The Assassin's Cunning

THE ASSASSIN'S CUNNING

Book Two of the Assassin Without a Name Series

The Assassin's Cunning (Assassin Without a Name Book Two)

About the Book

Some days it seems like everyone wants you dead.

The deadline for the Black Guardsmen to leave Alchester has come and gone, and now it’s up to the Assassin Without a Name to act on his threat. While he’s not above killing every last mercenary for the trouble they’ve caused him, he decides on a different course of action when Gwendolyn Goddard requests a meeting. In exchange for killing a rival, she offers to call off her Black Guard watchdogs. The catch? The mark is Atticus Drake, a trusted friend and ally.

Meanwhile, the Warders and Jakaree continue to pursue their dark agendas. For the Warders, frustration leads to more direct action against the Nameless Assassin and his continued interference. The Jakaree, however, recognizing the need for alliances, offer to make a temporary one in hopes of striking a blow against the Warders. Trusting a death priest is never a good idea, but with questions continuing to mount about the Warders, the Assassin Without a Name reluctantly agrees to join them.

Whatever their ultimate goals, the Jakaree and Warders remain in balance until a blood witch comes to town looking for revenge against Mathilda. While the witch has an agenda all her own, her presence threatens to turn the tide in the wrong direction for good.

Deception, intrigue, danger, infernal science run amuck, and half the city wanting him dead? It’s just another day in the life of the Assassin Without a Name.

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Reader Praise

"Scott Marlowe strikes gold again with the continuing adventures of the Nameless Assassin." - Goodreads reviewer

Sample Chapters

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Wine List

Most wines in the Assassin Without a Name series are fictitious, though many are based on characteristics found in the many wines of our world.

Barmeda sherry

A dry, light, and smooth sherry with a slightly salty tang.

Crusus Sabeler

A sweet white with a fine bouquet and nutty flavor. A member of the shiraz family of wines. The best shiraz wines come from grapes grown in terraced vineyards.

Jisendell Port

A smooth red fortified with the perfect amount of brandy.

Mullender

A dry red.

Scarlet Tempest

A deep red.

Characters

Assassin Without a NameAssassin Without a NameWitty assassin with a penchant for murder and fine wine. True identity unknown.
Elizabeth WestElizabeth WestA master thief.
Abelard WhitfieldAbelard WhitfieldWealthy merchant with connections.
Ashunde RoeAshunde RoeBishop. Necromancer.
Gwendolyn GoddardGwendolyn GoddardChief Scientist and founding member of the Progressive Society.
Atticus DrakeAtticus DrakeA founding member of the Progressive Society.
MathildaMathildaA witch. Her familiar is a raven named You.
Isadora BloodstoneIsadora BloodstoneA blood witch.

Aravar Tillwood

Artificer, killed by the Assassin Without a Name.

Braedon

Scamp, thieves’ guild “pick.”

Bumbadillo

Malakai’s dog.

Eliza

Mathilda's daughter.

Gruk/"Bonecrusher"

Gaugath warrior.

Hesulton (Hesul) Branwick

Gardener/necromancer.

Kem

Priest.

Malakai

Street lord, informer.

Olivia Gould

Nameless Assassin’s sister.

Rabbet

Thief, beggar, informer.

Remy Crane

Professor, Ruby Crane's father.

Rolen Fairwind

Wealthy businessman.

Ruby Crane

Professor, Remy Crane's daughter.

Samuel

Atticus Drake’s man.

Sebastian Chase

Wealthy aeropreneur.

Thjorn "Heavyhammer" Targalas

Anolgan, leader of the Thieves Guild.

Thomas Thornton

Wealthy adventurer, Nameless Assassin alias.

William Wright

King’s inspector.

You

Mathilda’s crow.

Zara Blackthorn

Southlander thief.

Zarek

Silent Thorns master assassin.

 

Black Guard

Geoffrey BelfordGeoffrey BelfordCaptain of the Black Guard.

Castus

Black Guard corporal.

Marcus Nelson

Black Guard lieutenant.

 

Jakaree

OniusOniusJakaree high priest.
Ao-utetAo-utetJakaree warrior priest.

Scaramon One-Eye

Jakaree priest.

 

Warders

Leonidas StormLeonidas StormWarder compulsor.
Nathaniel ManesNathaniel ManesWarder compulsor.

Claire Carter

Bookshop owner.

Places

Aikon Cemetery

A cemetery where the dead have a knack for rising from the grave.

Alchester

The capital city of Kallendor. At the direction of King Classus, Alchester has become the hub for Kallendor's airship adoption, including development and research as well as an evergrowing infrastructure for commerce by air.

Barmeda

A small Seacean vineyard located close to the western outlet of the Bay of Lochwell. Known for their exquisite sherry.

The Dusty Shelf*

Dover Heights bookstore specializing in rare and hard-to-find books. Proprietor is Claire Carter.

Grainger Town

A district of shops, taverns, markets, and theaters.

The Groggery

A hole-in-the-wall grogshop buried beneath a dilapidated tenement.

Kallendor

The Land of the Horse Lords is a place of grassy plains, wooded glens, and meadows. Kallendorans are a proud people: strong, noble, and dignified. Though many make their way in life as farmers, merchants, shepherds, and cavalry soldiers, as a people they have cultivated superior skills and experience as horse breeders. The horse is central to their lives; more than a few profess to have learned to ride before learning to walk. Many see the advance of technology as a threat to their traditional way of life, though its adoption seems inevitable given their king's support for it. Kallendor is one of the four fiefdoms created after the fall of the high king five hundred years ago.

Khoras*

City of legend and myth, thought to preceded Alchester but destroyed long ago. Called Nyrax by goblin and ratfolk.

King's Airship Docks

Largest airship docks in the Four Fiefdoms, with twenty towers total, though ten are unused.

King's Stockyards*

Located outside the city walls. All manner of livestock are slaughtered here before distribution to butchers inside the city.

Lady Bellum's

Tavern with a pleasant atmosphere.

Lady Smither’s Bathhouse

A bathhouse.

The Lazy Minstrel

A shat hole-in-the-wall tavern run by a woman named Ophelia.

Lockley’s Depository

A bank.

The Mulling Mule

A wineshop of dubious quality.

Mullin’s Pawn Shop

A pawn shop whose owner, Evelyn, isn't above delving into the black market when there's money to be made.

Osterland's

A fine wineshop found on Tanglewood Drive.

Pannernine’s

A wineshop.

Ridlin’s Den

Part gaming hall, part grogshop, all cesspit. Owned by Ridlin.

Rogue’s Den*

Secret hangout for those who know about it. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you shouldn’t try to find it.

The Shambles

The seediest of boroughs in Alchester. Not a place for decent people or even indecent ones.

The Silver Harp*

A fine establishment that caters to nobles and wealthy merchants. Known for its elegant decor and exquisite cuisine.

Temple Catacombs

Extensive series of tunnels beneath the temple district. Once, they were used as a place to bury the dead, earning the catacombs the name, "the realm of the dead."

The Weary Beggar*

One of the best tavern breakfasts in the city.

* newly featured in The Assassin's Cunning

The Series

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