I found this a difficult story to rate. Even now I'm questioning my 3 stars, wondering if I should give it 4.

The main problem can be summed up in one simple sentence: It's too short.

The scope of the story, the world building, the potentional for slow burn UST, the writer's obvious love and knowledge of the subject. It all screamed EPIC.

This story needs at least another 100K. ( )

I found this a difficult story to rate. Even now I'm questioning my 3 stars, wondering if I should give it 4.

The main problem can be summed up in one simple sentence: It's too short.

The scope of the story, the world building, the potentional for slow burn UST, the writer's obvious love and knowledge of the subject. It all screamed EPIC.

This story needs at least another 100K. ( )

An assassin who is also a courtesan is at the center of this fantasy story, set in a historical time that feels much like Ancient Rome. Artor was sold as a boy, educated by Laurentium, and is now basically a spy with some extra "talents". When he is sent on a new mission with a new bodyguard (his previous one was murdered defending him from an attacker), he turns out to be none other than Gaheris, an old friend from Artor's village.

The mission is not easy - Artor has to understand some of the politics of his situation and make a judgment, an unexpected twist changes everything, and Gaheris has severe doubts about the ethics of what they are doing.

If you like historicals, if courtesans with a hidden agenda are your thing, and if you're looking for a read that makes the past come alive, you might like this free short story. It does end a little more abruptly than I hoped, but that is mostly because I really liked the characters and wanted more... ( )