Page 53 of Path of the Dark
17
Time to Die
TIME WAS UP. Tonight Nina would die.
From his chamber window, high in the palace, Elias watched as yet another volley exploded above the rooftops, illuminated against the deep indigo sky. Streamers of firelight shot into the air, heralding the beginning of Rithmar’s Fire Festival.
Soon he would leave the palace and join the revelers, but for the moment he remained at the window, his thoughts turning inward.
He and Nathan had concluded their negotiations today. Elias would have to leave The Royal City within the next day or two.
There would be no more delays. The job needed to be completed.
Drawing in a deep breath, Elias stepped from the window, bent down, and drew the blade from his boot. The light was dim in his chamber, for none of the lanterns in the chamber were lit, but the slender dagger—folded and tempered Anthor steel—gleamed as if illuminated from within. The silver handle fitted into his palm, and he closed his fingers over it.
Ninia didn’t deserve this, but that didn’t matter.
He’d waited too long, allowed himself to feel too settled in The Royal City.
He’d allowed himself to get distracted.
Sheathing the blade, he turned from the window and walked to the chamber door.
Santino and the four other men of Anthor stood waiting for him. It was the first time since arriving in The Royal City, he’d seen his men amassed like this. Until now, Nathan had forbidden it. It seemed that tonight he was prepared to let his guard down.
A mistake.
The look on Santino’s face made Elias frown. His second bristled with impatience. He opened his mouth to speak, but Elias cut him off with a sharply raised hand.
“Don’t tell me what needs to be done,” he growled. “I’m well aware of it.”
Santino stared back at him, his lean face growing taut. Behind him, the other men exchanged surprised looks. “Excuse me, Your Highness … I didn’t mean—”
“Enough,” Elias cut him off. His gaze swept over his men, before he glanced around to ensure they were alone in the corridor. “Be at the ready to move.”
They nodded, and Santino favored him with a tight smile. The man didn’t need to say anything, but Elias could read his eyes.It’s about time.
Elias led the way downstairs and out of the palace. In the sloping cobbled space beneath the palace gates, revelers had built a bonfire and were already dancing around it. Laughter and music rose up into the balmy night air.
Elias inhaled the aroma of baking bread mingled with the scent of wood smoke. Anthor celebrated a similar festival this time of year, for fire symbolized the beginning of summer. Only, the smells in Mirrar Rock were quite different; there, the aroma of garlic, frying fish, and hot peppers would fill the streets on a night like this.
Moving down the slope, Elias entered The King’s Way. He traveled down to the vast market square before the gates to the lower town, and as he walked, his thoughts started to spiral. The image of Ninia’s proud face, her frank hazel eyes, and the fearless way she looked at him rose unbidden—and a boulder settled upon Elias’s chest. Bile crept up his throat.
Enough. Elias savagely shoved the thoughts aside. For what was to come he couldn’t risk introspection. He had to enter the place he went to in battle.
A place devoid of feeling.
But as he entered the square and let his gaze drift across the jostling crowd, he saw her.
Not Ninia, but Ryana.
Elias stopped short, letting the crowd eddy around him. Ryana hadn’t yet seen him. She was dressed differently than usual this evening, in form-fitting leather leggings and a sleeveless charcoal tunic that was belted at the waist. The clothing showed off her tall, statuesque body. Elias dragged his gaze down the length of her, taking in the generous swell of those breasts he’d feasted on, the long, shapely lines of her legs that had wrapped around him as he’d taken her. She wore her heavy golden hair loose this evening. It fell in sensual waves down her back.
Ryana threw back her head and laughed at something the red-haired young woman beside her had just said.
Elias’s chest constricted, the weight on his breastbone increasing. Under different circumstances he’d have sought her out in the crowd, would have stayed at her side all evening before taking her back toThe Black Boarfor another night of passion. A day had passed since they’d lain together. He’d left the inn at dawn and hadn’t seen Ryana since. But tonight, he had another purpose.
He had to stay away from Ryana.
