(notecard 60 of Garians original SL Gor document)

One might think then in terms of the possible transmission of secret information, or, perhaps more likely, of the enterprise of the assassin, the covert business of unsheathed daggers.

Mercenaries of Gor, Chapter 25

 

(notecard 76 of Garians original SL Gor document)
The blacktunicked men are trained to kill for a purpose, and to think as little of it as others might of the cutting of wood.

Witness of Gor, Chapter 40

(notecard 26 of Garians original SL Gor document)

Scarcely a quarter of an Ahn had passed and the men who drank in that room had forgotten, as is the way of men, that a dark one sat with them in that room, one who wore the black tunic of the Caste of Assassins, who silently drank with them.”

Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 4 of Garians original SL Gor document)
I cleared my head as best I could, and into my uncertain field of vision moved a dark object, which became the black helmet of a member of the Caste of Assassins. Slowly, with a stylised movement, the helmet was lifted, and I found myself staring up into a grey, lean, cruel face, a face that might have been made of metal. The eyes were inscrutable, as if they had been made of glass or stone and set artificially in that metallic mask of a countenance.
'I am Pa-Kur,' said the man.
It was he, the Master Assassin of Ar, leader of the assembled horde.
'We meet again,' I said.
The eyes, like glass or stone, revealed nothing.
'The cylinder at Ko-ro-ba,' I said. 'The crossbow.'
He said nothing.
'You failed to kill me that time,' I taunted. 'Perhaps you would care to risk another shot now. Perhaps the mark would be more suited to your skills.'
The men behind Pa-Kur muttered at my impudence. He himself
showed no impatience.
'My weapon,' he said, simply extending his hand. A crossbow was immediately placed in his grip. It was a large steel bow, wound and set, the iron quarrel placed in the guide.
I prepared to welcome the bolt flashing through my body. I was curious to know if I would be concious of its strike. Pa-Kur raised his hand with an imperious gesture. From somewhere I saw a small, round object sailing high into the air, out over the river. It was a tarn disc hurled by one of Pa-Kur's men. Just as the tiny object, black against the blue sky, reached its apogee, I heard the click of the trigger, the vibration of the string, and the swift hiss of the quarrel. Before the tarn disc could begin its fall, the quarrel pierced it, carrying it, I would judge, some two hundred and fifty yards out into the river. The men of Pa- Kur stamped their feet in the sand and clanged their spears on their shields.
'I spoke as a fool,' I said to Pa-Kur.
'And you will die the death of a fool,' he said. He spoke with no trace of anger or emotion of any kind.He motioned to the men to thrust the frame out into the river, where it would be swept away.
'Wait,' I said, 'I ask your favour.' The words came hard.
Pa-Kur gestured to the men to desist.
'What have you done with the girl?'
'She is Talena, daughter of the Ubar Marlenus,' said Pa-Kur. 'She will rule in Ar, as my queen.'
'She would die first,' I said.
'She has accepted me,' said Pa-Kur, 'and will rule by my side.' The stone eyes regarded me, expressionless. 'It was her wish that you die the death of a villain,' he said, 'on the Frame of Humiliation, unworthy to stain our weapons.'
I closed my eyes. I should have known that the proud Talena, daughter of a Ubar, would leap at the first chance to return to power in Ar, even though it be at the head of a plundering host of brigands. And I, her protector, was now to be discarded. Indeed, the Frame of Humiliation would be ample vengeance to satisfy even Talena for the indignities she had suffered at my hands. It, if anything, would wipe out forever from her mind the offensive memory that she had once needed my help and had pretended to love me.
Then, each of the men of Pa-Kur, as is the custom before a frame is surrendered to the waters of the Vosk, spit on my body. Lastly, Pa-Kur spit on his hand and then placed his hand on my chest. 'Were it not for the daughter of Marlenus,' said Pa-Kur, his metallic face as placid as the quicksilver behind a mirror, 'I would have slain you honourably. That I swear by the black helmet of my caste.'
Tarnsman of Gor, Chapter 12

(notecard 32 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"Aii!" I cried, though the outburst was scarcely in keeping with the somber black I wore, and an instant later the Tarn Keeper and the Saddle Maker cried out, and began to stamp their feet in the dust, and pound their fists against their left shoulders. Then others watching cried out with glee. I myself remove my sword from its sheath and with it struck my shield.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 3

(notecard 70 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"Then it will not matter that he is killed," said the leader ofthe black-tunicked men. The lieutenant and several of the others with them laughed. It was the only time I had heard them laugh.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 31

(notecard 10 of Garians original SL Gor document)
Pa-Kur approached warily, confident in his superior swordsmanship, but, as I expected, determined to take no chances.
Tarnsman of Gor, Chapter 19

 

(notecard 46 of Garians original SL Gor document)
Scormus of Ar reminded me of men of the caste of Assassins, as they sometimes are, before they begin their hunt. The edge must be sharp, the resolve must be merciless, the instinct to kill must in no way be blunted.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 4

 

(notecard 47 of Garians original SL Gor document)
Scormus would play like an Assassin. He would be merciless, and he would take no chances.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 4

 

(notecard 75 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"Certainly not," said the officer of Treve. "He wanted the officer to know that he was still alive, that was the point of that, in order that the assassin be tensely ready, that he be extremely watchful and alert, and that the preciousness of his quarrel be fully appreciated. He might have but one chance to loose it. He must retain it for the prefect shot. He must in no event waste it."
Witness of Gor, Chapter 37

(notecard 64 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"We can kill every male prisoner in the depths," said one of the fellows in black, a lieutenant.
"You have no authorization for that," said the pit master.
"You know whom we seek," said the leader of the men in black tunics. There were twenty-three in their party, the leader, a lieutenant, the fellow called 'Gito', and twenty men.
Each of the twenty men carried a sword, a dagger, and a crossbow. Some had their bows set.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 31

 

(notecard 65 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"Cut their throats," said the leader of the strangers. We cried out, and shrank back, and might have run, butthere was nowhere to run. Men were all about. One fellow took me by the hair, to hold me in place.
"Hold!" said the pit master. "Know that these women are the property of the state of Treve! You are within the walls of Treve. You are sheltered by her Home Stone. You cannot deal with the property of Treve with impunity."
"You have delayed us long enough," snarled the leader of the black-tunicked men. "We came yesterday to the pits, and you put us off with some absurd technicality."
"We have our regulations, Master," said the pit master.
"That technicality was cleared this morning," said the leader of the strangers.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 31

(notecard 65 of Garians original SL Gor document)
At a gesture from the proprietor, the grimy man in the tunic of white and gold, one of the serving slaves, with a flash of her ankle bells, hurried to the Assassin and set before him a bowl, which she trembling filled from the flask held over her right forearm. Then, with a furtive glance at the girl chained at the side of the room, the serving slave hurried away.
Kuurus took the paga bowl in both hands and put his head down, looking into it. Then, somberly, he lifted it to his lips and drank.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 23 of Garians original SL Gor document)
Yet none would stand in the way of Kuurus for he wore on his forehead, small and fine, the sign of the black dagger. When he of the Caste of Assassins has been paid his gold and has received his charge he affixes on his forehead that sign, that he may enter whatever city he pleases, that none may interfere with his work. There are few men who have done great wrong or who have powerful, rich enemies who do not tremble upon learning that one has been brought to their city who wears the dagger.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 36 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"He frightens me," she wept. "He is of the black caste."Assassin of Gor, Chapter 6

(notecard 33 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"You are of the Assassins?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, "it is my caste."
He pressed the piece of gold into my hand and turned away, stumbling from me, reaching out with hisright hand to guide himself along the wall.
"Wait!" I cried. "You have won this! Take it!" I ran to him.
"No!" he cried, striking out wildly with a hand, trying to force me away. I stepped back. He stood there, panting, not seeing me, his body bent over, angry. "It is black gold," he said. "It is black gold." He then turned away, and began to grope his way from the place of the game.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 3

 

(notecard 38 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"I see you now wear the red of the Warrior," said he, "rather than the black of the Assassin."
I said nothing.
"I know disguises are useful," said he, "in hunting." He grinned at me. "I liked what you did at the game, when you gave the double tarn to the Player."
"He did not accept it," I said. "To him it was black gold."
"And so it was," said the Tarn Keeper, "so it was."
"It will buy as much as yellow gold," said I.
"True," said the Tarn Keeper, "and that is what must be kept in mind."
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 13

(notecard 28 of Garians original SL Gor document)
Welcome, Killer," said the man, addressing the Assassin by what, for that caste, is a title of respect.”
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 29 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"May I ask, Killer," asked Portus, "if you come to make the first killing----or the second?"
"The second," said Kuurus.
"I hunt," said Kuurus.
"Of course," said Portus.
"I come to avenge," said Kuurus.
Portus smiled. "That is what I meant," he said, "that it is good those in the black tunic are once again amongst us, that justice can be done, order restored, right upheld."
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 74 of Garians original SL Gor document)
“Those of the black caste are famed for their prowess in hunting,” said the officer of Treve.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 37

 

(notecard 63 of Garians original SL Gor document)
"They wish to take custody of the prisoner," said theofficer. "I am sure of it."
"It will be a brief custody, I am sure," said the pit master.
"He is to be removed to Cos," said the officer.
"He will never reach Cos," said the pit master.
"I have heard he is to be removed to Cos," said the officer, firmly.
"Why Assassins?" asked the pit master. "Why those of the black caste?"
"Efficiency, anonymity," said the officer.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 30

(notecard 25 of Garians original SL Gor document)
At a gesture from the proprietor, the grimy man in the tunic of white and gold, one of the serving slaves, with a flash of her ankle bells, hurried to the Assassin and set before him a bowl, which she trembling filled from the flask held over her right forearm. Then, with a furtive glance at the girl chained at the side of the room, the serving slave hurried away.
Kuurus took the paga bowl in both hands and put his head down, looking into it. Then, somberly, he lifted it to his lips and drank.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 12 of Garians original SL Gor document)

Since the siege of Ar, when Pa-Kur, Master Assassin, had violated the limits of his caste and had presumed, in contradiction to the traditions of Gor, to lead a horde upon the city, intending to make himself Ubar, the Caste of Assassins had lived as hated, hunted men, no longer esteemed mercenaries whose services were sought by cities, and, as often by factions within cities. Now many assassins roamed Gor, fearing to wear the sombre black tunic of their caste, disguised as members of other castes, not infrequently as warriors.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 8

 

(notecard 21 of Garians original SL Gor document)

Not for many years had the black tunic of the Assassins been seen within the walls of Ar, not since the siege of that city in 10,110 from its founding, in the days of Marlenus, who had been Ubar; of Pa-Kur, who had been Master of the Assassins; and of the Ko-ro-ban Warrior, in the songs called Tarl of Bristol.

 

For years the black of the Assassins had been outlawed in the city. Pa-Kur, who had been Master of the Assassins, had led a league of tributary cities to attack Imperial Ar in the time when its Home Stone had been stolen and its Ubar forced to flee. The city had fallen and Pa-Kur, though of low caste, had aspired to inherit the imperial mantle of Marlenus, had dared to lift his eyes to the throne of Empire and place about his neck the golden medallion of a Ubar, a thing forbidden to such as he in the myths of the Counter-Earth. Pa-Kur's horde had been defeated by an alliance of free cities, led by Ko-ro-ba and Thentis, under the command of Matthew Cabot of Ko-ro-ba, the father of Tarl of Bristol, and Kazrak of  Port Kar, sword brother of the same Warrior. Tarl of Bristol himself on the windy height of Ar's Cylinder of Justice had defeated Pa-Kur, Master of the Assassins. From that time the black of the Assassins had not been seen in the streets of Glorious Ar.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

 

(notecard 29 of Garians original SL Gor document)

"May I ask, Killer," asked Portus, "if you come to make the first killing----or the second?"

"The second," said Kuurus.

"I hunt," said Kuurus.

"Of course," said Portus.

"I come to avenge," said Kuurus.
Portus smiled. "That is what I meant," he said, "that it is good those in the black tunic are once again amongst us, that justice can be done, order restored, right upheld."
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

(notecard 42 of Garians original SL Gor document)

42 - the peasants themselves, though regarded as the lowest caste on all Gor by most Goreans, call themselves proudly the ox on which the Home Stone rests, and I think their saying is true.
Raiders of Gor, Chapter 1

(notecard 49 of Garians original SL Gor document)

49 - I hoped to renew my acquaintance with the fellow. Little love is lost betwixt the castes of warriors and assassins. Each deems himself the superior of, and the natural foe, of the other. The sword of the warrior, commonly, is pledged to a Home Stone, that of the assassin to gold and the knife.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 7

 

(notecard 58 of Garians original SL Gor document)

"But you are of the Assassins," I said. 

"We are tenacious fellows," he smiled.

"I have heard that," I said.

"Do you think that only Warriors are men?" he asked.

"No," I said. "I have never been of that opinion." 

"Let us proceed," he said.

"I thought you were too weak to be an Assassin," I said.

"I was once strong enough to defy the dictates of my caste," he said. "I was once strong enough to spare my friend, though I feared that in doing this I would myself be killed."

"Perhaps you are the strongest of the dark caste," I said.
He shrugged.

"Let us see who can fight better," I said.

"Our training is superior to yours," he said.

"I doubt that," I said. "But we do not get much training dropping poison into people's drinks."

"Assassins are not permitted poison," he said proudly.

"I know," I said.

"The Assassin," he said, "is like a musician, a surgeon. The Warrior is like a butcher. He
is a ravaging, bloodthirsty lout."

"There is much to what you say," I granted him. "But Assassins are such arid fellows. Warriors are more genial, more enthusiastic."

"An Assassin goes in and does his job, and comes out quietly," he said. "Warriors storm buildings and burn towers."

"It is true that I would rather clean up after an Assassin than a Warrior," I said. 

"You are not a bad fellow for a Warrior," he said.

"I have known worse Assassins than yourself," I said.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 35

 

(notecard 71 of Garians original SL Gor document)

71 - “I am not fond of those of the black caste,” said the officer.
“Nor we of those of the scarlet caste,” said the leader.
Witness of Gor, Chapter 31