Chapter 24
The trip to Cynthus had been exhausting.
We hardly stopped to rest, riding well into the night and quickly packing up camp whenever we thought someone drew near.
Sleep was scarce, and our food rations had dwindled.
Moods had gradually soured until we spoke to one another only when absolutely necessary.
Worn down, I ran a hand across my eyes, hoping to scrub the exhaustion from my body. I had important work to do tonight.
Seth and I were to approach Cynthus’s outskirts in the thick of night, leaving the others behind in an overgrown copse. My feet protested the walk ahead of me as I emerged from the trees.
Leaves rustled behind us, and Seth grabbed the hilt of his dagger. Percy emerged from the wood line, carrying his lute case. “Wait,” He called, catching up. “Let me come with you. My magic is suited for quick escapes.”
Raising an eyebrow, Seth released his blade. “I suppose it’s been a while since you’ve had a chance to perform.”
“I’m not following you just to perform,” Percy sounded exhausted. “But. . . it would be nice.”
“You can come,” Seth pushed Percy’s hat down over his eyes. “Just don’t get seen.”
Grinning, Percy fell into step with me. “Which tavern are we going to?”
“I’ll know it when I see it,” I mumbled, exhausted.
Ainwir had apprised me of all the Guild’s hideouts, should I need smuggling in or out of a city. Though we’d never traveled to Cynthus during our time together, I’d written down his list of contacts and locations for the border city.
The buildings here were positively ancient—their marble had browned beneath dirt and debris.
Most of the tiny homes looked ready to fall apart, and some stood abandoned, their roofs caved in or walls shorn.
My vision blurred every time I tried to read a sign as my body beckoned me to sleep.
Faltering, my feet dragged through the rough dirt road.
“Tired?” Seth asked.
Rubbing my eyes again, I looked up at him. He cut a villainous figure, shrouded in a hood and concealed by a black mask.
“Aren’t you?” I asked.
“A little. Maybe I’ve gotten used to sleepless nights.” He paused, nudging me. “Is that it?”
Blinking, I strained to read the rickety sign he pointed at. ‘Lady Luck.’
“That’s it,” I confirmed, pulling open the door and stepping inside.
The place wasn’t the shady hole I expected. A perfectly ordinary tavern greeted us, its bar stocked with cheap liquor and tables devoid of decoration. Several people gathered inside, poor workers, judging by their dirty tunics.
We fit right in, dirt-smudged and dark-eyed.
Touching my back, Percy slipped past me, heading for the empty corner where a chair was set aside for performers.
Finding a seat at the bar, I patted the counter and hailed the bartender. A middle-aged woman with curly ginger hair wiped her hands on her apron and approached. “What can I get for you?”
“The house special,” I said. “With a shot of old whiskey.”
The woman’s chin tilted up, and she nodded, “Might be a while. Grab a drink in the meantime.” Turning, she walked through the back door.
Seth shifted in his seat, leaning over. “Not the most creative code.”
“They shouldn’t be.” I studied him. “I thought you spoke with the Guild often?”
“I did. The code I was taught was much more colorful.”
Music filled the tavern as Percy began to play. A grin brightened his face, and he tapped his foot with enthusiasm. I drummed my fingers on the bar, enjoying his pleasant voice and lively tune.
Seth spun to face me, leaning an elbow on the bar. “Here we are, alone in a tavern. I think this is our first proper date.”
“You don’t strike me as the kind of man who courts.”
“Why not?”
“You said yourself romance was for fools.” I reclined on the bar, matching his pose. “I presume all the girls at the brothel knew your name.”
“You’re thinking of Percy.” He said, crossing his legs. “Here I thought I’d been romantic, but you think me a common philanderer?”
“Mhm.” I nodded.
“What about the time when I carried you to safety?”
“Any good comrade would have done that.”
“Pff,” He rolled his eyes. “She’s hard to please.”
“I don’t understand you.” I stared into the red eyes behind the mask. “You think courting is for fools, but you keep flirting with me.”
“Because it’s fun,” he said. “Surely a con woman like you enjoys a spot of banter.”
His words flew out quickly, and his shoulder twitched. Classic signs of lying.
“That’s what I thought,” I said, turning away. Biting my lip, I resisted the urge to look at him again.
After Eleos broke my heart, the last thing I needed was to be toyed with, dragged on a string only to be thrown away.
Falling into silence, I studied the shelves of liquor and listened to the music, eager to get this over with. Percy finished his first song and began another.
“I know this one,” Seth sat up. He flashed me a smile. “Want to dance?”
I shook my head. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Are you sure? This might be our last chance to share a dance.”
“There are plenty of women around for you to carouse with. Pick someone else.”
“Why would I want anyone else,” he said with unusual intensity, “when you’re sitting in front of me?”
“I’m only good for fun, remember? You said as much back in the refugee camp.”
Seth grimaced. Usually, his guard was iron-clad, but a moment of weakness gripped him. I read him like a book. He did not remember speaking those words, and was horrified at the thought.
Percy had been right. Seth hadn’t meant his insult—he was trying to push me away before something deeper developed between us.
He needn’t bother. I wasn’t the kind of woman who could be loved. Seth would learn that soon enough.
“You know what? Sure,” I stood. “Let’s dance.”
Flipping back his hood, Seth pulled off his mask and fixed his shoulder-length black waves. Offering me a hand, he pulled me to an empty corner. We passed an older couple laughing as they shared a dance, and I managed a smile.
Wrapping an arm around my lower back, Seth pulled me against him. I knit my fingers through his and laid a hand on his upper arm, but my knowledge of dance ended there.
Ainwir had never taught me.
We took a few steps, following the quick tune Percy played. I stepped on Seth’s feet multiple times and stumbled when he pulled me in a direction I didn’t anticipate.
Stopping, Seth peered down at me. “Aethra. Do my eyes deceive me, or can you not dance?”
“I can’t.” I shook my head. “I grew up in the sewers.”
Glancing at Percy, Seth nudged my foot off his. “Go limp.”
“Isn’t that going to make things worse?”
“Just go limp.”
Obliging, I relaxed my muscles and lolled my head to the side. The sudden whirl of movement that followed made me gasp.
With the grace of someone well-practiced, Seth spun me around so quickly the room blurred.
Percy’s song picked up in pace, and I felt myself being twirled around to its rhythm.
Desperate to keep up, I frantically tried to match his feet lest I trip and spill across the floor, and found myself dancing better than when I’d been putting in a concerted effort.
“See?” Seth whispered.
Dazed, I didn’t answer. All that existed was him and me, and the effortless way he controlled me like a puppet on strings.
My imagination wandered, pretending a beautiful gown swirled around my feet, and a princely cape danced around his. The heirs to rival nations, we’d sneak outside onto the balcony and steal a kiss.
A smile touched my lips as Seth pulled me back to him, his hand grasping my waist tightly. His guess had been correct—I did enjoy indulging in fantasies.
The bard’s lute strummed faster and faster until he sang the final note. Seth twirled me one final time before dipping me. Floundering, I grabbed his neck, holding on for dear life.
My hair hung to the floor, brushing against the wooden slats. Seth’s face loomed an inch above mine, our lips a breath apart. Warmth bloomed under my fingers, and I could feel his heartbeat rapidly thumping beneath my touch.
Wrapping his other arm around my waist, Seth lifted me back to my feet. His scarlet eyes bored into mine, hauntingly beautiful. Fingers traced my spine as his hand slid up my back to grasp my neck, pulling me closer.
Breathless, I let my eyes flutter closed.
The arms around my back dropped, and I stumbled as Seth stepped away. Cheers rang around the tavern as the people called for another song. Grinning brightly at us, Percy lifted his lute and strummed a new tune.
Playing with my bangs, I hid my face. Why would I expect Seth to kiss me after everything he’d said and done?
The tavern’s back door swung open, and an unassuming man with brown hair emerged. Meeting his gaze, I walked to an empty table and sat, quietly tapping the seat beside me.
Seth followed me, laying one hand on the back of my chair. The other slipped beneath his cloak and brushed the hilt of his dagger.
Pulling out the chair beside me, the man looked me over. “You’re new to these parts.”
“We are,” I confirmed, pulling my coin purse out. “I have orders from Laverna. I need entry into the city for five people—no witnesses. And no questions.” I pushed the coin purse towards him.
Grabbing the bag, the man felt the contents. “Laverna?” He said. “You’ve come all the way from Ikaria?”
“No questions.” I reminded him.
Satisfied with the pay, he pocketed the purse. “How deep into the city are you wanting to go?”
“As far as you can take us.”
“Five people on foot?”
“We have horses,” I added. “And a dog.”
“I can manage that,” He ran a hand across his beard, thinking. “Meet me outside the flagon in two hours. Miss that window, miss your shot.”
“Done.” I offered my hand, and he shook it. Once we dropped hands, we both stood and went our separate ways.
Seth watched the man depart through the back door before hurrying to my side. “That was quick.” He paused. “Almost like you’ve done this before.”
“Almost,” I said sarcastically, pausing at the door.
Catching my eye, Percy nodded, quickly finishing up his song and packing up his lute. Pushing the door open, I held it open for the bard as he rejoined us and stepped outside.
A pleasant breeze carried from the sea, tousling my hair. Enjoying this moment of respite, I shut the tavern door behind me.
“How’d it go?” Percy asked. “I expected it to take longer.”
“Our princess is a professional, Perse,” Seth said. “Everything’s taken care of.”
“But she’s not a dancer,” Percy beamed at me.
“No,” I confirmed. “I don’t exactly infiltrate lordly balls.”
“Never say never.”
Seth groaned. “If I never have to see a garish ball again, it’ll be too soon.” He turned to me. “Need a lift back?”
“Last I checked, my feet work fine,” I said.
“But, it’s a lovely night,” Seth stared up at the bright moon and its twinkling stars. “Besides, what man would pass up a chance to hold you in his arms?”
“Again with the flirting.” I frowned.
“You called me a base philanderer. I need to restore my honor.”
“What kind of assassin cares about honor?”
“Me.” He said plainly, wrapping an arm around my back. Before I could escape, he swept me off my feet, cradling me against his chest like he wanted to shield me from the world.
Was this to be our relationship? Invisible threads bound our hearts, dragging us closer together, but fate would never let us touch.
The throbbing ache in my feet seemed all the more apparent now that they’d been lifted from the hellish dirt. Sighing, I leaned against Seth’s shoulder. “Alright, fine. Take me away, villain.”
“As you wish, princess.” He paused in the middle of the street, looking around. “What’s the flagon, by the way?”
“Code.” I flashed him a grin. “For the gallows.”