Page 39 of The King's Sword
There was something about Evander’s kindness toward her, the way he joked with her and made her laugh. She needed to snap out of it. She was here for one reason and one reason only—to get rid of the assassin so she could return to Lynk—to her husband. She had a war to stop.
The sound of water falling came from behind her so she twisted around and saw Evander wringing his shirt out over the side of the boat. At least he was clothed now.
He hung his wet shirt to dry over the seat beside him. “I guess there’s not much I can do about my pants except sit here and be uncomfortable.” He looked her right in the eyes. “Unless you’re good with me taking them off?”
If he wanted her to say it was okay for him to change his pants in front of her, she wasn’t going to. He’d have to sit there and suffer. “I think you’ll manage just fine.” She’d never been so thankful for it being dark out as she was now. Under the night sky, there was no way to see her blush.
Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “Was that Ex you killed?”
“No, unfortunately it wasn’t.” He scanned the shoreline. “It seems news of his reward for your capture has not only spread to other towns, but most have figured out where we’re headed now.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“Keeping me alive.” While she knew he did it to save his own skin and keep his family and kingdom protected, she still wanted him to know she appreciated his help. “Does it bother you?” she asked, curious to know more about this man before her.
“Does what bother me? Sitting here in wet pants? Yes.”
She shook her head. “Killing people.”
He didn’t answer right away, and she thought perhaps he wasn’t going to. “If I think of them as people, yes,” he said, his voice soft. “But you have to understand, there is a code. We live and die by that code.”
She didn’t understand what he meant by code and was afraid to ask.
“Sometimes it’s better to be proactive.” He ran a hand through his wet hair. “I didn’t set out in life to be the head of the Crimson Cloaks.”
Her eyes went to the tattoo around his wrist.
“I’m the youngest person ever to lead them.”
She imagined it wasn’t an easy position to earn or maintain.
“But my family…they’re the most important thing to me. If being the leader of an assassin guild keeps them safe, then it’s worth it.”
Sabine had no idea how any of this worked. “I thought your family was head of one of the guilds?”
He nodded. “My father was. Traditionally, it passes to his first born son. But after three daughters, people started to question him. By the time I was five, there had already been attempts on my father to take his place. My parents started training me even more. I shouldn’t have had to take over until my thirties, but we knew my father wouldn’t make it that long.”
“So you took the position from your father?”
“I had to pass a series of tests, but yes, I took the position from my father. He is now just a king. Nothing more. Sometimes I think he resents me for it. But he’s alive.” His focus went back to the shoreline.
Sabine could feel the conversation was over. She didn’t think Evander had ever shared this with anyone else.
* * *
The sky started to lighten. Dark clouds, a constant here in Avoni, promised rain. The forest along the canal ended, replaced by two and three story buildings, jammed close together.
Evander steered the boat toward a dock.
“Are we stopping?” Sabine asked, wondering how far they were from the palace.
“I need to change out of my wet pants and sleep for a few hours.” When they neared the dock, Evander reached out, tying the boat up. He got out and extended his arm.
Sabine grabbed his hand, letting him pull her up and out of the boat.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his body, as they made their way from the dock into town.
