2
“Now what do we have here?” The King says as he saunters over to me with curiosity in his eyes.
I turn my gaze around slowly, noticing all the soldiers looking at me. A mix of confusion and rage in their features, while they wait for a command from their King.
I flick my gaze to the tent exit behind me and can see that there’s no escape options yet.
Not when there’s a soldier that has just moved to cover the opening. options yet. I’m going to have to let this play out a little longer.
“Restrain her.” The King orders.
Two men move quickly behind me and put my wrists in ropes. I grunt and shift my wrists to find the bindings aren’t even that tight.
I almost laugh, it’s not the first time soldiers have underestimated me and I’m certain it won’t be the last.
A small smile forms on my lips. I might get to have some fun with this after all.
“Something funny?” The King asks.
“Just interesting.” I reply, tilting my head to the side as if sizing him up.
“What was that bomb?”
The King scoffs. “You’re not in a position to be asking questions.”
“I’m just curious.” I say casually, keeping my tone neutral. I look over to the commander whose brown eyes are locked onto mine.
“Assuming you’re going to kill me, it can’t hurt to answer a question.”
“How long were you here for?” The King demands, clearly not in the mood.
“Okay, so not getting an answer then.” I murmur.
The King narrows his gaze at me, his blue eyes becoming lethal. A look that I’m sure has made lesser men cower.
I sigh dramatically. “Look, I’m happy to cooperate. You answer my questions and I’ll answer yours. Until then, my lips are sealed.”
The King smirks but the seemingly humorous gesture doesn’t meet his eyes.
“This isn’t a game, you answer our questions or you die, simple as that.”
I roll my eyes. “You guys are no fun.”
The King motions to the soldiers holding me and they slam me onto my knees. Thankfully I wrapped them this morning so the pain is manageable and I barely wince.
The King crouches down in front of me and I start to actually look at him. He’s wearing a black fancy fucking tunic. Somehow that annoys me. We’re in a war and he’s not even geared up, just displaying his wealth to the front line, do his soldiers not care?
“We haven’t even begun to start the fun yet.” He says to me in that cold, careful tone.
“It’s not nice to keep a girl waiting.” I spit out at him.
“Hmm.” He hums as he reaches his hands towards my face.
He’s going to try and read my mind.
I flinch as he brings his hands closer to me. Inching my head further back.
“Something to hide?” He questions, tilting his head to the side.
“No, I just don’t want your hands on me.”
“I’m sure you’d be more than happy under other circumstances, love.”
I spit at his shoes, disgusting pig.
He rolls his eyes and brings his hands to the sides of my head anyway. The King’s hold is firm but not hard enough to hurt me. I watch as he closes his eyes and takes in a breath.
I’ve never had someone with his power try to read my mind. I don’t know what it’s supposed to feel like or if I am supposed to feel him digging through my head.
But I feel nothing.
Just his rough hands either side of my face.
I look up at the King, his eyelids squeeze slightly and his brows furrow.
“Something wrong?” I question, narrowing my gaze at him.
His eyes shoot open and he stares into my own.
“What are you doing?” He demands.
“What?” I question, faking a look of bemusement.
“Are your mind tricks not working? Must be my lucky day.”
His hands drop from my face in an instant.
“What are you?” The King asks, his tone still demanding but edging closer to curiosity.
“Excuse me?” I fire back at him. “What kind of question is that?”
He ignores my question to ask his own. Yet again.
“How are you blocking my power?”
“I’m not doing anything, maybe you’re just too weak.”
I don’t think that’s the case at all but I have no idea why he can’t read me. It should be impossible to block out a
mind reader and I wasn’t even trying.
He smiles sinisterly and moves to reach behind his back.
I notice something in his jacket, the metal chain sticking out of his pocket flickers in the candle light.
It’s the artifact, it has to be. It looks exactly like the chain in the drawings I was shown. And there would be no safer spot than by the Kings side.
I almost smile. That’s all I needed, I’m still in the game and can finish the mission.
The King brings his hand back around and I see the knife, which was to be expected. But I’m done playing their game. It's time to grab the artifact and leave.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.” The King starts and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
“You answer our questions and we kill you quickly. If you don’t, we get to have some fun."
The King holds up the knife to show me exactly what type of fun they mean.
“Well, it’s a shame that’s your tactic, because I love to play with knives.”
The king smirks again and looks me over.
This is my chance.
I discreetly fling the knife down from my sleeve and jam it into the leg of one of the soldiers restraining me. He groans in pain and I yank the knife back out and roll off to the side. Putting distance between myself and the soldiers.
I use the same knife to start cutting through the ropes while they inch towards me. They’re being cautious and I don’t know if it’s because I’m a woman or for another reason.
One of the soldiers breaks away from the rest and charges at me for a spear tackle. I duck and roll to the side, grunting as my shoulder takes the hit from the dense floor.
With the rope frayed enough, I rip my wrists away from each other. The rope burns my skin as I break one arm free of the bindings.
Which is all I need.
I turn to face the remaining soldiers. Their swords are drawn and their shoulders tense. They narrow their eyes on their target.
Two men start to charge at me. I grab my dagger from my thigh and throw it at one of the guys' throats. He grunts buckles over, clutching the blood now pouring out.
Ducking down, I kick the legs out from under the second guy before jumping over him and lodging my knife in his chest. I keep moving, ignoring his guttural scream.
There’s a breeze at my spine and I chance a look behind me. I’ve reached the tent opening, but I can’t leave yet. Not now that I know for sure where the artifact is.
I look up to see four soldiers remaining. I almost sigh, I don’t have time for this.
I grab two daggers from the sheaths at my ribs and beckon them forward with my finger.
One thing about most men is, they don’t like to be taunted.
So of course, this makes them angrier.
I shoot them a mocking smile in return to their glares that promise death.
The soldiers charge at me and I fling one of my daggers, it finds its mark in one of the men’s shoulders.
He grunts at the impact but it’s not enough to get him to stop. Charging forward while dodging the others, I kick this guy in the stomach. But he’s stronger than I anticipated and he grabs my leg, twisting me over.
I wince as I fall down but brace myself on my hands so I don’t slam my face into the rug. He’s now dragging me back, so strong my hips strain. The soldier flips me over once again and climbs on top of me. He may be stronger than me but he’s bigger and slower.
Before he can secure my hands I slam my dagger into his neck. His eyes go wide as he clutches the blade and topples to the side. I yank out my second dagger from his shoulder, the blood splattering across my arms.
Two soldiers reach me from behind, pulling me away from the now dead soldier, while the third prowls closer.
The fucker reaches me and throws two punches at my face and one at my stomach. Warmth floods my body where his blows land. Stars start to consume my vision and my head weighs me down.
I grunt, pushing past the pain and swing my legs up to kick him in his groin.
I smile with satisfaction as he buckles over in agony.
Warm liquid starts dripping from my face and the soldiers tighten their grip on my arms. I look over at the King and his commander, their faces unreadable.
They haven’t moved this whole time, almost like a test.
“Unhand her.” The King demands.
Well that’s not what I was expecting but I’ll take it.
I shove them off as the soldiers remove themselves from me and roll my shoulders to loosen them. It wasn’t the most comfortable position I’ve been held in.
“You’re the assassin.” The King says, no hint of a question in his voice.
I stalk over to him. “So you have heard of me.”
“Of course. But at least now I get to put a pretty face to the legend that is Hidale's greatest weapon.”
“Is that what they call me in Erador?” I question, casually flicking the knife in my hand. “Hmm, good to know my reputation is intact.”
“For now.”
When I do nothing but stare back at him he continues.
“This will be your first failed mission won’t it?”
I say nothing, narrowing my eyes at him.
I will not fail this mission.
“Unless of course, you come and work for me?”
“I’m sorry what?” He has to be absolutely insane to suggest such a thing after I’ve just killed his men.
“It’s simple, you have skills that I would like at my disposal and I know you care too much about your reputation to ever have a failed mission.”
He’s quiet for a moment.
“Consider this me, saving you.” He says with a smirk.
“What makes you think my mission has failed?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
“You’re outnumbered.” He sneers at me.
“That hasn’t stopped me before and I was having a blast before you told these two brutes to back off.”
A ghost of a smile forms on his lips.
“Hmm.” He mutters while taking a step towards me.
“Let’s make this interesting then.” The King offers.
“Go on.”
“Let’s end this, just you and me.” His head drops slightly and a flicker of his messy dark hair falls over his brows. He tucks his hands into his pockets and rolls his shoulders back.