Free Web NovelChapter 386: Chapter 386
It was still quite early in the morning when Ragnar took one of the horses into town to run a few errands. He would usually have left such tasks to his footman, but this time he wanted to go himself. Back in Amris, he had ridden most mornings without fail.
Those solitary rides had given him space to think, time to reflect without the weight of expectation pressing against him. Since coming here, he had not afforded himself that same luxury. Each dawn had found him tangled in the warmth of Circe, her body pressed against his in bed, clinging onto him in a way that made it difficult to rise.
That morning, however, he had slipped free before she stirred awake.
His first stop was the modest home of the man he paid to maintain the cottage. The fellow had been diligent in his duties—chopping ample amounts of wood for the hearth, mending small damages before they could worsen, keeping the cottage running smoothly, and tending to the countless other chores that ensured Ragnar and Circe’s stay remained comfortable and undisturbed all through their stay. Ragnar respected competence, and he rewarded loyalty. It felt only proper to compensate the man generously for his efforts.
By the time Ragnar stepped back out into the cool morning air, his coin pouch was considerably lighter than when he had left the cottage. The faint clink of gold had dulled to a sparse chime. He did not mind. As he approached his waiting horse, a flicker of movement caught the corner of his eye while he adjusted the sleeves of his coat.
A familiar figure darted down the street.
The first time Ragnar glimpsed that silhouette was back when he and Circe had been at the town square, but he had not followed even though he had wanted to. Circe had been beside him then, and he had refused to draw her into any volatile situation that had the possibility of turning dangerous. But she was not here now, so there was nothing holding him back this time around. And he intended to understand what could have dragged Arius to this part of the kingdom. He also had some unfinished business with the demon.
Without hesitation, he gave chase.
He did not run outright. Instead, he trailed a few paces behind him. He made sure to keep enough distance to avoid detection while ensuring he did not lose sight of his quarry. The figure swerved sharply around a corner and Ragnar instantly mirrored the motion. The streets grew narrower. The farther they went, the less people there were until silence swallowed the space.
The man ahead abruptly stopped in a deserted alleyway.
Ragnar slowed as well. Arius still had his back to him when Ragnar stepped forward. There was no sense in hiding his presence any longer. If Arius had stopped here, it was for a good reason. He had known he was being followed.
"I knew I saw you that day," Ragnar said. His voice carried in the stillness of the alley, sharper than he intended. "Is there a reason you are skulking around these parts?"
"I should be the one asking you that question." Arius turned slowly to face him, deliberately ignoring the inquiry. "You are a long way from home, princeling."
The same snide, derisive tone laced his words, a tone Ragnar had grown accustomed to ever since Arius had entered his employ. Once, it might have provoked him. Now, he simply endured it, knowing that was just how the demon was and it was hard for him to be anyway else.
"You ought to be busy tracking down Ms. Sealey," Ragnar replied coolly. "That is what I pay you for, is it not?"
Arius’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Unlike other people who grew flustered and fell over themselves when in the presence of a royal, Arius was quite different. He didn’t really care for the Lamorian royal family, or any royal family for that matter.
"I have another task for you," Ragnar continued, studying the demon before him with a contemplative expression. A"Since you appear to have a surplus of free time. I want you to launch an attack on a specific location. You will be compensated handsomely once the job is complete." freewebnøvel.coɱ
Arius wrinkled his nose in open distaste. "I am no one’s mercenary. I am a tracker, nothing more."
The look on Ragnar’s face barely flickered. "As long as I am paying you, you will be whatever I require you to be," he said dismissively. "The location is a stronghold in the capital. Your targets will be inside. Every one of them is an assassin. Leave none alive when you are finished. You may enlist assistance if necessary. All that matters is that the job is done thoroughly."
For a moment, silence stretched as the implication of his words settled between them.
"I want triple my usual rate," Arius said at last, his tone almost bored, as though he were negotiating the price of a sac of grain rather than the blood of multiple people. "You expect me to risk my life and the lives of others while you remain untouched, basking in the luxuries afforded by your house. That warrants proper compensation."
"Very well," Ragnar answered without pause. "You will be paid whatever you are owed."
The price meant nothing to him. His wealth was plentiful. But his time and his opportunity to strike were not.
He had considered this course for some time and had concluded that there was no better way forward. The queen possessed powerful allies, and it would take more than subtle manipulation and turning them against each other to dismantle her influence. Circe had been right, he needed to take the offensive if he wished to come out victorious and survive what was coming.
Aeron Tavish had forced his hand the moment he chose to attack Circe again and again. There was no longer room for hesitation. They were now in a situation where it was either them or him. And Ragnar would always choose himself.
If he could not reach Aeron directly, he would dismantle the pillars that held him upright. Strip away his advantages. Break the tools that made him dangerous.
His assassins were only the beginning.
***
The following morning was as brittle and pale as any winter morning, the air sharp enough to sting the lungs. Elka welcomed the cold. It gave her reason to dress in heavier layers, dark wool beneath a fur-lined cloak, a hood drawn low enough to shadow much of her face. At her side walked her maid, chattering softly as they strolled along one of the capital’s more affluent avenues where polished carriages rolled past large houses.
Elka had insisted on going on this outing and everything was unfolding precisely as she had envisioned.
She slowed before a display of light colored fabrics displayed at a merchant’s shop front, trailing gloved fingers lightly across the glass while her maid stepped closer to admire the deep blue velvet fabric.
The distraction lasted only a heartbeat, but it was enough. When her maid finally turned, Elka would have already drifted a few paces ahead, blending with a small cluster of passersby.
Her pulse remained steady as she crossed toward a narrower stretch of the street that was out of view and less exposed. There, partially sheltered beneath the overhang of a shuttered shop, stood a man in plain attire. He kept his head lowered, as though he were merely waiting for someone.
Elka cast a discreet glance over her shoulder. Her maid was still occupied. No one else paid her any mind. She approached the man hastily.
"Are you the courier I was told of?" she murmured, her voice barely rising above the rustle of wind between the buildings.
He nodded once.
From within her cloak, she withdrew the folded parchment sealed the night before. She pressed it into his hand. "This must be delivered to Lord Davien Rycoff. Into his hands, if possible. If you are questioned, you do not know who entrusted it to you. You found it among other commissions. Nothing more."
Her gaze held his until he nodded again.
"It is urgent," she added quietly. "And it is to remain anonymous."
When she released the parchment, she slipped three gold coins into his palm. The metal clinked softly against each other. His fingers closed around them almost reflexively, and when he glanced down, his eyes widened before he could school his expression.
"You have been more than generous, my lady," he said.
"Make sure you do the task accordingly and there will be more where that came from," Elka replied evenly.
He bowed his head in gratitude, tucking both letter and payment securely inside his coat before turning away without another word. Within moments, he had merged into the flow of the street, already moving with purpose.
Elka lingered only long enough to ensure he did not look back. Then she adjusted her cloak and retraced her steps. Soon she rejoined her maid, who seemed none the wiser to her brief absence.
