Skulduggery 2

by Logan Jacobs

  “You’re shitting me,” Dar gasped. “Why don’t we try that?”

  I wondered what whiskey even tasted like. Just hearing them talk about it made my mouth water. I never even had a drop of alcohol before, but maybe the fact that it was so taboo intrigued me.

  Just like Wade.

  Shame he had to die.

  “We can and will,” Wade began, “just not yet, my friend.”

  “Would you want to expand with different spirits as well?” Skam chimed in. “Was that why you were askin’ if I knew how to--”

  “Again,” Wade cut the dwarf off, “one day, but not anytime soon.”

  “Aye,” the dwarf grunted, “understood.”

  I had to give it up to Wade for even trying to build something for himself and his friends. Such a shame he just didn’t contact us first to let us know what was going on. Although, I guess most of my colleagues were busy hunting him down while I was hunting an elf.

  So, it didn’t make sense for him to approach the guild hired to kill him.

  “We’re still in the building phase,” Wade said, “we’ll have plenty of time to experiment and venture off into new territories.”

  “No, you won’t,” I breathed, but why did I feel sad about that?

  “Aye,” the dwarf said again.

  “Exciting times we’ve created,” Dar chimed in and clapped one of them on the back.

  Maybe that’s what it was? Exciting times?

  Those who break the code are the ones who deserve to die the most, Adrian’s voice whispered in my head. It felt so real I even turned to see if he had joined me on the wagon.

  “And it’s only the beginning,” Wade chuckled softly.

  The three grew quiet for a few moments as the wagon turned, and the faint murmur of the Entertainment District drew closer.

  “Do you think the miners liked my new story as much as the first one?” Dar’s question broke the silence.

  “They liked it enough to pay us a little extra like last time,” Wade chuckled. “You’re the star of the show.”

  “You think I should enter showbiz?” Dar asked.

  “There might be a future in it for you, halfling,” Skam encouraged.

  “Yeah, whiskey and showbiz go hand in hand,” Wade snickered.

  “Well, maybe when the theatre relaunches, I could do a little storytelling on stage,” Dar cleared his throat, “if you think it could work.”

  “Shit,” I mouthed as another bump caused the wagon to dip, and my hand squeaked against the back railing.

  “I’ll talk it over with Cimarra and the count to see if there’s anything they could do,” Wade said.

  I breathed easier knowing they didn’t hear my hand slip.

  “I always knew fame would be in my future,” Dar mused as a strip of smoke from his pipe drifted behind the wagon.

  “So, we control the theatre, too?” Skam asked.

  I wondered the same thing. That was news to me, since I hadn’t overheard conversations regarding that.

  “Yeah,” Wade replied, “like the other things we’ve talked about, we are in the middle of building the plan for the theatre.”

  “I’m assuming that’ll be a place to sell it?” Skam guessed.

  “Yeah,” Wade muttered, “the first of many places.”

  “Does Marver know any of this?” the dwarf asked.

  “No, and we’d like to keep it that way,” Wade said. “If you don’t see a scarred palm, then they aren’t with us.”

  “Aye, understood,” Skam said.

  I was curious how many more had agreed to join Wade’s movement.

  The trio became quiet again as we crossed the border into the Entertainment District. I had spent plenty of time in this area for the past few days, and the smells and sounds helped me recognize it almost instantly.

  Like in the Dwarf District, though, most of the creatures were inside for the night. I didn’t blame them either. Everyone knew the elves had battled with each other today, and no one wanted to be out when the night patrols wandered the streets.

  “Skam, can you take this wagon back to the cottage tonight?” Wade asked. “I’m sure Marver will be asking about it.”

  “Aye, I will,” Skam replied. “My place isn’t too far from there either.”

  I clenched my fingers around the back of the cart as they made the final turn down the main strip of the Entertainment District. I’d hop off just before the alley and figure out my plan from there.

  “Good … ” Wade’s voice trailed off into a yawn. “As for me, I’ll be turning in early tonight.”

  “No celebration for what we’ve accomplished today?” Dar scoffed. “Old man.”

  As soon as I saw a few humans huddled together over a burning fire, where they were most nights, I let go of the wagon and landed perfectly on my feet. The cart continued to turn down the theatre’s alley as I blended in behind it.

  I wasn’t sure who all awaited me inside the stables, so I needed to get a better look to see who was inside.

  I preferred to take them all out one by one, starting with Wade.

  I had gotten the all-clear to finish the job from Fallor earlier today after the battle between the elves, and out of all the things I’d seen Wade do, I was most impressed with that.

  But his impression on me didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter. He still broke our sacred assassins’ code, and he had to pay for it. All of them did.

  If one code breaker were left unpunished, then our guild would lose its credibility throughout the realm.

  That’s what Adrian had told me, at least.

  I crouched low and moved down the dark alley that led to the stables. Everything was quiet, so I stayed along the theatre wall and moved toward the back entrance since it sat on a small hill that overlooked the barn.

  I crawled on my belly and used the darkness as my natural cloak. The faint glow of a lantern illuminated the inside of the stables, but it was dimmer than usual.

  “Who’s all here?” I whispered to myself. The best scenario for me was to sneak in and take each of them out one by one as they dreamed of happy things. I’d wait for the lantern to go out, and then strike.

  Before I could even finish my thought, I saw the dwarf, the two halflings, and the dancer exit the barn.

  “Where are you going?” I questioned and scooted behind a few bushes just in case they came up by me.

  All three of them got back in the wagon with Dar driving.

  “Marver hasn’t noticed the wagon missing anyway,” Skam said.

  “We have to inspect the kitchen, either way, so we might as well do it now,” the dancer responded to the dwarf as they drove past me and back through the alley.

  That left two targets in the stables I knew of at least. It might have just been Wade, though. I hadn’t seen the redhead since the morning at Rindell’s.

  “What’re you up to in there?” I wondered as I kept my eye on the faint glow underneath the door.

  Then, poof, there was darkness.

  “Already?” I asked aloud and felt my stomach tighten.

  I waited for a few minutes to ensure they were both asleep, and then I remembered the redhead slept in the theatre with the dancer lately.

  Wade was alone.

  “Now.” I clicked my tongue and rose to a knee. Then I tapped my black dagger sheathed at my side. “Such a shame your time has to end like this.”

  I looked for any other movement, and once it was clear, I trotted to the stables and moved along the wooden wall.

  The halflings would have to come back, so the front door should be open. Should I literally walk in like I owned the place or should I sneak in from the roof?

  “Let’s get a peek from the top first,” I decided as I noticed a ladder that led to the roof attached to the barn in the back. There was a shoddy patch job on the roof I could use to my advantage, too.

  I followed along the edge of the barn until I saw the ladder reflect the moonlight. Then I climbed with one soft
step at a time until I reached the top. The boarded-up hole was near the ladder, so that was an advantage since I wouldn’t have to step across the rooftop.

  With the tip of my blade, I detached the staples and freed the board from the roof’s surface.

  A perfect gap just for me to see where my target slept.

  I’d kill Wade, then wait for the halflings and kill them when they returned. Then I’d deal with the redhead and dancer when they came for their usual check-in with Wade every morning.

  “Another challenge almost completed,” I whispered as I slid the cover fully off and peered inside the stables. I could see a dog-like shadow and human figure laying on a pile of hay.

  I didn’t know they had a dog. That might be an issue.

  “What can I use?” I murmured as I looked around the darkened stables. I was directly above two closed tubs, where I assumed they made their whiskey.

  Do I jump down? Or back to the front door? I debated since I didn’t see a quiet way for me to land without disturbing the dog. But I could drop and throw my spare knife at Wade before he even knew what hit him.

  That was too loud, though, and I didn’t want to give Wade a chance to fight back. I pegged him as a capable foe in combat.

  “Back to the front,” I said as I shifted the board to cover the hole in the roof again and slid toward the ladder. Then I slowly moved down the ladder one step at a time, just like I did coming up.

  My heart began to quicken. It was almost time. I was going to be sad when this job was over. Sure, I hadn’t slept in a few days, and I was drenched and cold, but watching Wade and his friends run their operation had been strangely invigorating.

  “Shit.” I saw the lantern’s glow return, so I peeked through a crack in the door and saw Wade standing near the metallic tubs. I regretted not jumping down since I could’ve killed him by now.

  “You can come in,” Wade said as he shifted to face the front door.

  I moved out of view, pulled out my dagger, and checked to see if anyone else approached.

  Did he hear me?

  I held my breath as I waited for any movement.

  Nothing.

  “Did you hear me out there?” Wade’s question struck me in my chest like a blade.

  No one had ever discovered me before a kill.

  But if he wanted me to come in, then that’s what I’d do.

  “Adrian, be my shield,” I muttered as I unsheathed my other blade and kicked in the front door.

  “There you are,” Wade said as he faced me and twirled his blade.

  “Wade?” I asked, since I still needed a verbal confirmation. Might as well get it now.

  “That would be me, assassin.” Wade smirked. “How long have you been with us?”

  “With you?” I asked as I stepped into the stables.

  The door creak closed behind me from a gust of wind. Then a deep growl rumbled from behind me.

  I turned to see a blue dragon with yellow marbles for eyes. The beast swirled its long tail as its scaly head lowered and pointed right at me.

  “That’s my dragon, he won’t incinerate you unless I tell him to,” Wade drawled casually. “How long have you been following us?”

  “For a week,” I said as I pointed one knife at the dragon and the other at Wade. I’d never fought a dragon before, but I partially wasn’t surprised.

  Wade was full of surprises.

  “Azure, not yet,” Wade commanded as the dragon backed away and disappeared within the darkness of the stables. Then Wade gave me his undivided attention. “Who sent you, the elves or Thief’s Guild leader? Or is this still the hit Hagan put out on me?”

  Why did I want to answer his questions? Any other target would choke on their own blood by now.

  “No, my guild sent me,” I said as I rounded my steps to corner him. My slight move forced him to step back, and I gained control of where and how he moved. “How did you know I was outside?”

  “Interesting,” Wade grinned, “so you were sent after me for the murders of Hagan and the rest of the guild?”

  “Those and the halfling whose business is now yours.” I clicked my tongue. “You broke our sacred code.”

  “What are you?” Wade asked and ignored my question as his eyes studied me. “Are you a halfie?”

  “Answer my question, how did you know I was outside?”

  “I saw you.” Wade shrugged. “Call it the Ancients’ grace or just plain ole luck, but I saw you at the miners’ hall.”

  “How?” I narrowed my eyes. I had never been spotted before.

  “A thief never tells their secrets,” Wade said as he held his position and watched me with his dark eyes. “Now, why haven’t you killed me yet?”

  “I’m asking myself the same thing,” I muttered as I gripped onto my blades a little harder. I could send my second blade at his heart right now.

  “Have you seen what we’re building here?” Wade asked, but it sounded like more of an offer.

  Enough, Ava

  Adrian’s voice propelled me into action.

  I slung one of my blades underhanded through the air like an arrow at Wade’s chest.

  The handsome man twisted to his side so my dagger slid right past him. It actually ripped open the front of his shirt, and then I heard it thunk into the board behind him.

  Damn, I was tired. I never missed a throw.

  “You don--”

  I didn’t give him a chance to speak. Instead, I darted toward him with my black dagger in hand. As I ran at him, I saw a flash of red hair from the corner of my eye. Before I could react, the red flash had collided with me and sent me tumbling across the room.

  I used my momentum to roll myself up on my feet in one motion, and then I crouched low with my black weapon.

  “Penny,” I spat, but I was more angry at myself for falling into my prey’s trap. Of course she would be nearby. The woman was practically Wade’s shadow.

  “You know me, too?” Penny sneered.

  “I know all of you,” I said as I glanced to both the redhead and Wade.

  “You’re outnumbered,” Wade said as he stepped in front of Penny, who grunted in response.

  “Do you think this is the first time I’ve been outnumbered?” I scoffed as I sprinted toward the both of them again.

  “You crazy bitch,” Penny snarled as she moved to the right of Wade.

  With a quick lunge, I dodged Wade’s blade, swiped my knife across his calf, and then I kicked his feet out from under him.

  As he fell, I deflected Penny’s knife to the side and brought the same leg that tripped Wade around in a circular motion. The move should have tripped her, but she was incredibly fast and somersaulted over my leg.

  I dashed toward Wade and tried to shove my dagger through his chest, but he rolled out of the way at the last second, and the point of my weapon dug into the ground. The exhaustion had made me too slow, and I realized I should have gotten a full night of rest before trying to complete my mission. I’d underestimated him, and now I needed to figure out a way to win.

  “Fuck.” Wade pursed his lips as he gripped his wounded leg.

  “I don’t care if there are thirty of you in here,” I panted, “you’ll all die.”

  “We’ll see.” Penny flashed in front of me, and her speed caught me off guard.

  I swung my blade toward her neck, but she dipped underneath it. Before her blade could pierce my gut, I clipped the edge of her hand with mine just enough to alter her knife arc, and the weapon only lightly scraped my ribs. I hissed against the pain and brought my elbow down on Penny’s head.

  She rolled away, but as she did, Wade stabbed at me. I made the same maneuver Penny just did and saw a free path for my knife to pierce Wade’s stomach, but a solid uppercut from him caught my chin before I could dodge out of the way.

  I fell back and covered my face. Again, I was impressed with both of their speeds.

  “Assassin,” Wade panted as he and Penny circled me, “you don’t have to do
this.”

  As he said that, the dwarf, two halflings, and the dancer walked through the front door, all armed.

  “One mistake, and you’ll be killed,” Penny threatened.

  My eyes moved to each of the new arrivals.

  “You all knew I was following you?” I sighed.

  They nodded at my question.

  That’s never happened before. What was wrong with me?

  I couldn’t show them any weakness.

  “Put down your weapons,” I demanded. “I will make sure your deaths are quick.”

  “You don’t need to kill us,” Wade said as he stepped closer to me. “An assassin of your skill doesn’t hesitate, but you did multiple times.”

  “I didn’t hesitate,” I snarled back at him.

  “You could’ve got me from the roof, you could’ve killed us as we drove, you could’ve killed me when I first invited you in.” Wade shrugged. “You don’t want to kill us, I can see it.”

  The dragon appeared beside Wade, growled, and narrowed his yellow eyes at me.

  “I have a job--”

  “Listen to our offer,” the dancer interrupted as she lowered her weapon, but the way she held it convinced me that she hadn’t held a blade before.

  “What offer?” I asked as I eyed Wade and his dragon.

  “You don’t want to kill us,” Wade limped over to the vats and rummaged in a box until he pulled out a white rag, “and we don’t want to kill you.”

  I wished he’d stop saying that.

  I shut my eyes and tried to think about what Adrian would do. I was sure this never happened during his entire time as the lead assassin.

  “What offer?” I asked again.

  “We need your help,” Wade breathed. “We’re gonna rob the elves of something they keep hidden.”

  “So?” I felt my blade lower before I raised it again. I couldn’t relax, how could I trust these people?

  “I know the assassins are loyal to their cause, they breed you that way,” Wade said as he wrapped the towel around the cut I created on his leg.

  “Breed us?” I sneered.

  “Maybe brainwash is a better way to describe what they do to you,” Wade conceded, “I’m no expert, but that’s just what I’ve heard.”