Page 47 of The Assassin's Dancer
“What?”
“Look over there.” He points at the path towards the palace. Between the trees, I can just about make out the faintest flicker of gold fabric, along with metal glinting in the dawnlight.
“My father’s guards!” I gasp. “Do you think they’re looking for me?”
Kasimir shakes his head, clicking to encourage Destiny to walk faster. “Doubt it,” he replies. “We’re not far from where I left Hugo. They’ve probably found him and are scouting the area.”
Suddenly, the early morning air feels like ice on my skin.
“It’s alright,” Kaz says, as if sensing my fear. “I know another route, but it’s along the main road so we’ll have to keep our heads down.”
Both of us remain silent as Kasimir leads Destiny down a mossy path. Until finally, we emerge from the forest as the moss gives way to a much larger paved road, each side lined with trees.
Father’s palace looms in the distance. I’ve never seen it from so far away before, but I understand now why visiting princes would describe it like watching the sunrise.
The golden domed roof of the ballroom rises up from the hill while gold spires shoot up around it like sun rays. It’s beautiful. It’s home. And yet, I can’t help but feel a gnawing sadness the closer we approach.
“When will I see you again?” The question falls out before I realise what I’ve said. “I mean when will the next job be?”
Kaz’s laughter brushes my ear. “Miss me already?”
I twist my neck to shoot him a look. “I just want to be prepared, that’s all. So when will you need me again?”
“Probably not for a while.” He shrugs.
My lips flatten. “But what about the job you were telling Meera about in the wagon? The one about that file in the whorehouse?”
There was a list of addresses, apparently, that correlates to a list of names Kasimir acquired in Mr Bailey's tavern. I only know this because Meera asked him about it on our way back from thesafe house, and when he said he only had half the list, she was not happy.
After that outburst, there was not a single person in that wagon who didn’t know all about this list and exactly where they could find it.
Behind me, Kasimir sighs. “That’s guild business, Ruby. You shouldn’t concern yourself with that.”
“Am I not part of your guild?” I raise an eyebrow. “I work for you, don’t I?”
When he doesn’t reply I continue, “You said you were going to have to hire a young woman to sneak into the brothel and get it for you. But you don’t need to do that, because I can get it for you instead.”
Kaz’s arm around my waist tightens enough to make me gasp. “Absolutely not.”
“What? Why? Meera said it was important and that without that list then the leftover members will just make another trafficking guild. This will all happen again!”
“I said no, Ruby,” he growls.
But his anger only fuels mine. “Why not? I don’t want any more people to suffer like those poor people did. If there’s a way to stop them, then I want to help!”
Kasimir sighs. “That job is dangerous and I will not have you putting yourself at risk for a bit of parchment.”
“So you’ll have some other girl put her life at risk then?” I scoff. “How is that fair on her?”
“Well first of all, she wouldn’t be a princess?—”
“That shouldn’t matter.” I snarl. Then, with an exhale, my tone softens, “I want to help. Please. Surely how I did last night with Mr Bailey shows that I’m capable?”
“You thought he was just an innocent tavern owner,” Kaz reminds me.
My eyes narrow, but before I can argue, my ears catch on a distant rumbling sound. Like wheels rolling over stones, or a dozen galloping horses. It grows louder and louder, until Kasimir notices it too.
“Do you hear that?” he whispers as he pulls Destiny to a halt.
