To plan all that in a split second while the house was being invaded and then to execute it flawlessly. He had stopped with five, likely because Velpor could’ve taken out that many but no more.
The man was frightening.
“Avaria,” I said.
She startled. “Yes, my lady?”
“When you searched the warehouse, did you find any papers? Any contracts, anything with the Butcher’s name on it?”
“No, my lady.”
“What about the people in the courtyard?”
“No papers,” Avaria confirmed. “However, we found this by the front door.”
She offered us an envelope. Everard opened it, pulled out the paper within, read it, and held it out to me.
H will strike after midnight.
“Another warning,” I murmured.
“Too late this time.” Everard looked at Avaria. “Who left the letter?”
“We do not know, my lord.”
He gave a small sigh. Avaria took a tiny step back.
“You let Maggie be taken,” Everard said, “you missed the watcher that followed us from the Butcher’s warehouse, and now you failed to note the messenger even though your people were watching the house.”
Avaria held perfectly still.
“Get the bodies right,” he told her.
“Yes, my lord.”
Everard nodded and she took off. I headed for the stairs, and he walked with me. The steps would be a challenge, but there was no way around it.
I was so damn tired. Getting through that conversation in the basement had sapped whatever resources the few hours of sleep had restored. The floor was beginning to look appealing. If I didn’t go up these stairs right now, I would curl up against the nearest wall and pass out.
I started climbing.
“That was a stroke of genius with the Redeemers,” Everard said.
“Thank you.”
If all went well, we would plant a spy in the Tower. We would need one because I’d killed the Butcher. While Hreban had compensated by bringing in a new assassin, the future was irrevocably changed, and having eyes and ears in Silveren’s domain would be vital.
“He is tailor-made for them: a verifiable sin to redeem, at the end of his rope, and skilled enough to be an asset,” Everard said. “More, he fits the part.”
“Yes. He’s bitter and jaded, and he looks like he expects life to kick him at any moment.”
We reached the landing. I took a little breather and headed for the second flight of stairs. “Do you think Tillmar will stay loyal?”
“Yes. That man is desperate.”
Weren’t we all.
“The Redeemers can offer him nothing, while I can give him everything,” Everard said. “He won’t break his oath.”
