The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke - Sample Chapters

ing’s always easy, Papa taught me (he’d been talking about jail, not marriage, but still). Staying escaped is the hard part.

I found this sliver of an alley and pushed at the camel’s neck to get him to turn. He snorted and shook his big shaggy head, then trudged forward.

“Thanks, camel.” The air was cooler here: A breeze streamed between the two buildings and their roofs blocked out the sun. I slid off the camel’s back and straightened out my dress. The fabric was coated with dust and golden camel hairs in addition to the mudand-saltwater stains at the hem, and I imagined it probably smelled like camel now, too.

I patted the camel on the head and he blinked at me, his eyes dark and gleaming and intelligent.

“Thanks,” I told him again. I wasn’t used to getting around on the backs of animals, and it seemed improper not to let him know I appreciated his help.

“You just got me out of a marriage.”

The camel tilted his head a little like he understood.

“And you’re free now,” I added. “You don’t have to haul around all that fake jewelry.” I scratched at the side of his face. “Find somebody who’ll give you a bath this time, you understand?”

He blinked at me but didn’t move. I gave him a gentle shove, and he turned and trotted out into the open street. Myself, I just slumped down in the dust and tried to decide what to do next. I figured I had to let the camel go cause I was too conspicuous on him.

Together we’d wound pretty deeply into Lisirra’s residential mazes, but most people, when they see a girl in a fancy dress on a camel – that’s something they’re