“Either you do it or I will.”
It was a bluff. His way would get them all caught. But it got his point across.
Marlow cursed and trudged back to the waiting carriage. Grasping the handrail beside the door, she hoisted herself up, the pointed toes of her boots finding purchase on the step above the wheel. She leaned in to say something to the driver.
As he took another puff from his pipe, Marlow rested her hand lightly on his shoulder. A moment later, his body slackened, and his head lolled to the side, the pipe slipping from his fingers, still smoking.
She climbed down and stormed past Felix without sparing him a glance. It wouldn’t take the Watch long to realize the man was dead, but he was old, and it would appear a natural death.
August stared pensively at the motionless driver. Felix tugged at the front of his cloak, adjusting it to cover his bound hands, then ordered him to follow Marlow. For once, he didn’t argue.
They made it only a few steps before a tall Watch officer blocked their path, a long saber sheathed at his side. “All new arrivals must present themselves at city hall for registration.”
Hand itching for his flintlocks, Felix gave him a sharp nod and a quick smile. “Of course. Can you point us in the right direction?”
The man fixed him with an assessing stare, checking for rings, no doubt. “Follow me.” To the others, he added, “All of you.”
There was no way Felix was going to walk himself into their city hall, especially not with a captive member of the royal family.
His eyes scanned the wide street as they followed a few steps behind the officer. There were too many people around. Someone would notice if he dropped dead here. They needed to find a secluded spot, and then he’d deal with the problem.
Felix told the others to stay put, then called on his magic.
“Turn here,” he told the officer. The man obeyed, veering down the narrow alley. Felix followed close behind. They slipped through an open iron gate into a secluded courtyard. After a quick scan of the shadows, Felix gave the quiet order for the officer to draw his sword. The man did so without hesitation, steel sliding free before he turned to face Felix, his expression blank.
There was no guilt over what he had to do. There was only Elise crowding his thoughts—Elise, too light for the rope to grant a swift death. Elise, left to kick and gasp while the Watch stood by, letting it drag on and on and on.
They didn’t deserve his mercy.
“Plunge the blade into your stomach.”
The officer clamped both hands on the hilt and turned the saber inward, its tip pressing against his abdomen, then drove it straight through.
The man whimpered, shoulders hunched as blood trickled from his mouth.
“Quiet now,” said Felix, pressing a finger to his own lips.
His calm eyes stayed fixed on Felix, waiting for the next command, right up until his body gave out and he collapsed to the ground.
Now they needed to move. The streets were too dangerous. It wouldn’t be long before they ran into more Watch. He needed sleep, and then they needed to figure out their next move.
He returned to the others, and they slipped down the next street, Felix navigating blindly through the unfamiliar, disorienting town. When they spilled out onto a large avenue, he slowed to rub his throbbing leg, and his eyes caught a large inn sign. It was as good a place as any.
“How much money do you have, Aesling?”
“None.”
They really didn’t have time for this. The crowds were thinning, leaving them sorely exposed.
He patted down August’s cloak, and when he found the telltale rattle of caern, he reached in and withdrew a handful, disapprovingly sucking his teeth. “Such a liar, you are.”
“You’re robbing me now? Really?”
“You’ll be dead in a few days,” Felix responded, tucking the caern in his coat pocket. “What do you need it for?”
“I abhor you,” August said with narrowed eyes.
Felix patted him roughly on the cheek. “Yeah, I know. Now, move.”
