"Whereas I study them with the greatest care," Havelock says, in much the same tone. "The better to know when to break them and exactly how far."

Disobeying the Guild is a very fine line, but constantly necessary.

There is a borderline obscene scraping coming from the other side, nails clawing at wood with no concern for them being torn away from bony fingertips. The assassin tightens the cloth wrapped around his fingers almost unconsciously, and eyes the door.