The basic principles of assassination require three things: absolute silence, total darkness, and the element of surprise.
Currently, the Lord of Shadows was batting zero for three.
The afternoon sun was blazing over the manor's eastern courtyard, entirely eliminating the cover of darkness. The element of surprise had been ruined twenty minutes ago, and absolute silence was a physical impossibility when dealing with a waterfowl.
Lucien knelt in the soft grass, his long legs folded beneath him. He was wearing a simple, dark tunic, his violet eyes narrowed in deep, tactical concentration as he looked at his newest apprentice.
Standing exactly two feet away, completely illuminated by the bright sunlight, was a bright yellow frog.
