Page 189 of I Ran Away to Evil
“Notyet.” The marquess looked like someone had offered him a tray of cinnamon buns. “But that’s half the fun.”
“Good luck with that.” Keith gleefully imagined Ria picking up the man and throwing him out a window. The Rogue servant stripped the Veralyn’s Enchanted Restraint Manacles off of Franni, and he opened the cell to the royals to toss in the lizardkin, not bothering to lock it behind her. Then he gathered up the squished and sad-looking shroomdoom and carefully put it back into the glass container.
“So,” Keith asked, curious if his own theory was correct. “how did you get your hands on my lieutenant?”
The marquess laughed. “They were easy targets for the Servalt Assassin’s Guild. Once they dropped off their prisoners, they had let down their guard. They came with such fun toys too.”
“I don’t believe you. Lady Gloria would never attack someone returning fallen members to her,” Keith pointed out. The woman might have been an assassin, but she had a code all unto herself.
“Welns was a terrible guild leader,” the servant spoke, drawing my attention to the man. He was medium build and looked nondescript with brown hair and brown eyes. Easily forgettable and easily the perfect face for a rogue.
“Don’t give away too much,” Chadwick chided, though his self-satisfied grin belayed any real bite to the order.
Keith frowned. His treaty wasn’t with Gloria Welns, but with the actual Assassin’s Guild … Still, if there was a new leader, maybe they had found a way around it. This was going to be a lot of paperwork and some legwork when he returned home. With his princess, whenever she deigned to rescue him.
More work for Rufus when Keith got back, he decided. The beastman deserved a challenge, and crushing the new boss of their neighboring Assassin’s Guild into polite submission sounded like just the thing.
He was meditating on the best course of action when the sound of footsteps drew his attention to a man with cat ears and scruffy whiskers standing in the dungeon entrance. “Manny, I’ve got the goods—Ah, good, you are here, marquess.”
The catkin shoved a clear bottle of red liquid with flecks of black swirling inside at the servant.
Molten ash vane.
“Good job. I’ll dispose of Their Royal Pains from Drendil.” Manny the servant swished the liquid around in the bottle, catching the dim light of the dungeon. “And you can say last you saw, the lizardkin offed them. If they bother asking you at all.”
“Just because they have me under house arrest doesn’t mean they won’t ask me under truth spell all manner of annoying questions.” The marquess scoffed. “I’d rather have a plan on top of a plan. And even if theydon’task me at the council meeting tomorrow, they’re bound to come around asking questions once it’s discovered that I’m actually married to the princess.”
The servant smiled a vicious smile. “I might even have enough to get rid of the lizardkin while I’m at it. The more the merrier.”
“Wait until we’ve turned away,” the marquess ordered, grabbing the catkin and facing the wall. “The last anyone saw of Simon and Thalia has to be the lizardkin killing them.”
Just then, the wall exploded.
CHAPTER 115
What a Disgrace to the Arts
Henrietta Earlier
“Bronwynn, that was amazing!” I chose that moment to pop a mana potionanda health potion.
“Thank you.” Brownie swung the manacles around deftly then threw them on the ground. She gave the flautist a scathing look. “I can’t believe I went with him on a water break. He played so nicely, too. What a disgrace to the arts! I should get his flute and stick it up hi—”
There was a cough, and I turned to face the only other person left. Knight Commander Havork smiled sadly from his horse. My breath caught in my throat, and I found myself lost again.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
I didn’t understandwhy. Why hadn’t he just freed me himself? Why had he worked with the slave traders? Why had he justsat there?
“Idon’t need to understand. Thank you for the keys. Speaking of which …” Brownie squatted and started rummaging through the flautist’s clothes. She pulled out a pouch and two rolled-up scrolls. “Loot!”
Brownie saw that I was just standing there, staring at my mentor, and headed for the carriage. “How about I just go get the boy while you talk?”
“I’m sorry Henri—Henrietta.” Havork swung off his horse and faced me. Slowly, he approached and lowered to one knee. With intent, he drew his sword and stabbed it into the earth. I flinched. That wasnotthe way to treat a blade.
He drew a deep breath. “It may have been my duty to train you … but from the first step you took on the field, I have watched you. I have seen you face trials and tribulations and walk away head held high. I know how hard you struggled to do what was right, even when you fought against the darkness and your ownfears. And as I breathe, you have grown into a strong, worthy, and benevolent ruler; more worthy than any other in Drendil. I am proud to have walked with you, and I am proud to have called you my princess.”
He smiled up at me, and a fierce determination filled his voice. “Which is why I have no regrets breaking my sworn oath to my king, for what use is wielding a blade for a man I do not respect? I decided that day at the bridge that I would no longer be a puppet in childish games.” He let go of the sword and bowed low, touching one fist to the ground. “I will accept whatever punishment you wish to bestow, for as an Oath Breaker, I have nothing left to lose.”
