Their plan involved infiltrating the caryard, outsmarting the hired keepers in charge of securing the vessels, and making off with the Obsidian Serpent after bribing time with a fake diamond, under the cover of torm. studied the weather. Before they would find out the true state of the jewel, it would be too late. Their timing had to be precise so that when the vessel set out through the clouds, it would be too late to chase after them. And every form of tracking will be futile until the electric storm is over. Till today, when asked, always said, “I won the Obsidian Serpent in an auction.” And to her, she truly did. Just an auction of bold theft and deceit. The deception was a success, and and her crew made off with the Obsidian Serpent amidst the chaos of the storm. As they sailed away, the caryard's alarms wailed, but they were already vanishing into the depths.Matilda's crew, composed of misfits and skilled individuals she had met throughout her journey, soon grew to trust

Amidst the convergence, with unity, determination, and the combined efforts of both crews, they would be able undertake the formidable journey. “We have to work together with a shared purpose.The crew came down from the car, led by the aliens that followed them. They screeched to announce their purpose and the guards of the palace allowed them. The palace of such a beautiful city could not have been any other way. Though the walls were made of the same mud of the country, it was too meticulously set that it was unimaginable. The floors were tiled immaculately with a rare marble. Leonard observed it and decided that the planet uses only locally sourced materials to build. All the Planet's wealth was theirs. It will be difficult to convince this king to acquiesce in the new purpose. They reached the throne room where they were asked to get rid of any weapon that had escaped the palace gate security. Leonard started to recall their mission and how it led them to Fabian on Xylosia in

She wanted to leap from her horse and run to them, or to simply scream that she wasn’t a part of this prince’s court, that she had no hand in bringing them here, chained and starved and beaten, that she had worked and bled with them, with their families and friends—she was not like these monsters that destroyed everything. That she had done something, nearly two years ago, when she had freed almost two hundred slaves from the Pirate Lord. Even that, though, wasn’t enough.The city was suddenly separate, ripped from her. People still waved and bowed, cheering and laughing, throwing flowers and other nonsense before their horses. She had difficulty breathing.Sooner than she would have liked, the iron and glass gate of the castle appeared, latticework doors opened, and a dozen guards flanked the cobblestone path that led through the archway. Spears erect, they held rectangular shields, and their eyes were dark beneath bronze helmets. Each wore a red cape. Their armor, while tarnished, w

soldier shrugged. “The last time anyone bothered to count, it was a million. But that was two hundred years ago. I’d say maybe more than that, especially given the legends that a second library lies deep beneath, in catacombs and tunnels.”“Over a million? A million books?” Her heart leapt and danced, and she cracked a smile. “I’d die before I even got through half of that!”“You like to read?”She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you?” Not waiting for an answer, she moved farther into the library, the train of her gown sweeping across the floor. She neared a shelf and looked at the titles. She recognized none of them.Grinning, she whirled and moved through the main floor, running a hand across the dusty books. “I didn’t know assassins liked to read,” soldier called. If she were to die now, it would be in complete bliss. “You said you were from Terrasen; did you ever visit the Great Library of Orynth? They say it’s twice the size of this—and that it used to hold all the knowledge of the w

Matilda stood before the rosewood mirror, smiling.She ran a hand down her gown. Sea-foam white lace bloomed from the sweeping neckline, washing upon her breast from the powder-green ocean of silk that made up the dress. A red sash covered the waist, forming an inverted peak that separated the bodice from the explosion of skirts beneath. Patterns of clear green beads were embroidered in whorls and vines across the whole of it, and bone-colored stitching stretched along the ribs. Tucked inside her bodice was the small makeshift hairpin dagger, though it poked mercilessly at her chest. She lifted her hands to touch her curled and pinned hair.She didn’t know what she planned to do now that she was dressed, especially if she’d probably have to change before the competition started, but—Skirts rustled from the doorway, and Matilda raised her eyes in the reflection to see Philippa enter behind her. The assassin tried not to preen—and failed miserably. “It’s such a pity you are who you are