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I find them faster than expected. Twelve men at his back, twelve at his front. One holds the tip of his bayonetted blaster to Zale's back, urging him forward.
My lips curl in distaste. A natural enough response to being anywhere near his highness for weeks,but now, my disgust is directed toward the foolish man holding his sharp weapon so close to Zale. Doesn't he realize that one false move, and he could impale a fucking king?
"If you can hear me, glance to your left right now," I whisper low.
I don't know much about his nature. Some demis have acute hearing, and I pray he figures among them.
I'm relieved to see him look to the closest house, casually. With a sigh, I continue, "There are two of your guards at the next intersection, poised to ambush your attackers. They're going to die," I tell him, matter-of-fact. "The rebels will be distracted for a few seconds—just a few seconds. I need you to jump into the canal. Nod if you understand."
I can tell he dislikes this plan, even from a distance, even without hearing a word. His sharp look around, to try to catch my eyes is all I need.
"Fall in line or die. Those are your choices, Devar."
The company approaches the intersection. One step. Another one. A third.
I silently scale down the wall lounging the canal, until I land on one of the small boats docked along the jetty.
This is just another escape. I've survived hundreds, maybe thousands, of them. Except I was running from lane soldiers with magik, not fellow commons until now.
I can do this. I can do this.
I have to.
And so does he.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
AT DAGGER’S POINT
Ican't see a thing from my vantage point, but I can hear the commotion. It's now or never. Zale will have either followed my advice or opted to fight two dozen men out of stupid pride—or loyalty to his guards.
Three, two, one…
A sigh of relief crosses my lips when I hear the first man scream, "He's running! Catch him! The king!"
Zale leaps in the air, just as the boat I stole passes underneath him. He lands with a groan, wincing. "Hold on," I say, engaging the engine to speed up as fast as it can go.
Some of the common men run along the canal, others jump in the water, but they're no match for the speed of a boat.
My heart feels like it's beating at a thousand miles an hour when we lose them around a sharp corner.
They'll catch up eventually. It's now or never.
"Let's jump."
"What? We need to get to the sea, charter a boat to head north."
"How many thousands of men will wait for you at the harbor? Forme," I amend.
They'll all speak about me, too, soon enough.
"Hel…"
I take my ridiculous, ruby-encrusted dagger from its sheath in my cloak and twirl it around my wrist, for no other reason than to let him understand just how well I can wield a blade, before bringing the tip to his chin.
Zale has the gall to chuckle. I want to punch him. Does he realize how close I am to stabbing him and counting my losses?
I'm so irritated at him after the council session, I perfectly understand the commons who wanted to bring it all down.
