“Since before I was born, my whole life has been defined by the clan war that killed my father,” Niko said. “That’s one thing we have in common, Ato-jen—our lives were shaped by the deaths of men we never knew. Maybe we can break that legacy.”
Ayt Ato studied Niko with guarded, optimistic respect. “I hope so, Kaul-jen.”
The six Green Bones sat down together at the table. As they did so, Sando Kin noticed something amiss. He leaned over to Ato. “Where is the Horn of No Peak?”
“I asked Lott Jin not to come, so Niko could attend without making our sides unequal,” Hilo answered. “As a former Horn myself, I’ll speak for the military side of the clan.” None of that was a lie. Even Green Bones with better Perception than these men would not Perceive it as such.
Hilo waited until their attention was elsewhere before putting his hand into his pocket and depressing the button to send the preloaded message on his phone.
_______
Lott Jin sat in the front passenger seat of a black ZT Bravo in the Commons district, watching the townhouse at the end of the street through a pair of high-powered binoculars. Two Green Bone guards walked circuits around the building, but they looked bored. Lott had the townhouse under constant surveillance, keeping his own Green Bones well out of Perception range and relying on jadeless White Rats to pass by and get closer looks. Ayt Mada had met her former Weather Man, Iwe Kalundo, for dinner at a nearby Mountain-owned restaurant the previous evening. She had returned to the townhouse afterward and no one had seen her emerge so far today. Lott estimated there were two other bodyguards inside, but that was all. This was Mountain territory after all; Ayt’s people were not overly concerned. Lott and Vin were alone in the inconspicuous ZT Bravo （Lott’s red Lumezza FT Scorpion would be far too recognizable） and Vin could reliably Perceive patrols before the patrols could Perceive them.
Lott’s pager buzzed and he looked down at it. It was the signal he’d been waiting for: a short numeric code that he and the Pillar had agreed would mean Hilo, Shae, and Niko were in the KJA building with Ayt Ato and his people, and Lott was to proceed.
He made a cell phone call. Hami Yasu picked up at once. “It’s time,” Lott said.
“We’ll be there in five minutes,” said the Fist. Two cars full of No Peak’s best Green Bone warriors were waiting in a parking lot across the district border in Old Town. As soon as they arrived, they would storm the townhouse from all sides, kill Ayt Mada and her bodyguards, and steal back across into No Peak territory. If all went according to plan, they would catch Ayt unawares and it would take no more than a few minutes.
Lott fingered the sheathed moon blade lying across his lap. On the surface, the task should not be difficult. Four Mountain bodyguards plus Ayt Mada, against ten of No Peak’s greenest fighters. Ayt Mada was still the most heavily jaded woman in Kekon, but she was in her midsixties. Jade did not stop a person from getting old, and it didn’t matter how much green someone wore if they didn’t have the physical stamina and reflexes to employ it, particularly against men forty years younger. Nevertheless, Lott was worried. Ayt had survived assassination attempts before. She’d won a duel against Kaul Shae. She’d had a knife plunged into her neck and fallen out a window. She seemed legendary, unkillable.
It was possible that other Mountain Green Bones would be alerted and rush to her aid. Bystanders might get in the way. There might be other guards inside that they didn’t know about, as they were parked too far away for even Vin to Perceive how many people were inside. Lott sent up a silent prayer to the gods. By nature, he was a risk-averse person. He knew he was not unusually talented, but he’d reached the position of Horn as a result of being lucky, hardworking, and dependable, giving others no reason to doubt him or his ability to deliver on his responsibilities. Now the Pillar was counting on him, had left this final mission in his hands.
Vin started the car engine. A minute later, two Victor STX SUVs roared past them up the street. “That’s them, let’s go,” Lott said. Vin hit the gas, and they tore down the length of the block to the townhouse, squealing to a stop behind the other vehicles. Lott threw open the door and dove out.
The two guards patrolling the building Perceived the murderous rush and raced to defend the entrance. They drew Ankev pistols, but they were badly outgunned. Shotgun muzzles aimed out the open windows of the lead SUV sprayed them with ammunition. The Mountain Green Bones threw up a surge of Deflection that sent the pellets flying into the townhouse’s windows, peppering the siding and shattering windows. One man’s Steel was not quick or strong enough; he took lead to the knees and went down screaming and clutching his legs.