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| Published | September 29, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Page count | 54 |
| ISBN | 978-0545855402 |
| Preceded by | Deserter |
| Followed by | Dragonslayer |
Assassin is the second book in the Winglets Quartet.
Blurb
Before the brightest night, the NightWings were plotting . . . Deathbringer is ready to be the next assassin for the NightWings. If he can just convince them to send him along on one mission with his mother, Quickstrike, he'll prove that he can help the NightWings decide who wins the war between the dragon tribes of Pyrrhia. But when their mission takes an unexpected turn, Deathbringer has a terrible choice to make . . . one that will change his path forever, and perhaps alter the course of the entire war . . .
Plot
Two years before the Brightest Night, four-year-old Deathbringer was tasked by his mother, Quickstrike, to secretly observe a meeting involving her, Morrowseer, Greatness, and Queen Battlewinner. Being one to follow orders, Deathbringer snuck away to where the meeting was being held. The discussion centered on whether he should join Quickstrike on a diplomatic mission to the continent. Quickstrike endorsed the idea, but Morrowseer and Greatness argued he was too young, suggesting she take another dragon instead. Queen Battlewinner proposed a compromise: if Deathbringer could kill either Vengeance or Slaughter that night, he could go on the mission.
That evening, Deathbringer found Slaughter asleep. As he prepared to strike, Morrowseer appeared and alerted Slaughter, but Deathbringer swiftly killed him while he was talking to him, and left to find Quickstrike. When he reached her, she scolded him for not following her spying orders. Showing her his bloodied talons, Deathbringer recounted the kill and insisted on joining her. Though hesitant, Quickstrike was impressed but urged haste to avoid suspicion. They departed together.
Two weeks into the mission, Quickstrike revealed their first target: a SeaWing. She quizzed Deathbringer on the alliances, noting the MudWings’ current allegiance to Blister. Their objective was to extend the war for a decade without harming the SandWing queens, starting by assassinating Tempest, a SeaWing general close to securing Blister’s victory.
While searching, Deathbringer’s night vision sharpened away from the volcano. A storm struck, and they spotted a SandWing heading to an island where Blister’s forces were gathered. As they sheltered from the storm, lightning hit Quickstrike, rendering her unconscious. Deathbringer dragged her to the beach but couldn’t wake her, so he hid them both.
Two days later, with Quickstrike still unconscious, Deathbringer went to complete the mission alone. At night, he infiltrated the enemy camp and overheard Blister and the MudWings plotting. He learned Tempest would arrive the next day. When she arrived with Gill, Piranha, and other unnamed SeaWings, Deathbringer, from his hiding spot, threw a spear into Tempest’s heart, killing her instantly. Attached to a spear was a note framing the MudWings for the murder. The tribes react with fury, and Blister orders a full island search. Deathbringer remained undetected, but some dragons found an unconscious NightWing—Quickstrike. Uninterested, Blister orders her execution. Devastated, Deathbringer blamed himself for her death and vowed to prioritize those he cared about over his missions if he ever found someone else.
Two weeks later, Deathbringer met Morrowseer, not telling him about Quickstrike’s death. He reported that the MudWings might abandon Blister for another sister. Impressed, Morrowseer assigned him to kill Six-Claws, a SandWing general loyal to Princess Burn. After Morrowseer departed, Deathbringer resolved not to kill Six-Claws but to persuade him to defect from Burn instead.
Mistakes
- The timeline of this book would make Deathbringer 13. However, in Winter Turning he is listed to be only a few years older than Winter.