Liam''s Perspective


    My eyes scanned the message again, barely believing what I was reading.


    "Warning: Umbral Covenant has issued death order against Liam Knight. Ten half-step Martial Marquis dispatched to execute. Signed, A Friend."


    Ten half-step Martial Marquis. Ten! The Umbral Covenant wasn''t just trying to kill me. They were making a statement.


    I pocketed mymunication crystal and stared out the window of Michael Ashworth''s guest room. Dawn was breaking over Veridia City, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson. Beautiful. Deceptive. Like everything in this damned city.


    "Why would the Umbral Covenant target me?" I muttered to myself.


    The Umbral Covenant was infamous across the continent—a shadowy organization of elite assassins who only epted contracts on the most dangerous or politically significant targets. Their involvement meant I''d be more than just a local nuisance.


    I had be a threat.


    A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.


    "Enter," I called.


    Michael Ashworth stepped into the room. His usuallyposed face showed hints of concern.


    "You''ve heard," he said, not a question but a statement.


    I nodded. "News travels fast."


    "The Warrior''s Scroll just published a special report," Michael exined. "They''re calling it ''The Hunt for the Dragon''s Heir.'' Very dramatic."


    Great. Now I had a title.


    "Ten half-step Martial Marquis," I said. "That''s quite thepliment."


    Michael didn''t smile. "This isn''t a joke, Liam. The Umbral Covenant doesn''t fail. Not ever."


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    He shook his head. "You don''t understand. They''ve never deployed this many high-level operatives for a single target before. Not in their entire history."


    That gave me pause. "Why now? Why me?"


    "That''s the question, isn''t it?" Michael sat in a nearby chair. "The Covenant doesn''t act without purpose. Someone very powerful wants you dead—and is willing to pay an extraordinary price."


    The ckthornes came to mind immediately. Or perhaps Corbin Ashworth. But neither seemed to have the connections or resources to engage the Umbral Covenant on this scale.


    "I need to leave Veridia City," I said. "Too many enemies here, and I need answers."


    "Where will you go?"


    "Dn," I decided. "Axel Kaelen and Evelyn Norton are both there. They might know more about the Covenant''s interest in me."


    Michael nodded. "A reasonable n. But you should know—Dashiell has been making quite a name for himself in Pyro City''s tournament."


    "I saw the article," I said tly.


    "He''s not just winning fights. He''s cultivating influence. Making allies. The ckthorne family is positioning him as the next great champion of the younger generation."


    "Let him y his games," I said. "I have more important concerns."


    "Don''t underestimate reputation, Liam. It''s a weapon like any other."


    I appreciated Michael''s counsel, but with assassins on my trail, Dashiell''s tournament sess seemed trivial.


    "I''ll leave tonight," I said. "Better to move while I still can."


    Michael stood. "I''ll arrange a discrete transport. And Liam—" he paused at the door, "—do be careful. The world is watching your every move now."


    ---


    Across the city, in the imposing central tower of the Veridia City Martial Guild, seven figures sat around a circr table. The chamber was sealed with multiple formations that prevented any sound from escaping or any spy techniques from prating.


    "The Umbral Covenant has overstepped," dered Olivia Chen, the oldest member present. "Dispatching assassins to our city without consultation vites our arrangement."


    "Their target isn''t our concern," countered Victor Davenport, a sharp-featured man with cold eyes. "Liam Knight is an unaffiliated rogue. Let them have him."


    "It sets a dangerous precedent," Olivia insisted.


    Emerson Holmes, Dashiell ckthorne''s master, stroked his beard thoughtfully. Though not the highest-ranked member present, his political acumen made him the room''s true power center.


    "Perhaps," he began carefully, "we should consider the benefits of allowing this hunt to proceed."


    All eyes turned to him.


    "Exin,"manded Olivia.


    "Liam Knight represents a potential problem for us. Not for what he is now, but for what he could be." Emerson''s voice remained measured, reasonable. "He''s disyed remarkable talent and growth. More importantly, he''s shown himself to be... independent-minded."


    "You mean disobedient," Victor said with a smirk.


    "Precisely." Emerson nodded. "He rejects our hierarchy. Our traditions. Given time and resources, such a man could be genuinely dangerous—perhaps more so than the Covenant itself."


    The chamber fell silent as the leaders considered his words.


    "And what of the girl?" asked another member. "The Ashworth heiress."


    "Isabelle is safely contained," Emerson assured them. "Her bloodline makes her far too valuable to risk in this matter."


    "So we simply allow the Covenant to eliminate a potential rival for us?" Olivia summarized. "Convenient, if somewhat cowardly."


    Emerson''s smile didn''t reach his eyes. "I prefer to think of it as efficient resource management. Why spend our energy when others will do the work for free?"


    After further debate, the vote was cast. Six to one in favor of non-interference. Olivia Chen cast the lone dissenting vote, her ancient eyes troubled by more than just protocol vitions.


    As the meeting disbanded, Emerson lingered in the chamber. Once alone, he activated amunication crystal.


    "Roderick? It''s done. The Guild will not interfere."


    Roderick ckthorne''s voice crackled through the crystal. "Excellent. And you''re certain Liam Knight will be eliminated?"


    "Ten half-step Martial Marquis against one young upstart? It''s hardly a contest."


    "I want him alive," Roderick said suddenly.


    Emerson frowned. "Alive? The Covenant doesn''t typically—"


    "I don''t care about their typical procedures. Cripple him, break him, but keep him alive. My son deserves the satisfaction of defeating him personally—in front of Isabelle Ashworth."


    Emerson suppressed a sigh. The ckthornes and their obsession with public disys. Still, he had to manage this rtionship carefully.


    "I''ll see what can be arranged," he promised. "But it will cost extra."


    "Money is no object. Just make it happen."


    After ending themunication, Emerson summoned an aide—a thin, nondescript man who materialized from the shadows as if he''d been part of them.


    "Send someone right away to keep an eye on Liam Knight," Emerson ordered coldly. "I want to know his every move before he makes it."


    The aide bowed silently and vanished, leaving Emerson alone with his thoughts. Liam Knight was bing an increasinglyplex problem. The Covenant might solve it permanently—or they might fail and create an even greater threat.


    Either way, Emerson would be prepared. After all, puppets were only useful when someone pulled their strings. And Emerson Holmes had been pulling strings for a very, very long time.