Scourge Nineteen - Assassin

Scourge Nineteen - Assassin

Scourge Nineteen - Assassin

I shift in my bed, then glare out of the window above me. The suns rising already, the sky is turning from black to a deep blue, with hints of a brighter light along the horizon. In a few minutes it will be bright enough outside to see and all the birds will be waking up.

I really should try to sleep some more, but I cant.

Part of the reason is that Im not that tired anymore. I did get a few good hours of sleep in. The other reason is that Im sharing a bed with Esme. Shes clutching onto my shift, face pressed into my side and mouth half-open so that when she snores, its with all the force she can muster.

Its a recurring complaint post-sleepover that Esmes snores are unbearable. She still denies that she snores at all, of course.

I tilt forwards and look around the room. The doctor let us stay in his clinic overnight. There wasnt anyone else that needed the beds, and if we didnt stay here then wed have to sleep with the boys in the barracks, and Teo said that that would be a bad idea.

To be fair, if any of the Lions tried something, Im pretty sure any one of us could beat them to a pulp, but maybe its best that we just have our own space. Fewer broken noses that way.

Yawning, I try to extricate myself from Esmes grasp, which is easier said than done. I need to pry her hand open, then shove her back down when she moves in for a hug.

Its a good thing that no one can wake Esme up. If I bump her with my elbows and knees while rolling out of the bed, it doesnt matter at all. I think banging pots and pans against her head wouldnt wake her up from a deep sleep.

I wince as my feet touch the ground. Not just because my feet are all bandaged up, but because the floors all stone and its super chilly.

Felix and Bianca are sharing one of the other beds. They both pulled the longer straws last night. Felix basically doesnt make a sound while sleeping, and she doesnt move at all. Though she does wake up at the slightest noise.

Youre up? I whisper.

Her eyes are still closed, and she looks for all the world like shes sleeping, that is, until her lips quirk up at the corner and she nods. She rolls off the bed, then stretches her arms up and up until her back pops. Slept well? she asks.

Yeah, I lie.

Felix grins and gestures at the door. Come on, I bet they start with breakfast early here.

We grab our clothes, and dress in a silent hurry before heading out. I cant exactly go around without my trusty cloak. I have excuses for why my skin is the way it is, and for my eyes, but its always better not to raise suspicions in the first place.

As it turns out, Felix is right. Theres a chef in the barrack kitchens pushing loaves of barley bread into an oven while a large pot of beans simmers next to him.

Felix and I volunteer to help in exchange for an early breakfast and a single sausage link. Meat being as rare as it is, its something of a privilege to be allowed that much. We silently agree to split it in four between us.

Setting up mostly means carrying things to the mess where early risers are already sitting back and waiting for their food, including a few members of our caravan.

Hey Teo, I say as I set a bowlful of beans in front of him, then a loaf of fresh bread next to that.

Youre awake already? Good. Were not going to linger here for long. The stock we came to deliver was unloaded already.

Alright, I say. Ill go wake up the others. When are we leaving?

Im, Im fine, Bianca says. I appreciate you asking. It sounds rote, like some easy repetition of something polite to say. Basically, I dont believe her.

Who is he? I ask.

Esme snores, long and low and rumbly.

Bianca and I stare at each other. Her lips twist, and we both start to laugh.

I kneel down next to the body, then, because Im not that dumb, I poke his neck and check for a heartbeat, just in case hes not a body yet. Ive never killed anyone before, Bianca says.

The books will tell you that it makes you feel all weird and stuff, I say. But I never really understood that. I guess you can feel guilty, if you want. But I wouldnt bother. He attacked you, a sleeping girl, with a knife.

I could have restrained him, Bianca says.

With just fire magic? I ask. I pull open his lapel, and tug out a small emblem on a set of beads from his inner pockets. Its got the crossed-A symbol of Altum on it. A member of Altums church? Or just a believer of his?

He wasnt here for us, Bianca says.

I look up to her. How do you figure?

Inigo knew things. Hes here to silence him. We were just in the room too. Bianca rubs at her eyes. My first assassination attempt and its not even aimed at me.

Hey, hey, Im sure the next one will be, I comfort her.

We both start to giggle again.

Am, am I doomed to have a tainted soul now? she asks.

Huh?

You know, to be reborn as a worse monster because Id committed the sin of murder, she says.

Thats all propaganda. The monster you become will be warped based on the virtues and vices you have. Just killing someone isnt a vice. Revelling in killing, and being violent, that would mean something, but this? Yeah, this wont do anything to your soul, dont worry.

Youre not so great at comforting people, if you dont mind me saying so, Bianca says.

Sorry? Ill work on it some more. I point to Inigo. We need to question him. And I want to check on Felix. Can you splash some water on Esmes face, and keep an eye on the door? Im going to get her and come back here, itll only take a few seconds.

And then what?

Then we wake Inigo up and ask him some pointed questions before running off. I dont think I want to be in this outpost for much longer.

***