11. Jack
ELEVEN
JACK
Jack and his father were shown to a large room with two beds, and to Jack’s delight, mage lights. Their weapons were waiting for them in their room just as Lieutenant Baker promised.
Jack sat in his bed, switching the mage light on and off. The lamp was on a nightstand next to his bed. The switch to turn the light off and on was so simple to navigate, it was almost comical.
He couldn’t help but notice his father assemble his staff and place it next to his bed. “Expecting trouble tonight?”
“Not particularly.” Marcus ran his hand over the staff and the ancient runes of their order carved deep in the wood. “But it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”
“Yeah, but I can tell that’s not it, is it? There’s something else bothering you, isn’t there?”
“As perceptive as your mother.” Marcus let out a long sigh. “You know me too well. It’s our traveling partner that makes me uneasy.”
“Sloan?” Jack stopped playing with the light and gave his father his full attention. “Or Aareth?”
“It’s Aareth. I have a feeling I’ve seen him before. And I don’t mean passing through a town. There’s something off about him, son.”
“Well, who do you think he is?”
“I’m not sure, but there’s something in his eyes. If I had to guess, he’s a hit man, an assassin.”
Jack’s jaw dropped. He heard about assassins while traveling through the Outland. They were professional killers for hire to the highest bidder. As Jack thought about it, he’d heard stories of an assassin with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. Stories of a killer more ghost than man.
“Are you sure, Dad? I mean, why would the Queen allow a person like that to come on this mission? Aareth isn’t going to exactly win the award for personality of the year, but?—”
“I’m sure, son. As to why the Queen has allowed him to come with us is another story. We have to trust that the Crown has their reasons. But in the meantime…” Marcus patted his staff gently. “It’s never a bad idea to be cautious. Have you said your prayers?”
“Dad, we’ve talked about this.” Jack rolled his eyes. “I’m eighteen years old. You don’t need to remind me of that stuff or tuck me in or kiss me on the cheek at night.”
“You just turned eighteen, and in my defense, I have done a great job on the no tucking in and kissing thing. You’ll understand one day when you have kids of your own. Goodnight, son. I love you.”
Jack gritted his teeth, but he knew he would regret it if he didn’t say it. “Love you too, Dad.”
Jack’s mind was still reeling with the real identity of their traveling partner that night as he fell asleep.
There was a real live assassin going on a journey with them.
Jack was equal parts excited and fearful of the trip to come and what the next days would bring.
The last thing he remembered as he fell asleep was a lullaby his mother would sing to him as a baby.
If Jack had known what the next day held in store for him, he wouldn’t have slept so soundly.