Chapter 23 Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Chapter 23


Alden was sitting alone in his study. The tea was still there and cold. The list was still on the desk. He looked at the names. Marik. The others. Men who would do anything for money.

He picked up the list from the desk. He read it again.

He heard a knock on the door. He looked up and Pearce stepped in.

Alden said "What is it?"

Pearce said "The girl. Mira. She's leaving the house."

Alden said "Where is she going?"

Pearce said "The kitchen. She's taking food. Bread. Meat. Wrapped in cloth."

Alden set the list down and stood up.

He said "Follow her. See where she goes."

Pearce said "Yes, my lord."

He turned to leave.

Alden said "Take Marik and two of his men. Quietly."

Pearce said "And if they find him?"

Alden walked to the window. The street was dark. The lamps were lit. People moved in the shadows.

He said "If they find him, they bring him here. Alive."

Pearce said "And if he won't come?"

Alden turned. His face was calm. His eyes were cold.

He said, "Then they bring him dead."

Pearce left.

Alden stood at the window. He watched the street. A figure moved in the shadows. Small and fast. A girl with a bundle under her arm.

She went down the street. Toward the warehouses.

Alden watched her go.

He said to himself "Find him. Bring him to me."

He picked up his tea. The cold tea. He drank it anyway.

Mira walked fast through the dark streets. Her bundle was under her arm. Bread. Meat. Cheese. Enough for three people.

She looked behind her. The street was empty. She didn't think she was being followed. She kept walking.

She turned down an alley. The warehouses loomed above her. Dark. Silent.

She stopped at a door and knocked three times. Then waited for a response.

The door opened. A girl stood there. Young and dirty. Eyes that looked too tired.

Rook said "What are you doing here?"

Mira said "I brought food. For him."

Rook said "He didn't ask for food."

Mira said "He needs it. He's hurt."

Rook said "How do you know?"

Mira said "I saw him. At the dinner. He was bleeding."

Rook stared at her. "You saw him?"

Mira said "I saw an old man with a broom. But I knew it was him."

She pushed past Rook. The room was dark. Kaelen sat against the wall. His chest was bandaged. His face was pale.

Mira knelt beside him. She unwrapped the bundle. Bread. Meat. Cheese.

She said, "You need to eat."

Kaelen looked at her. His eyes were tired. He said "Why are you helping me?"

She said "Because Alden took everything from my father. Because I want him to pay."

Kaelen said nothing.

She said "He knows about me. He's watching. He'll find out I came here."

Kaelen said "Then why come?"

She said "Because you're the only one who can hurt him."

She put the bread in his hand. He looked at it. Then he looked at her.

He said "Thank you."

She stood up. She walked to the door. She looked back.

She said "He's bringing soldiers. Men who kill. Twenty. Maybe more."

Kaelen said "I know."

She said "How do you know?"

He said "Someone told me."

She stared at him for a moment. Then she nodded. She opened the door.

Rook grabbed her arm. She said "If they follow you here, we're dead."

Mira said "They won't."

She pulled away. She walked out into the dark.

Kaelen sat against the wall. The bread was in his hand. He did not eat.

Rook said "She's going to get us killed."

Kaelen said "She already has. I can feel them coming."

Sparrow was at the window. She said "There's someone outside."

Kaelen stood up. His chest hurt. His legs shook. He moved to the window.

Three men stood in the street. One of them was tall with a scar across his throat. That Marik.

They were looking at the warehouse.

The tall one pointed. Said something. The other two nodded.

They started walking toward the door.

Kaelen's hand went to his belt. His knife was gone. He had nothing.

Rook pulled her knife. Sparrow picked up a piece of wood.

The footsteps came closer. Stopped outside the door.

A voice. "This is the place. She went in here."

Kaelen moved to the back of the room. There was a window. Small. High. It led to the alley.

He said with a small voice not audible enough for them to hear, "Go. Go. Go. Now."

Rook said "What about you?"

He said "I'll follow."

She said, "You can't climb."

He said, "Go."

She climbed through the window. Sparrow followed. Kaelen turned to the door.

It burst open.

Marik stood there. His knife was out. His eyes were cold.

He said "The Greyman. Alden wants to see you."

Kaelen said nothing.

Marik said "Come quiet. Or don't. Makes no difference to me."

Kaelen moved. His hand went to a crate. He swung it. Marik dodged. The crate hit the wall.

Marik lunged at him. His knife cut Kaelen's arm. Kaelen stumbled back. Blood ran down his hand.

Marik said "You're hurt. Tired. Give up already."

Kaelen said nothing.

He grabbed a piece of wood from the floor. It was sharp. Splintered.

He raised it.

Marik laughed. "A stick? You're going to fight me with a stick?"

Kaelen said, “Marik right? If you ask me, I would say, don't allow Alden to drag you and your men into this battle. The consequences would be dire.”

Marik said with a serious face and hoarse voice, “Let me worry about that. Now come with us alive, or you come with us dead. Pick one.”

Kaelen swung. The wood hit Marik's face. Blood sprayed. Marik fell back.

Kaelen turned. He ran to the window. He climbed through. His arm screamed. His chest burned.

He fell into the alley. Rook was ther
e. She pulled him up.

They ran.

Behind them, Marik stood in the doorway. Blood on his face. His knife in his hand.

He screamed at his men outside, "Find them."

His men ran into the dark.