Page 30 of Ashen Wings

For as slimy the bastard is, he’s got impressive speed. He pulls a concealed pocketknife from his tunic and lets it fly. It impales right on target—just at the crook of Roe’s shoulder, and her blade scatters to the floor.

“Fuck.” She scowls, bracing the wound. It’s nowhere near lethal, but shit, it probably hurts like a bitch. She grimaces and yanks the knife from her flesh, blood oozing from the wound.

“Roe!”

She grits her teeth. “I’m fine, courier, but now all three of you fuckers have really pissed me off.”

“Why don’t we all just sit? Before this gets any messier,” I say, raising my palms.

“Shut up, Nova.” Roe’s nostrils flare as she speaks, but the group of us lower to the seats left forgotten.

“Now, as far as I know, Shadow is still a sanctuary state. I have every right to be here just as any citizen of the faction does. So why does your king send his dogs barking?” Tanner wags an index finger between the pair of us. “I’ve broken no laws…well, within Shadow of course.”

“Like I said, we’re only here to ask you some questions,” Roe says, groaning as she adjusts her posture. “For starters, you’re wanted in Storm for a calamity of indiscretions. Most notably, a certain merchant reported a significant amount of his wealth seemingly disappeared in the night. Want to tell us about that?” Her canines bite into her lip as she speaks, and I just know she’ll spring on these guys for even the slightest hint of another strike.

“Not particularly.” Tanner snorts.

Barstools squeal against the floor overhead and a heavy set of footsteps thuds a frantic dance.

“Stop squirming, Janisburn!” The boom of Isra’s voice shudders the ceiling, disturbing dust and cobwebs.

“Gods, sounds like quite the brawl up there. I’m guessing they won’t be back for a while. How unfortunate.” Tanner wets his lips and offers a revolting, rotten smile.

“Just answer the question, Pyris, then we’ll be on our way. What merchant did you steal from?” Roe bites, cupping her shoulder to stop the trail of blood.

The brute beside me points his blade toward me, and I wrap my knuckles around the loose chair leg beneath me. If I had any one of my weapons this would be over by now.

“See, you’re not really in any position to order me around, princess.” Tanner huffs a laugh. The green-eyed crony follows his lead and chuckles. Then does his companion. Gods what I wouldn’t give to punch the two men square in the throat.

“If you kill us…” Roe’s booted toe inches toward the dropped golden blade. “Jace won’t be pleased.”

“I have no intention of killing you, girl. I’ve grown bored in this shit stained basement, but lucky for me, Ashborne himself has given me two young beauties.” Tanner rises from his seat, his leathery hands hovering just above his belt buckle.

“I wouldn’t do whatever you’re thinking of trying to do,” Roe warns. Her boot is a hair's width from the blade.

Tanner cocks his head. “Again, you’re really not in any position to spit warnings either.”

Before he can unclasp his belt, a flash of gold glints in the air and Roe catches the blade in her palm.

Green Eyes doesn’t have time to register the attack. He collapses to his knees, blood spurting from a killing slash across his neck.

The second brute charges me, and I kick myself up, snapping the chair leg from its base. He lurches for me, fists swinging, and teeth gnashing like a rabid animal. I duck his attack and dig the fractured edge of my makeshift weapon into his calf. He grunts a quiet cry and stumbles to the dusty floor.

“You bitch,” he spits, plucking each splinter from his flesh.

“Surprising. I didn’t think you knew how to speak,” I retort, replacing the chair leg with his lost blade. Fuck, it’s heavier than I’m used to, but it’ll have to do. I glance toward Roe, who’s now standing on the table with her forearms wrapped around Tanner’s neck in an unbreakable hold.

“Just tell us what we want to know, you slimy fuck,” she seethes, squeezing harder. Tanner writhes and chokes for breath. His eyes bulge from their sockets and his lips gape for desperate air.

Without wasting time, I lunge again for my oncoming attacker. My step falters with the weight of his weapon, and he catches my ankle, ripping me to the floor. Pain erupts through my skull as my head cracks on stone. I bite the jerk reaction, steeling myself against another blow. His fist connects with my cheek, and the crunch of bone turns my stomach.

“The merchant, Pyris. What’s the merchant's name?”

The ceiling quakes with erupted chaos in the bar above us. With Roe violently indisposed, it looks like I’m on my own for this one. I roll to my back, letting the man press his weight into my chest. My lungs cling to the little breath I have left as they’re crushed by his giant body.

“Fuck you,” Tanner chokes.

“I’ll let you go when you tell us,” Roe says, her voice low and furious. “What’s the merchant's name?”