Page 36 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“Exactly.” Gerda tapped her chin. “So why would Chadwick have kidnapped the spy?”
“… Because he didn’t know that the spies were working for the duke?” Julian said, pointing out the obvious.
“Or”—there was a glint in her eyes as Gerda reasoned—“because the Blackfog spies weren’t working for Duke Lector.”
Julian argued, “Your own kingdom was invaded by the duke with their aid.”
“Afterthe Spring Ball,” Gerda said. “Before that, Servalt was using contract mercenaries and both assassin guilds, but no Blackfog spies.”
He frowned, considering her words. “Alright.”
“That’s what I know,” she concluded. “Look into what changed at the Spring Ball, and you’ll—” She stopped short in the middle of her sentence. Julian waited; she’d obviously thought of something. “Look into what changed at the Spring Ball,” Gerda repeated, slower, “and we might figure out their motive.”
He waited still, expecting her to continue with her thoughts, but they remained hidden. Instead, Gerda rose to her feet, Julian only a breath behind her.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, my friends are waiting.”
She was headed for the door; she wasleaving. Julian chased after her.
“Wait,” he told her. She paused at the door and looked back at him. It was the same as last night all over again, but this time, he had the upper hand. “You are being targeted,” he reminded her. “Which is why I’m going to assign you a guard during your visit.”
“Respectfully, Your Grace,” Gerda said, “I refuse.” Her eyes were fierce and fiery.
“Miss Gerda,” he spoke her name softly. “Please don’t take this as me laughing at your abilities. Accept my guard while you’re here.”
“The fact that your sister can’t beat me should’ve already confirmed my abilities,” the troll snapped, but it seemed like her mind was somewhere else. She was looking at a notification.
Julian was impressed; his sister was a battle-loving adventurer who could solo some dungeons.
“Besides”—Gerda shook her head—“you have enough problems on your hands. You can’t spare the guards.”
At that moment, John sent him an emergency message using his [Shadow Chat] skill. It resembled the communication interface available to parties formed while dungeon delving, but it only worked if one of John’s shadow clones was attached to Julian.
[Come to the Hall of Inventions. You’re going to want to see this.]
Julian read the note twice, but that was all it said.
He looked down at the troll. “How did you know?”
“Know what?” She looked up at him with big, innocent eyes, but he could see that her hands were clenched in her skirts. “If the city is full of Blackfog spies, you can’t afford to have a guard following me around shopping. Isn’t that obvious?”
A whistle blew off in the distance, loud and shrill.
CHAPTER 19
I’d Changed Everything
Gerda
Julian shot me an exasperated look that didn’t fit his character description at all. How could he be described as tall, dark, and emotionally scarred when he looked at me likethat?
He’d evenlaugheda few minutes ago!
“This isn’t over!” he said, pulling back to make room for me to open the door. Despite my mind telling me everything would be fine, my hands still had a tremor as I hurried to let us out.
Gerda’s body hadyearsof trauma, and as soon as someone bigger closed in on my personal space, my blood pressure went through the roof and my hands started shaking. After five years, I’d gotten it into a manageable response.
Once in the hallway, I put some distance between us. “I would think it is.”
