Another person her mother had ordered her to kill. That list was getting longer.
Which meant her life was getting shorter if her mother ever found out that she’d failed to do her duty. A smart assassin would kill them all and be done with it. Go home and return to the life she knew.
But that was easier said than done. She liked the Outlaws, more than she should.
You’re betraying your mother.
In her mother’s eyes, that was true.
But her mother had never trusted her any more than she’d trusted her mother. Not the way Gisela trusted Xaydin. She knew he’d be there if she needed him.
That the Outlaws would help her.
She wasn’t so sure with her mother.
Gisela didn’t want to be a betrayer. For that matter, she didn’t want to be an assassin.
What do you want?
To be a protector like the Outlaws. To help others, not destroy them.
“What the…” Mischief’s eyes grew wide as her voice trailed off.
Gisela turned to look over her shoulder to see what had the Outlaw so transfixed.
Then, she wished she hadn’t.
Holy gods…
The street behind them was flooding with centaurs.
An army of them.
Dozens were coming in through portals, running down the street and striking anyone who got in their way.
Mischief pulled her into a nearby alley. “This is an act of war.”
Maybe. “Meara doesn’t have a contract with Vaskalia.” The contract she’d signed with them had died with Xaydin’s father. His brother had never renewed it because no one had ever dreamed centaurs would war on ogres, giants and trolls.
Shaking her head, Gisela peeped down the street to the growing army. “Why is Meara doing this?”
“No idea.” Mischief took her hand and pulled her deeper into the alley. “We need to rendezvous with the others.”
“Others?”
“Xaydin, Masakage and Candara.”
“What about Ronan?” Gisela asked.
“He can take care of himself, and he’ll meet us as soon as he can.”
That sounded like a plan to her.
“Halt!”
Gisela turned to see a centaur behind them. Mischief turned to engage him.
“No!” Gisela stopped her from escalating the situation. “Get to the others. I’ll take care of this.”
