Midnight Jewel
Page 80

   A voice from the crowd yelled, “The militia! The militia is coming!”
   Tom looked up and scowled. “Get out of here!” he shouted. “You know where!”
   Between the din and battle lust, I didn’t think any of his men would even acknowledge the order. But they all stopped what they were doing and assembled at his side, quickly untying our horses. I was still standing and searching for Grant, but things were becoming even more chaotic in the street.
   “Get moving,” Tom said, coming to my side. “We need to—”
   One of the patrolmen, who apparently wasn’t down for the count, had obtained a pistol somehow and was charging toward Tom. Without even thinking, I jumped in front of Tom with my dirk pointing out. The man tried to swerve but stumbled and ran into my blade. It pierced the side of his abdomen, and he crumpled to the ground. I pulled the dirk out and stared at the blood on it, stunned.
   “Come on, Aviel!”
   Tom practically dragged me to the others, and then he and Elijah roughly lifted me onto a horse. I peered back frantically, still needing to know what had happened to Grant. I was on the verge of actually turning around until Tom slapped my mare, and she took off after her cohorts.
   We rode to a town house in a sleepy, middle-class neighborhood that had apparently finished celebrating for the night. The home belonged to some business associate who was away, but Tom had a key. We crowded into the parlor, dirty and bloody, and Tom immediately began issuing orders.
   “Everyone lays low for the rest of the night. Elijah, go tomorrow and get some funds from the Bull to pay whoever we’re bribing in the militia these days. Lesser Tom, you get word to the men who went to the storehouse. Tell them they’ll still get their money for tonight—it’s just going to be delayed. And Anders . . .” Tom fixed the Skarsian man with a glare. “As for you, you’re going to take your cut back to Molly’s tomorrow and give it to her as an ‘apology’ for the disturbance.”
   Anders winced, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of that punishment or because one of his eyes was almost swollen shut. “Boss, I’m sorry. When I saw them, I just—”
   “Yes, yes. I know.” Tom sank onto a plush sofa. I’d never seen him look so worn out. “But you caused a hell of a mess tonight. We can’t afford to get on Molly’s bad side. And, for better or for worse, those men are acting on official orders from the governor. The militia can’t ignore that. They’ll have to come looking for us, and that’s going to be an inconvenience until we get everything settled.” He glanced over at Elijah. “You’d better double our standard bribe.”
   “Well, I can’t lay low here,” I interjected. “I have to leave. Now.”
   Tom sighed. “My lady, I know you get distressed about unnecessary violence. I know you don’t like endangering the innocent, but those men were not innocent. They’re more monster than we are. At least we’re only in this for profit.”
   “I’m not distressed,” I snapped. “I just have to go.”
   I stalked out of the parlor, and Tom followed me to the front door. “Wait.”
   “Are you going to stop me?” I pulled out the dirk. Every second I delayed was a second Grant could be bleeding out in the street. “I won’t let you—”
   I stopped when I saw the blade, red with blood. Despite all my dreams of sword-wielding glory and the lessons Tom had given me before and after jobs, I’d never stabbed someone like that.
   “Have you ever killed anyone?” Tom asked softly, guessing my thoughts.
   I couldn’t stop staring. “No. But . . . I’ve wanted to.”
   “Well, you haven’t killed anyone tonight. His wound is going to be ugly, and it’s going to hurt, but it wasn’t in the right place to kill him. Assuming it doesn’t get infected.”
   “But what about the others? Our guys were beating them when they were down!”
   “And I told you, they deserved it—no matter how foolish Anders was to start that madness.”
   “But did any of them die?”
   “I don’t know. I had a few other things to keep track of.”
   Had Grant been kicked and struck while unconscious? My stomach roiled, and I turned the doorknob. “I’m leaving now, Tom.”
   He put his hand on top of mine. “You’re a friend to the Alanzans. I thought you’d be as pleased as Anders at what happened.” He tilted his head and studied me. “Did you know them?”
   “No. But it’s like you said. I don’t like unnecessary violence. Please, let me go.” I always tried to keep my cool façade around Tom, but I was growing increasingly panicked. Was there any way I could win if I actually had to fight him? Not likely. Especially with the rest of the men just in the other room.
   Tom reached into his pocket and handed me one of his favor coins. “For saving me. Not many people get two.”
   I hesitated as I glanced at my bloody dirk. Then, I sheathed it and pocketed the coin. “Can I go?”
   “Turn your cloak inside out. Bind up your hair. I don’t know if you’ll be targeted, but it’s best if you aren’t recognized. The only damage you caused was at the end, and you’ve built up a lot of goodwill.” He must have been recovering from his earlier consternation because he flashed me one of his charming smiles. “Being an angel might pay off.”
   I had no time to answer. I was already hurrying down the steps, my heart racing and fear building. Once I was out of his sight, I turned the cloak inside out and then removed the wig completely, stuffing it under my shirt. So many people were masked tonight that I’d blend right in, even with my natural hair.
   I ran all the way back to the city’s center. When I reached Molly’s, panting, the crowd had already dispersed, and all of the heretic hunters were gone. Blood still remained on the road, though. I interrogated a few passersby about what had happened. Some knew nothing. Some knew there had been a fight. Desperate, I actually knocked on Molly’s door and faced down the henchman who opened it. My hands were shaking.