The Quantum Prophecy - Ryan Matthew Harker (best management books of all time TXT) 📗

strangers removed,” the wizard replied gravely. “This evening.”
This time the assassin was noticeable surprised. This was most irregular.
“Before the fall of night,” continued the wizard. “This is an important detail.”
“This is most irregular,” the assassin sighed quietly. “I would normally require more time to prepare.”
“No!” The wizard gesticulated forcefully. “There is no more time! Can it be done?”
The assassin nodded. “Aye, it can be done but this is most irregular,” she again prompted.
“You will be aptly compensated for the inconvenience.” The wizard removed a leather purse of medium size from his robes and tossed it to the assassin.
She caught it deftly in one hand and hefted it, judging its weight. She smiled, tucked the bag into her clothes and said, “I must leave immediately.”
“Take her,” the wizard said to the other man with a wave of his hand.
The guide gave the older wizard a short bow and turned to comply.
Her journey into the cave, through the woods and from the city was then repeated in reverse. Much hasty preparation later found her traveling stealthily through the palace. She was in pursuit of a vantage point that would allow her to overlook the grand royal gardens which was the final destination of her prey.
The passage Sefu traveled doubled back on itself and the assassin found that after ten or so more paces it terminated into yet another staircase. Having traveled some distance from the divisionary point of the double stairwell she was now some way apart from the royal gardens. This did not balk her in the least bit though. She ascended the new staircase, which spiraled lazily upward and as she did she began to assemble what appeared to be a lightweight rifle of some sort. Pulling the many pieces out of various, nearly invisible concealed pouches, pockets and slings built into her uniform the rifle went together swiftly in her well trained hands. When she had cleared the last step the rifle was fully assembled and the assassin had the perfect point of perspective for the spiral staircase had led her to one of the palace’s many towers.
Walking toward the garden side windows she procured a collapsible pair of binoculars, opened one of the thick glass windows and scanned the gardens for her targets. In no time she discovered the couple as they meandered through the orchard. Easy as it would have been to make the hit then and there, the words of the wizard who had been her guide came back to her.
“Make sure they will be found quickly.” The only words he had spoken the entire journey, just before he departed.
So she watched the pair for a time until they turned and began making their way back to the cobblestone courtyard. The assassin quickly materialized a scope for her rifle and snapped it into place. Setting the tool of death carefully on the window ledge she then trained its sights on the western portal of the courtyard. The assassin divined from the couple’s progress that this would be their point of reentry into the courtyard and she used her binoculars periodically to verify this.
Just before the two in the garden reached the western portal the assassin put her eye back to the scope which brought her view of the doorway into incredible focus and as her luck would have it the two people walked through the portal together hand in hand. Without hesitation the assassin trained her weapon on the man, pulled the trigger, swung the barrel an eighth inch to her right and pulled the trigger again. She was satisfied to see that both of her targets hit the ground.
Ejecting the used clip from her rifle the assassin reloaded and quickly fired another round into the courtyard. The last shot was designed to emit a pulse of magical frequencies that would undoubtedly draw a crowd to the vicinity rather quickly.
Unhurriedly the assassin gathered her belongings and made her way back along the route she had come from. She disassembled the rifle as she went and bypassed the double stairway in favor of a more direct path out of the palace. Once out of the palace she slipped into the maze of city streets and disappeared.

*****

The first person on the scene entered the cobblestone courtyard just as Absinthe was regaining consciousness. She sat up and touched her chest just below her left collarbone. Feeling wetness and pain she pulled her hand away and stared in disbelief at the blood gleaming red on her index and middle fingers. Then she looked to her right and saw Candlelite collapsed on the ground next to her. A low sob escaped from her throat and using her good arm she tried to roll him over. The newcomer reached her side and together they got him to his back.
“Are you alright?” the newcomer asked her, checking Candlelite for a pulse.
“Yes.”
“Good,” he answered. The newcomer was male and dressed in the robes and armor of the palace guard. He touched a device imbedded in his left ear and spoke shortly, “Subjects found. Plasma wounds- one stable, one critical- immediate response to the south courtyard.”
“Ten-four, response is in the vicinity. ETA two minutes, three for medical.”
Satisfied he turned his attention back to Absinthe. “Help will be here in just a minute. What happened? Why weren’t you in your quarters?” There was no attempt at formality in his voice.
Absinthe immediately became indignant. “What do you mean? I didn’t realize we were prisoners. There weren’t any guards and we went for a walk. As for what happened, I don’t know. We came through that door,” she pointed behind her. “And then there were two flashes of light. That’s all I remember.”
The soldier was efficient and did not even ask where the flashes had come from but looked over his shoulder at one of the towers in the distance. Just as the response team entered the courtyard he placed a hand to his ear again.
“I need an immediate sweep of the palace. Concentrate on the east wing. Plasma originated from the Garden Erie. I repeat the plasma originated from the Garden Erie.”
As the response team began securing the area the medical team arrived and loaded Candlelite onto a stretcher.
“Good thing this was plasma shot,” the lead medical examiner said as he probed Candlelite and then Absinthes wounds. “Or else he would probably be dead.” The heat of the plasma had almost completely cauterized the wounds and there was only a minimum of blood loss. “Can you walk?” he asked Absinthe.
“Yes,” she answered and got wobbly to her feet.
“Good,” the medical examiner replied and put an arm around her for support. “Let’s get you two to the hospital before dark.”
Two of the soldiers came as an escort; one of them was the first who had arrived. As she hobbled across the courtyard Absinthe turned and looked at the sun. It was almost set.

“Don't worry,” King Zakeriah was saying. “We’ve got the magic and the technology to imitate the harashna stasis field. In fact it has already been done.” He was sitting in the plush high backed chair that was a centerpiece in Candlelite and Absinthe’s chambers. Candlelite sat, fully recovered, alongside Absinthe on a short loveseat across a coffee table from the king. The queen was not present. She had been in after their release from the hospital but had not stayed long.
“We appreciate everything that you’ve done for us your majesty,” Candlelite said a bit wearily.
“Of course,” Zakeriah smiled kindly. “Your presence here is very important to us. We could not have anticipated such quick action from our enemies or we would have acted sooner to better secure the welfare of you both. As it is you’re very lucky to be alive. Reports of a black cloaked woman spotted leaving the palace have my intelligence people believing that the attempt on your live was perpetrated by Sefu Atarle, purported to be AnEerth’s deadliest assassin. If it had not been for chance, as well as your innate gift of healing, it is likely that the combined efforts of our magic and our science would not have saved you. As it is you were easily made whole again.”
“And we are eternally grateful for that your majesty,” Absinthe returned diplomatically. “But what’s going to happen now?”
The king stroked his thin goatee absentmindedly for a moment before replying. “I have initiated every option for your safety. You’ll have to stay here,” he gestured toward the room around them. “While we make every effort to capture or eliminate Sefu Atarle you will be put on twenty-four hour surveillance and under constant guard but, Atarle did not become renowned as our world’s top assassin by being easy to catch. So, all of your food and drink will be tested both magically and mechanically for poisons before it is made available to you. I have also taken the liberty to have my magicians place spells of secrecy and defense around these rooms. None who have not been authorized will be able to breach nor even gain knowledge of your location. Also, while I may not disengage my presence from the festivities that have been planned for this evening, I have arraigned that the two of you shall not have to attend. Food and beverage shall be sent to you.” He smiled and sat back in his chair obviously very pleased no aspect had been left uncovered.
Absinthe however was not satisfied in the least. Candlelite had felt her body tense all through the king’s speech until she fairly exploded at the end. “So what you’re saying is we’re prisoners here?!”
Taken aback by the young woman's vehemence Zakeriah sputtered, “No, my lady. Of course not! All of this is for your protection.”
Candlelite quickly took Absinthe's hand in his and squeezed it tightly. “Thank you your majesty, we do appreciate everything. It’s been a long day. We’re tired, we’re hungry and quite frankly just a little bit overwhelmed.” He felt Absinthe get ready to say something else and squeezed her hand tighter.
“Of course,” Zakeriah said, noting the young lady’s restraint. “I will take my leave now. Food will be sent momentarily.” And then without further comment he left the room.

*****

Jeshux, McAriicoys and Max sat around the same table in the dining hall that they had occupied over six nights earlier. Each man had a steaming cup of black coffee in front of him. Jeshux’ and McAriicoys’ were in plain mugs from the kitchen while Max had his favorite personal mug with a pint of whiskey sitting next to it.
“A little hair of the dog?” Max asked picking up the bottle and waving it in the other men’s direction.
McAriicoys, a devout purist of the body as far as mind-altering intoxicants were concerned, gave a polite but firm shake of his head but Jeshux was feeling the strain of the past week and gratefully reached across the table to take the proffered alcohol.
Dumping a generous portion of hundred proof into his cup he announced, “Well we’re just about moved in.”
Max’s head bobbed up and down in assent. Taking the bottle back from Jeshux he dumped a helping twice as generous into his own mug took a healthy drink and then poured some more whiskey in before replying, “That’s good.” Whether he was speaking about the coffee or the move Jeshux and McAriicoys were unsure but before either man could speak Max continued.
“Been crazy having all this commotion going on, after being alone for so long all of the hubbub is a bit much. I expect things will calm down some now?” His last sentence was less a question than a subtle demand.
“Yes,” McAriicoys said. “The last of our equipment should be in late tonight, while