
    I shrugged.
    “A priestess of the Moon lives at the castle,” Ofelia said.
    “What does a priestess of the Moon want with so many corpses?”
    “What do I care?” Ofelia asked. “She pays in silver. That’s enough for me.”
    “My sword will cost you fifteen hundred florins.”
    Ofelia began to protest.
    “You tried to kill me,” I said. “And so far I’ve refrained from hanging you for it.”
    She grew pale, nodded.
    I climbed into the wagon-bed and picked up a sword. It had the stamp of Villani, one of the best smithies in Milan, which was the arms and armor capital of Italy. The sword wore specks of rust, probably from laying in damp ground too long. A rusty sword for a knight with rusty mail—maybe it was fitting. I felt enlivened with a blade in my hand. I was ready to deal vengeance and gain justice, be it from a priest, sorcerer or slumbering goddess.
    Ofelia snapped the reins and the mules lurched into motion.

-6-

    We hit a stretch of open road and passed dark vineyards. There was a cottage down in the ravine, with light shining past the door jam. The mules pulled at a steady clop and their heads bobbed up and down. Soon we crested the hill. More appeared in the distance.
    “There,” Ofelia said. She pointed at a castle on a crag. It was dark, and even from here, the castle radiated menace. It was too tall and spiky, like an evil castle in a minstrel’s tale.
    “Don’t the guards carry lanterns?” I asked.
    Ofelia’s laugh sounded like a witch’s cackle.
    The road led down and looked to twist in the ravines. I spied lights of movement among trees. Our friends carried lanterns or torches.
    “How many men will Filippo have?” I asked.
    “We could only wish they were men,” Ofelia muttered.
    Hounds howled before I could ask her what she meant. The howling was eerie, discordant, as I’d said earlier. A premonition touched me and I realized the improbability of Ofelia’s tale. I put my hand on her shoulder. She cowered, and I felt her flesh tremble.
    “Is this a trap?”
    She shook her head.
    “By the howls Filippo must have half-a-dozen hounds and likely a dozen riders,” I said. “I can kill two or three of his men-at-arms. The rest will swarm me and capture you. You must realize that. I don’t think you’d willingly ride into capture. That leaves only one other option.”
    “All you have to do is kill Filippo,” she said. “Surely you know that.”
    “Slay him while his men guard him?” I laughed.
    “Knock them out of the way. You’re strong.”
    “My dear woman, horses are too big to knock out of the way.”
    “I hired you—your sword, I mean. I did it honestly, signor. I want to reach the castle. Why would I jeopardize my wagon and cargo just so Filippo could kill you? You’re nothing to me.”
    I scowled.
    “How was I supposed to know you’d wake up?” she asked. “The way you lay beside the road earlier, Ox and I thought you were dead. Filippo was out there before that. There would be no means for Filippo and me to plan a trap, if that’s what you fear.”
    Her reasoning made sense, and her blatant greed and self-interest were too honest to fake. I released her.
    She rubbed her shoulder, glanced at me. “The priestess gave me a powder, signor. It makes a flash that blinds people in the dark, at least for a few moments. You can attack then.”
    “Right,” I