''In Darkness Waiting'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short story by

Stephen Leigh Stephen W. Leigh (born February 27, 1951) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer, artist, and musician. He also works as a lecturer at Northern Kentucky University, teaching creative writing. He has published speculative fiction as Ste ...

. It was first published in 1977 in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. The story was later expanded into a trilogy of novels, the so-called 'Neweden trilogy'.

Plot

A unnamed highly trained killer has drifted from

planet A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a you ...

to planet, following the collapse of an empire. He eventually settles on a primitive and violent planet, and spends many years recruiting followers and apprentices to establish a Guild of Assassins, known as the Hoorka. Adopting the title of Thane, he sets up a rigid code that the Guild must follow. The Hoorka will accept paid contracts to kill, but the proposed subject is offered the chance to match the fee paid by the contractor and thus void the contract. The Hoorka accept a contract by political figure, Li-Galant Vingi, to kill Gunnar, a rival political leader. The

assassination Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...

team, led by Aldhelm, the 'Number Two' in the Hoorka hierarchy and possible successor to the Thane, fails. Gunnar has survived the chase until the dawn; the Code requires that he be given back his life if he has survived thus far. Vingi is furious and demands that he and the Thane meet with Madame d'Embry, of the Alliance diplomatic resources team, who are trying to establish a new political unity. Vingi believes that the Hoorka have allied with Gunnar's party and d'Embry is unsure of the Hoorka's neutrality. The Thane hopes that she will allow the Hoorka to accept off-world contracts. The Thane confronts Aldhelm, his protégé, over the future of the Hoorka; is Aldhelm the best choice for a successor?

External links

Stephen Leigh's blog

farrellworlds
* 1977 short stories Science fiction short stories {{1970s-sf-story-stub