Bared Blade

Former temple assassin Aral Kingslayer is a man with a price on his head and a mark on his soul. After his goddess was murdered, Aral found refuge in the shadow jack business, fixing problems for those on the fringes of Tien's underworld. It's a long step down from working for the goddess of justice, but it gives Aral and Triss-the living shadow who is his secret partner-a reason to get up in the morning.

Unfortunately, it's not a very noble reason. So when two women hit a rough spot in the tavern Aral uses for an office, he and Triss decide to lend a helping hand. But soon their good deed lands them in the middle of a three-way battle to find an artifact that just might be the key to preventing a war. And with so many factions on their trail, Aral and Triss are attracting a lot more attention than anyone featured on ten thousand wanted posters can afford . . .
Praise for Broken Blade
'Aral the Jack, formerly the noble Aral Kingslayer, is the best kind of hero- damaged, cynical, and despondent, yet needing only the right cause to rise from his own ashes.' Alex Bledsoe, author of Dark Jenny and The Sword-Edged Blonde
'McCullough's atmospheric little tale of betrayal and skulduggery is brisk, confident, intelligently conceived, and suspenseful . . . If a solid and enjoyable weekend read is what you're after, you've come to the right place.' SF Reviews.net