“It's one of them,” Lilu cried. “He's one of the men who tried to kill you! He's the one who hit you with a rock!”
Benaar drew a long, wicked looking knife and lunged at Blade. The assassin quit the straw in a bound, moving so fast that Lilu's eyes could not follow him. Benaar swung around, finding the assassin behind him. Blade drew a dagger, then jumped back when Benaar charged him. As the assassin landed, he bounced high, one foot lashing out. It hit Benaar under the chin and sent him crashing into the straw. Blood bubbled from his throat, and he croaked, gaping as he struggled to breathe. Blade looked down at his feet, as if realising something, so startled did he look. Lilu followed his gaze and gasped. Three inches of bloody steel protruded from the end of his boot, and a clean blade jutted from the other. The assassin looked stunned, turning to stare at her, then Endel. The baby's screams reverberated around the barn.
“Shut it up,” he snarled.
Lilu scooped up the infant and clutched him to her breast, but he continued to howl. Blade glanced around, then at the jerking, twitching man who died on the straw. She pushed her finger into Endel's mouth, and he fell silent. Blade tucked away his dagger and retrieved the one she held, returning it to his collection.
“Come, we've got to get out of here before someone else comes.”
Lilu nodded, wondering if she would be able to walk so soon after giving birth. Struggling to her feet, she wobbled on rubbery legs, sparing a glance at the gaping man who gurgled on the floor. Blade headed for the door, apparently expecting her to be able to keep up. She tried, her legs shaking. He glanced back with knitted brows and beckoned urgently.
“Hurry up!”
“You try running when you feel like you've just been split in half.”
Blade snorted and came back to grip her arm and drag her forward, but she almost fell.
She cursed. “It's not that I don't want to go faster, Blade, it's that my legs aren't working all that well right now.”
With a growl, he bent and scooped her up, his expression thunderous and his nose wrinkled. Lilu gaped at him in astonishment.
“You stink,” he muttered.
“So would you if you'd just squeezed out a baby.”
The assassin’s eyes flicked down to the child, filled with distaste.
Blade paused in the doorway and glanced up and down the street, which was quiet, night almost fallen. He trotted across the road into the next alley, slipped into the shadows and strode along it. Lilu gazed at him, fighting the urge to kiss him. By the time he reached the end of the alley, she could resist no longer. Sliding her hand around his neck, she kissed him with all the pent-up passion she harboured for him. Blade recoiled as if she had slapped him, and the next thing she knew she was sitting on the ground, her rump smarting. He swung away, scrubbed his lips and spat. She stared at him, shocked and mortified.
When he faced her again, his face was twisted with disgust. “Gods! Why did you have to do that? I want to be ill! What in Damnation, Lilu?”
She hesitated, a sob catching in her chest. “I just... wanted to say... thank you.”
“How many times must I tell you not to touch me? And then you go and do that!” He scrubbed his lips again and spat. “Disgusting, filthy trollop!”
Her eyes stung. “If I'm such a disgusting filthy trollop, why did you save me?”
“I don't know! I want the information you almost got yourself killed for!”
“So I'm to blame now?”
He threw up his hands. “How should I know? I wasn't there!”
“Well I wasn't! I asked questions for you so I could find out their names and they beat me half to death!”
He hawked and spat, grimacing. “I'm not blaming you, for god's sake. Except for that.” He gestured to his mouth. “Don't ever do that again.”
Lilu stared at him, noting his pallor and haunted eyes. There was far more to it than a kiss from a whore, and she wondered what.
“All right,” she murmured.
“Come on, get up,” he said, pushing up his sleeve to rub his tongue on his arm, his face twisted.
Lilu rose, clutching Endel, who remained miraculously silent, sucking his own fingers now. Following Blade down the alley, she watched him hawk and spit, scrub his lips and scrape his tongue with his fingernails, trying not to let it upset her. They passed a public fountain on the way to his rooms, and he stopped to gargle with the water, which she considered was probably none too clean, and did not mention that she had seen beggars pissing in it before now. A small revenge for his humiliating reaction, and one she hoped she would not come to regret when she found out the reason for it.
Blade banged open the door to his room and slammed it behind her, going over to the fireplace to throw logs into it. Endel gurgled, and she sat on the bed and held him to her breast, smiling at him. Blade glanced around and jumped up with an oath.
“Gods, Lilu! Must you do that here?”
She wondered if there was no end to his aversions. “Where must I do it?”
“Behind the damned curtain!”
She glared at him. “No! I will not! What's the matter with you? I kiss you and you act as if I was the city sewer. I feed my child and you want me to hide. I give birth, and you pass out!”
“I did no such thing!”
Lilu giggled, shaking her head. “That lie won't work. I was there, remember? What happened when you keeled over, then? Were you taking a little nap?”
He looked confused, swinging away to grip the mantelpiece. “I don't remember. You were shouting, and then that thug was there.”
She sighed. “Yes, you passed out. For several minutes. I thought it was sweet.”
“Sweet!”
“Yes.” She giggled again. “The great Dance Master, senseless at the sight of a baby's birth.”
“It's not something I've seen before. I'm used to snuffing life out, not seeing it come into the world.”
Lilu sobered, frowning at him, and held the baby tighter. For anyone else, it might not have been a good idea to mock the deadliest man in the city, but she was not concerned. He bent and unbuckled the steel blades on his boots without bending his knees, and she marvelled at his suppleness.
Blade lighted a fire and fetched water, boiled two pots and filled a bath, which he soaked in for a time-glass. Lilu rocked Endel to sleep when he finished his feed, then sat and stared into the fire. Her insides were leaden and her eyes drooped with fatigue.
When Blade emerged, a towel around his hips, he gestured to the alcove. “The water's still warm. Wash the baby too, you both stink.”
When she emerged half a time-glass later, refreshed and sweet scented, he sat on the chair, staring into the fire with a distant expression. She had wrapped herself in a sheet, since her dress was filthy, and Endel slept on the bed. Settling on the mat, she studied the assassin.
“What was that all about?”
“What?”
“The kiss. I could understand a little bit of disgust, because I'm a whore, but that was extreme. I don't kiss my customers, you know.”
He grimaced, looking away. “Spare me the details.”
“I will, if you tell me what your problem is.”
“None of -”
“My business.” She nodded. “I know. But let's just say I want to know, and you want the names of the men who tried to kill you, so it's a fair trade.”
He rubbed his brow. “No, don't do this.”
“Why not?”
“It's not fair. What I want is meaningless to you, but what you want is something I'll never reveal to anyone.”
Lilu stared at him. “I think you just did. Someone did something terrible to you as a boy, and it involved kissing. Your father?”
“No.”
“So it was after your father died. The Cotti?”
Blade rested his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes. “Stop it.”
“But the Cotti don't bugger boys, or are the tales wrong?”
“They don'
t.”
“So... it was just kissing?”
He raised his head to look at her. “Why aren't you tired after rutting with men all day and squeezing out a baby in the afternoon?”
His tone was venomous, and she flinched. Evidently this was a subject too delicate for her to bring up right now, and she filed it away for the future, nodding. “I am. Especially since I rutted with all those men for your sake.”
“Thank the gods the baby isn't mine too. My fault, I mean.”
She tilted her head. “He might be. You were unconscious for a long time after I found you in the gutter.”
He stared at her, then snorted. “Impossible.”
“How so?”
“I... you can't do that to a man.”
“How would you know?”
“I'm a man.”
Lilu giggled. “What of it?”
“I'd know something like that.”
“And yet you don't.” She leant forward. “It is possible. You'd know if you weren't an innocent.”
“If I'm an innocent, I can't be his father.”
“So you admit that you are. Innocent, I mean.”
He sighed. “I'm not, but the fact that you think I am means you didn't ravish me in my sleep.”
Lilu frowned, cursing herself for bringing up the innocent bit. “I know you're lying. The way you were blushing when I was naked could only mean you're a virgin.”
“Will you stop it?”
“I'm just talking.”
“Too damned much,” he said. “Get that damned baby off my bed; I want to go to sleep.”
Lilu retrieved her son and curled up on the mat. Blade removed the towel and climbed into his bed in his shorts. Evidently he had donned them before emerging from the alcove, and she knew the reason for his extreme prudishness. There was much fun to be had from his ignorance, and she intended to make the most of it. Perhaps she would succeed in making him laugh, something she longed to see him do. His blushing innocence delighted her, and endeared him to her even more.
Chapter Seven
Splashing woke Lilu, and she sat up with a start, the events of the previous night returning in a rush. She ached in many places, and winced when she stretched. She smiled at Endel, who smiled back, and she picked him up to feed him, contemplating the curtained alcove from behind which the splashing came. Blade, apparently, was having yet another bath. She wondered if he was scrubbing his mouth with soap. When Endel fell asleep, she rose and crept to the alcove.
Thrusting aside the curtain, she grinned at the assassin, who whipped around to frown at her. She approached the tub, amused when he covered himself and glared.
“Get out.”
“Why? I've seen naked men before, you know.”
“So you said, but I like my privacy.”
Lilu leant on the edge of the tub and dangled her fingers in the water. “Why don't I join you?”
“No.”
“I could wash your back. In fact, that's an excellent idea.” She picked up a soft scrubbing brush from his arsenal of cloths, sponges, oils and soaps and went behind him. Blade moved around the tub away from her, and she put her hands on her hips.
“Why don't you want me to wash your back? You'll enjoy it. I could rub oil on it too. It's very soothing. In fact, I could buy some nice skin oils and rub you all over. It's relaxing and enjoyable.”
“No.”
“Don't be such a prude.”
“Why must you hound me?” He averted his face, his cheeks flushed, to her delight.
“Because you're so shy. It's funny.”
“Not for me.”
Lilu giggled and dashed around the tub, getting behind him. She gripped his shoulder and wielded the brush in circular strokes. He slipped from her grasp to move away again, and she leant on the tub with a sigh.
“What are you so afraid of? That you'll enjoy it? Do you think I'm going to try to ravish you or something? Do you think I could?”
“No. Just stop it.”
“Tell me why, then.” She leant into the tub and used the brush on her arm, smiling. “Mmmmmm. Nice. See, it doesn't hurt.”
Blade snorted, almost smiling as he turned his head away again, his cheeks pink. His loose hair framed his face and hung about his shoulders, a few damp tendrils straggling across his brow. Lilu studied him, marvelling at his extreme youth and naiveté.
“Well, if you're going to keep running away, I'll just have to come in and get you.” She began to untie the sheet that was hitched under her arms.
Blade cast her a horrified glance, his brows knitting. “No! I swear, Lilu, don't make me hurt you.”
“Would you?”
“I don't want to. Leave me alone!” His voice rose to a shout.
She retied the sheet and leant on the tub again. “Someone did something terrible to you, didn't they? You can tell me, you know. I've had terrible things done to me too.”
“You're a woman.”
“Oh, so it's allowed?”
“I didn't say that. It just happens a lot.”
“But not to a man. Especially a killer like you, right?”
He nodded. “Right.”
“But it wasn't a woman who hurt you, so what are you so afraid of?” She sighed. “I can help you with your shyness and blushing. If you get used to a few things with me, you'll be able to handle other girls better. I can teach you a lot.”
“I can handle women fine.”
She snorted. “No you can't. Look at you, all cringing and bashful because you're naked in the tub. How will it be, for the great Invisible Assassin to be unnerved by a mere woman when you're trying to assassinate someone one day?”
“I won't be unnerved.”
“Yet I unnerve you. Why are you blushing then?”
He shot her a chilly glance. “I don't perform assassinations in the nude.”
“Ah, no, that's not it. You were blushing up a storm yesterday while I was giving birth.”
“Will you stop talking about blushing!”
“Why? Does it embarrass you? It's perfectly natural for a virgin boy.”
“I'm not a virgin boy!”
She leant forward. “Oh yes you are. And one day, perhaps, your innocence will kill you.”
“How do you figure that?”
“All right, let's say you're sent to kill a man, and you sneak into his room and find him asleep in his bed. His young, beautiful wife or concubine is with him, naked. She wakes as you approach the bed, and she's about to scream and bring the whole house full of guards down on you. What do you do?”
“Silence her.”
“How?”
He raised a hand and crooked a finger at her. “Come here and I'll show you.”
A pang of something akin to fear went through her, but it was more like intense desire at the cool invitation in his eyes. Clearly he had no problem when the tricks of his trade were involved. Curious, she walked around the tub. His invitation and sudden change of attitude had the unexpected effect of bringing her close to him. She knelt beside the tub at his side and met his eyes.
“Show me then.”
Blade reached out and ran his fingers down her throat, making her tremble at his gossamer touch, then they slid upwards again under her jaw, leaving wet trails on her skin. His hand stopped and tightened.
Lilu woke on the floor, cold and stiff. Endel screamed on the mat before the dead hearth, and she staggered over to scoop him up. The room was cold and empty. What had she done? Had she, in her playfulness, driven Blade away forever? She cursed her stupidity while she rocked her son. It seemed as if she had been senseless for time-glasses, but perhaps it was only Blade's absence that made the place seem so empty. Bereft, like him. Yet he did not have the names he wanted, so he had to come back. Now she was glad she had not told him the previous night. She still had a slight hold on him.
When Endel finished his feed, Lilu lighted the fire, washed her dress in the tepid bath water and hung it up to dry. After she swept the floor and wi
ped the tables, she went through the cupboards and put together a meal of bread, cheese, smoked meat and wine. The assassin lived in a poor area, but he bought the best of everything. She ate until her stomach could hold no more, then sat before the fire with a cup of wine, wondering when Blade would return.
When the door rattled two time-glasses later, her heart leapt and pounded, making her a little queasy. Blade entered and slammed it behind him, tossing a bundle on the bed before shucking his jacket. Lilu vacated his chair and curled up on the floor, and he sank into it, contemplating her.
“I'm glad you're back,” she murmured. “Where did you go?”
“None of your business.”
“Right.”
He dug in his pocket and held out his hand, in which a pile of goldens glinted. She stared at them, dry-mouthed. He withdrew it and held one up.
“The names. A golden for each one.”
“What did you do to me?”
He lowered the coin, looking puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“I woke up on the floor.”
“Oh. Right. You asked me to show you how I would silence a woman without killing her. That's how.”
“Magic?”
“No. A simple trick. Shall I demonstrate again?”
She shivered. “No.”
He held up the coin once more. “Give me a name.”
“Vorn.”
“That had better not be a lie. What does he look like?”
“I don't know.”
He frowned. “Lilu...”
“I only know their names because one of them told me. I wasn't introduced. I know what they look like too, but I can't put the names to the faces. Except Benaar and Jobal, and you killed Benaar.”
“Tell me about Jobal.”
“He's big, hairy. He has long brown hair and a plaited beard. Brown eyes, and a scar, here.” She touched her shoulder. “It looks like an old stab wound.”
The Queen's Blade Prequel II - God Touched Page 9
