Page 87 of Kept to Kill
‘We are taking you to your unit. They await us by the docks,’ he hissed. ‘Calm yourself. Foolish woman.’
They were coming to the port from a different direction, but she smelled it all the same once they began to get close.
‘Where are they?’ she murmured.
They’ll find us,’ the leader said. ‘We’re hardly inconspicuous.’
And then she saw Bastian standing outside on the street. Unable to help herself, she rushed forward, only to be intercepted by Mal, who grabbed her and locked her into a fierce hug. She looked up at him, bewildered and confused but so, so glad that they were there. After what had happened in that room, she just wanted to be held and reminded that it was over. She hugged him back just as hard. He drew away after a moment and Bastian took his place, the large man enveloping her like a soft, warm, but very heavy blanket. She gasped as he squeezed her, putting her arms around his neck and pulling herself closer. She rubbed her cheek against his.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
‘I am now,’ she said. ‘The other unit found me and got me out of there.’
Bastian let her back to the ground and she turned in time to see the three men nod. Their leader handed her a package wrapped in cloth.
‘Give this to the Commander,’ he said, and she watched as they turned around and walked away as if all of this was a common occurrence.
‘Come,’ Mal said to her. ‘We leave the city now. They’ll know you’re gone soon. They’ll start looking.’
She nodded and they led her along the docks into the streets beyond. When they got to the North Gate, Bastian ordered her to walk behind them.
‘You’re dressed as a slave,’ he said to her. ‘Act as one.’
So she walked behind them as he had instructed and the guards at the gate didn’t look twice as they left, moving into the open countryside. But when they got to the tree line, Mal and Bastian looked around, their gazes troubled.
‘What is it?’ she asked, her eyes looking from one to the other.
‘The horses are over there, packed and ready for the journey, but Quin isn’t with them.’
‘Where is he?’ she asked.
Mal was looking intently at the ground. ‘Taken,’ he said, sounding distracted. ‘Three, perhaps four.’
‘But why didn’t they take the horses? Our supplies?’ she asked.
‘They came for him,’ Mal growled. His eyes narrowed at Bastian.
‘Who? The Library or the king’s men?’ Bastian asked.
‘Neither. Tracks are Brothers’ horses.’
‘Drake and his unit couldn’t have got here before us. Who else could it be?’
‘There was another unit.’ Lily spoke up. ‘In the Library. The Scholar wanted to hire them to find a woman he’d heard of in the south, but they said no, that they were no longer Brothers.’
Mal’s expression turned even grimmer. ‘Need to find him quickly.’
‘Why? Who are they?’ Bastian asked.
‘Before your time, Brother,’ was all Mal said.
Bastian surveyed the ground himself. ‘They’ve gone east,’ he said. ‘On foot. They can’t be far.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Lily said. ‘What do they want with Quin?’
Mal drew his dagger. ‘Revenge.’
Chapter 13
