Eleos flashed me a smile before continuing his search. “So, Seth,” He said quietly. “What made you decide killing people would be your life’s decree?”
“Is this really the time?” Seth called back, unamused.
“On a mission such as this, there willneverbe a good time.”
“I thought I already explained myself,” Seth said. “You can only stand by and watch cruelty unfold so many times before you can’t stand it anymore.”
“Who were you before that?”
“You first.” Seth prodded. “All four of you were in the dungeons before being promised a pardon. So what’syourcrime?”
“Don’t bother,” I said. “I already tried asking them.”
Seth snorted. “I can tell you Percy’s at least.” He glanced back at us. “He’s got a good heart. It was probably something ridiculous like tax evasion.”
Eleos quietly corrected him. “Disturbing the peace. He fist-fought an innkeeper.”
A wicked grin tugged at Seth’s mouth. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”
Snap. Sitting up, I whirled around, searching for the source of the noise. Shadowed woods surrounded us, and infinite black beyond. Taking a breath, I tried to relax. It had probably just been a rabbit.
Seth’s voice drew my attention back ahead. “So, you’re all keeping secrets from one another? A perfect start to a functional team.”
“I don’t owe you my past,” Eleos said guardedly.
“What about her?” Seth grabbed my horse’s reins. “Is she owed your past?”
Hesitating, Eleos’ eye twitched.
Seth looked up at me. “How much blood have you left in your wake?”
“None,” I answered. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Few can say that with certainty,” Seth said in a low tone. “We’ll never make it far without trust. Luckily, I know a good bonding exercise.”
“I shudder to think what an assassin considers bonding,” Eleos said.
“Training. Every loss is a secret owed.” Seth smiled cheekily. “Are you in, scholar? I doubt you know your way around a blade.”
“So, we’ll beat the answers out of one another?” Eleos sighed. “Mistress Seraphim will be thrilled.”
“Ah. . .” I swallowed nervously. “I’ve never been trained to fight before. Does it hurt?”
Seth eyed me like I was a lost puppy. “That might be the cutest thing I’ve heard a hardened criminal say.”
I exhaled with frustration. “I’m a con woman. We don’t knife people in back alleys. We’re thieves withclass.”
He dropped the reins and held up his hands. “I didn’t mean any offense. Training leaves us all with bruises. But you’ll be grateful for them when you survive your first fight.” Grabbing his horse, he returned to Whisper’s side.
Nudging the mare forward, I caught up to Eleos. He glared at Seth before looking up at me. “Are you doing alright, Lady Aethra?”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Do you sense something. . .offin Seth’s emotions?”
“The opposite.” Eleos stared at the man’s dark shape through the trees. “He’s put up walls that keep me out, save for surface-level thoughts. Only intense training can repel psyches.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not in itself. But nobody trains for that unless they have something to hide, and a very good reason to keep it hidden.”
