Secret Burdens by Suzanna J. Linton

Author:Suzanna J. Linton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, fantasy, sword and sorcery, magic, court intrigue, assassination, stories of lorst, suzanna j linton
Publisher: Suzanna J. Linton
Published: 2018-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

Investigation: Day Four

When Bran opened his eyes, he saw stars. They were far away, framed by the circle of the well’s opening. He slowly became aware of hot, scaly bodies pressed against him. He knew he should have been afraid but he couldn’t quite muster the emotion.

He couldn’t feel anything beyond the heat against his skin and the sensation of scales. He was vaguely aware of the chilled stone beneath him. A gauzy veil covered everything else. He knew that a terrible agony existed outside of it. If he felt that terribleness, he would start screaming and never stop.

A creature to his right moved. Brilliant feathers came into view as a wing covered him. The creature breathed the sweet scent of almonds over him. Darkness returned. But it wasn’t scary. Bran sank into it with gratitude.

***

Jarrett felt a certain thrill as he rode Heartsblood toward the northern end of the docks. Whatever concerns he had over his profession evaporated under the autumn sun glinting off his armor. Armor chinking and the clip-clop of horse hooves made his gut clench in a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Despite the chilly day, sweat collected between his shoulder blades. After days of talking to people and being deceived, he was finally going to get resolution.

He glanced over at Captain Tarsus. Behind them marched twenty of Tarsus’s best men, carrying cudgels, to help in the raid. Jarrett didn’t want to take from the Seer’s Guard, so Matthias had loaned him ten Royal Guardsmen, who came behind the City Guard. With thirty men altogether, Jarrett couldn’t imagine this going wrong.

Back at the headquarters, before they left, Tarsus explained he’d sent out scouts the night before.

“About a dozen men we assume to be either mercenaries or Black Arrows arrived just before dawn with their ‘wares’,” he said, “along with a few others not in armor. My scout wasn’t able to see the inside, however.”

Jarrett didn’t like not knowing the inside of the place. A small voice in the back of his head worried that Bruin, being somehow behind this, had sent word ahead. If the enemy appeared to be ready for them, then Jarrett wasn’t sure what to do. He’d been through enough in the last couple of months without being betrayed by another friend. Valiance’s earnest face flashed through Jarrett’s mind.

A few blocks away from the warehouse, Tarsus raised his hand and their little company came to a stop.

Only a true idiot would go in only through the front. Half of their group slipped through an alley to take the place from behind. The rest of them marched forward again.

As they approached, a group of men milling around on crates straightened and watched them. When it became obvious that the warehouse was their destination, they drew swords. Only guilty men would make such a move before questioning the City Guards.

“Here we go,” Jarrett muttered. His heart jumped to just under his throat.

Tarsus swung his arm forward, his fingers pointed at the men. “Guardsmen, attack!”

The City and Palace guards swarmed forward, meeting blade with cudgel.

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