“I’m sorry, sir. Is that advisable, after what happened?” Mayer shifted on his feet.
I stopped right in front of the soldier. He was a good kid, smart, quick, and not afraid to speak his mind. He had a bright future ahead of him.
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“But, Lady Alina?—”
“Lady Alina doesn’t need to know.”
“Yes sir.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. Mayer met my gaze.
“Let's get it over with,” I said.
“This is it.” Mayer faced the average looking house with a narrow, steep roof and light gray brick facade.
I felt the hilt of my sword, focusing on the front door. The traitor probably expected us. He had military training, and even outnumbered, he could be dangerous. I looked up at the front of the building. He could be hiding behind one of the windows. In any case, he had no place to go.
“What are your orders, sir?”
I flexed my shoulders.
“Sir?”
“Stay here.”
“But, sir!” Mayer called, but I was already walking toward the door.
At the entrance, I positioned myself against the wall, avoiding the door. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mayer sprinting around the corner, heading to the back of the building. I bared my teeth.
That moron!
There was no time to lose.
I kicked the door, immediately stepping away. A moment later, an arrow flew out of the darkness and hit the wall of the oppositebuilding, snapping in half. I glanced into the dark hall. A clever contraption with a crossbow was attached to the door handle. An easy kill of any unsuspecting person. I signalled to two warriors who sprinted past me and inside the poorly lit room. I quickly followed and immediately crouched on the floor, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dim light. The sounds of a struggle came from one of the rooms down the corridor.
“Mayer!” I shouted, sprinting down the hall.
“To the left!” Denis called out from behind me.
I kicked the door open. Steiner stood in the center of a small, cramped room. Mayer was in front of him. All I could see of him was half of one leg.
Steiner had the upper hand. He turned toward me, letting Mayer go.
There was so much blood. It spurted out of Mayer’s neck, matching the beat of his fading heart. I jumped forward, grabbed Steiner’s neck and threw him to the floor. The coward was still holding onto a dagger. Without thinking, I stomped on his hand. The sound of breaking bones filled the space. Steiner growled, glaring at me with his hateful eyes.
“Denis!” I shouted, leaving him to deal with Steiner.
I crouched beside Mayer, lifting his stiffened body. Blood sprayed my suit and covered my hands. The scent of copper thickening in the air.
“I . . . I’m . . . sorry . . . sir. I wanted . . . to show you that . . . I can . . . be a warrior. So . . . stupid.” His eyes rolled upward.
“Don’t talk! Don’t talk! I need water!” I pressed my hand against the wound below his jaw.
The warmth of his blood on my skin, his breaking, hissing breaths reminded me of what happened to Sol on that night when I failed him. His wide eyes that looked at me with crushing intensity. The last words he uttered.
“Tell... my...mother...” Mayer struggled to speak and then his face relaxed, every feature softened. A splash of blood on his eyebrow colored his eyelashes.
