Prologue

“I remember you,” Kumori said.
“You were there, two centuries ago.”
“There?” the male elf asked.
“Now that you mention it… you do look familiar.”
He seemed to think for a moment, then grinned.
“You resemble your mother.”
Kumori glared at him angrily at the mention of her mother, and did not know what to reply.
“What do we do with her?” another, younger, elf asked.
“Take her away. We’ll question her later.” the superior replied. “Right now, we have more important matters to attend.”
“As you wish, milord.”
The second elf turned to Kumori, and snapped.
“Follow me, fool.”
In no position to protest, Kumori followed him.

The elf took her down a flight of weathered stairs to what seemed to be old, unused jail cells. He searched her quickly, and, to Kumori’s amazement, found both her hidden daggers and the lock picks she had woven in her cloak.
“Clever,” the elf smirked.
He threw Kumori casually in the cell, and locked the door.
“But do not think you are the first to try.”
Kumori fell roughly on her side. She turned to face her captor.
“Don’t assume things, child.”
He ignored her biting remark, and asked, “What is your name, assassin?”
A grin formed on Kumori’s face as she thought of something brilliant, then replied.