Assassin Killing Assassin

Many Black Caste Role-players argue that Assassins do not kill other Assassins. I can understand why this would be believed and followed, the main reason in support of the notion being that weakening the Caste would be avoided. There is of course, nothing in the books to support the idea that members of the Black Caste would not slay other Black Caste Brethren, quiet the opposite in fact.

In a few minutes we had returned to their headquarters. Within we  found two of the black-tunicked men, lying to one side. "Knaves!" cried the lieutenant. "They have slept through the alarm!"
"Kill them," said the leader of the black-tunicked men.
Chapter 30 - Witness of Gor.

So now we know that as a punishment, in this case falling asleep while on guard duty, a ranking Black Caste officer will not hesitate in exacting the ultimate of punishments for such a miscarrage of duty. It does not matter that the two men in question were not actaully sleeping on the job but were instead very dead. The order to kill them was given well in advance of their leader knowing the truth of the matter.

"That will not be necessary," said the officer of Treve. "Their  throats have been cut."
Chapter 30 - Witness of Gor.

The issue surrounding Assassin killing Assassin should be one of "Not hunting one another" rather than "Not killing one another" because when it comes to punishments at least, this notion of protecting the integrity and strength of the Caste flies right out of the window.

Here is another passage that suggests the killing of two assassins by another is to be expected as an effective example to others.

Two of the black-tunicked men had not joined in the attack on the sleen. They had, in those sudden, unexpected, precipitate, grisly moments, stood back, perhaps fearing to act, perhaps unable to do so. The lieutenant slowly turned to regard them.

"There is no blood on your blades," he said. The men stepped back a little, looking at one another.
"Surrender your blades," said the lieutenant. The men looked at  one another, uneasily. "I am now in command," said the  lieutenant.

"There will be blood on your blades," said the lieutenant.
"No!" cried one of the two held men, struggling. "Let us redeem ourselves!" cried the other.

The passage goes on to see the lieutenant releasing the two men for the simple reason that he needed all the men he could muster to kill the man they hunted or should I say the man who hunted them, Marlenus.

Punishment Killings is one thing but to accept Gold from a client and then hunt a fellow Assassin is quite another thing. Although the books never tell us clearly that this would not be the case, I for one must go with my gut feeling that Black Caste Assassins would not allow themselves to be hired to hunt and kill another Assassin for Gold. As a direct order from a BC ranking officer and as part of the Black Caste training it is acceptible.