Civil Blood by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-04-16T04:00:00+00:00

Act 8

The Family Business

The morning sun had not crested the horizon when Dax entered the palace. Blowing past a few startled guards, he moved through the corridors at a walk just a hair short of a sprint, while his mind whirled.

He didn’t know whether Laurel or the Briarthorn was real. If she was a traitor to the crown or Alys. For better or worse, he had kept his mouth shut on the street. Now, the only thing he knew for certain was he had to get to Marek.

He took the stairs to the First Shield’s office two at a time, then, ignoring the final guards, he entered the room like a storm. Despite the early hour, Marek was seated at the large, wooden desk dominating the room.

“You’re starting to keep Lowside hours, Dax,” Marek said with a small smile.

“Your Sergeant Laurel is not what she seems,” Dax said, his eyes focused on his brother. “I saw her in Lowside a few hours ago, when she damn near put her boot through my chest.”

Marek nodded. “She felt terrible about that,” he said quietly.

Dax’s blood ran cold as the desperate drive to warn Marek, to inform him of the dangerous Lowside criminal in his inner circle, disappeared. “You know about her? What the hell is going on, Marek?”

Marek nodded his head and the two guards closed the heavy, wooden door behind them, leaving the two brothers alone.

Dax repeated his question, this time his voice more insistent, “What the hell is going on?”

“Laurel is no traitor. Of that, I can assure you,” Marek said. “She is loyal to the crown and to our family.”

At that, Dax grimaced.

Marek raised a placating hand. “I know you’re upset—”

“You’re damn right I’m upset,” Dax snapped. “I told you I didn’t need looking after, but you put that girl into Lowside anyway. Do you have any idea of the danger she is in?”

Marek gave him a long, level stare. “Laurel is not in Lowside for you, brother.”

Dax raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Think, Dax. I didn’t just drop the girl off on the Prionside docks yesterday. Laurel was part of Alys’s crew years ago.” Crossing the room, Marek opened a decanter and poured generous servings of brandy into two crystal goblets. “You’ll want a drink. This may be hard to take in all at once.”

“Harder than being duped by my own brother?” Dax asked bitterly. “Harder than learning that an agent of the crown is running around Lowside murdering people?”

Stone-faced, Marek offered him one of the goblets. “Yes, actually.”

Dax sent the goblet flying across the room with a quick slap. “You stood in these rooms and you lied to me! You and your loyal sergeant lied to me. I want to know why.”

“Because we had to know we could trust you,” Marek said simply.

Marek’s cold, logical tone stabbed Dax in the heart. Sorrow and rage warred within and he blew out a frustrated, disgusted breath. “Did I pass?” he asked bitterly. “Am I worthy of your trust?”

“When it comes to her, when it comes to Alys, yes, we had to be sure you wouldn’t just give up Laurel on the spot.

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