Legacy of Kings by Herman Eleanor

Author:Herman, Eleanor [Herman, Eleanor]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781460390894
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-08-18T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Cyn hastily dips the hem of her tunic in the thick, sticky blood, trying to ignore the still-open eyes of the corpse lying before her. It’s Heph’s fault. She had to kill the beggar. She had no other choice.

The air down here in the storage cellar is cool and moist, and the metallic scent of blood is already mixing with the odor of wine and the scent of the spices, figs, and olives stacked on shelves along the walls.

She thought she had done enough. Setting the hellion loose in the Blood Tournament and blaming it on Alex. Lying to Heph about Alex’s unlimited access to the Treasury’s gold. And now, tonight—a night when he should be swayed by anything she said—“finding” the dagger she had stolen from Alex and crying out that she had seen an intruder.

But Heph had barely wavered. He was determined to think Alex innocent. Cyn quickly realized that if they didn’t find the “intruder,” Heph would begin to suspect Cyn herself. But hopefully the blood now sprinkled on her clothes will convince him that the man attacked Cyn, and not the other way around.

She finds she can’t control the slight tremor in her arms and hopes Heph will take it for fear and not the urgency and anger that’s boiling in her veins. All her plans are unraveling.

Hearing footsteps pounding down the stairs, Cyn leans over the body, cringing as she quickly adjusts its position and places a spare knife in its limp palm. Only a few minutes ago, the man had been sitting on the floor, nibbling cheese, and slurping wine from a cup, empty jugs scattered around. His patched clothes and gaunt frame told her he wasn’t a soldier or a palace servant. Most likely, he was a common thief who’d snuck in to raid the royal cellars. She’s glad she swung before she could change her mind. The head had come off with ease, her sword barely meeting resistance as the body crumpled to the floor.

Heph races into the room and Cyn is startled to see Katerina close behind him. What is she doing here, with Heph? Holding his lantern high, Heph surveys the scene. He walks over to the head, crouches down, picks it up by the hair, and studies it as Kat grimaces.

“I’ve never seen him before,” he says, laying the head back down. “Have you?”

“No,” Cyn says truthfully.

Heph stands up, his dark eyes probing her face. “Why did you kill him? We could have questioned him.”

“He lunged at me! I didn’t know what to do,” she says, letting her voice tremble. “Heph, I was so scared.” She covers her face to hide her lack of tears, praying to all the gods he will fall for her story, and that the nosy country girl won’t ruin everything.

Peering through her fingers, she watches as Heph holds the lantern over the heap of bloody rags. He crinkles his nose. “Smells awful. Dressed like a beggar. I don’t think this is any assassin.”

“It could be an assassin disguised as a harmless beggar,” Cyn says.

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