Chapter 41

Chapter

Forty-One

ALYX

S equestered away in my rooms, I make myself comfortable on the large bed, wrapped in a luxurious silk dressing gown that probably cost more than a year’s salary for the average worker in the Lowers. Pulling the fabric closer, I notice the gazes of the two men in my room following my movements.

Orion stands near the door, leaning against it as though he’s relaxed, but I know it is all an act. If anyone were to attack now, he would be ready to fulfil his duty at any moment. Joha sits on the end of the bed, making himself comfortable as he and his friend fill me in on what happened after the attack.

As soon as we parted ways earlier, the two of them were called to meetings, recapping what happened and trying to work out exactly how this had been able to occur in the first place. The fact that someone managed to infiltrate the guard a second time is worrying. Whoever is behind this is getting more desperate. They attacked during the day when there were witnesses. It’s sloppy, but that makes them more dangerous. We need to discover who is truly behind this before it’s too late, which is exactly why Crux is busy following the orders we found.

I can’t be with Joha every hour of the day, and neither can Orion. Sooner or later, one of us will make a mistake that could cost the king his life.

My heart clenches painfully in my chest at the thought. This has gone beyond just a job now, despite what I might tell Crux. Not only would I feel guilty if Joha is killed when I’m supposed to protect him, but I think I would actually mourn him.

It’s a strange feeling to know I would grieve for someone who isn’t family. When I lost my own, I told myself I would never let myself feel so vulnerable and care for another like that ever again. Sure, over time, Crux has worked his way into my heart. He was there when no one else was and taught me how to survive. We are a different breed than the king though. We both know that each day could be our last, and that each new day we live is because of the life we have carved through death, deception, and blood. Joha is the complete opposite, and despite the multiple attempts on his life and the scheming of the court, he manages to stay positive and have hope for this cruel world.

Blinking, I bring the two males back into focus. Both of them are looking at me expectantly. Their meetings were mostly about strengthening our defences, and there was no news on who the attacker was or why it happened in the first place. The assassin in the cells killed himself before we could get any information out of him, meaning Orion is investigating how this was allowed to happen.

Apparently, the advisors are convinced that Jules was an innocent bystander in all of this, and that just confirms that the council is involved somehow. They even argued for his family to be taken care of and his funeral to be a big event. Jules’s act was not convincing in the least, and the advisors are fully denying his involvement, which is suspicious, especially given what I know.

“Your advisors are liars,” I counter, not bothering to hide my scorn as I address Joha directly. Even reclining back on the bed like this, I know he looks to me for advice and judgement. “Or at least some of them are. I found proof that Jules was involved in the plan to kill you.” We already suspected this, but now we know for sure, so it gives us a direction to look in.

Joha looks troubled, and honestly, I don’t blame him. This was someone he knew who was directly involved in trying to kill him, someone he trusted. When the attackers are unknown, it’s easier to think of them as evil, yet when your assassin wears the face of someone you know, it is so much harder to accept. The betrayal stings much more. Orion, on the other hand, looks as though he’s ready to start tearing heads from bodies.

“Jules was just a pawn. He was never pulling any of the strings,” I continue before either of them can question me. “He just had to get the king into place and take the fall if it backfired. I doubt he even knew much about who ordered it anyway.”

Any face-to-face contact was most likely done through a third party to stop any links from being made, leading back to the mastermind at the head of it all.

“What was the proof?” Orion asks, pushing away from the wall and taking a few steps towards the bed. Anger seems to hover around him like a cloud, and for once, it is not aimed at me. I don’t let it faze me as I meet his troubled eyes.

“Parchment with a family crest. Someone from the Oakenstram line wants the king dead.”

There is a heavy pause as both males process what I just said and who I just accused. They are clearly surprised, and while Joha looks concerned, Orion’s expression is full of scepticism.

“Are you sure it was them and you didn’t confuse them with another house?” he asks.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I arch a single brow. He really thinks I don’t know the noble houses? I’m an assassin. No place in the city is off-limits to me, and it’s my job to know who the power players are.

“Their crest is an oak tree with two swords crossed over the trunk. It’s fairly unique, so there was no mistaking it.” Clucking my tongue, I wait for his reply. Joha wisely stays out of the argument.

“The Oakenstram family has been loyal to the Crown for centuries. They practically run the Oaken Province in the city,” Orion argues as though it changes everything, as though none of the noble families have ever rebelled against the royals.

It’s true. Oakenstram is one of the most powerful families in the land, despite not living close to the palace.

While the city is split into the Uppers and Lowers, the Lanide River splits them like a great giant cleaved the land in two, and there is still a hierarchy within the upper-class part of the city. The provinces closer to the palace are where the upper nobles live. The farther away they get from there, the lower they are in status and power.

As the province bordering the palace, Stormhallow has the most influence. Oaken Province is almost at the same status level, even though they are farther from the palace, but the Grand Market is situated there, making it one of the busiest provinces in the land for fine clothing and foods. This brings money to the district, and wealth brings power.

Joha is pale as he contemplates what this means for him going forward. “If it truly is them, then we are in big trouble.” Concern and confusion flickers across his face, an expression I’m not used to seeing on him. “They are one of our biggest supporters.”

“I don’t think it is them, Your Majesty,” Orion reassures him, needing to comfort his friend, but I can see the caution in his eyes. He would never risk the king around them unless he was sure. “However, until we get proof to prove otherwise, we need to be careful around them.”

Honestly, I thought that Orion was going to put up more of a fight, yet I misjudged how strong his protective instincts are around Joha. That’s good. It means we at least agree on something, and that involves getting more information about the Oakenstram family.

Joha shifts his position on the end of the bed, looking distinctly uncomfortable but needing a plan. “How are we going to get proof?”

Yes, this is what we need to focus on, and between the three of us, we should be able to come up with a plan. Nodding, I glance between the two men. “Let’s discuss what we already know.”

“The Oakenstram family has lived in the city for centuries. When the city was divided into sections after it was destroyed in the great war, Oaken Province was named after them to reward them for their help in rebuilding,” Joha says, sitting taller. This is textbook information, impersonal and factual, so it doesn’t give us any direction to go in.

Humming in thought, Orion rubs his bearded chin as he thinks. “They own most of the market and are probably one of the wealthiest families in the city. They deal in exotic fabrics by trade, but also have a strong presence within the palace.”

Why would a family that has so much wealth and power want to kill the king? They are not related in any way as far as I’m aware, so it isn’t as though they would inherit the throne should the king die. I will have to check the records to be sure.

Blowing out a long breath, I lean back against the cushions and go through the mental checklist I use when I have a new target. They have a strong presence in the palace, but what are they like socially? Who are their friends? Their allies?

Clicking my tongue once more, I glance towards Joha. If anyone will know, it will be him. “We need to know who the power players are in the family so we know whom to focus on.”

“They have a good relationship with most of the other noble families, but no particularly strong alliances with any of them. They mostly stick to themselves,” Joha muses, shrugging his shoulders and writing off the information.

“After that scandal with Jessamine Oakenstram and the miner from the Flame Strand Province, I don’t blame them. They need to rebuild their name and reputation.” Snorting, I shake my head as I recount the incident. The affair between a lady and a miner had been all over the city. The rumours spread like wildfire, and Lady Jessamine had been sent away to a family in a distant town.

“Jessamine was always trouble, even as a young girl.” Rolling my eyes, I pick at my nails, remembering the spoilt child she had been. “She caused mayhem at one of the harvest festivals one year when she insisted that no one but her was able to wear pink ribbons. All of the other noble girls refused to have anything to do with her after that. It’s only over the last few years, as her father has become more powerful, that she has been seen socialising with the other ladies.”

As I speak, the confusion on their faces morphs to suspicion, and then a slow realisation has me going cold all over. I’ve revealed too much information.

“How do you know all of that?” Orion asks quietly, scanning me as though he’s seeing me for the first time.

There is no way a lowly Lower dweller would know any of that, even an assassin, but it’s the only excuse I have. If they find out the truth, then they will never trust me again. I can kid myself and say that bothers me because I need them to trust me for this to work, but I know deep down it’s because I have begun to care for them.

“I’m an assassin. It’s my job to know what’s happening in the city,” I reply with a lazy shrug and quick smile, praying they don’t see through it or hear the pounding of my heart as the lie slips from my tongue.

“The scandal, yes, that was public knowledge.” Orion narrows his eyes. “Not that story about Jessamine and the ribbons though. That’s personal information.”

Joha’s eyes flicker, and I feel the tension in the room rise.

“Those festivals are very selective, for nobles only, and you would have been too young to masquerade as anyone else. I remember the party and the ribbon incident,” Joha tells me in a quiet but firm voice. “How did you know about that?”

I can see that he’s piecing it together bit by bit, and it is only a matter of time before he fully works out who I am. That will change everything.

“The king is right. This is knowledge known only by the houses.” Orion shifts his weight from foot to foot, his hand hovering over his sword at his hip. He doesn’t trust me, and the sharp pang that sends through my heart almost has me doubling over. “Who are you really, Alyx?”

Maybe it’s time for me to put my faith in them and explain my deepest secret. They might trust me more because of it and see me in a different light—or it could backfire and get me killed for treason—but it seems I don’t have much choice anymore.

Looking between them, I bite my lip as I try to make up my mind. They have both worked out that there is more to me than just being an assassin. If I try to lie now, this thing between us will be broken. I need them as much as they need me, so I take a deep breath and meet Joha’s gaze.

“I know because I was there.” I am a mess of excitement and fear as I speak. Keeping my identity hidden is the only thing that has kept me alive this long, and getting out of the habit of hiding it is going to be hard, yet I can finally be myself around them. I have to trust in them the way they have trusted in me so far. Maybe letting someone in won’t be too bad . . . . Maybe they can even help me.

“You want to know how I know so much about the nobles?” Taking another deep breath, I look from Orion to Joha, my expression solemn. “I used to be one.”