Cage of Deceit(84)

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“One of my men isn’t in position,” he answered as he slid in the doorway alongside her.

They stood there waiting for several minutes, neither one of them speaking. Since they hadn’t been able to locate Grevik, their only hope was following the assassin to his hideout and rescuing Grevik there.

“Let’s go,” Jarvik said, waving her forward. “They’re moving.”

“Is the decoy with the assassin?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Allyssa stayed by Jarvik’s side as he swiftly advanced through the streets. He kept glancing up at one of his men on the rooftops. They came to the wealthy part of the city where mostly homes were located.

Since there were hardly any people about, Jarvik remained concealed in the shadows of nearby homes and bushes. He squatted next to a tree, pulling Allyssa down with him. “There,” he whispered in her ear, pointing ahead of them.

A man wearing a black cape with a woman by his side walked up the pathway to a dark house. Allyssa couldn’t tell if the girl was blindfolded or not because of her hood. Jarvik crouched and followed them, Allyssa at his heels.

Instead of going up to the front door, the assassin skirted around the side of the house. Behind the property there was a smaller house, probably used by servants. The assassin led the woman up a flight of stairs to the entrance of the smaller house. He opened the door, and they disappeared inside.

“Let’s go,” Jarvik said, pulling out a knife. He raised his arm and six soldiers slid out of the shadows.

As they approached the house, three soldiers took the lead, Jarvik and Allyssa following, while the remaining three soldiers brought up the rear. Clutching onto her dagger, Allyssa tried to calm her raging nerves as she crept up the stairs. At the door, they paused and listened to the voices arguing inside. A female scream pierced the air and Allyssa grabbed Jarvik’s hand, trying to steady herself so she didn’t burst through the door and ruin the plan. Jarvik held up his other hand and made a fist. Everyone armed themselves, preparing to fight. Already holding one dagger, Allyssa withdrew a second one and nodded. Jarvik pointed at the door and the first three soldiers stormed inside, Allyssa running in behind them, ready to attack the assassin.

As she stepped through the threshold, two soldiers lay on the ground, lifeless, with daggers protruding from their chests. Bri clutched her side, blood oozing out of a knife wound. In the center of the room, slumped over on the chair, sat an unmoving Grevik. Blood pooled on the floor beneath him.

A rushing sound filled Allyssa’s ears, and she became dizzy. The remaining soldiers entered and searched for the assassin, who was nowhere in sight.

“Check the floorboards to see if any are loose,” Jarvik ordered. “You and you, search the outside perimeter. Hurry.”

The room swayed before her, and she stumbled.

Marek stormed inside with the six Emperion soldiers. He ran to Grevik, touching his neck to locate his pulse. Marek lifted Grevik’s eyelids and then turned to face Allyssa. “I’m so sorry,” he said.

“He can’t be dead,” she said as she took a step back and bumped into one of her soldiers.

“Forgive me,” the soldier said as he lifted his sword with shaking hands and placed the blade against her throat. “The assassin has my family.”

“Don’t do this,” Marek pleaded as he righted himself.

Her soldier wrapped his arm around her upper body, pinning her arms down. She was unarmed since both of her daggers had fallen to the floor when she saw Grevik.

“If I deliver the princess,” the soldier said, his blade piercing her skin, “he’ll let my family go.”

“That’s what he told us about this man.” Jarvik nodded toward Grevik’s limp body. “The assassin didn’t keep his word. He’s probably lying about your family. Release the princess, and we’ll help you rescue your wife and children.”

The soldier slowly shook his head. “You don’t understand,” he said, his voice shaking. “He’ll kill them.”

“You took an oath,” Marek said. “If you take the princess, you’ll be a traitor. You’ll be hanged.”

“But my wife and kids will be safe.”

“No, they won’t,” Jarvik insisted. “If you don’t release the princess, your family will be arrested for your crimes.”

“No … no …” the soldier cried. “I have to take her to him. He promised.”

Allyssa saw the small knife in Jarvik’s hand. He shifted his grip, and she knew he was going to throw it at the soldier who held her. However, she had no intention of being the damsel in distress who needed rescuing. Her father was a legendary commander for a reason.