Page 49 of Sword of Rage
“No.”
As they neared the turn-off to her parents’ home, Ackley noted the large tree at the corner of the property—a perfect spot for someone to hide in. Someone with a bow. He would have to eliminate that person before taking out the soldiers behind him. Which meant he had a solid six seconds to strike the man in the tree, two seconds to throw his second dagger at one of the soldiers, then three seconds to withdraw his knives, throwing each of them. At that point, the last two men would be upon him. He could easily handle that many at once. The issue would be making sure Harley wasn’t harmed or taken during the mild altercation.
Now for the real dilemma. Under normal circumstances, he’d kill these men without hesitation. However, this wasn’t his kingdom, these men should be on their side, and Harley’s low opinion of him being a brute assassin would be confirmed. Not that he cared what she thought of him, but he wasn’t only a killer. And he only killed when necessary. That was what he needed to show her.
He would have to incapacitate the men instead of killing them then, which made his job infinitely more difficult. No matter. He thought through his plan one more time, imagining the hits, strikes, and moves he needed to make in order to injure without killing.
“When I tell you to,” he whispered to Harley, “drop to the ground and remain there.”
“Of course.” She didn’t even ask a single question or argue.
Sliding the daggers from his sleeves, he placed one in each palm, needing to throw them just the right way so the hilt would hit each man instead of the blade. “Now.” Ackley threw his dagger at what he hoped was the archer’s head. Then he whirled and flung his second dagger at the man on the far left. Withdrawing his two knives, he aimed for the foreheads of the two men in the middle, the hilts striking them. Three of his five pursuers were on the ground, moaning. He chanced a glance back. The archer had fallen from the tree and was holding his leg, his bow snapped in two.
The last two men rushed at him. He ditched his bag then ran at them, wanting to stop the men before they got too close to Harley. When almost upon them, he spun and kicked, hitting the man on the left. As he did so, he grabbed the other man, twisting his arm back, then flipping him on the ground. With all five lying on the road groaning, he went back for his bag, looking for his rope. He found it, then tied the men up.
“Harley.”
Sitting, she observed the sight before her. “Are they dead?”
“No, not one.”
He stalked over to the archer and grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt, dragging him to the others. After tying him up, Ackley clutched a fistful of the archer’s hair, forcing the man to look at him. “Why were you in the tree?”
The man spat at Ackley.
Using his arm, he wiped the spit from his chest, then pulled the short sword at his back, pressing the tip to the man’s groin. Ackley narrowed his eyes and hardened his face.
The man flinched. “I was told to shoot anyone who approached.” Sweat coated his forehead as he tried scooting backward.
Ackley pressed the sword harder, and the man froze. “Who gave you that order?”
“My superior.”
Ackley wanted to smack the guy for his non-answer. “And who is your superior?”
“Lieutenant Cliffton.”
“What about the five men who followed us?”
“They are supposed to follow anyone coming into the city.”
Again, a reasonable response given the state of things. “Who gave them that order?”
“Lieutenant Cliffton. He’s been in charge since Captain Lyle left.”
“Why were you up in the tree on this property?”
“Someone of importance lives there. I was asked to protect the property. Look, I just follow my orders, I don’t question them.” His breathing came out short and fast.
“Do you know about the takeover?” Ackley inquired.
“Yes. But Russek never came here.”
Again, a reasonable answer. “Do you know who the false king is?”
“False king?”
“Any idea who’s sitting on the throne?” Ackley pressed the tip of his sword in harder, emphasizing his point.
