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    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed Of The Assassins Guild - Blade Of The Dagger
    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed Of The Assassins Guild - Blade Of The Dagger
    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed Of The Assassins Guild - Blade Of The Dagger
    Ebook314 pages5 hours

    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed Of The Assassins Guild - Blade Of The Dagger

    By Kristie Lynn Higgins

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    About this ebook

    The Shades Of Gray Series follows the adventures of Kat, a woman with no memory of her past who is called the Pandora Project by those who hunt her, and Kim, a woman leading the life of a legal assassin called a Life Closer. The world they live in is plagued by clouds that prevent the sun from shining down on the land called Dry Clouds, making all who live in Noir forced to live in endless night.

    Kat searches for clues to her past while androids called Un-Men and human bounty hunters try to kill her, and Kim searches for who murdered her mother. The two women's paths collide, and they form a shaky partnership to unravel the mysteries that haunt their lives and they try to protect one another from those who do not wish for them to discover the truth.

    Everyone's soul is marked by a color. Which shade of gray will they hold to?

    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed of the Assassins Guild- Blade of the Dagger:

    The Raven and the Wolf continue with their plan as the Hand starts a new plan of their own.

    **Shades of Gray Series**

    (STARTING POINT QUADRILOGY)
    #1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness
    #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love
    #3 Shades of Gray: Cerberus Versus Pandora
    #4 Shades of Gray: Sisters

    (ZOMBIE TWILIGHT QUADRILOGY)
    #5 Shades of Gray: Night Of The Twilight- The Chimera Strain
    #6 Shades of Gray: Dawn Of The Twilight- Outbreak
    #7 Shades of Gray: Day Of The Twilight- Patient Zero
    #8 Shades of Gray: Land Of The Twilight- Closing of Days

    (MYTHS AND DESPAIR QUADRILOGY)
    #9 Shades of Gray: Rise of the Gorgons
    #10 Shades of Gray: Woe To The Watcher
    #11 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Has Held His Heart's Tongue
    #12 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Thought They Could Only Hurt

    (ASSASSINS GUILD ORIGINS QUADRILOGY)
    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed of the Assassins Guild- Blade of the Dagger
    #14 Shades of Gray: Axiom of the Assassins Guild- Steel of the Dagger
    #15 Shades of Gray: Motto of the Assassins Guild- Hilt of the Dagger
    #16 Shades of Gray: Precept of the Assassins Guild- Edge of the Dagger

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKristie Lynn Higgins
    Release dateJan 2, 2014
    ISBN9781311598325
    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed Of The Assassins Guild - Blade Of The Dagger
    Author

    Kristie Lynn Higgins

    You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

    Read more from Kristie Lynn Higgins

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      Book preview

      #13 Shades of Gray - Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Shades of Gray #13

      Creed of the Assassins Guild

      Blade Of The Dagger

      Kristie Lynn Higgins

      SHADES OF GRAY: Creed of the Assassins Guild-Blade Of The Dagger

      Text Copyright © 2014 by Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Cover Art Copyright © 2014

      Smashwords Edition

      www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

      No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-one

      Chapter Twenty-two

      Chapter Twenty-three

      Chapter Twenty-four

      Chapter Twenty-five

      Chapter Twenty-six

      START this series by TRYING the 1st book

      #1 Shades of Gray:

      Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness

      CLICK here to TRY it

      or go to my website

      www.kristielynnhiggins.com/SOG1.html

      Also from the author

      Beauty of the Beast #1

      The Mystic Rose- Part A

      The Flower, The Sword, And The Kiss

      Click here to try it

      or go to www.kristielynnhiggins.com/BOTB1PartA.html

      Also From The Author

      Ayann A Fantasy Aciton Adventure Series

      try the first book

      Click here to try Ayann #1 Part A

      or go to

      www.kristielynnhiggins.com/Ayann-1-PartA.html

      A darkness is coming

      for the one who would save us.

      Will it consume her?

      Or is there a glimmer of hope and a sparkle of light?

      From the Assembled Works

      Ginn L. Irynkissgthie 525 B.D.C.

      Chapter One

      Creed of the Assassins Guild

      534 B.D.C...

      Italy...

      Romanistic Region, Craftsmen District...

      Rosa Gardens...

      Late spring...

      The wind softly rustled through the green leaves of the thousands of roses growing in the park as couples strolled through its serene paths. Shops of fudge, hard candies, taffies, and an assortment of other shops with sweet delights encircled the gardens in a rectangle. A few clouds littered the blue sky as a pair of sparrows flew over singing.

      Ginn, I am beginning to think this is the only place you can think of to take me, Gabriella said. She wore her work clothes which consisted of a dress and an apron. She stated, You know there are many places within this part of the Romanistic Region we could walk through.

      I do, he replied. Ginn also wore his work clothes. He told her, I only bring you here because the roses are the closest things to your beauty.

      She grinned at his compliment, and she spoke, I see your tongue is a little more loose today. I believe I have barely heard twenty words from you the week we have been walking here.

      I do seem to be more talkative today. I believe it is because I feel more comfortable being around you and that you are easy to talk to. He glanced at her hand, wishing to firmly grasp it with his own but such things were frowned upon in his society, so he continued to walk beside her untethered. He told her, I feel as though I have grown closer to you.

      And I you. Look... Gabriella spoke as she pointed to a street vendor, and then she said, I am a bit hungry. Do you have the coin to buy me roasted peanuts?

      Ginn searched his pockets while she stopped and looked at a few roses that were the color of the sun. The two of them were oblivious to those around them. In the shadow of a building, two men observed the couple as the sun started its descent.

      See, Arcamedes spoke softly. I told you they would be here again.

      Damien replied, Yes, I see. Why do you keep tempting me with spying on my master?

      Why do you keep giving in to the temptation? Arcamedes questioned and then he turned and stared at her with his own lecherous thoughts before he asked the boy, Does not the beautiful Gabriella belong to you? Should she not be strolling beside you through the gardens?

      She should be mine, but she refused my offer, Damien answered and turned to start through the alley they had come up as he said, I shall return to the Wood Chisel and Mallet. I should not have come here to begin with; it only makes me angry seeing them together and knowing that I cannot have her.

      And it should. Ginn wooed her away from you; she should be yours. If he had been your friend or at least respected you, he would not have taken her away from you, Arcamedes told him as he took a few steps after the young man, then he stopped when Damien faced him, and Arcamedes said, Your master does not respect you. This should be proof of it. He takes what he wants and gives you nothing. He has also shown you he does not respect you by not allowing you to become a journeyman under someone else's tutelage.

      My master has not prevented me from becoming a journeyman for I have not asked him. I am the one who refused your offer. I believe I still have much to learn under Ginn and must stay with him another year or two.

      Arcamedes questioned, What does your father think of this?

      My father left the city long ago, and I have not seen him since. My mother died a year before Ginn made me his apprentice.

      A shame about your mother but still, you must want to make your father proud, and how can you if you are held back?

      I do not remember much about my father only that he made my mother lie a lot. She would have to make up excuses why her face was bruised.

      Arcamedes remarked, thinking of his own wife, Your mother probably deserved the beatings and with your skills, you deserved so much more than Ginn; you should have begun your journeymanship when this year started.

      Damien didn't like the way he spoke about his mother, but he held his tongue out of respect of the great man.

      Arcamedes continued, I told you before, Ginn is jealous of your skills. They are so beyond his, and he cannot teach you any more. His master was a middling carpenter and so is Ginn. Why waste your time learning skills that are middling?

      My master's skills are not middling. Ginn is a great man with skillful hands and an ingenious mind. I wonder if you are only after me to become your journeyman for the knowledge that I have about the apparatus.

      I am curious as to what the Breach Apparatus is and what it does but even if you do not tell me those things, I would still like you to come and learn under me. The Wood Chisel and Mallet is a small shop. You should come to mine and see what we produce. Your talents are wasted and you could be making so much more money.

      I would like to make money, Damien said. As an apprentice, my food and board is provided, but I get little else.

      I have seen you eyeing those of society who dress their wealthy status. Are you impressed with their way of life? Do you see yourself walking among them one day?

      Damien replied, I do. I see myself wearing clothes as fine as yours.

      If you become my journeyman, you shall be able to afford clothing such as mine and perhaps attract the eye of the tantalizing Gabriella. You should think about my offer.

      That part of your offer has tempted me several times already, but I am faithful to my master. I shall continue with him, Damien told him, then turned again, and started through the alley back to the shop as he said, I must return before my master does. I have a music box I must finish before the end of the day.

      Arcamedes took a few steps after the young man, paused to see if Damien would turn back, then Arcamedes went back to the corner. He watched Ginn and Gabriella till they left the garden, taking special care to watch her more.

      A few minutes earlier...

      I have enough coin, Ginn said and then he and Gabriella walked over to the vendor. He ordered, One bag of peanuts, please. Ginn took the bag, paid the vendor, and then handed the bag to Gabriella.

      She took the bag, removed a peanut, unshelled it, and ate the nuts within, dropping the shells to the cobblestone street. Gabriella offered the bag to him, and he grabbed a handful and started eating.

      He said, My lunch break is nearly over, so I need to return to my shop. Shall you meet with me tomorrow?

      Are you going to take me someplace different? she asked.

      Not until I find some place that is as beautiful as you, Ginn replied.

      How are you going to accomplish this task? You rarely leave your shop. If you do not already know of such a place, how shall you find it?

      I guess we shall have to explore the city. I shall leave it up to you. Would you like to return to the garden tomorrow or go exploring?

      She thought about it and then she answered, We shall become explorers tomorrow, and I look forward to it.

      They strolled long enough for the two of them to finish the bag of peanuts, then Ginn walked Gabriella to Tanners Lane and back to the button-maker's shop, and he returned to the Wood Chisel and Mallet on the corner of Gold-beaters Avenue and Tanners Lane. From the time he purchased the peanuts till he met the front of his shop, an hour had passed. He walked in, and the little silver bell atop the door rang. Ginn found his apprentice hard at work on the music box he was putting together. The mechanics were already within the box, and he was assembling the finished wood pieces around it. Sawdust covered Damien's shoulder length light brown hair from sanding a piece of wood for a chair he would assemble next. He had sanded the leg while he waited on the stained music box pieces to dry. Ginn whistled as he moved to the forge to continue working on metal fittings he was smithing.

      You seem in a good mood, Damien commented with a hint of hostility.

      I am, Ginn admitted without noticing the bitterness in his tone. Exhilaration filled Ginn's voice as he spoke, The lovely Gabriella and I went on another stroll through the gardens. I believe I am beginning to grow on her; I know I cannot stand to be away from her. Her smile brightens my day and her laugh lifts my soul. There is something about her that...

      Damien had been listening with growing contempt as his master described their outing. Damien pictured himself in Ginn's place escorting her about the city and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. It should be him that walked with her. His master had stolen something from him, and he didn't think he could forgive him. Finally the tension got to him, and Damien yelled, Enough! He slammed his tools on the table and then he shouted, Is it not bad enough you stole the woman that I want, but you also need to rub my nose in my failure?

      Ginn was shocked by his outburst and he questioned, What do you speak of?

      I speak of you coming in here every day telling me of the time that you spend with her. It should be the time I am spending with her, Damien replied and then he asked, Why do you need to boast? Why do you persist in mocking my failings?

      I am not questioning that part of your statement, at least not yet, Ginn started and then he continued, And I am not boasting or mocking you. I am questioning the part where you said that she was your woman. Do you also have an interest in Gabriella?

      Of course I have an interest in her! Damien shouted and then he asked his master, Did I not invite her to the Rosa Gardens first? Did I not make the thread stand for her?

      You did make the thread stand for her, but I did not know you invited her to the gardens before we went.

      I did! Damien snapped. I asked her first and then you came in all doe-eyed and asked her the same thing, and she went with you.

      I did not know but if you shall remember, it was Gabriella who invited me to the gardens. Not that that fact matters in our current conversation. Ginn could tell his apprentice was greatly upset and wasn't sure what to say to him so he inquired, Why did you not say something earlier?

      How does an apprentice tell his master that the woman he is courting is the woman that he wishes to court? How does the apprentice tell his master that the woman he is falling in love with he also wants to possess? How does..?

      I did not know you had an interest in her.

      Liar! Damien screamed like a child arguing over a toy. Did you not see the way I was flirting with her the day she first came into our shop? Did you not see the interest I had for her?

      I did not, Ginn admitted. I had no knowledge that you are interested in her. She is older than you by at least two years so...

      I know! Damien snapped again.

      What about the baker's daughter you keep talking about? I thought you are interested in courting her. What happened to that?

      Damien glared at his master as he asked, Are you saying I am not good enough for Gabriella? Are you saying that an apprentice should allow his master to steal from him?

      I said none of those things. Why are you accusing me of such things?

      I am accusing you of not respecting me.

      Ginn shook his head and then he questioned, Where did all of this come from? When have I never respected you?

      When you started courting Gabriella. You showed me that you had no respect for me as an apprentice. I should be a journeyman by now.

      What does one have to do with the other? We should only speak about one thing at a time, so let us go back to the matter of Gabriella. How does she feel about you?

      I do not know, Damien admitted. She spends all of her time with you, so I never get the chance to speak with her.

      There is such a great age difference between you two; you are still a child.

      I am not a child! Damien shouted as he squeezed the hammer he held, then pointed it at his master, and accused him, Arcamedes was correct when he said that you do not respect me and that you hold me back in our profession. Maybe he was correct in saying that I should be a journeyman under him. He has offered me such a job.

      He did what? Ginn shouted for the first time in their conversation. Arcamedes has no right to question you in becoming a journeyman for him. It is up to the master to say that the apprentice has qualified. He walked over to the center table and smacked his palm on it as he yelled, How dare he come into my shop and do such disrespectful things. I have a mind to report him to the Craftsmen Guild.

      Damien exploded with wrath and screamed, How dare he! How dare he! How dare you!! He threw the hammer across the room and broke a glass panel in the front window. The anger in his eyes remained a few moments more till he realized what he had done, then his face showed his remorsefulness over his immature actions, but the anger he felt caused him to storm out of the shop.

      Ginn wasn't sure what to do or if he should go after his apprentice and he hesitated, then he rushed to the front door and went out, but by then his apprentice was nowhere in sight. Ginn regretfully went back into the shop and heated up the forge.

      Later that evening...

      Damien returned to the Wood Chisel and Mallet and walked in. Ginn looked up as the bell over the door rang and the look of relief swept over his face.

      I am sorry about the window, Damien started. I did not mean to allow my anger to get the better of me. Can you forgive me for the way I acted?

      There is nothing to forgive; we both let our tempers get the better of us. I am not angry with you because you got upset with me. I am disappointed over the window, but it can be fixed. Damien, do you truly believe that I do not respect you or your work? I thought I have always treated you well. I see you as a younger brother and wish for you to be happy here.

      Damien replied, I do not think that you disrespect me. You took me in when I had no place else to go, and you are teaching me a trade and have not held back any of your secrets. I am deeply grateful to you. I only wish that you had talked to me about Gabriella before you started courting her. In this point is where I feel that you do not respect me.

      Ginn thought about it and he said, I was blind to this point, and I do not know how to fix it. I have already gained permission from her uncle to court Gabriella and have done so this past week.

      I then must accept what has transpired. You bested me in gaining permission first and in gaining the eye of the fair Gabriella, and I cannot hold that against you.

      I wish you would not look at this as a contest. This is something we should not be competing in.

      Are we not both interested in possessing Gabriella? Damien questioned and then he stated, It is a competition.

      No, you must never look at a relationship as owning someone; wives should complete us, not serve us. I see Gabriella as someone I want to build a life with and a family with. Love should be about mutual respect.

      I understand what you are saying, Damien replied. I should look at a woman as a potential partner. You believe they are our equals.

      Yes, now you have it. I guess I should have spoken to you about this sooner. I also apologize again for not seeing that you were interested in Gabriella. Are we fine on this subject now or should we...

      No, all is well. I am no longer upset that she is with you. I shall court the baker's daughter as I intended once I gain the baker's permission.

      Splendid, Ginn uttered. We should close up early and eat at the Merry Boot Tavern. I feel like meat and potatoes tonight. I shall send you ahead, and you can order for us, then I shall join you once I have finished cleaning and locking up.

      Damien smiled as he said, I would like that. It shall be like a celebration of our new courses in life.

      Ginn started cleaning up as Damien tidied his area and then he went out of the shop. Damien walked a few streets over and then he ducked into an alley.

      Well... Arcamedes inquired of him.

      He believes me, Damien replied. He believes I am over the matter of him stealing Gabriella from me. She should be mine.

      Do you agree to come work for me then?

      Yes, Damien replied. Once I am able to copy all of the diagrams for the Breach Apparatus, I shall come work for you as a journeyman. I shall also need to gain permission from the baker to court his daughter if I am to maintain this ruse.

      I shall help you with that, Arcamedes stated. The baker is a friend of mine. I can convince him to let you start courting his daughter. Are you sure you can keep up this pretense and continued to work for Ginn until you have completed my task?

      I am sure, Damien answered. I found a little pleasure in deceiving my old master. Ginn does not suspect a thing. I need to go now. I must celebrate the new course I have chosen for my life.

      * * *

      The present...

      32 A.D.C...

      November 6...

      Saturday...

      Central City...

      The Dragon's Teeth...

      Magistrate Hall...

      During the opening of Richard the Lionheart's trial, Kublai Khan nodded to the youngest member of the magistrates and Frederick Barbarossa unrolled an old scroll, stood, and stated, Our great Benefactor created four laws that all other laws fall under and this is the Assassins Guild Canon. He paused, then raised his voice, and spoke, One, Creed of the Assassins Guild, the Blade of the Dagger. Know your direction just as the dagger points in one way or another. Point your dagger at your enemy. Know your goals in life...

      He later finished reading the scroll, and Kublai Khan had Richard the Lionheart taken back to his cell then Khan had the courtroom cleared. The magistrates each went to their offices as the Guild Sentinels cleared the courtroom. Frederick Barbarossa sat in his office, contemplating the events of the trial. Their Benefactor created the laws for a purpose, and they as the Magistrates enforced the laws. Richard the Lionheart may be a breaker of their most sacred canons and if so, they would make an example of him; first they had to hear the circumstances behind the accusations. Frederick thought back to the history he had learned about their great Benefactor.

      Their Benefactor was a great man and so, he had a great foe. It was because of this other man that their Benefactor created the Assassins Guild. The rivalry of these men stretched through the ages, such was their hatred of one another.

      A half hour later...

      The Magistrates came into the courtroom as the Guild Sentinels brought Richard the Lionheart back. Assassins once again filled the rectangular shaped courtroom and went and sat in the galley behind the waist-high wooden bar, waiting for the trial to start. Many more assassins filed into the upper galley that nearly encircled the room above. At the north side of the room, the four Magistrates sat at the raised, long, wooden desk called the bench and behind the Magistrates the Assassins Guild Emblem hung on the back wall.

      Once the last of the assassins entered the courtroom and filled the lower galley and the upper galley, Kublai Khan struck his steel gavel on a stone pad and then he ordered, Listen all who are present. If any assassin disrupts the proceedings of this trial this time, they will be taken out and flogged in the public square. They will be left on the pole for three days to be mocked and spat upon, and their wounds will be unattended. There will be no other warnings from me.

      Prefect Cyrano and Richard the Lionheart took their seats at the defendant's table behind their lectern while Tezcatlipoca, Cyrano's contender, sat in the third chair. Prefect Zenobia took her seat along with Dobrynya Nikitich her contender at the prosecuting table.

      Kublai Khan smacked his gavel to silence the courtroom to officially restart the proceedings.

      The courtroom quickly quieted and then Magistrate Ramesses spoke, We will now continue with the proceedings and remember the warning that Magistrate Khan gave all of you in the galley. Your punishment will be swift if you should interrupt these proceedings.

      Megas Alexandros added, We might even add a fine if the disruption is great.

      Frederick Barbarossa said, Prefect Bergerac, you may begin the defense of the accused.

      Cyrano stood, turned toward the lower galley, and spoke so all could hear as if he were performing a stage play, Magistrates and great and small assassins in the upper and lower galley, I am here before you this day to move you with the plight of Richard the Lionheart. He is a Median Assassin of the Middle Class like many of you. He came into the Assassins Guild with a friend named Marcus Junius Brutus. I will prove that Richard did not allow the goals of his friend to proceed his own goals. I will also prove that his friend never betrayed him or become his enemy and because there was no betrayal, Richard never needed to issue the Accountability Challenge.

      A few in the galley started gawking behind the bench, paying no attention to the Prefect self-importance speech. Leonidas looked to where some of the assassins were staring as a few of the assassins started pointing. Leonidas

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