To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(4)
The other man had finished hitching the carts and bowed low. “At your service, Mahaj.”
Yajna emerged from the trees, and Yavi gave orders to the prisoners. “Get on those carts, and let’s get going.”
§
When the Zulfikar twins were completely out of sight, Uman’s body lifted itself off the ground awkwardly, as if pulled up by invisible strings, and stood itself on its feet. His eyes popped open, having become solid dark gray disks, as his pale face twisted into an unearthly grimace. He grasped the arrow that was lodged deeply into his throat with both hands and yanked it out, dark crimson blood seeping from the wound.
That done, Uman grinned wickedly and went to examine the dead bodies of the bandits lying around the camp. He ripped open the shirt of one who looked particularly tasty, then bent over him to chew through his chest, feasting on the bloody, sinewy flesh, and eventually reaching his heart. He dug it out with his fingernails, dropped the still-warm organ into the leather pouch at his waist, and took off running with unnatural speed through the trees, heading north toward Faril.
§
Jiandra awoke to find Yajna absent from their bed. Thinking perhaps he’d gone for a drink of water—maybe because she herself was parched—she swung her legs over the side of the mattress and shoved her feet into her slippers. She retrieved her robe from the chair near her side of the bed and lit a candle, then stepped out into the passageway outside their quarters. She followed the darkened hallways and descended the large central staircase to the Main Hall, then wandered through the door to the kitchen.
To her surprise, the cook was still up, leaning over a table reading something on a piece of parchment. He whirled around when she entered, hiding the parchment behind his back.
“Terijin?” Jiandra gasped, then chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d still be up—you startled me!”
Terijin bowed curtly. “Your Highness. Forgive me—I was just going over my inventory sheets.”
“At this hour?” Jiandra swept past him to get a cup from the cupboard. “It must be two in the morning.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” he explained with a sheepish smile.
“Have you seen Emperor Yajna?”
“No, Your Highness. Is he missing from his quarters?”
“It seems so.” Jiandra dipped the ladle into the water bucket and filled her cup. “Well, he must be wandering around the palace somewhere. If you see him, would you tell him to please come back to bed? His wife’s special request?”
Terijin smiled and bowed again. “Of course, Your Highness.”
She noticed his gaze dropping to the glowing blue stone around her neck. She touched the Omaja protectively, an instinctive move when she saw someone staring at it, then nodded to him. “Good night, Terijin.”
When she climbed the stairs and went back inside her room, it was still empty. Baffled by Yajna’s disappearance, she took the candle and wandered down the back hallways of their wing until she reached the door to the northeast guard tower.
The guard on duty came to attention as she entered the tower, then bowed. “What is it, Your Highness? Something wrong?”
“Yes, Ciren, I was looking for Emperor Yajna. Have you seen him in the past couple of hours?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“I’m sure he’s just checking on something somewhere in the palace or on the grounds. If you see him, would you tell him I’m looking for him and worried?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Ciren placed a hand on the handle of his sword. “I’d better accompany you back to your room and post a guard outside the door, just in case there’s mischief afoot.”
“You shouldn’t leave your post unmanned. And the Omaja stone protects me from all harm, so there’s no need to worry about—”
“Still, Emperor Yajna’s orders are to make sure you are safe at all times. Wolfan will be here soon to take my place. It’s almost his shift. Please allow me to escort you to your room, Your Highness.”
Jiandra had wanted to continue looking for Yajna in Yavi’s wing, but realized she was only worrying the guards and servants, probably for no reason at all. She closed her hand over the Omaja stone as Ciren led her down the long hallways and read his mind with Knowing to see if he might be hiding something about Yajna. All she found in his thoughts was a desire to do a good job as guard so as to impress and please the emperors.
At the door to her room, she thanked Ciren, slipped inside, and closed the door. She gazed at the empty bed with a sigh. If only the Omaja worked like a crystal ball or a scrying stone and could let her know if everything was all right.
She crawled back into bed, resigned to be patient until Yajna returned. Her intuition told her he was fine, that she needn’t worry about him. Still, she wasn’t used to sleeping in their large bed without his strong arms around her, and it was truly a hardship to suddenly go without his warmth.
She drew the covers up tightly to her chin, shivering a little. Yajna, you are in big trouble when you show up again. She smiled to herself as she imagined a few ways he could make it up to her, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
§
Yavi and Yajna delivered the carts of food and supplies as well as the two prisoners to Ularia’s guard captain. One of the prisoners caught Yavi’s arm just before they left.