Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

R ydon looked out over the small town as he sat crouched on the thatched rooftop of the stables. It was the quietest part of the night, and the darkest. The torches along the pathways were dim and cast so little a glow, they almost made it harder to see.

A bird call made him glance across. He spotted Gabriol on the ground near the gates to the village. He used the bird call to signal back and saw Gabriol’s shadow move away and melt into the night.

They had been in Nosam two days already, and the cleric was no better. He had argued with Terena earlier about leaving him there. No surprise she had refused to listen, and had walked away childishly. He was not used to having his word challenged. He’d been told this was a simple assignment. Find and escort.

Now they were stalled in a country of their enemies, being hunted like game.

And if what the cleric had told him that first day was to be believed, they needed to get to the north and behind the protection of the king as quickly as possible.

The bird call sounded once more, except this time Gabriol added two short whistles. Their signal for danger.

Rydon crouched as he padded across the rooftop. Dropping to the ground, he scurried to a doorway opposite. He saw nothing and heard nothing, so he slid out, hugging the wall of the building at his back, remaining low when he came to the street.

He heard it then.

To his right, the bushes rustled and he strained his eyes to see three or four shadowy forms glide through the streets, weaving past a row of buildings in front of him where Rydon lost sight of them. Blood pounded in his ears as he moved after them, staying far enough back he went unnoticed.

When they entered the inn, his blood dropped to his feet.

He broke into a run, using the bird call. He unsheathed his sword, hearing the shouts and screams as he entered the doorway. Rydon flew up the stairs, taking the first man out with a slash to his knees, stabbing him through the chest as he fell backwards.

Another soldier on the landing turned and rushed him with his sword raised high. Rydon dropped to his knee and stabbed up with his sword, catching the man in the gut.

Rydon looked up into the hallway to see Gabriol fighting another soldier. He heard two others inside the room where they’d put the cleric. He shoved the dead man off his blade and staggered to his feet.

As soon as he reached the doorway, a piercing cry cut through his head, and he lurched back against the wall. Rydon slid to the ground. The shrieking noise in his head nearly deafened him and he brought his hands up to his ears. He looked to his right and saw Gabriol huddled on the ground. Rydon saw his lips open and move, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying.

Like a man under water, Rydon turned his head back toward the cleric’s room. He lifted his body like a man much older than Rydon’s years. He ached everywhere.

Rydon made it to his knees. Crawling to the doorway, he stopped and leaned against the doorframe. The cleric was on the bed, hands to his ears and gasping. Terena stood at the end of the bed, looking down at something. Rydon leaned in, trying to get a better view. Someone lay dead at Terena’s feet.

Something shook him. Rydon looked over his shoulder and saw a hand. Looking up, he saw Terena silently screaming at him. She grabbed his shoulders and screamed. Spittle landed on his nose.

“—thing?”

He swallowed. In a whoosh, sound returned. His ears popped, and Rydon’s eyes went wild as they took in his surroundings.

“—r anything? Rydon!”

He turned toward the sound, toward Terena. She shook him again. He focused on her mouth.

“Can you hear me? Can you hear anything?”

“I can hear you,” he whispered.

She sighed and hung her head for a second. “Get up when you’re ready. I’m going to get Croak. Where’s your man?”

Rydon turned toward the hall and pointed, his hand dropping back down at his side.

“Good,” she muttered and stood. He heard her moving about the room but his eyes were closed as he concentrated on breathing.

At last, he opened his eyes to see her lift the cleric. With one hand braced at his waist, she hauled him around the bed. The girl, Sonah, was beside her, hunched over as she clutched a bundle to her middle, her face ashen.

“Wait,” he whispered, but Terena was already moving past him and out of the room, the girl at her heels. He looked around dazedly, regarding the dead man near the foot of the bed, his black clothing giving no clue to his allegiance. Blood pooled beneath him. Rydon looked up, hearing Terena saying something in the hallway before their footsteps receded.

It took him a few minutes to stand. He was still weak, but he had to find Gabriol. With some difficulty, he stepped into the hall and saw Gabriol sitting up against a wall, eyes closed. His steps halting, Rydon sighed and leaned against the wall next to his friend.

“What happened?”

Rydon shook his head, then immediately regretted it. A thousand sparks shot across his eyes and his head throbbed. He took a few seconds before responding .

“I don’t know, but the girl seems unaffected. Pale, but otherwise fine. Terena too.”

“And the cleric?”

“Alive,” Rydon answered. He opened his eyes and looked down at Gabriel. “You?”

“Alive. Croak?”

Rydon warily looked around the empty hallway and slumped his shoulders. “Terena’s going to find him. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.”

With a groan, he pushed away from the wall. He walked like an old man, his body still aching from whatever that blast was earlier. He was still foggy when he reached the common room downstairs. The innkeep huddled outside the door with the maid clutching at his apron. They startled when he coughed, then jumped out of his way, eyes down. He didn’t pay them any mind as he walked past and out into the darkness.

To his right, he heard the sounds of feet scuffling and low voices. As his eyes adjusted, he saw shadows moving. He walked toward them until he could make out their voices.

“And don’t stop until you get to Villadelle,” Terena was saying.

The other shadow jumped on the horse and pulled on the reins. As Rydon came to stand by Terena, he watched Croak’s horse gallop away, leading another horse with what he assumed was the cleric atop.

Terena stole a glance at him. “You all right?”

Rydon continued to stare off into the distance after the horses. Long seconds passed before he turned his gaze to her.

“That was you.”

“What was me?”

“That blast,” said Rydon, his teeth gritted as he turned his body to face her. “Whatever that was, it was you.”

Terena didn’t answer, but he caught the gaze she flicked up at the girl. Rydon turned to look at Sonah, but her head was down. He looked back at Terena, frowning at him before striding away .

Over her shoulder she said, “Croak will meet us in Tursk, but we ride for Pyrgos.”

“We?”

“Aye,” she snapped. She turned and walked right up to stand close enough her hot breath fanned his cheeks. “If you and your man want to live, we ride for Pyrgos. We can go north from there to meet Croak. We’ve a few days before word gets back we escaped again.”

“And what about the innkeep? The maid?”

She didn’t reply right away, turning instead to the frightened girl and spoke to her in a low enough voice he couldn’t hear. The girl nodded, her hands still shaking, but she straightened and went to the stables.

Terena turned back to Rydon, eyes narrowed. “I’ve plans just now for him. When I’m done, we tie them up. Should give us until at least midmorning before someone stumbles across them.”

She strode toward the inn as Gabriol appeared at the door. Terena walked past without acknowledging him.

Rydon wiped a hand down his beard and cursed. He looked down at his hands and frowned to see them still trembling. He threw another curse before striding after Terena.

“You all right, lord?” Gabriol called as he caught up to him.

“I’m fine,” he snapped.

“Did you find Croak?”

“Aye,” Rydon said curtly. “Rode off with the cleric. For Villadelle.”

“What’s going on?”

Rydon shouldered past his bewildered friend without answering. Gabriol followed but did not pester him for a reply.

By the sounds coming from the kitchen, Rydon didn’t need to guess where Terena had got to. He lifted the curtain to the room and stopped, watching as Terena stuffed a rag into the mouth of the maid, stifling her screams.

She looked up as they appeared, but continued her work. She rounded the chair where the fat innkeep sat, her lips pulled down as she unsheathed her dagger. At the sight, the maid fainted, and the man struggled anew. His gag shook with the force of his shouts, muffled behind the dirty fabric. Terena watched him for a few seconds more, the blade pointed at the man’s cock.

“You are not very hospitable for an innkeeper,” she said at last. The man’s face was blotched, making the pock marks along his cheeks stand out. His eyes bulged as he struggled to move. “I’m of a mind to tell all my friends never to visit Nosam. The service is terrible.”

The man’s muffled shouts were in vain and he struggled some more, his face mottled an ugly red.

“Where’s your messenger?” asked Terena.

Rydon looked at her, then back at the innkeep. After a moment, she pulled out the rag so he could speak.

“Go fuck yerself!” he screamed, a stream of saliva catching on his lips and the stubble on his chin.

Terena dropped to a crouch, her dark hair bouncing over her shoulder in the leather tie she liked to wear up high. The blade tip pressed deeper into the folds of the man’s trousers. He yelped and tried to scoot back, but he was tied well.

“I don’t have time,” Terena sighed. “I wish I did. I do like to fuck myself, especially after waking up in the morning. Right before I wash. Great way to start my day.”

She looked over at Rydon, hazel eyes flashing. “But no, not today. Today, instead of fucking myself, I was rudely awakened by men sent to kill me. And my friends.” She tutted, patting the man’s britches with her blade. He let out a low moan.

“Now, we try again.” Her voice was soft and menacing as she leaned in closer to the man, her blade once more threatening his manhood. “Where’s your messenger?”

“I don’t—aaaah!”

The man’s scream tore through the room and Rydon’s skull. He winced and lifted his hands to his head as he stared daggers at Terena. She paid him no mind as she dug the blade tip deeper into the man’s crotch. He howled and whined and blubbered, then nodded his head and told her all about the man he’d sent off to the emperor’s men.

“Where can I find this man? Lefren, is it? ”

More crying before he answered. “If he’s back, he’s at ‘ome. Back of th’ village near th’ stables. His place has a green awning.”

Terena turned to look at Rydon, one eyebrow lifted. He scowled at her, then turned to leave. She stood and grabbed hold of his forearm, stalling him, making a show of stretching before sheathing her blade and looking around the room.

“Well then. My friends and I will take our breakfast on the road.” She patted the innkeep on the shoulder as she moved past him to rummage in the cupboards and drawers, pulling out food and folding items into towels. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, her voice sweeter than he’d ever heard her use before. She continued to gather foodstuffs, walking around the kitchen. “I don’t trust you to make meals up for us, so I am taking the liberty of doing so myself. As you know, I cannot trust your hospitality. Not after all this!” She laughed and lifted her hands up.

It was not a pleasant sound.

“Rydon,” she said before tossing a couple of bundles at him. He fumbled to catch them as she tossed the last one over her shoulder. “You good?”

He nodded, his face mulish.

She strode past the innkeep, then turned back. Grabbing up the rag, she shoved it in his mouth. She slapped him, hard, when he protested and moved his head all over, struggling against her.

Rydon moved out of her way as she strode from the room. He stood for a moment, watching the portly man crying, his head limp. The maid had awakened some time during the whole business and was silently crying beside him.

Rydon had done a lot of bad in his life, he freely admitted. But something about this sat wrong with him. True, the man had sent a message to the emperor, but they were fugitives. Wanted for the slaying of a beloved prince. This man knew nothing more about them than that.

Rydon spat and followed Terena.

Dawn was almost upon them. They had to leave, soon, before the village woke. Terena stalked down an alley behind the tavern and out onto the street dead-ending at the stables. She stopped and looked for the house with the green awning.

“Do not do anything reckless,” Rydon hissed over her shoulder. She hadn’t paid him any mind, feeling the heat of his anger on her back while they’d walked. Instead, she focused on the man who had stolen into the night and almost gotten them all killed.

“Get our horses ready,” she replied. She spotted the house to the left of the stables, the green awning washed out in the pre-dawn gloom, but it was the only one in the area with any awning at all. “I hadn’t thought you so squeamish, mercenary,” she added before striding across to the house.

Rydon grabbed her arm and swung her around. Quick as a snake, Terena lashed out, grasping his throat, squeezing her fingers enough his chin popped up.

“You have strange ethics, lord. Do not stand in the way of my justice.”

“You will make the emperor’s claims true if you continue down this path,” Rydon snarled at her.

“Terena, please,” Gabriol pleaded, coming up to Rydon’s side. “We came to your aid at significant risk. Do not let it be in vain. We must leave. Now.”

Terena continued to scowl at Rydon before dropping her hand. He took a step back, and she caught the look of disappointment in his eyes before he turned, his hand to his throat, and headed for the stables. Sonah stood there, anxiously watching them.

Terena cursed, but decided against going after the man who’d brought the emperor’s men. Against her better judgement, she followed Rydon. Gabriol brought up the rear reluctantly.

The shadows were fading, so they made fast work of saddling the horses. Terena hitched her food bag to the saddle, then tugged on the reins, walking Nyx out into the street. The others followed close behind.

As they neared the back gate, a man emerged from the house with the awning. Terena and the man locked eyes, and she cursed when she saw recognition.

“Alarm!”

At the man’s shrieking, they rode away. Terena swore, pinching her lips in frustration. She knew she should’ve taken care of that weasel.

Damn Rydon!

She rode hard down the path leading out of the village, then turned sharply left when they came out onto the Greek road heading south.

A small copse of trees came into view on the horizon and Terena dug her heels in, urging her mount faster. They tore across the valley as the sun rose ever higher. She leaned low, whispering words of encouragement to Nyx, praising the mare when they finally reached the woods. She slowed, waiting for the others to catch up.

“You ride like Artemis,” said Gabriol, his words labored as he panted. She turned as they pulled up beside her, Gabriol wearing a grin that almost made him handsome. Rydon still scowled.

“I let him live because of you and now we need to work much harder to disappear!”

“Oh, this is my fault,” Rydon scoffed. He jumped off his horse and spat. “You’ve been reckless since the moment we rescued you! And what thanks did we get, huh? You’ve been surly and ungrateful ever since we found you!”

“I am being hunted like an animal for a crime I did not commit and you’re the wounded party?” Terena, too, dismounted and strode to stand toe to toe with Rydon. “My lo—my prince was murdered, and I blamed for it, but of course, let me stop and thank you properly.” With that, she hauled back and punched him.

Sonah gasped and stepped back, bumping into Gabriol. Terena had a moment’s satisfaction as Rydon’s head snapped back, his eyes wide with shock. Blood flooded his cheeks as he roared and came at her, Gabriol’s solid form stepping between them, stopping him.

“You will both get us killed,” yelled Gabriol. His face, too, was beet red, his blue eyes narrowed, and shot them both a disgusted look. “ You are children scrapping and we are fugitives on the run! So we must be on the run! Now!”

He shoved them both, hard, and left them panting behind him. He mounted his horse and turned it as he looked down at them. “Get your shit together, both of you. Kill each other when we reach the north. Until then, we need each other.”

Terena smothered a curse before striding off toward her horse. She mounted and rode away. She heard the others behind her as she leaned low over Nyx, urging her faster.