Page 73 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“And what, pray tell, are you here to pick up?” The cutting edge to his voice made Brownie’s heartbeat quicken … with excitement. This was the kind of setup shelivedfor.
“My date.”
“What?”
“He was supposed to be done in there almost ten minutes ago!” Brownie stuck out her hip and rested her hand on it, holding the strap of her instrument bag with the other. “And I am not a woman to be kept waiting.”
Of course, all of this was happening outside on a busy street. A few elves paused to watch the drama, while most continued on their business.
The elf assassin sighed. “You here for the beastman?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think the boss is done with him yet.” He glanced at the door to the shop and back at Brownie. “If you were smart, you’d come back later.”
“Any later,” she stressed, “and we’ll be late.”
There was a long pause, and Brownie was tempted for a second—just a second, mind—to give up the pretense. There was more than one way to get into an assassin’s guild, and Brownie was uniquely skilled for the task.
The elf opened his mouth to reply, “Meow?”
Brownie stared at the elf in confusion, but he seemed equally lost.
Suddenly, a voice drew Brownie and the elf’s attention to the shop, where Slake Drakeford sat at the threshold of the open door. He eyed the two of them, then reached up to rub his own ear with a paw. “Are you coming in or not?”
CHAPTER 43
Meow
Rufus
Ten Minutes Earlier
“Thank you, Susan,” I said, nodding my head in respect to the well-organized feline. “You’ve been very helpful.”
The last hour had been over and above what I could’ve expected.
Susan lifted a stack of papers and tapped them once, twice, thrice to make the pages line up straight. I already had a rolled waterproof case with my own copies of the treaties safely tucked away in my storage ring.
“Oh! No need for that, Commander.” The fluffy white catkin stood up from the desk she’d taken over and dipped a happy curtsy. She pushed up her glasses and smiled at the compliment. “It was a pleasure.”
Susan bowed low to her boss, and Jimothy escorted Susan out of the room.
Leaving Eva and myself alone again. An interesting choice on the guild master’s part, as I was many levels higher than she was and could have made this a very bad day for the guild. I couldn’t understand why she would put herself in danger, especially when I knew for a fact that she aimed for obfuscation and specialized in illegal dealings.
What was I missing?
“I’m impressed,” Eva said dryly. The elf pushed off from where she was leaning against the wall nearby. “You didn’t seem all that surprised to learn I’m the new guild master.”
What was it with assassins always leaning against walls? I was more comfortable standing at attention myself. Maybe I should try it? Or maybe I should just consider storing a chair in my storage ring. I was surprised I hadn’t thoughtabout that sooner … so many occasions I could have been lounging comfortably instead of making do with hard benches or wooden inn sleeping cots.
And it would be a real power move to whip out a plush chaise and sit during conversations.
“I know a leader when I meet one,” I replied. She was self-assured and confident in a relaxed and standoffish kind of way. She didn’t interrupt even once during the negotiations. It was actually refreshing. “Congratulations on the new position.”
A wicked gleam crossed her face then, and she smiled a vicious smile. “Thank you.”
“My only surprise is that I got to actually meet the elf who managed to survive Duke Wyldon’s investigation and get past my king’s border guards with a battalion of assassins,” I said pointedly.
