“Catch your breath,” I said, panting for breath as well. Adrenaline still pumped through my veins so hard that my fingers tingled and my legs itched to continue to run. I was not willing to get caught because Ambrose was a terrible runner.
I tapped my foot impatiently while his chest heaved. We were about to have any number of guards descend on us, not to mention any civilians who might’ve seen my wanted posters. Throw in the bounty hunters and the Employer all hunting us down…it was a miracle we hadn’t already been recaptured.
“This…was…too easy,” Ambrose gasped.
“Don’t complain,” I snapped at him. He was doubled over, hands on his knees, eyes closed. “You have five minutes, then we need to move.”
My thoughts drifted back to the Employer while I waited. He must’ve learned of my involvement with the pixie blood. Somehow, he’d found out and wanted me to report my findings. That was easy enough. I would gladly hand over Roderick and all the pixie blood available without even taking the bounty if it meant finally being able to find my family.
My family…
Those files in his office said that both Nora and my father had been recovered, so the Employer must have been the one to take those files from Roderick, which meant the Employer knew where Nora and my father were. Maybe if I could convince the Employer of how important it was to me, they’d be willing to giveme that information I wanted in exchange for what I knew about the pixie blood.
But why the bounty on me? That was so unnecessary; all bounty hunters dreamt of meeting the Employer. Why not simply request to see me? I would’ve gone; I would’ve been delighted to meet him.
“I can move again,” Ambrose groaned, getting to his feet. “It’s still quite a walk.”
What Ambrose should have said was becausehewas in tow, it would be a long walk. I could barely stop myself from sprinting ahead to cut down on time and kept asking how much longer so often that I genuinely did feel like a young boy, and Ambrose stopped talking to me altogether.
Near dawn, he came to stop in front of a cozy inn that had a flute and notes carved into the wooden sign that read, The Serenade Inn.
“Here we are,” Ambrose said, a crafty smile on his lips.
My upper lip curled. “There’s no way Elvin is the Employer,” I hissed.
Ambrose’s eyes darted from side to side. “Maybe we aren’t here to see Elvin.” Even in the dim light from the few illuminated inn windows, I could tell that Ambrose’s pupils had dilated. He was lying.
“Give me a name.”
“Wh-what?”
“Give me the name of the Employer.”
“It-it’s…Samuel,” Ambrose stammered.
I sighed in a resigned sort of way. “Ambrose, you’re a bookkeeper, not a bounty hunter. If you want to survive the morning, I strongly recommend that you don’t continue lying to me. I’m done with your games. What is the Employer’s name?”
Ambrose took a nervous step back.
I rolled my eyes. “Ambrose, let me tell you something. Between you and me in a fight, you will lose. In a footrace, you would lose. Knowing your occupation, I can confidently say that you won’t make it out of the city without me. Now, I’m willing to keep you safe only if you take me to the Employer. The real Employer.”
“He’s here,” Ambrose said. “I’ll show you.”
Still thoroughly unconvinced, I followed Ambrose into the dim inn. A young teenage girl with curly strawberry-blonde hair had fallen asleep at the front desk, a strangely-colored flute in her hand, and Ambrose and I slipped past her. I was led up the stairs and down a hall to where Ambrose gave the familiar volley of knocks. After a few moments, he repeated the pattern, slightly louder, and this time, there was the sound of footsteps padding across the floor.
The door cracked opened to reveal…Elvin.
Furious and thoroughly out of patience, I kicked Ambrose in the back so he went toppling into the door, which swung open, and he fell on top of Elvin, who was sleepy-eyed and tousle-haired. Within seconds, I was across the threshold, had the door shut, and snatched up one of the knives from a belt Elvin had draped over a chair. I didn’t care if I woke the entire inn. They weren’t going to get away with this.
Ambrose had scrambled up off Elvin, who was choking for air, and I grabbed a fistful of Ambrose’s shirt and slammed him against the dresser. “Enough games,” I snarled. “What, you thought you could get Elvin to do your dirty work for you?”
“Hey!” Elvin protested. “What’s going on?”
Ambrose’s cheeks were puffed up. “The Employer has a bounty out for Gil,” he squawked to Elvin. “Get him, quick!”
I pivoted to face Elvin, who had positioned himself into a fighting stance.
“Out, out!” the innkeeper had arrived, flinging the door open. “There’s no fighting allowed here. I’ll call the Nightsworn!”
