Page 41 of The Sundered Blade

“Where are we to meet your cousin?”

Leisa grimaced in response as she navigated the crowded road, attempting to avoid a heavy dray wagon that had paused in the middle of the street while its owner unloaded his goods.

“That depends on whether our message arrived or was intercepted in transit. If Lord Kellan received my request—andifhe has decided he is willing to aid us—we will be met at an inn near the northern gate, sometime after dark.”

They paused for a moment as the traffic flowed past, and as they were waiting, a voice rang out.

“You there!”

Karreya turned to look and saw a small squad of soldiers making their way through the crowded street in her direction. There was no question that she was their target, nor that the men’s hard, determined expressions presaged a confrontation they could ill afford.

Leisa, too, noticed their approach and turned to greet them with a pleasant nod. “How can we help you?”

“By handing over your mounts,” the leader of the group responded in cool, clipped tones. “They are being officially requisitioned by His Majesty, King Melger of Garimore, and you are required to surrender them immediately.”

Leisa blinked at him uncertainly. “You mean, you’re stealing our horses?”

“As a loyal citizen of Garimore, you are being asked to surrender them into the care of the army, for the purpose of defending all Garimoran citizens against the threat of invasion,” the man replied, a dangerous light in his brown eyes. “Do you dare to refuse the command of your king in this matter?”

Leisa eyed him suspiciously, but appeared uncertain about her next course of action, so Karreya voiced her own question aloud.

“And what is your proof that you speak for your king and not for your own purposes?”

Were it common practice to requisition visitor’s livestock, the guards at the gate would have stopped them on the way in, along with the larger group ahead of them. She’d also noticed these same soldiers walking past three men on horseback without a word. This entire confrontation seemed no more than a front for thievery—the strong taking from those they perceived as weak—and she had no patience for those who acted with so little honor.

“Proof?” the man sneered. “The only proof I need is the authority I’ve been given to throw you in prison if you deny my request. Now, are you going to get out of that saddle, or do I have to make you?”

His right hand grasped his sword hilt while his left moved towards her arm, and Karreya’s instincts flared to life at the threat. Her left foot was out of the stirrup before he could so much as touch her, kicking him in the face with enough force to stagger him backward. While he was still off balance and swearing loudly, she swung over the other side of the saddle and under the horse’s belly, using her grip on the stirrup and the momentum of her swing to kick his legs out from under him.

The horse threw up its head and snorted, beginning to dance nervously in place, but Karreya was no longer under its feet. She’d drawn her daggers and sliced her opponent’s sword belt in two places before ducking under the outstretched arms of his companions and preparing to attack them from behind.

“Stop!”

It was Leisa’s voice. Speaking toher… The intense focus of battle faded, and suddenly Karreya recalled that she was meant to be playing a part. She was not here as a weapon, but as a spy, and her actions had drawn entirely the wrong kind of attention. Worse, she had exposed Leisa to danger, and while Karreya was more than capable of avoiding the guards’ attempts to capture her, Leisa had no such certainty.

She would need to remove her cousin from the vicinity, then find a way to draw off pursuit.

Evading the guardsmen’s hastily drawn weapons, she darted towards Leisa. “Come,” she ordered. “Leave the horses.”

Thankfully, Leisa did not pause to question her, but leaped from her saddle and raced after Karreya into the crowded street.

“Stay low,” Karreya told her, ducking between startled shoppers and tradesmen as she made her way steadily towards the opening of the closest alley. Once within its shadows, she jogged towards the low wall blocking the end, pulled herself to the top, and from there, leaped up and grabbed the edge of a narrow balcony that allowed her to access the roof. “This way.”

The buildings in this part of town were no more than two levels—not high enough for fugitives to hide on the rooftops—but at least they were built close together. Karreya set a path that allowed them to leap across two more cramped alleyways before descending into a less busy street a short distance away. Crossing it towards the north, she used a conveniently placed pile of crates to access the long, open roof of a stable, where she paused to take in her surroundings. The rooftop was flat, but far too uncluttered to make a safe place for Leisa to hide. They would need to put more distance between themselves and the horse thieves, but first…

A strange sound caught her ear.

She whirled around. Leisa was just climbing up behind her, but her eyes were wide, and her lips appeared pinched with strain.

“Please,” she murmured, holding out one hand in a wordless plea. “I need a moment.”

Karreya nodded. “Very well. But I fear we must not stay for long. These rooftops are too orderly to shelter you for any length of time, and as it is day, our path will have been marked.”

Leisa dropped to her knees, placed her palm flat on the rooftop, and closed her eyes. “Just a few seconds,” she said, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. “I’ll be all right.”

Karreya moved hastily to crouch down beside her, eyeing her cousin’s face with concern. She was accustomed to traveling swiftly through and over city streets, and had not stopped to consider that her path might prove difficult to follow, even for one of Leisa’s abilities.

“I… apologize,” she said at length. “I believe I have endangered our mission through my actions. But if you are able to forgive my mistakes, I swear to you that I will continue to ensure your safety.”

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