by Jackson Lear
Alysia knotted a break in the thread and started again. “Why didn’t you leave? You already knew it was five against one, then seven against one. You could’ve let them kidnap me. I would’ve made it home alive.”
“Not if Caton or Gustali are behind it.”
“And if they aren’t? You still could’ve walked away.”
“The moment I walked in there their plan started to show its flaws. I wasn’t sure what their plan was but I could see that they all started to feel uncertain about it. The one behind you gave himself away. He spoke when he should’ve stayed silent. That ruined any chance the guy with the earrings had of staying essential to the conversation. The big guy with the ax was also a problem. He should’ve been intimidating, but he was ready to let loose at my first show of force. The others didn’t like that uncertainty either but it was too late to do anything about it. If I had walked away that would’ve given them a chance to regroup. Instead, I wanted all of their great ideas to unravel.”
She fell quiet, repairing my arm with some kind of double stitch that hurt almost as much as the slice that caused the wound in the first place. It was the same kind of quiet you get from the wide-eyed recruits in the Governor’s Hand after they’ve had their first brush with death.
“Why do you do it? I don’t mean why you started all those years ago, but now. Today. And tomorrow. Is this life something you actually want to do?”
“I don’t know. I’m not exactly one for introspection.”
“Yeah, right. I can take it, you know? I’m married to a soldier. My father is a soldier. I’ve been watched by soldiers or infiltrators for my whole life and I’ve lived on military compounds for longer than I care for. I’ve heard them talking when they didn’t realize I was there. I’ve heard them talking even when I was in the same room as them.”
“Why do they do it?”
“Because it was a better job than whatever alternative they had.”
“That’s my answer.”
She finished her last stitch. Inspected it. “You used to scare people for a living and kill them if they didn’t pay you on time.”
“True. I also hunted down rapists and murderers when the city watch couldn’t be bothered.”
“And you still do most of that now even though you are out of the company. Why?” She seasoned my arm again with more salty water. It hurt, but there was little point in lying to her now. “Because I’ve seen what happens to former mercenaries. Fifteen years ago I laid my first bet on the life expectancy of a retiring brother. We’d laugh about it – or at least anyone who was under forty would laugh about it. You’d reach a point where you’re rich enough to retire, so why not? There’s only so many times you can stand being farted on by Shank, playing the same game of bones, drinking yourself stupid, or having to keep watch over some corner all night while one of your brothers is fucking your favorite prostitute. So you think about what life would be like on the outside. You’d have a house. You’d have a man or woman by your side. You’d have all the luxuries you’ve ever wanted with no one telling you what to do. And do you know how many of those lucky bastards kill themselves within three years of leaving the company? I mean, how do you make friends on the outside when you’ve spent your whole life robbing people just like them? How do you even relate to someone who actually liked the job you despised when you were twelve?”
I tried to fashion a bandage out of one of Miera’s scarfs.
“Hey.”
“I’ll leave some money behind.”
Alysia helped me once again. Dismissed Giulia as I slipped back into my tunic. Alysia peered at my jacket. “This is filthy.”
“I know.”
“Cut and mangled and ripped apart.”
“That’s why I have needle and thread.” I sat down. Got to work repairing my jacket.
Quietly, she said, “Don’t say you have less than three years left.”
“No? Because I understand it a lot better now than I did back then.”
“I can help you.”
“And I refuse.”
“Stop being an idiot and just accept that someone is trying to help you.”
“Thank you, but no.”
“Even if I told you that I think I figured out Artavian’s code?”
“Even so. What did it say?”
“If you’re not going to let me help you then you don’t need to know what I uncovered.”
“Did it say, ‘I’m willing to risk my husband’s life because I’m being a stubborn high-born?’”
Her eyes narrowed like she was about to wield the power to throw me in the dungeons for my insolence. “The back-to-front letters spelled out ‘assassin’. The rest of the misspelled words have duel meanings in Telucian. ‘Trap’ and ‘get out’ are two of them.”
“Good work.”
“Thank you. Now will you join us?”
“No. As soon as Caton’s dead you’ll never see me again.”
Her eyes cracked. Welled up. Damn near killed me as well, like I had betrayed everything we had between us. “Just like that?”
I nodded.
“I deserve something better than just a nod.”
“Too bad.”
Alysia fell quiet. Stormed into the bedroom. Giulia shied away from me.
I returned to stitching up my jacket. True to Alysia’s word, it was ripped to shit. One pocket had exploded out from Krassis’ bag of straps, one arm was about to fall off, and the ends were frayed to kingdom-come. I pulled the stool over to the window. Stitched and kept watch on the street below at the same time.
Turned out, I didn’t need to keep watch for long. Heads turned quickly, coming from the direction Alysia and I had taken. Pedestrians scrambled out of the way as two riders galloped along the street, stopping right in front of our building.
Lavarta and Zara. I heaved with relief. Zara looked up. I stepped out. Gave her a signal to come upstairs. She took the reins of Lavarta’s horse. He lept to the ground. Hurried upstairs.
“Giulia? Please get Miss Lavarta. Her husband’s here.” Giulia hurried to the door. I slipped back into my jacket. Caught Zara’s attention. Pointed down the street to where she would find a pair of horses tied to a post. She rode off.
The commander hurtled into Franco’s apartment. “Aly?”
She sprung forward. “I’m here.” Practically dove into his arms, both of them clinging on for dear life.
Lavarta pulled back. “Are you hurt?”
“No. You?”
“I’m fine. Some messenger got to me before I reached the arena.”
“You weren’t in the fields?”
“No. Zara figured out where I was before it was too late.”
“Raike as well.”
“I thought as much.” Lavarta looked my way. “We stopped at the house. That was you?”
I gave him a nod. Pointed to Derro. “This is the ring leader. He’s been drugged and won’t cause much trouble right now but we should get him in front of a judge sooner rather than later.”
Lavarta turned back to Alysia. “You were in the middle of that?”
“I was. Literally in the middle of it.”
“She saved my life,” I said.
“Well …”
“You did. You ripped this guy’s hand apart and tackled someone else right as they were about to kill me.”
“I’m not sure how much tackling there really was. I just remember colliding into someone I was trying to avoid.”
Lavarta sighed, finally able to breathe again now that he could see his wife was safe. He squatted down in front of Derro. Checked his pulse.
Lavarta looked my way. “What now?”
“I still have some loose ends I need to tie up. Namely: Caton.”
“You won’t get out of there alive.”
“I once believed the same thing about my orphanage. And about the company.”
Alysia’s voice cracked. “Raike, please …”
I stopped at the door. Turned for one last ti
me. “This was a limited time offer, Alysia. Zara is the better fit in your world. Not me.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
I almost made it onto the street before Zara stopped me at the doorway. “You don’t stay still for long, do you?”
“No. How was it?”
“Not as exciting as your day. You look like hell.”
“Thank you.” I tried to push past.
Zara stopped me. The color started returning to her face. “Six against one.”
“Seven. The survivor is upstairs.”
Her eyes widened considerably. “How?”
“Honestly? The ugly one fought like Ox, the one with earrings fought like Lieutenant, the one upstairs tried to fight like Greaser, and the one who got his face slashed up moved like Runaway.” I made another move towards the door.
“Wait.”
“I’m really not after a long goodbye.”
“It’s not that. Like it or not, Caton is probably aware of the blood bath that has occurred at the commander’s, and he’d be aware that his plan has turned into an utter failure.”
“Then I wouldn’t recommend joining me on this part.”
“Do you know where he is right now?”
“No.”
“And do you think you’re going to get close to him dressed like that?”
“If you think I’m climbing back into Lieutenant Orin’s uniform …”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to have to do. If he knows about the failed kidnapping then he’ll be holed up in his office surrounded by as many members of the city watch as possible. Only two types of strangers are allowed into city hall and up onto Caton’s floor; lawyers and soldiers. Which of those two are you better at impersonating?”
Annoyingly, she had a point.
Even more annoying, Lavarta trotted down the stairs. “Raike?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
He stopped in front of me. Extended one hand. “You saved Alysia’s life. Thank you.”
“It’s what I do.”
He certainly had a confident grip, no doubt thanks to a lifetime of wielding a sword or the reins of a horse. “Listen, whether you’re serious about leaving or not, I withdrew some money.”
Zara squinted at me. News to her.
“It was originally to pay you off. Now it’s to pay you for your services. Regardless on what you decide to do or when you wish to collect it, that money is yours as of today.”
I think we at last understood each other.
He asked, “I just need to know, what do you intend to do about the Gustalis?”
“I honestly don’t think the governor is involved in this. I might be wrong but Caton is a bigger threat right now. Lieutenant Gustali is definitely complicit in some shady shit. He was passing on information about the new fort and your schedule with the cavalry for months so that someone could set an ambush for you. I encountered four of his allies earlier. He’s not exactly the most gifted of strategists, nor is he even remotely competent at setting it up for his commander to be killed. He deserves a solid beating but maybe not a death.”
Lavarta studied me closely. “You think he should be allowed to live? Even though this is all because of him?”
“He didn’t give the order and he didn’t swing the sword, so to speak. I do have a suggestion though. Order him to your home right now. Let him see the dead mercenaries, the dead Delen and the dead Ursula. Let someone tell him that they uncovered the plans for the new fort and a schedule of your movements in the north in the mercenaries’ hideout. Let him believe that those seven had been following you around for months and that he was working to aid them … and that one got away. The boss. The one who was going to be paid well, only he wasn’t paid at all. Which is mostly true. You make that little fucker so paranoid about what he did and the revenge that awaits him that he either offs himself or comes to his senses. Either way is fine with me.” It was my turn to study Lavarta closely. “Of course, if you prefer a different approach … perhaps something a little more permanent, then we can discuss an appropriate sum that will justify the death of the governor’s son.”
Lavarta leaned back. Eyes piercing. Maybe even considering it.
Zara said, “It might be cheaper keeping Raike on a retainer.”
“It really wouldn’t,” I said.
“Let’s go with your first suggestion,” said Lavarta. “At least for now.”
“Certainly. Now if you’ll forgive me …”
“Actually, Alysia and I are coming with you.”
“That wouldn’t be wise.”
“Well, you’re injured, beaten to all hell and you’re probably out of magic, so whatever you do you’re going to need Zara’s help. Zara works for the Kaseras and is likely going to keep Alysia in her sights at all times, yet Alysia has made it clear that Zara should stick with you. I’m not leaving Alysia’s side, not with everyone who’s been trying to kill her. And however you find Caton, I want to hear what he has to say about trying to kill me. And failing.”
“That is still not wise.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Yes.” I did not. “And if I don’t, Zara can tell me.”
“I could,” said Zara. “But like I was saying, only soldiers and lawyers can get into city hall.” She made a point of indicating the outfit she was still wearing. “You’re going to need a uniform.”
They rode on horseback. I walked. They called me ridiculous and tried to extoll the virtues of riding a battle-hardened warhorse through the city streets like the hero I was not. We reached the university, to the dull gray steps of the former temple to Arras, and strode into Lucien’s bloodied office.
Krassis wasn’t there. The sturdy chair he had been manacled to was broken. A pool of his blood remained on the carpet.
Lucien hobbled down the corridor, righting the sash across his shoulder. “Commander Lavarta? Oh, heavens be! You’re safe!”
Lavarta extended one hand. “Professor Lucien.”
“It’s good to see you alive, it really is. And you, Miss Kasera. Wonders never cease. What happened?”
“Where’s Krassis?” I asked.
“Oh. Escaped, I’m afraid. After reaching the infirmary I doubled back, not knowing where you had gone to but hoping that I could send one of the pages to the fields, house, or the arena to find Commander Lavarta. Your prisoner was gone when I returned. And I’m dismayed to say that one of the pages came back ashen faced. Your house was swarmed with city watch. The neighbors heard cries for help and one saw something of a massacre with a giant and an ax. Not an actual giant, per se, but a man large enough to be a … I don’t know, actually.”
“An ogre?”
“Possibly. I didn’t see him. Was he an actual ogre?”
“No. Just hideously ugly.” I slipped into Orin’s uniform. “We should get going.”
“There’s something you should know. One of the stewards from the city watch followed you and Miss Zara here with your prisoner. After the kafuffle with the messengers sending Miss Kasera all over town, I went to the city watch to warn them of an attack against her person. While there I discovered that you, Mr Raike, and you, Miss Zara, are still being held captive in the dungeons.”
Lavarta shook his head. “What?”
A wry smile came over Lucien. “Officially speaking. I read the paperwork myself. Mr Raike and Miss Zara were both arrested and have yet to be discharged. Yet Raike and Zara were wearing military uniforms when they arrived with their prisoner, who was dressed as an actual prisoner. I filled in some of the blanks on what might’ve happened, so imagine my surprise when I found three men inside the dungeons, desperate to get out and admitting their names. Considering that Miss Kasera’s life was still in peril I decided to leave the men where they were. Not indefinitely, of course. I was about to bring a judge before them. Of course, that doesn’t exactly help you with finding Krassis.”
Lavarta turned to Zara and me. “Any ideas on where he is?”
We
found him. Fifteen minutes later, wrapped and bandaged in the septum’s chamber of the Temple of Lycyx, pale and muttering incoherently to himself. The septum was giving us some grief, of course, insisting that this was a private sanctum and that military intimidation will not be tolerated.
Lavarta dropped down in front of Krassis, picking out his details like he was looking over some faded portrait left to lie in the sun for a century. “I know you.”
Krassis wheezed in response.
“You were in Ispar. You spoke to me just after I had graduated the academy. An actual commander, congratulating me and giving me advice on a future in the military.”
Krassis wheezed again, almost as if breathing was an agony he had to endure.
“Why did you go after my wife instead of just me?”
Krassis didn’t have the strength to answer.
“She was a threat,” I said. “She would’ve known more about Lieutenant Gustali than Caton cared for. She also knew the governor and his family personally as a member of the Kasera family. Caton knew her. He knew that she was not easily controlled and that she would’ve created a problem for the Gustali family if anything happened to her husband. I believe Caton lost control of the situation some months ago and has been trying to amend it ever since, but he had overplayed his hand and exposed a conspiracy against you and Artavian. He couldn’t back away but he also couldn’t rush right in. Had things gone according to plan in Anglaterra, I doubt he would’ve targeted Alysia at all.”
Lavarta rose. Dusted his hands. “All right. Let’s get him to the infirmary.”
The septum cried out. “This man is a servant of Lycyx! He should remain here to ensure his rightful passage to the afterlife!”
Zara stepped in. “He’s a known trickster and liar.”
“I’m sure he is. He’s still going to the infirmary.”
Zara flicked her eyes towards me for but a second, desperate.
“He won’t live long enough to make it to the infirmary,” I said. “I can end it quickly, though.”
Lavarta peered back at Artavian’s assassin. Inspected his wounds a little more. Started to grimace.
