I made sure to look straight ahead and hurried along, careful not to step on people who were situated on the floor.
“I can’t!” a woman cried from somewhere behind a ripped, hanging curtain.
“If you don’t get out there, you won’t get anything for your kids.”
I lifted my eyes. In the center of the room stood a metal staircase. Several men went up and disappeared on the second floor. I paused only for a moment before following them.
On the second level everything looked quite crowded with stacks of crates and other things. Someone was cooking some sort of spoiled grain, and the unpleasantly sweet smell was all I could concentrate on. Along the walls, were multiple doors. I inched closer to one of them, noticing that the sun had completely disappeared and the gaps between the stained curtains and the walls looked nearly black. The lack of natural light was something I could use to my advantage. I boldly stepped toward one of the doors and opened it. On the other side was a storage area with a hoard of dented buckets, further into the room, everything appeared completely dark. I closed the door, returning my attention to the main room.
I looked around and snatched one of the candles that was melting in a tin cup. Slowly, I stepped around a tall pile of wooden boxes. Suddenly, someone bumped into me and my back hit the wall. I dropped the candle and a moment later I felt the sharp edge of the blade pressing against my throat.
“Looks like a rat got into the house.” A low voice hissed in my ear.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I live here.” I inhaled, brushing my hand against the handle of my dagger.
“Say, should I kill you right here on the spot?”
“Are you dumb? I said, I live here,” I repeated.
“This time Veramorr will pay me double,” the man mumbled.
I was about to kick him in the groin and slash his arteries, but the familiar name stopped me cold. This would be so much easier than searching the entire building. I relaxed my shoulders, allowing the guard to push me ahead of him.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
TYNAN
Long after Alina left, I remained staring at the closed door, inhaling the light scent of strawberries and something flowery. She had only been gone a short while, but I already wanted her to come back. I had to keep her away from the poison, it was the right thing to do, but I was weak and selfish. I wanted her with me, even if it was not safe. Another moment, and I would have reached out to brush the corner of her tender mouth. She looked tired, anxious, and I was the reason.
I sighed, slumping against the table and into the chair. My neck ached and the skin on my cheek had started to tingle. The sacred water was working its magic. I watched the patterns on the brick wall until someone knocked.
“Yes?” I turned my head.
“Milord, sir.”
“Mayer?”
The young man stepped into the room, but his hand remained on the door.
“We found him, sir.”
“Steiner?”
“Yes sir. He has a house in the city. One of the servants told me.”
“Has anyone entered the house?”
“No sir.”
I approached the table and secured the knives to my belt.
“Are you going to go, sir?” Mayer asked.
“Yes.”
“But, sir.”
“I can’t risk anyone else.”
