In Deeper Waters F.T. Lukens (acx book reading txt) 📖

floor.” His chest heaved, breaths stuttering out in rapid pants; he was on the verge of panic. He twisted his fingers into a knobby knot.

“Athlen,” Tal said, placing his hand on the center of Athlen’s chest, “did they see you?”

“I… I…” He trembled. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“Okay. It’s okay. We’ll leave.”

“We can’t.”

“We can. We’ll go get our things and get out of here before they see you. I won’t let them have you. I will protect you. Understand?”

Athlen’s gaze was far away, honey eyes peering into the middle distance. Tal pinched his arm, and Athlen flinched.

“Listen to my voice,” Tal said, inching closer until his lips were next to Athlen’s ear. “I will shield you. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

Tal needed to get them out of there. The stairs to the upper floor were across the room from where they hid by the back door, which led to the detached kitchen. The men sat around a table, drinking ale and eating stew. They wouldn’t recognize Tal if he walked past the group to gather his and Athlen’s things.

Athlen clutched Tal’s hand. “Don’t leave me, please.”

“I won’t.”

Crossing the room with Athlen latched to his arm like a hunting bird was out of the question; with his hair and his distinct way of moving, he would be recognized instantly. They could leave their belongings, but all their money was upstairs, and they might need it on the rest of their journey to the castle by the sea.

“We’ll hide.” He patted Athlen’s hand. “We’ll stay right here until they leave.”

“That could be all night.”

“Then it’s all night.”

“What if we’re discovered?”

“Then we act drunk and pretend. I’ll do the talking. But we’re safe right here, right now, and—”

The front door banged open with the driving wind. The curtain blew and shifted, and Tal saw her as she strode in. The hood of her traveling cloak fell in a gust of wind, revealing her wet hair pinned back in an elaborate knot. She kicked the door closed with her heel, then turned, her black eyes ringed with gold alighting on the men at the table. Her features twisted into a feral smile.

Tal’s heart banged against his ribs.

“It’s her,” Tal said.

“Who?”

“The cat shifter from the beach.”

“The one that bit you?” Athlen’s voice went high, and Tal nodded his head sharply.

He shoved Athlen between himself and the wall. He grabbed the edge of the curtain and tucked it around his body, nudging Athlen to do the same on the other side. Luckily, there was a threadbare patch of cloth at Tal’s eyeline, and he peered through it as they huddled together. He strained to hear the conversation over the music and the laughter and the squeals of the revelers.

“My mistress and her family are not pleased.”

“Now, that’s not a proper greeting from a lady, especially not one with such close ties to royalty.” The man Athlen had identified as the captain smiled and tipped back his chair. He thumped his muddy boots on the table, crossing his ankles. “Good evening, milady.” He waved his hand. “See? Not so hard. Your turn.”

Her red lips turned down sharply. “You failed your mission.”

“Well, if your mistress wanted the mission to be a success, she shouldn’t have left payment at the bottom of the Great Bay.”

“You found a way to retrieve it.”

“Yes, we did, and got nothing but trouble. We didn’t know his kind could conjure a squall, but I bet you did.”

Athlen shook his head. “I can’t conjure anything,” he whispered sharply, breath hot on the back of Tal’s neck. “They didn’t listen.”

“Since you failed, and my lady was forced to hire another to complete your task, she wants repayment.”

“Do you hear that, boys? She wants her gold back.”

The group around him laughed timidly, their bravado tempered in the face of her impressive scowl.

Her dark eyes narrowed and her perfectly arched eyebrows drew together. “I’m here to collect either in gold or in flesh.” She drew her hand from underneath her cloak and held it open, palm up. Her black manicured nails grew and curved, sharpening as her skin darkened and furred. Her hand reshaped into a massive paw. “It’s your choice,” she said, her voice low and guttural. A shiver slid down Tal’s spine.

“We lost the gold.” The captain spit on the floor. “Rumor is that fucking Commander Garrett has it. Ask him. Your lady and he are related now, aren’t they?” Tal stiffened. “And I heard that you’ve already gotten your flesh. Zeph’s dead. That could’ve been us.”

“It will be you,” she said, tucking her hand into her sleeve, “if you don’t do what my lady wants next.”

“And what’s that?”

“The boy’s body wasn’t found. The royal family believes him to be dead. They’ve sent a band of knights and soldiers to the border, but they are reluctant to engage Mysten’s army. They’re not convinced by the word of a kidnapper and mercenary about who hired her to kill their youngest brother. At least, not enough to prod them to war.”

The captain shrugged. “What does that have to do with us?”

“My lady wants the border of her kingdom expanded. She wants Mysten’s mines. War is the way to get them, but the royal family of Harth needs one last push.” She leaned in and dragged the tip of her claw down the captain’s scarred face. “You complete the job and your debt is paid. Be warned, however, that there are others who, if they get to him first, will reap the rewards. And you”—she seized his chin in her hand, pinpricks of blood beading where her nails dug into his skin—“will be dead weight.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Another assassination should do the trick.”

“Which one do you want us to kill this time?”

“The bird.”

Tal’s gasp was loud amid the general noise of the room. Athlen clapped a hand over Tal’s mouth and pulled him back into the swaths of fabric. The pair of them waited with bated breath while Tal’s mind reeled with anger and fear. Those