the floor.”
“No, you stay!”
The crossbow shook, and Sebastian didn’t want to be accidentally killed by the fool.
“If I tell him what you look like, he’ll order me not to do this.” The assassin was so enamored with Sebastian’s face that he didn’t hear the door open. Kevin crept into the room with his knife raised.
“You should tell your boss. I’m sure he’ll understand.” Sebastian kept his voice steady. Just because the man was having a crisis didn’t negate the assassin’s original motive. “But please spare me.”
“I couldn’t—” Kevin thrust his knife under the killer’s chin and yanked the blade out.
Kevin wiped the blade clean with a handkerchief. “It had to be done. There’s no telling when the shock would have worn off.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Useless guilt is written on your face.” Kevin shook his head. “You’re as soft-hearted as Kraven.” He grabbed the clothes Sebastian had thrown on a chair and tossed them at him. “Get dressed. The king’s guards are dispatching the rest of them,” he said as he closed the door, but it was shoved open. Kevin raised his knife but lowered it when James poked his head through the space.
James shoved the rest of his body in and stood against the door. “Good strategy. Fight naked so the bad guys are too busy staring to kill you.” James blew out his cheeks. “I expected to find you dead.”
“No thanks to those useless soldiers,” Kevin said.
“Complain later. Would you guys please look away?” Sebastian pleaded.
James and Kevin closed their eyes so they could remain in their positions barring the broken door.
“Sir Orwell!” a panicked Lieutenant Adams shouted through the door.
“I’m fine, but I’m dressing, so wait a damned minute!”
“If he’s still grouchy, then he must be fine,” Sergeant Hooper’s voice joined in.
With his clothes finally on, Sebastian did a quick once-over before swinging the cloak over his shoulders and tying it in place. He flipped the hood over his head and nodded to James and Kevin.
Kevin raised his back off the door, and he was shoved forward when the soldiers rushed in to reach their assignment.
“Fingers and toes all accounted for, Sir Orwell?” Lieutenant Adams asked Sebastian.
“I am unharmed,” Sebastian said.
Lieutenant Adams surveyed the room and frowned at the assassin lying in blood and water spilled from the tub. “I’m sorry we didn’t come to your aid. Those who attacked the inn used a powerful ward to block anyone from entering this room except for them. Things could have been worse if Mistress Ellie didn’t have spells in place around the inn, or if that seer sister of yours hadn’t sent us a warning.”
“The soldiers were repelled from your room, but Ellie’s safeguards are blood-steeped. Magic cast from an outsider wouldn’t have affected anyone of our blood,” James said. More soldiers arrived, and he stepped aside to let them in.
“We couldn’t take any alive. They were all mages and had to be taken down with arrows when we saw them casting a particularly nasty spell,” Sergeant Bradley reported.
“We’re damned lucky those other attackers fell in that wizard’s trap,” Sergeant Hooper said.
“What wizard?” Lieutenant Adams asked.
“This one.” Ellie pushed through the crowded door with a man far skinnier but taller than James. His black hair was trimmed neatly to short curls, and he wore a red robe with a long opening running to his navel.
The man grinned at the full room and bowed deeply. “Trey Ausher at your service.”
“There were more assassins at the back of his inn. Carrying so many weapons triggered a trap he has set for brigands and thieves. There were ten of them, and all had magic.” Ellie pulled blonde strands behind her ear. “Things might not have gone our way if those men had made it to our home.”
“Are they alive?” Lieutenant Adams asked.
Trey shook his head. “The spell isn’t a
“No, you stay!”
The crossbow shook, and Sebastian didn’t want to be accidentally killed by the fool.
“If I tell him what you look like, he’ll order me not to do this.” The assassin was so enamored with Sebastian’s face that he didn’t hear the door open. Kevin crept into the room with his knife raised.
“You should tell your boss. I’m sure he’ll understand.” Sebastian kept his voice steady. Just because the man was having a crisis didn’t negate the assassin’s original motive. “But please spare me.”
“I couldn’t—” Kevin thrust his knife under the killer’s chin and yanked the blade out.
Kevin wiped the blade clean with a handkerchief. “It had to be done. There’s no telling when the shock would have worn off.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Useless guilt is written on your face.” Kevin shook his head. “You’re as soft-hearted as Kraven.” He grabbed the clothes Sebastian had thrown on a chair and tossed them at him. “Get dressed. The king’s guards are dispatching the rest of them,” he said as he closed the door, but it was shoved open. Kevin raised his knife but lowered it when James poked his head through the space.
James shoved the rest of his body in and stood against the door. “Good strategy. Fight naked so the bad guys are too busy staring to kill you.” James blew out his cheeks. “I expected to find you dead.”
“No thanks to those useless soldiers,” Kevin said.
“Complain later. Would you guys please look away?” Sebastian pleaded.
James and Kevin closed their eyes so they could remain in their positions barring the broken door.
“Sir Orwell!” a panicked Lieutenant Adams shouted through the door.
“I’m fine, but I’m dressing, so wait a damned minute!”
“If he’s still grouchy, then he must be fine,” Sergeant Hooper’s voice joined in.
With his clothes finally on, Sebastian did a quick once-over before swinging the cloak over his shoulders and tying it in place. He flipped the hood over his head and nodded to James and Kevin.
Kevin raised his back off the door, and he was shoved forward when the soldiers rushed in to reach their assignment.
“Fingers and toes all accounted for, Sir Orwell?” Lieutenant Adams asked Sebastian.
“I am unharmed,” Sebastian said.
Lieutenant Adams surveyed the room and frowned at the assassin lying in blood and water spilled from the tub. “I’m sorry we didn’t come to your aid. Those who attacked the inn used a powerful ward to block anyone from entering this room except for them. Things could have been worse if Mistress Ellie didn’t have spells in place around the inn, or if that seer sister of yours hadn’t sent us a warning.”
“The soldiers were repelled from your room, but Ellie’s safeguards are blood-steeped. Magic cast from an outsider wouldn’t have affected anyone of our blood,” James said. More soldiers arrived, and he stepped aside to let them in.
“We couldn’t take any alive. They were all mages and had to be taken down with arrows when we saw them casting a particularly nasty spell,” Sergeant Bradley reported.
“We’re damned lucky those other attackers fell in that wizard’s trap,” Sergeant Hooper said.
“What wizard?” Lieutenant Adams asked.
“This one.” Ellie pushed through the crowded door with a man far skinnier but taller than James. His black hair was trimmed neatly to short curls, and he wore a red robe with a long opening running to his navel.
The man grinned at the full room and bowed deeply. “Trey Ausher at your service.”
“There were more assassins at the back of his inn. Carrying so many weapons triggered a trap he has set for brigands and thieves. There were ten of them, and all had magic.” Ellie pulled blonde strands behind her ear. “Things might not have gone our way if those men had made it to our home.”
“Are they alive?” Lieutenant Adams asked.
Trey shook his head. “The spell isn’t a
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