With night deepening and the dawn still far off, the mercenary couple and their client left the cozy roadside inn behind. Too many ways for the ninja to sneak back in. Better to find a new hiding spot. One presented itself in an abandoned farm off the main highway, secluded from sight by a copse of trees. After an extensive search, which turned up only a worn and dirty copy of A Long Night of Summer Passion stuffed in the rotten hay, the three holed up with their horses in the dilapidated barn. Mr. Iblo made to kindle a lantern.

"Don't," said Sanna, "Light will draw the enemy's attention."

"So we're going to cower in the dark then? I thought you two were soldiers. I'm paying you to be braver than this!"

"No, you're paying us to keep you alive. Which we're doing," said Boyko.

Hand still on his sword's hilt, he peered out the thin crack between the barn doors and surveyed the surroundings. Not that he would see much if Nina, as he mentally dubbed their pursuer, did renew her attack. The Nijikana were as skilled at sorcery as they were at assassination, as her little vanishing act attested.

She was out there watching them; Boyko had no doubt, but kept her distance for now. Licking her wounds and waiting for another opportunity, a move right out of her clan's playbook. But for the moment, he didn't smell any danger, and so released his sword.

Still shook up, Mr. Iblo fretfully twisted the strap of his satchel and filled the empty space with the rubbery sound of stretching leather. The publisher hadn't let go of his bag since it was returned to him. As Boyko watched this somewhat pathetic display, a thought occurred to him.

He didn't, did he?

He marched over to his client, "All right, time to fess up."

"I'm sorry?"

"What is this company secret of yours? Why would the Nijikana want to murder you for it?"

"You recognized that horrid assassin?"

"We met a few during the war, fought a few too," said Sanna, joining the conversation. "They're a clan of ninjas from Sogan originally, but they emigrated here to Queltain generations ago."

"And they brought their knowledge of the killing arts with them," added Boyko. "Translated to Queltish, the name means "Silent Serpents." Believe me, it's apt. Now back to my question," He leaned in to emphasize his annoyance, "What exactly do you have in that bag that one of them would break in and try killing you to get it?"

Mr. Iblo guarded the satchel at his side. "It's... it’s nothing. Nothing these Silent Serpents would be interested in. How do you know this is about them, eh? Couldn't they have been hired by one of my company's rivals?"

"He has a point Boyko,"

"Nope. The ninja told me herself this was a manner of honor. I tried the diplomatic route."

Sanna gave him a supportive "good for trying" smile.

"So let's see what you have there."

The publisher wedged his secret deeper into his armpit.

"No! I won't hand over company property just because you demand it. You're my employee. You do what I say!"

"Actually Mr. Iblo," said Sanna, "We're not employees. We're contractors."

She snatched his satchel out of his grip and tossed it to her husband over their client's weak protests. Boyko withdrew its contents.

All the bag contained was a single thin volume, untitled, bound with string and paper untrimmed. The text couldn't be read in the dim light, so the sellsword moved closer to the barn door, letting the moon and stars illuminate the bright white pages. After flipping through a few, his worst fears were confirmed.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Oh, by all the gods in the heavens..."

"What is it, love?" asked Sanna.

Boyko held the manuscript at arm's length, like an angry cat that might scratch him at any moment.

"It's the Nijikana Handbook."

His wife's eyes went wide, and she took a step back. A book like that was as volatile as gunpowder.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Nope."

Dumbfounded, Sanna seized Mr. Iblo by the shoulders and shook him. For good measure, she slapped him across the face too.

"Why do you have that? How did you even get a hold of it?"

"Hey, you can't strike your client," he weakly protested.

Boyko unsheathed his sword and leveled the tip at the publisher's throat. He yipped at the weapon's proximity.

"You just dragged us into a quagmire, sir. Now answer my wife's question."

Their employer considered how much he could or should say quickly. To his credit, he came to the right decision.

"We stole it! Well, not that one. That's the manuscript of our Queltish edition. Several months ago, my company managed to acquire a copy of the Nijikana Handbook. All the secrets and mysteries about these imported assassins, my bosses knew it would be a bestseller. The book needed to be translated from Soganese first, of course."

"Let me guess," said Sanna, "That plan hasn't really been working out for you, has it?"

"No. The person who acquired the handbook for us disappeared, our translator turned up dead and our original copy has vanished completely. That manuscript is all that remains of our work on this project. The board entrusted me to deliver it to our printers in Lancester. Now you can understand why I was so anxious about this journey."

"Well no wonder the Silent Serpents want you dead. If this gets published, you'll put them out of business. Everything's in here. Their ancient techniques, their spells, their equipment," said Boyko.

"After all those people died, your bosses still thought this was a smart investment?" Sanna asked him.

"The board's logic was that the cost of publishing, possible deaths included, was negligible compared to how much potential profit there was."

"Of course." She let out a weary sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. So much for easy money. "Excuse me, Mr. Iblo. My husband and I need a word alone."

Leaving their client on his ass in the middle of the derelict barn, she grabbed Boyko's shoulder and pulled him into a corner. Turning their backs to the publisher, they discussed potential plans.

"Well, my love. What do you think we should do? That ninja isn't going to leave us alone."

"Nina."

"What?"

"I'm calling her Nina."

Sanna threw up her hands at his nonsense. "Whatever! Point is, Nina's going to attack again and I doubt we can scare her off a second time. So what do we do?"

"Get rid of this thing, first of all."

Boyko dropped the inflammatory manuscript back into the satchel and tossed it to Mr. Iblo.

"I say we leave that damned book here for Nina and make a break for it. It would be the smart option Sanna."

"We could, but then we wouldn't be paid. And we need that money. Remember?"

She held up her sword again to emphasize the point.

"Damn swords," Boyko cursed, "What good were they against that Serpent?"

"Well maybe if we used them right!"

The female sellsword took a deep breath to stifle further rage. Her voice's volume rose with her annoyance, and any sound might lead the ninja to them.

Quieter, she continued, "Look, that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that we won't be paid unless that fatuous idiot reaches Lancester with his stupid book."

"But we can't let them publish that stupid book either. If the Nijikana find out we were the ones who helped expose their secrets, and they will, they'll come after us next."

"This is a bit of dilemma, isn't it?"

Behind them, Mr. Iblo tried to listen in on his bodyguards' conversation, his only option besides reading the forlorn copy of A Long Night of Summer Passion they'd found, but the two kept their voices quiet and conspiratorial. If nothing else, he was glad to have his satchel back. The company had entrusted him with the manuscript, and he would prove their trust well placed. The idea that the object of that trust made him a bigger target didn't occur to a man like him. He hoped his hired help had a good plan.

During the sellswords' private discussion, Boyko shot him the occasional glance. The publisher still couldn't make out their words, but sensed their tone shift toward the positive.

After a shared nod, the two mercenaries came back over to where he sat on the bare dirt.

"Okay," began Boyko, "On the condition that I think it's foolish, we've formed a plan to get you to Lancester unharmed. If all goes well."

"Really? Wonderful!"

"If all goes well, I must emphasize. This will be risky."

"We're lucky in one way," said Sanna, "To reach Lancester, we need to pass through the prefecture border. Nijikana ninjas can't enter into the capitol region, so we'll be safe once we cross."

"Why?"

"The Silent Serpents' rival clan have an arrangement with Queen Vysa. They fought for her during the war, so the capitol is their territory. Our ninja friend would find herself surrounded by enemies if she crossed over there," explained Boyko.

"All right, I suppose that makes sense. But the border is still half a day's ride away at least. How will you protect me between here and there?"

"That's where things are going to be risky. Give me that damn satchel."