“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.”
25
Chapter 25
Seth stood before the gallows, wearing the grim countenance of a man who had often wondered if he would face them one day.
Once upon a time, gallows had been the center stage of every city. People would gather in the heart of town to watch criminals hang. I couldn’t wrap my head around it—the desire to see someone die. Nowadays, hardly anyone was executed. The gallows were shoddy nooses hung on the edge of town, far, far from life, reserved for the occasional heretic or traitor the crown and clergy deemed worthy of death.
Snapping his head down, Seth looked to me. “Are you sure they’ll come?”
“Nothing’s worse for business than a bad reputation,” I said, pulling my cloak around my shoulders as I paced. Wind howled through the branches, rattling the dried leaves scattered under the nooses, and tousling our hair.
Eleos gazed at them, transfixed, hood flying off his head. Shutting his eyes, he looked away, and I could but wonder what thoughts plagued him.
Thoughts of the man he’d murdered, perhaps?
“Um,” Percy called, “I think they’re here.”
Seraphim strode up beside me, placing a hand on my back as she watched the approaching shadows. Two small wagons laden with cargo rolled toward us, pulled by scraggly mules.
A thin young man jumped out of the driver’s seat and counted our number. “Hook your horses up.” He said. “Then find a spot in the back.”
“Wait,” Percy held up a hand, “We’re not ridingunderthe cargo, are we?”
Seraphim smiled at him as she led her horse toward the wagon. “How else do you think we slip in unseen?”
Shoulders slumping, Percy guided his horse to the first wagon. Leading Athena to the second, I handed her to Seraphim to be hooked up, while the young man tied the mules up near the edge of the woods. Stepping back, I glanced over the cargo. Rolls of textiles, a few rugs, crates, and barrels. Hopefully, I could find a spot nestled beneath fabric and not wood.
“Well,” Seth placed his hands on his hips. “Which wagon do you want, princess?”
“This one, I guess.” I nodded behind me. “Percy and Eleos can take the other one.” Turning to face them, I focused on Percy. “And hide yourselfcompletely.”
Percy toyed with his hat. “I can weather discomfort. I was a soldier, you know.”
Eleos pushed him toward the wagon. “I’ll tuck him in.” He whistled. “This way, Whisper.”
Chuckling, I sorted through the cargo, creating holes for the three of us to bury ourselves in. Seraphim grabbed a loose tarp and tossed a section to each of us, bidding us wrap ourselves in it like a cloak.
“Ugh,” Seth grimaced, pulling his hood up. “This has got to be the second-worst entrance I’ve made to a city.”
“Don’t leave us hanging,” Seraphim said, stepping up onto the wagon bed. “What was the worst?”
“Well-”
“Not now.” I pushed him toward the wagon. “We’re to remain utterly silent.” I paused. “But I am going to ask you later.”
