Death Sworn(53)

He wouldn’t want a message from her. And even if he might, he didn’t deserve one.

When they were out of the narrow tunnel, and in the cavern leading back to the built-up section of the caves, she finally caught up to Bazel. Despite the cloth bag he held in one hand, he had navigated the rocks as easily as when he was carrying nothing. He glanced at Ileni sideways as she fell into step beside him. “What did you think of them?”

“You mean of Karyn? I don’t like her.” Ileni snorted. “Clearly, though, you do.”

It was difficult to tell by the magelight, but she thought Bazel was blushing. “She’s as brave as any of us. Do you know how feared we are in the Empire? Even the emperor’s armies have never dared venture into our territory. Most traders would never come anywhere near these caves.”

“According to her they would, for profit.”

“She doesn’t do it for profit. She does it for adventure.”

“And you admire that?”

“I envy it,” Bazel said.

Surprised, Ileni stumbled over a loose stone. “Because your life is so lacking in adventure?”

Bazel said nothing. Thinking it over, Ileni realized that it very well might be. He had probably lived in these caves for as long as he could remember, and lessons in how to kill people were, after all, still lessons. The life of an assassin-in-training might actually be incredibly boring.

There was always the threat of imminent death hanging over his head, but that probably didn’t improve his outlook much.

“Perhaps you’ll be sent on a mission soon,” she said.

In the long silence that followed, Ileni realized she had suggested he could improve his life by going out to kill someone.

When Bazel finally spoke, his voice was so bitter it made her wince. “Haven’t you been paying attention? No one has any intention of sending me on a mission. I’m going to die here.” He gave her a flat look. “Like you.”

Ileni decided that a change of subject was in order. “Karyn didn’t seem happy to see me.”

“She’s obsessive about secrecy. She wants me to be the only assassin who has any hint of their existence.”

“I can’t say I blame her,” Ileni said dryly. “I wouldn’t imagine the master taking kindly to your little arrangement.”

“No,” Bazel said.

Ileni glanced at him sideways, trying to read the taut lines of his face. What she saw wasn’t fear. It was guilt. “What would you do if he discovered you?”

“Hope he likes chocolate, I suppose.”

By the time Ileni adjusted to the fact that Bazel had actually made a joke, they were back in the occupied parts of the caves and she didn’t dare speak. Bazel walked her to her door, then turned and vanished down the corridor.

Ileni listened for his footsteps but heard absolute silence. She put out a hand to push her door open.

Just as her fingers touched the smooth wood, someone grabbed her from behind.





Chapter 13

Ileni whirled without thinking, jabbing her elbow back in one of the moves Sorin had taught her. Her assailant twisted aside to avoid the blow, and she threw her body sideways and backward, pulling out of his grasp. It almost worked; his fingers slid away, but he followed the motion of her body and grabbed again. Rough hands closed around her wrists, one foot hooked under her ankle, and Ileni slammed down on her back with her arms held together, a dark wiry form kneeling above her.

She knew who it was. She had known since the moment he reacted to her defenses. Yet her ward hadn’t reacted . . . so despite her pounding heart, she had stopped being afraid once she realized it was him.

That didn’t mean she should have.

She drew in a breath and said, “I’m surprised I broke your first grip. You must be tired.”

Sorin’s face was shadowed, so she couldn’t tell if he was smiling, but there was no answering amusement in his voice. “I wasn’t prepared. I was expecting you to react with magic.”

But she hadn’t. Instead she had instinctively reached for her limited fighting skills. The realization felt like being slammed into the ground a second time. Ileni tried to pull her arms away, but his grip was like iron, his body a solid length of coiled power above her.

“This isn’t a practice session.” Sorin’s voice was soft, but it wasn’t a comforting softness. “You should use your magic in a real fight.”