Eberwyn shrugged. “Luck, I suppose. Some of my men overheard a conversation between two washerwomen. They were talking about seeing a light in one of the abandoned houses. When my men went to check it out, they discovered Alfred hiding there. Now that Brewer is in custody he can lead us to Emeric and Magnus. We’ll find them in no time.”
Eberwyn’s gaze fell on Oskar. “Everyone will come out of this unhurt as long as we keep our heads and dinna do anything stupid.”
Oskar knew the words were a warning.Do anything stupid, warn Kai or put the plan at risk and Lily, Magnus and Emeric will pay the price.
Fury bubbled in Oskar’s veins, a white hot anger that he struggled to control. He felt a nerve pulsing in his temple, felt his teeth grinding together. It was all he could do to stop himself from grabbing Eberwyn around the throat right now.
“Oskar?” Kai asked. “Is everything all right?”
Oskar tore his gaze from Eberwyn. “Fine,” he snapped. “Eberwyn is right. We need to play this correctly, make sure we dinna make any mistakes.” The words felt like they were being torn out of his chest.
Kai nodded. “Aye, I know it. Dinna worry. We’ll get to the bottom of whatever Alfred is up to and we’ll find our missing friends.” He placed his hand on Oskar’s shoulders, his blue eyes penetrating. “I give ye my word on this.”
Oskar nodded, wanting the ground to open and swallow him for his deception. From the corner of his eye he saw Eberwyn watching him closely. Then the lord cleared his throat.
“I’ll go check on my men,” he said. “Shall we, Oskar?”
He indicated the door. Oskar nodded.
“Give Lily my best,” Kai said.
Oskar missed a step but then recovered himself. “I will.”
He preceded Eberwyn out of the door and into the street. They walked in silence until they were out of sight of the guild house and then Oskar spun, grabbed Eberwyn by the shirt, and slammed him into the side of a building.
“What the hell is going on?” he snarled into the lord’s face. “Ye better start talking or so help me, I’ll kill ye right here!”
If Eberwyn was intimidated by Oskar’s threat, he didn’t show it. He merely raised an eyebrow. “We both know ye will do naught of the sort. If I’m not safely back within an hour, yer woman and yer friends will be killed.” He glanced at the position of the sun. “Time’s ticking, Oskar. I suggest ye let me go.”
Oskar’s hands tightened on Eberwyn’s shirt. His knuckles went white with the pressure. He could feel the fine material of Eberwyn’s shirt tearing under his grip. He was close to losing control, and he knew it.
“I willnae let ye hurt them,” Oskar growled, his voice low and threatening. “I willnae let ye hurt any of my friends.”
Eberwyn smirked, looking amused by Oskar’s anger. “Ye are a fool if ye think ye can stand in my way. We both know that I’m better at this game than ye are. Now hand it over.”
Oskar released him with a snarl. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out Kai’s ring and dropped it into Eberwyn’s outstretched palm.
“Good,” Eberwyn said, holding up the ring and examining it. “I knew ye were the right man for the job.”
“I’ve kept my end of the deal,” Oskar said.
“Not yet ye havenae. Ye know what ye have to do next. Yer woman and yer friends will stay with us until ye’ve done what we’ve asked. Dinna even think of backing out or warning the Order. Lily and yer friends will pay the price if ye do.”
Oskar could feel the pulse in his neck thudding violently. He wanted to punch Eberwyn in the face, wanted to break his bones,leave him a bloody, unrecognizable mess on the cold city streets. But he had to keep it together, he had to keep his promise to Lily. He had to keep her safe.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ll do what we agreed. But if ye dinna keep yer end of the bargain, I will tear this city apart to find ye. Do I make myself clear?”
Eberwyn smiled. “Of course, my friend. Ye do have quite the temper, dinna ye? Now, I’d best be going. I suggest ye do the same. It’s not long until the show begins and ye need to prepare.”
With a final grin, Eberwyn sauntered off, disappearing into the city’s labyrinthine streets. Oskar watched him go, his hands still trembling with fury.
Finally, he turned and walked away. It was only a few hours until sunset.
Only a few hours until all hell broke loose.
