The Assassination of Poppy Smithswife

By Sam Knight

*Short Story*

When lowly tavern servant (and sometimes sneak-thief) Pik witnesses the Duke himself committing nefarious deeds in the dead of night, he doubts anyone will believe him. But when Pik's most favorite person in the world, Poppy Smithswife, is targeted for murder, Pik knows he has to do something about it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sam Knight
• Release date: Jan 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370797080

Sam Knight

A Colorado native, Sam Knight spent ten years in California’s wine country before returning to the Rockies. When asked if he misses California, he gets a wistful look in his eyes and replies he misses the green mountains in the winter, but he is glad to be back home. As well as having being Distribution Manager for WordFire Press and Senior Editor for Villainous Press, he is author of six children’s books, four short story collections, three novels, and nearly three dozen short stories, including two media tie-ins co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson. A stay-at-home father, Sam attempts to be a full-time writer, but there are only so many hours left in a day after kids. Once upon a time, he was known to quote books the way some people quote movies, but now he claims having a family has made him forgetful, as a survival adaptation.  He can be found at SamKnight.com and contacted at [e-mail].

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The Assassination of Poppy Smithswife

by

Sam Knight

The Assassination of Poppy Smithswife

Copyright 2015, 2018 Sam Knight

This story was originally published in the e-version only, extended edition, of Blackguards: Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues, by Ragnarok Publications

Smashwords Edition 2018

Knight Writing Press

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Cover Design and Artwork by Sam Knight © 2018

Interior formatting and layout by Knight Writing Press © 2018

Author photo by Lauren Lang

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This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real persons, places, or events are coincidental or used fictitiously without intent of any implication.

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[e-mail]

Pik carefully scattered the rat turds on the nightstand and floor directly below. A snore from the bed he knelt next to made him freeze. Even though it was dark, and he was small for a twelve year-old, he worried about being seen. Pik had no illusions about what would happen if he got caught stealing from the tavern’s patrons.

Munch, the owner, would kick him out, leaving him again with no place to live. The Duke’s man, from whom he was about to steal, would