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throat. “Be as that may, let’s get to what you told me when you arrived.”

“Right. I was hired to provide support for a retrieval job in Aldrust. I didn’t know what we’d be stealing or who I’d be working with until I got there. You can I imagine my surprise when I got there and saw Duran but was also told that our target was fucking Lachrymal’s Heart.

“Duran and I had an account to settle, but after, we got to work planning the heist. We work the town, make sure there are no hiccups and the time comes to pull the job and D and the shifter infiltrate the Iron Cathedral─”

“Shifter?” I asked. “A shapeshifter? Who?”

“Girl’s name was Raven. Gorgeous, black hair, pale skin and blood-red eyes.”

Her description told me nothing. I hadn’t had much experience with shapeshifters or the fae. Mother always warned me never to make a deal with a faery. That they couldn’t be trusted.

“Anyway,” Mika continued. “They were in there for a while, and I thought everything was going well before dwarven soldiers started flooding the streets. I left the guys I was working with and went to warn Duran. He fought off nearly six of Lachrymal’s Chosen by himself.” He paused, and a smile form at his lips before he started talking again. “He was a beast, but one of them summoned a stone golem, and I stepped in. We took care of the rest, and I helped him get out of there. We spilt up, but that was over a week ago now, and I thought he’d have been back by now.”

“What happened with the Heart?” Gil asked.

Mika shrugged. “Duran said Raven had it, was taking it back to their employer.”

“Magnus,” I hissed.

“No idea. Never learned their name, all I know is that they paid incredibly well.”

I sat back in my chair and drank the rest of the water. Sam had once again shut off our connection, and even though I could have broken through it at any time, I didn’t want to know what lay beyond. I was didn’t want to know what he was feeling right now.

“Duran isn’t answering, but his contact card is still available so it’s going through. Gil filled me in on where he’s at, but I still don’t like leaving him in there. It’s not a forgiving place.”

“Well, the guild leader, while he may be a complete imbecile, is capable enough, and I’m sure whatever situation he’s managed to get himself stuck in, he can get himself out again,” Evelyn said, standing up. “Is that all, Shadow?”

Wilson raised his glass to his lips and nodded. “Until Duran gets back, there isn’t anything else to go over.”

“Very well. Little queen, samurai, come with me. Right now.”

Evelyn’s tone left no room for disobedience, and I got up immediately.

“Don’t break them,” Wilson called as Evelyn strolled from the room.

I followed her, while Mika lagged behind. Evelyn led us to the second floor, and after passing a number of doors, she stopped and motioned us inside.

The room was sparse, but not barren. Padded mats littered the floor with humanoid training dummies placed at random throughout the room. On one side of the room was rack after rack of nearly every kind of weapon I’d ever seen before.

“All right, newbies. I’m going to find out what you’re made of. I already know the little queen’s strengths and weaknesses, but I need to find out how capable you are, samurai.”

Mika scoffed and walked up to Evelyn, who was shorter than him by half a head. “I’m game, though don’t say I didn’t warn─”

Evelyn lunged forward and slapped the blade of her palm against Mika’s neck. As Mika gasped and spluttered, Evelyn shifted on the balls of her feet and turned, bringing him with her. Evelyn lifted Mika over her back and slammed him against the mats.

With one hand still pinned, Evelyn calmly placed the arch of her foot against his throat. “I believe I am victorious.”

Mika struggled viciously against Evelyn, but the more he fought, the more pressure Evelyn applied. After a minute of fighting, Mika ran out of air and started choking. He surrendered quickly after that.

Evelyn stepped back and returned to the center of the room. “As I was saying. Let’s get started. Samurai.”

Mika picked himself off the floor. “That wasn’t us getting started?”

“That was just to put you in your place.”

He chuckled and bowed low, keeping his eyes on her. “Forgive my conduct. That was incredibly rude of me.”

Evelyn laughed. “You’re forgiven.”

“Just go easy on me next round. Please.”

She smiled, her frosty eyes chilling the room. “I refuse.”

Chapter 22 - Mice in a Maze

Sampson

After the fourth day in Tombsgard, my body simply couldn’t handle it anymore.

“By the nine kings of hell, I’m so tired,” I muttered to myself.

My trembling hands slipped, and I dropped my pickaxe. It clanged loud against the stone and drew the nearby worker’s gaze.

“The fuck you looking at?!”

They jumped and quickly got back to mining. I left my pick where it lay and dragged myself over to a nearby table. I sagged into the chair and nearly passed out from exhaustion. The king of the mine, and I’m withering away to nothing.

“You look like hell,” Maus said.

Maus sat beside me, and checking the coast was clear, pulled a bit of bread from his inventory.

“I feel like it,” I replied as he stuffed the crust in his mouth.

“You should get some sleep; I’ll keep watch for an hour or so.” Crumbs of bread stuck to his lips and scattered to the stale air as he spoke.

“Thanks.”

I leaned my head over onto the gray stone and was asleep before Maus could dry swallow his next piece of stale bread.

“Hey, get up. It’s