Page 101 of Choosing Jenny
“I mean when Iletyou live because you had taken my mentor in.”
“Could it be that the deadliest assassin on Orhon was feeling sentimental?” I said, deliberately provoking him.
“Your cheeky tone is killing my sentiment, Ripper,” he said, his tone a low growl of sound. “I never did get paid on that contract for your head…”
I shrugged. “Tack it on to my bill for Justice and whoever else you kill in his pursuit.”
“Done.”
“Who took the contract out on me, anyway?” I dared to ask. “I never did find out.”
“And you never will,” he said in a flat tone. “I don’t make the kind of money I do by running my mouth. That secrecy covers you, too.”
Fair enough.“I used a dummy account to transfer the credits to you. Did you receive—”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Do you even care why I want Justice dead?” I asked him.
He didn’t look the least bit curious. “The why of it does not get me paid.”
And that was that. “Since we’re done here, I must be heading back.” It was getting later, and I didn’t want to worry Jenny and Tiger.
He nodded once. “See you at the palace, Ripper.” He leapt back up into his tree, then vanished in the dark.
Alone in the swamp, I exhaled a deep breath and headed back to the onworlder. As I drove to the manor, I checked my messages. There were always notifications. I was included in any palace or council announcements, so I’d grown accustomed to ignoring them. But a notice from Justice was not easily dismissed. I stopped the onworlder to read it.
Longshot has come through and discovered the name of one of the allies of the rebellion. Buster Dembeck, of all people. Evidently, he is running his operations right from his prisoncell in Yesanol, no doubt emboldened by Thunder’s absence from her governorship there. You have the honor of executing him. You are to bring Jenny Hollinger, Tiger Orne, Discord Scrylock, and Longshot with you to act as witnesses to his execution, so they may speak of the horrors of it to those on Halla. Those panicking reactionaries will either give up their rebellion or it will make all of this come to a head. Either way, it will be finished by the time the games begin. Today is a good day, Malice.
My blood went ice cold in my veins as I tried to wrap my mind around the truth of what Justice had messaged me. In confidence, Deacon had given us the name of Buster Dembeck as one of his allies, a man who wanted Justice dead as much as we,the rebellion, did.
If I had any food in my stomach, I would have thrown it up.
Longshot had betrayed the rebellion.
CHAPTER 33
Tiger
Sarah sat on her makeshift throne bed in the infirmary with Ode standing by, monitoring her carefully. The Queen’s coloring was paler than usual, which worried all of us, but she refused to neglect her duties.
Sarah addressed Illiamor and the two ghosts who had accompanied her inside the infirmary. While I couldn’t see the ghosts while we’d been on Orhon, here on Halla they were now visible to everyone.
“We are most happy to have all of you here in Sorellamore,” Sarah welcomed them. “The leader of my silverguard, Omen, will assist you in finding housing and occupations. You may live here in the city or anywhere else on Halla. If there is anything we can do for you, do not hesitate to let us know.”
Illiamor, the de facto spokesperson of the ghosts, bowed to Sarah. “We are in your debt, my Queen.”
Sarah managed to blush. “Oh please, we are not that formal here, and you are a legend.”
Illiamor smiled graciously. “You are the contra, as I understand it. You, too, are a legend.”
Sarah smiled and glanced from Abyss, to Omen, absently rubbing her big belly. “I will let you two handle getting the new conduits settled in, since I am stuck here for now, but keep me updated on everything.”
“Of course,” Omen said, then led everyone out of the infirmary.
I followed behind the group, listening as Illiamor said to Omen with gratitude in her voice, “I cannot express how much this means to us.”
“Likewise.” Omen smiled, her gaze encompassing the group of ghosts. “What you all sacrificed…weallwanted to end Illiapol. But politically, ending it was not an option. It’s too popular, we were told. Our former Mother was afraid of Justice’s power, too afraid to push for real change. And we all ended up dead anyway. We should have pushed her harder, we should have—”
