by E. L. Todd
Bridge pushed himself to his feet and dusted off his trousers. “You do realize that if you’re recaptured, all hope is lost? You’re literally the one person we can’t afford to lose.”
“Not true,” Rush said. “Cora is the one person we can’t afford to lose. She’s the one person who can unite the dragons and the elves. My life is inconsequential compared to hers. Eden Star must be protected at all costs.”
We must keep Pretty safe.
“The reason this is happening in the first place is because General Callon came to my rescue. If he hadn’t done that, King Lux wouldn’t even be thinking about Eden Star. Doing nothing is a really shitty way of repaying that sacrifice. I have to do this. There’s no other way.”
Bridge dropped his arms to his sides, his shoulders falling too. “What would Cora think if she knew?”
Tell us no.
“She doesn’t need to know. And hopefully…there’ll never be a reason for her to know.”
13
The Assassin
Rush instructed the others to go to the Hideaway if he didn’t escape. Hitch a ride with Captain Hurricane and figure out their next plan.
Lilac’s plan worked once again, and he slipped inside Polox just before dark. He returned to the shop, rang the bell overhead when he opened the door, and stepped inside the store that held an arrangement of odd objects.
“You’re back.”
He sauntered through the aisles and stopped near the window when he saw the dragon tears. “Business been slow?”
“Not a lot of people in the market for dragon tears. Most people don’t need it once—let alone twice.”
He moved to the front counter where she stood. The walls behind her were covered in colorful tapestries, feathered necklaces, and various jewels. On the counter, there was a bowl of transparent crystals. “Does any of this stuff work?”
One hand moved to her hip, cinching her purple cloak into her side. “Did the dragon tears save your life?”
He gave a slight nod. “You got me.”
She glanced down at his hands, as if expecting to see the jar of venom she requested. “Didn’t go well?”
“You were right. Frogs were massacred.”
“The empire made the right decision.”
“They killed off an entire species—”
“And now the Shamans are invincible. Smart play.”
He pulled his hood back and revealed his face, a full beard on his jawline because there’d been no time for anything on their travels except hauling ass. “I know I didn’t fulfill my end of the deal, but you still need to tell me what I want to know.”
“I don’t need to do anything, General Rush.”
“You were interested in that venom for a reason. It means you’re an enemy of the empire. I’m an enemy as well—which means we’re allies.”
“Or it just means I want something good to sell in my shop.”
“Would you really sell that?” Skepticism shot out of his mouth like an arrow released from the string. “You don’t think the empire would come knocking?”
“I sell dragon tears, and they still haven’t come knockin’.”
“Maybe not yet…but they will.”
She gave a shrug. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Look.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m an enemy of the empire. So, you should want to help me.”
“I see starving children on the street, and I want to help them. Doesn’t mean I do.”
“Okay…anyone who doesn’t help a starving kid is an asshole. But that’s not the point right now. Just tell me how to reach the dwarves, and I’ll be on my way.”
“What do I get in return?”
“The hope that I’ll be able to overthrow King Lux because of your help.”
She popped out one hip and came closer to the counter, her other hand on the surface. “You shouldn’t make such assumptions. Maybe I’m a friend to the empire. Maybe I’m a foe.”
“If your allegiance is to the crown, you’re doing a terrible job showing it by letting me come and go from your shop without repercussion.”
Her eyes narrowed. “As I’ve said before, I don’t interfere with a person’s travels.”
“Then don’t impede me now. Tell me how to get to the dwarves.”
Her fingers started to drum on the counter, her long nails creating a loud clicking sound. “You would waste your time there.”
“That’s for me to decide.”
Her fingers continued to drum against the counter.
“Mathilda, come on. Don’t make me crawl all over those mountains like a damn goat trying to get inside.”
“You expect me to help you when I’ll receive nothing in return.”
“That’s called being a good person. Try it sometime.”
Her nails went silent. “Didn’t realize you were so virtuous, General Rush.”
It was a fist to the stomach. “I’m no longer that man.”
“Being a good man serves me no purpose.”
“Then what do you want? If it’s in my power, I will grant it.”
Her nails started to drum once more. A stare deeper than the ocean penetrated his face, hot like the summer sun. “A sword of dragon scales.”
Grrrrrrrr.
“To sell in your store?”
“What I do with it is none of your concern.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’m not a blacksmith—”
“I can find one. Just need the scales.”
What do I do?
She doesn’t deserve my scales.
I can’t think of a substitution.
“What’s it going to be?” Her nails continued to drum on the surface. “I have warned you that this trek into the mountains is pointless. To sacrifice your scales would be a mistake on your part. As a good person, I’ve given you fair warning. But if you want to go anyway, it’ll cost you.”
We need the dwarves.
I know.
But I won’t do anything you don’t want to do. I’ll hike up those mountains day and night until we find them.
We don’t have the time.
Then it’s your call.
After a long pause, Flare agreed. Okay.
“Why do you say it’s pointless? And fatal?”
“Because it is.”
“Mathilda—”
“You asked for directions. I will grant them. But I’m not obligated to tell you anything else. Do you accept?”
“Fine…I accept.”
“Alright.” She pulled her hand off the counter. “Once I have the scales, I’ll provide a map.”
“Okay, that’s going to be a problem,” Rush said. “You do realize everyone and their mom is looking for me right now?”
“And?”
“I can’t just transform into a dragon in your shop or in the street.”
“Then let’s go somewhere you can.”
I have an idea.
What?
You need the empire to see us. Perhaps she can help us.
That wasn’t part of the deal.
Then make it part of the deal.
“You also need to help me escape.”
“The sword in exchange for the map.”
“We both know the value of my scales. I can ask for anything I want—and this is what I want.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek before she gave a raw look of annoyance. “Fine.”
“We’ll sneak out and harvest my scales. And then I need to be seen by the guards before we return to your shop so I can hide for a few days.”
“Cat’s piss, are you kidding me?”
“Wish I were.”
“Why do the guards need to see you?”
Rush kept quiet.
She tells us nothing. We tell her nothing.
“Do you have a secret way out of the city?”
“You think I use the front gate every time I come and go?”
At least we’ll have a secret way into Polox from now on.
That would have been helpful a long-ass time ago.
The streets were deserted.
Shops were closed. Inns were no longer serving pints of beer. The occasional window was lit up with a candle from a sleepless resident. The dark sky was dotted with little stars that were bright enough to cast a subtle glow on the cobblestone pathway.
Mathilda led the way, her dark purple cloak masking her quite well.
She maneuvered between buildings then reached an alleyway where a group of rats munched on moldy bread. Right up against the thick fence that defended the city from outside invaders, her palm slid across the wood until she found the dial. She turned it, an audible click sounding.
Then two planks spun on an invisible dial.
She lifted the plank above her head then stepped through the opening.
“Did you make this?” Rush followed her, keeping the wood above his head as he stepped onto the grass beside her.
“Shh!” She let the plank slide back into place before she clicked the dial on the other side of the wall.
“Let’s go.” She led the way along the fence, invisible to the guards that manned the wall up above. Silently, they moved, reaching the rear of the city that received little to no attention from the guards watching the perimeter.
They used the darkness as cover and snuck into the trees, getting far enough away from Polox to have a conversation at normal volume.
“Did you build that thing?”
She pulled out a knife. “I didn’t come here to gossip.”
“Asking how you made that passageway is not gossip—”
“We don’t have time for this.”
Sure you’re okay with this?
I gave my scales to Pretty as a gift. But she’s harvesting them as a butcher.
Still time to say no.
No. We need that map. And we need to keep King Lux away from Eden Star.
Alright. Rush transferred into the fiery red dragon.
Mathilda paused to absorb the sight, her eyes glossing over with a dreamy haze. She took him in from head to toe, pressed her palm against his flank, even came close to his snout and reached for a tooth. “Magnificent.”
Thank you.
She extended the blade and got to work.
“I will wait for you at the dial.” Mathilda disappeared into the darkness, her cloak hiding her form from view within a few seconds.
Flare looked at the stars in the sky, his flank dripping with blood from the scales that had been harvested.
You okay?
It didn’t hurt.
Well, it’s going to hurt me like a bitch when we get back to the shop.
Flare’s head turned when he saw the glimmer in the sky, when the stars were blocked out for just an instant. They’re here.
Of course they are…
This is going to be difficult.
When do we ever do anything that’s not difficult?
Here we go. Flare opened his wings and pushed off the ground. Rooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrr!
The scream pierced the night, shook the mountains in the distance, made the guards falter along the fence line.
That was quite the entrance.
Flare got to altitude immediately and soared right over Polox, breathing a stream of fire without actually burning anything.
Don’t set anything on fire.
I’m not.
Flare flew low enough to be visible to all the guards, his bright-red scales unmistakable.
Okay, enough. We gotta get outta here. Shamans are probably already here.
Flare glided around the city then circled back, returning to the darkness away from Polox. He extinguished his breath of fire before he landed with a thud on the earth.
Let’s go. Rush came into being, tripping over himself and landing back on the ground. Damn, this hurts.
Move.
Rush gritted his teeth then pushed himself upright. He forced himself into a quick jog, heading back to Polox to reach the secret passage.
Whoosh. A gust of wind passed him, making his hair blow back.
Run.
He silenced his grimace and forced himself forward, beelining straight for the fence line.
I said run!
Bitch, I’m going.
A loud cackle filled the night, an eerie sound that Rush had heard more times than he could count.
They’re following you.
His palm slid across the wood, searching for the dial. Where is it?
Rush!
I can’t find it!
The cackle grew louder.
Now!
The wood plank lifted, and a hand shot out to yank him inside.
That was close.
Too close.
Mathilda dragged him down the alleyway and they ran together, crowds in the streets as they came out of their homes to see the dragon they just heard. Guards pushed past them as they rushed to other parts of the city.
She moved to a walk, and Rush mimicked her movements.
I feel like shit.
Hold on.
The adrenaline wasn’t enough to numb the pain. Why do I feel like I’m always in pain?
We’re here.
Mathilda pulled him inside and locked the door behind her.
Rush immediately leaned on the counter, breathing hard as the gapes in his flesh bled into his clothes. “You got a bandage or something?” Too weak to stand, he dropped into a chair behind the counter, breathing through the pain.
Mathilda walked off.
I would change back if I could fit.
I know. I’ll be fine. Just hurts more than last time…
Probably because of all the scar tissue from Rock Island.
Yeah…maybe.
Mathilda extinguished all the lights in her shop, plunging them into darkness.
“I need something to stop the bleeding. Got gauze or anything?”
“Lift up your shirt.”
He turned in his chair then yanked the shirt over his head and to his shoulders.
Instead of feeling tight fabric wrap around his body, he felt drops.
Water poured down his back, and instead of burning like a disinfectant, it felt good. Really good. Immediately, he felt better, like he was brand-new. “What is that?” He turned back in his chair.
She corked the lid. “You owe me. This wasn’t part of the deal.” The bottle was returned to the locked cage in the shop for someone else to buy.
He pulled his shirt back on, no longer soaking blood into his clothes. “Thanks.”
She ignored his gratitude and stationed herself by the windows, seeing the silhouettes pass by the curtains as people frantically moved up and down the street. “You wanted to be seen. Mission accomplished.”
Hours passed.
They sat in the dark at opposite ends of the shop, waiting for the crowds in the street to vanish. The shadows in the window slowly lessened as people gave up on their curiosity and returned to their now-cold beds.
Just when Rush thought they’d gotten away with it, a knock sounded on the door.
Mathilda stiffened in her chair, and the look she gave Rush was murderous.
Oh no…
The knock sounded again. “By order of the king, we are to search your premises.”
Jump out a back window.
Rush crossed the room but stilled when he saw the outline of soldiers on the other side.
“Psst.”
His head snapped in Mathilda’s direction.
She waved him over frantically then gestured to one of the shelves.
Witches always have tricks up their sleeves…
They lifted it together, revealing a hatch in the floor.
She opened it. “Go, go.”
He grabbed the ladder and slid down to the floor.
The shelf dragged over the floor as she moved it back herself, doing one side and then the other.
Rush kept his eyes on the ceiling, his ears straining to listen.
The door opene
d.
Footsteps entered. Heavy footsteps. Bootsteps.
Then clicks.
Shamans are here.
“Step aside.” The footfalls fanned out to different parts of the room.
Mathilda shrieked with annoyance. “Just don’t take anything!”
Uh, Rush?
His eyes remained on the ceiling, seeing little flecks of dust fall from the floorboards. One of the guards was right on top of him now.
Rush?
Rush stepped back, watching the dust and listening to the sounds as the guards maneuvered around the shop. The Shaman was impossible to detect because the footsteps were too light. There were no clicks.
What?!
There’s someone here.
Yes, I’m aware. It doesn’t seem like they have a clue there’s a basement, so we should be good.
No. There’s someone in here—with us.
His body turned as rigid as ice, frozen over in a chill. Suddenly, the search party up above didn’t seem that important anymore because his head slowly turned to the man standing there, against the other wall, eyes on the ceiling.
Dressed in black street clothes, he was unremarkable, but that changed once he met Rush’s gaze.
His eyes weren’t ordinary.
Intelligent. Confident. Powerful.
He held Rush’s look with a ruthless calmness.
The steps overhead left as they ventured farther into the shop. “We need to go upstairs.”
“To my bedroom?” Mathilda shrieked. “What on earth do you hope to find there?”
He’s somebody.
I agree. Nobody wouldn’t be hiding under Mathilda’s shop.
And he’s looking at me like he doesn’t like me very much.
You did just compromise his hiding place.
It’s more than that. I can tell.
Do you recognize him?
No.
The man continued to hold his gaze, refusing to look away first.
Rush did the same.
Minutes later, the footsteps returned, followed by Mathilda’s attitude.
“Are you done waking me up in the middle of the night to ransack my home?” Her quick footsteps followed them. “And if you’ve taken anything, I’ll hunt you down and gut you like a fish.”
The guards filed out. The door shut.
Both men looked up at the ceiling.
