Chapter Fifteen

Galvar stopped at a restaurant near the castle road. Gazing out a window, he watched the changing of the guard at the southern gate. He stopped the proprietor, ordered two meals, and waited.

A shadow blocked the first rays of sunlight, bursting through the open café door. He stared intently at the faceless figure standing in it and pointed to the empty chair across the table. The man approached, removed his cape, draped it over the back of the chair, and sat down. He wore the medallion around his neck.

“I ordered eggs, bacon, bread, and butter. I didn’t know your favorite beverage, so I settled for water.”

Cold, calculating, blue eyes stared into his. “You chose not to run. Why?”

“You meant for us to see you on the roof. You tested our reactions to that knowledge. You could have killed us at any time. Why didn’t you?”

“I have a question for you, Prince Galvar.”

It took Galver’s strength to keep from reacting to the man’s knowledge. Returning his steady gaze, he calmly said, “Ask any question.”

“What is the dead woman’s name, and what is your relationship to her?”

Galvar hesitated. He thought about lying to him. His parents taught him that the truth always triumphed, and he hated a liar. “I don’t know her name. I joined the Orange Assassins Guild six months ago. She called for me after my initiation. I visited with her to find information concerning a lost sister.”

“Why did you lead another assassin to her?”

“She got the best of me in my bed last night. It isn’t what you are thinking,” he said as the stranger arched his eyebrows. “I gave her the information she requested at knifepoint. I helped her collect her fees.”

“Your action is unorthodox for an assassin.” He waited until a waiter placed food on their table and returned to the kitchen. “You aren’t much of a killer, are you?”

“No, I haven’t killed anyone.”

“Let me make a suggestion concerning your budding career as an assassin. Get out of the business now. Young Prince Galvar, today I’m giving you your life. Tonight, you tell her I will collect on my contract. Shall we eat?” he asked with a smile.

They ate quietly until the food was gone. The man beckoned to the waiter and ordered two sweet cakes. While breaking his apart, Galvar asked, “Do you have to kill her?”

Reverently, the stranger touched the medallion. “This,” he said, “belonged to a friend. He was a gentle, kind man. He did what he could to help everyone. He shared his food with her. In the southern kingdom, one becomes a friend when they eat together. On several occasions, he saved her life. For filthy lucre, she chose to become his enemy and betray his trust. She rewarded his generosity by cutting his throat. Young prince, I value my friends. She will pay.”

“I could stop you.”

“Hold your peace if you want to leave this fine establishment alive. Why is she so … oh, I see.”

“Go to her tonight. Tell her all guild members, under penalty of death, were ordered not to hunt her. She is mine alone. Should you hinder me in any way or go to her before the appointed time, I will kill you. It distresses one’s soul to kill a new friend.” He wiped his mouth on a towel and pushed his chair back. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“I have a question for you. I’m asking as a friend. Are you the Myth?”

“My friend, we know a myth is only a tale, a fable. You and I are too intelligent to believe in fairy tales. But like you, I have heard the guild gossip. I heard he doesn’t have friends. Someone said he never leaves witnesses alive to identify him. You are my live friend. Why don’t we comfort ourselves with that noble thought?”

He stood, retrieved his cape, and walked out into the glaring light from the full rising sun.

Galvar thanked the Creator for his life, left money for the meals, and walked pensively to the castle.

###

Long shadows fell through the southern window. The oppressive heat in her cubbyhole caused her to awaken. Sweat soaked the bed, and she lay in a puddle of water. Rolling to the side of the mattress to find a dry spot, she detected the aroma of food filling the room. It smelled good.

Fear captured her mind. She locked the door and window before undressing. Someone entered without waking her. How? When? Slipping a hand under the wet pillow, she grasped the knife handle. Securing it firmly, she jumped from the bed to the floor and stabbed the free-standing mirror. “How stupid can a person be?” she said, tossing the knife onto the bed. She stared at her naked images in the multiple, fractured fragments of glass.

Distracted by the mirror, she forgot about everything. Pirouetting several times, she admired her naked figure. “Krinna, old girl, for your age, you still have a great body and lots of money to spend on it.”

“What is this?” she said, bending down for a closer look. She pulled her hair to one side and discovered dried blood at the base of her right ear. She rubbed it off. A thin line of fresh blood appeared. She slowly stood erect.

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Her eyes filled with tears. An unknown intruder made a small incision under her ear. It could have been a test cut for slicing her throat. Quickly, her eyes scanned the deepening shadows. She focused on the table concealed behind the mirror.

An empty plate, except for a large steak bone, sat near an empty wine cup. Bread crumbs lay around the plate. Someone had eaten supper and watched her sleep. He ogled her while she was naked. Who could or would do such a sick thing?

I didn’t have a table in my room. Who moved it in, and when? I must have been tired, or someone drugged me. She searched for more marks and cuts.

Footsteps sounded on the wooden walkway outside her quarters. She jumped on the bed and grabbed her knife.

“She has her customer for the night, honey. Come to Tina’s room, and she’ll help you spend your money,” a female voice said.

She listened as the drunk staggered down the second-floor landing. Night chased the day across the horizon. Still, she waited on the bed. Noise from the tavern below filtered through the thin walls. It obscured the faint knock on the door. Rising, she moved soundlessly to the locked door and listened. It sounded again.

“Krinna,” Galvar said, “it’s me. Open the door.”

She opened it quickly. He slipped inside. She closed and locked it.

“Why are you hiding in the dark?” he asked.

“Someone invaded my room. They ate a meal and lusted over my naked, sweaty body while I slept. I don’t know how they entered.”

“Where is the candle?”

“Wait, I’m naked.”

He listened to her fumbling around in the dark. “If you weren’t my … friend, then I wouldn’t mind your nudity.”

“Your mouth will get you killed. I’m dressed. Why are you here?’ she asked as he lit a candle.

“He sent me with a message.”

“Who sent you, and what is the word?”

“He said you murdered his friend. He also wears the necklace. Tomorrow, he plans to rid the world of a murdering assassin. If I interfere, then I’m dead.”

“Did he kill the woman?”

“He said he didn’t. I believe him.”

“You believe an assassin?”

Dumbfounded, he looked at her.

“Okay. Okay, I understand. Is he the Myth?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe he is, although he insinuated he wasn’t.”

“And you believed him? Never mind.”

A loud knock on the door startled them. Anxiously, she looked at him and whispered, “Did you bring someone with you?”

“No,” he replied, stepping behind the door, “ask who it is.”

“Who is it?” she asked from across the room.

“Room service, ma'am, your food is ready,” a gruff voice answered.

Cautiously, she moved to the door and said, “I didn’t order anything.”

“Yes, ma'am. The gentleman downstairs paid for it. He said to remind you to keep your strength up for tomorrow’s journey.”

She slowly cracked the door open. The bartender stood outside, with a tray covered with vegetables and two monstrous-sized steaks. The odor rushed through the opening. Her stomach rumbled. Standing to one side, she allowed him to enter. He placed the food on the table, picked up the dirty dishes, and walked toward the exit.

She stopped him. “Did you put the table in the corner?” She slapped the palm of her hand with the dirk.

Eyeing the blade, he replied, “No, mam, I brought them up here, and he placed them while I went to get his dinner. He didn’t want to disturb you.”

“How did the gentleman get in here? I thought you had the other key. Did you give him a key?”

“No,” he said, shrugging, “I don’t know. He ordered room service at about nine this morning. He only had compliments for our inn. Our beds are the best he has slept in for months.”

Tired of hearing his voice, she held up her free hand and silenced him. He stopped talking. “Let me pay for the meals. Thank the kind man and tell him I pay my way. Let me get your money.”

“I can’t accept your money. He said you were so broke that you would slink out of town without saying goodbye. Can I leave now?”

She stepped aside and waved him out. Quietly, she closed the door and leaned against a wooden panel.

Galvar gently laid his hand on her right shoulder. “Krinna …” he started to say. In one swift motion, she turned and slashed at him. He jumped back as her blade sliced his jacket sleeve from the elbow to the cuff.

“Don’t ever touch me,” she snarled. “I hate for men to touch me.”

She threw the dirk across the room and stuck it in the far wall. She went to the far side of the bed and lifted her boots. She turned each one upside down over the bed. With her hand, she explored their interiors. Her money was gone. Disgusted, she threw them on the floor.

He moved to the table and sat down. He cut a healthy portion of meat and plunged it into his mouth. The chef was to be commended.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“I’m going to enjoy my meal,” he said, pouring a goblet of wine. “Then I’m going to go home.”

“What about me?”

He thought for a moment and relished the meat’s flavor. “What about you?”

“I’m broke. The thief took all my money. I don’t have any to purchase supplies.”

Before answering, he sipped a little wine and tore a piece of bread from the loaf. “You don’t need to eat. You need to run if you are going to live. I can’t help you. You don’t need a man’s advice. Your hatred of men devoured your soul long ago. Look at my sleeve,” he said. “You ruined a month’s work by the embroiderer.”

“I suggest you sit down and enjoy the food, but I won’t.”

“What will you do?” she asked, sliding into the empty chair.

He covered his smile with the goblet. The wine tasted better. “I’m going home and helping my mother mourn the death of her only daughter. Then I’m going to wait until my father dies. Afterward, I will become a wealthy king to sit around and wonder what life might have been.”

They completed the meal in silence. She noticed he had left a hefty portion of meat and vegetables on his plate, and he stood to his feet.

“I must go,” he said, reaching into a belt purse and extracting a handful of gold coins. He placed them on the table and walked to the exit.

“Galvar, wait,” she said and followed him. She threw her arms around his neck, hugged him momentarily, and kissed his cheek.

“Please, don’t do that.”

“I didn’t do it for the money.”

“I know.”

“Then what is wrong? I show a little affection, and you rebuff me for it.”

“No, I found something I care for more than I do gold or silver. I don’t want to lose it again.”

“I’m truly sorry, Galvar. Two men who wanted nothing from me entered my life. I loved them. They killed one, and I killed the other one.”

“A good friend asked me to void my contract. She said I would lose everything if I didn’t. She was right. I lost my blood money, but I lost more. I no longer have any friends or a benefactor.”

“You loved the man who wore the medallion?”

“Yes, but I loved riches more than I loved him. I think a lot of you. Take your gold. I’ll not have you die for me.”

“Leave it on the table. The waiter can care for it. Farewell, Krinna,” he said and stepped into the hallway. He held the door latch for several minutes. Yes, they both knew the truth. He pushed the door open. “We dare not say it, do we?”

She was gone. The food had been cleaned from the plates. He smiled. She knew how to handle the food and the situation. His money lay on the table. He went to the window and closed it. He stopped at the table. If he left the gold coins for the waiter, he could say something to the assassin, who might consider it a hindrance. He returned the coins to his purse.