A giggle came through the line and Dathan tilted the communicator to show the empty space beside him. The spectrum camouflage was doing its job. Farther back, Nik waved a hand.
“Where are you guys?” Ria asked.
“On a rooftop, enjoying the view.” The Sync swung again, and down below, Ria could see the rush of people in the plaza. They milled around the mangled statue.
Zayn flashed a grin at Ria. “Dath, you guys did a great job. Get back to the shuttle after you’ve finished admiring your handiwork.”
“Nik’s going to drop me and Lala back to the ship and come back for you guys.” Dathan gave them a salute. “Be careful. I don’t fancy a trip inside the Guild to rescue your butt. Good hunting.” The screen went black.
Zayn shoved the Sync back in his pocket. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Ready.”
The stream of assassins had ceased. The two stationed at the door stood, straight and still, like statues. Ria moved forward, Zayn one step behind her. Together they moved, slowly and with sure steps, up the stairs.
One guard lifted his head. He was an Argylian with skin that shone like a diamond and empty dark eyes like black holes. Ria moved her hand in the silent signal that was used by all assassins as a means of identification.
“Any news from the explosion?” the guard said, his voice a sibilant whisper.
“No.” Ria kept her voice lower than normal. “There were already many of us there. It was inefficient for us to remain.”
The guard nodded, and then Ria and Zayn stepped inside.
The long entrance hall was empty, the hushed silence so familiar to her. She moved forward and saw Zayn looking around.
“It’s so stark,” he murmured.
She looked again, trying to see it through his eyes. The bare stone walls, no decoration. The Guild believed in being focused on killing, not on the comforts of living.
They moved past the arched entrance to the Great Hall used for meals and gatherings. Then past the main training rooms.
“Amazing.” He stopped in one doorway. The training room was huge, the walls covered in a range of different weapons. One wall was all modern weapons from all around the galaxy. But as he stepped inside, he was drawn to the wall of ancient weapons. “These reproductions or the real thing?”
She followed him. “A mixture. The Guild likes to collect weapons, but we also have our own master craftsmen and blacksmiths. They create copies using newer, stronger materials.”
Zayn grabbed a long, curved sword off the wall. “Katana. Real deal. Really old and valuable.”
“A good choice.”
The deep voice had them both spinning.
A tall, robed figure stood in the doorway.
Oh no. Master Ronin. Ria felt the bottom drop out of her stomach.
Ronin lifted the robe off his head, uncovering his face. It was lots of sharp edges, his mouth a flat slant, and his eyes a pale, ice blue.
“Now, Commander Phoenix, I wonder if you know how to use that katana.” Ronin withdrew a long, straight sword from beneath his robes.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Zayn forced his hands to stay relaxed on the hilt of the katana.
Not an easy thing to do when faced with a master assassin whose specialty was the sword.
“I suspected when I saw you both on the street that you had nefarious plans.” Ronin spoke without blinking, his entire focus on them. “Then I placed your face, Assassin Ria.”
Ria moved forward. “Master Ronin, we aren’t?—”
