Page 30 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
Julian used [Scan] to detect for poison before picking the arrow up. His [Silent Guard] allowed him to cast his abilities without saying them aloud—an important perk to have when monster hunting.
“Wait, it’s poisoned!” Gerda shouted at him, grabbing his arm. She alsofinallylooked him in the eye. With how much she’d managed toavoiddoing so, the small victory made Julian’s lips twitch in a small smile.
“I am not a fool,” he chided. “I know how to handle a poisoned arrow.”
“As you say, Your Grace.” Gerda’s mouth snapped into a frown, but she dropped her head into a polite bow. He resisted the strange urge to reach out and tilt her head upward again so she would be forced to look him in the eye … and turned to address the arena instead.
The battle had come to a complete stop. Candace and Cimor were now standing at attention in their opening placements, and the unnatural quiet of the crowd felt like it would break at the slightest provocation. Julian’s voice carried over the silence. “We have secured the arena and have everything under control.”
There was a murmur. Any other year, and a small assassination attempt like this wouldn’t have been noteworthy—but everyone remembered the warnings from Madame Potts. Still, a single arrow wasnotthe same as “fireworks,” and the arrow hadn’t even beenonfire.
“There will be a ten-minute intermission before we resume,” he announced. “Startingnow.”
The place erupted in conversation as Julian turned back to Gerda, who still had her head lowered. For some reason, that irritated him. “Gerda the Bridge Troll,” he said. “Meet with me after the match.”
“Is there a problem?” Henrietta, the queen of the Dark Enchanted Forest, leaned over and put a hand on Gerda’s shoulder in support. Henrietta normally blended into the background, but she was supporting Gerda with a fierce determination that physically charged the air around them.
It was an aura laced with sword intent.
“I simply wish to speak with her and collect a statement for the incident report,” Julian reassured the Dark Lady. “You may accompany her, if you wish.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Gerda hurriedly told Henrietta. “You wanted to take Lady Amy to see the Hall of Inventions after this. I can meet you there. It won’t take long.”
Henrietta asked, “Are you sure? I can represent you.”
“I’m just taking a statement,” Julian repeated. For some reason, that made Henrietta shoot him a look full of suspicion, so he added, “And confirming her safety. She’s thevictimhere, and still in possible danger.”
Henrietta wavered, likely remembering the list of Blackfog targets. Sensing his win, Julian concluded, “Now, I would like to officially apologize, Miss Gerda, for the attack you’ve received while attending our event. You will be informed of any outcome to our investigation. I will see you after the match. Your Majesty.” Julian added a nod to Queen Henrietta before leaving.
Julian’s Strength stat was his highest attribute at forty-nine, and it allowed him to jump the distance with ease. To control his fall, he activated [Light Foot] and landed gently on the edge of his box seats with practiced grace. As far as Julian was concerned, for quality of life, nothing could beat fast travel skills.
A black-robed figure was awaiting him, trussed up and gagged, courtesy of John.
His rogue was very good at his job. John was silent, he was observant, and he was professional. If it weren’t for his tendency to get drunk and sob uncontrollably about missing his daughter, everyone would’ve assumed he was as cold and standoffish as he appeared at work.
But that was exactly what it was: work. And John was good at it.
He launched straight into his report. “Twenty-three-year-old Ellanora Green. Assassin registered with the Peldeep Assassin Assembly. Five foot six, brown hair, purple eyes, pale complexion. She had a contract on Gerda the Bridge Troll.”
Julian nodded.
John handed over the contract, signed and stamped and official. “I’ve taken her into custody for three reasons: Gerda the Bridge Troll is a citizen of Nilheim, and both North Sumbria and Nilheim hold contracts to only allow assassinations on members of the elite governing class. Her daggers arenotAssembly standard issue pettle steel pommels, and she was in possession of this.”
He passed over a second sheet of paper.
The shocked grunt from Ellanora made it obvious that John must’ve stolen the second note without her knowledge. The human went from silently waiting in the corner to struggling. Julian and John left her to it. John was a master of his craft, and a monster in his class.
“Gerda is technically an elite,” Julian said offhandedly before glancing at the list.
MADAME POTTS
Necromancer Chloe Watercress
Commander General Rufus of Nilheim
Grand Duchess Calisto of North Sumbria
Countess Julia of North Sumbria
