Assassin's Curse by Debra L Martin, David W Small

course up his arm.   It seemed that they had agreed to the names and that made him wonder again what that scheming witch had dragged him into.

Chapter 4 – Beginnings
     
    Mave stood stoically in the antechamber of the Grand Masters’ Council Chamber waiting to be called.   These men were each a master within their school of weaponry and held the titular rank of Grand Master from being the leading expert of their specialty.   It was up to this select few to choose who would elevated to the esteemed rank of master.   Very few brothers became candidates and only the best of the best were chosen.   Today it was to be Mave’s honor.    
    It was the day he had long waited for and he was dressed in his finest blacks.   The long years of arduous training and selfless sacrifice would at last pay off in this one stunning moment of achievement.   From this day forward, Mave would be a master in the assassin’s guild and a member of the council for the School of the Sword.   Instead of simply following orders, he would now be issuing them.   It was the singular honor Mave knew he deserved and one step closer to his ultimate goal to be the Grand Master of the School of Swords.      
    The muted buzz of the attending Grand Masters was all he could hear through the doors as he waited for their summons.   It was not long before the doors were opened to the antechamber where Mave stood.
    “You’re wanted inside,” the guard said.
    Mave nodded and went through the doors into the chamber.   All five Grand Masters were in attendance, one for each of the schools of weapons recognized in the guild.   Mave could feel the intensity in the air.   Something significant had happened and he became wary that it might affect his advancement.      
    “Brother Mave,” one of the masters said.   “Please come forward.”
    Brother Mave , he thought, not Master Mave.   This can’t be good.
    “Brother Jeda is missing,” the master explained.   “We want you to investigate what has happened to him.   This is a sensitive matter.   Brother Jeda was working on a mission of utmost importance.   Find him and bring him back.”
    Mave inwardly cringed when he heard his new orders.
    Damn him to the lowest level of hell.   That bastard has been the bane of my existence since I first laid eyes on him.    
    The masters held Mave responsible for Jeda’s actions.   Somehow the upstart Jeda had succeeded in delaying, and possibly ruining, Mave’s elevation.   Mave would have to save his miserable neck before he could finally realize his own life’s dream.   He cursed the day so long ago when he had decided to bring the young boy into the guild instead of killing him.  
    Outwardly, Mave’s only reaction to this news was a slight widening of his eyes.   Jeda was an elite assassin of the guild and had never failed in any mission or task assigned to him.   In the beginning, Mave had been responsible for Jeda’s training since he had brought the boy into the guild.   Jeda became Mave’s training novice, but also grew to become a thorn in his side.   Once he had reached the rank of apprentice and moved into the School of the Knife, Mave thought he was done with him, but it seemed fate had other ideas.   If Jeda was missing now, then something big had happened and Mave could not decide whether this was good news or bad.
    Mave almost missed what the master was saying while he pondered his past with Jeda.   He quickly gave them his full attention.
    “From his last report we know that Brother Jeda found his target in the city of Constantine,” Grand Master Dykara said.   “We know that he was poised to strike the very night of his report.   We want you to investigate what happened and, regardless of what you find, bring Jeda back to the guild.”
    “As you command,” Mave said.
    Damn you boy.   Make no mistake, I will find you.
    “Good luck, Brother Mave, and remember this mission is of the upmost