Gadis

She understood. Not a war blade. An assassin’s blade. A thing of shadows and precision.

“I need a blade,” he said, his voice cutting through the clang of metal. She understood

“Why do you stay here?” he asked. “Your father was a legend. You could go anywhere.” ” he said

Korvin sputtered. “You cannot promise—” She understood

She picked up her hammer again. “An ally who knows how to disappear. A girl no one sees. A gadis .”

“The court tried to poison me yesterday,” he said quietly. “My brother’s wine. My mother’s handkerchief wiped the cup. That is the world I live in.”