Leith had no response. Maybe he was a fool. But he was a fool saved by grace and freed from the darkness that still held Vane in its chains.
The door rattled. Vane glanced at it, his eyes widening. Leith had run out of time. “Shad!”
Vane hurled his knife at Leith.
Leith threw himself to the ground as the knife whistled through the air above him. The study door burst open. As guardsmen spilled in, Vane dashed across the room and shoved aside the curtains.
Leith pushed himself from the floor and sprinted after Vane. An arrow zipped by his head and sliced through the curtains beside him.
Leith slammed through the curtains and dove out the window. Rolling to his feet, he glanced around the garden, searching for a dark figure.
A scratching sound made him look up. Vane was partway up the brick face of the manor, using his knives to help him scale the building.
“Renna!” Leith yanked out a second knife. He jammed a knife into the mortar between the bricks and wedged his toes in the space between bricks.
He scaled the bricks, moving the opposite hand and foot at the same time. Had Shad heard him? Leith wouldn’t reach Renna in time. No matter how fast he climbed, no matter how much he hurried, he couldn’t get to Renna’s room before Vane.
Partway up the wall, Leith’s arms and shoulders burned. The insides of his arms cramped from gripping the hilts of his knives. He glanced upward. Vane gasped for breath as well, slowing his pace as he pulled himself up another few feet.
Vane reached the ledge that ran along the base of the second floor and pulled himself up. Standing, he padded along the ledge.
Leith forced himself to pick up the pace and reached the ledge a minute later. He hooked an elbow on the ledge and tried to pull himself up. With the outward angle, he couldn’t get a good grip with his toes.
His feet slipped, and his arm slid from the smooth surface. His stomach lurched as he fell.
Leith’s downward motion jerked to a stop, wrenching his right arm. For a minute, Leith dangled by his one-handed grip on his dagger.
The metal bent at the strain of holding his body’s weight. The ground swayed twenty feet below him. His head spun as if he were already falling.
He curled his body towards the wall and latched his toes in the cracks between the bricks. He clung to the wall and gulped in several lungfuls. He couldn’t afford to panic now. When his wrists stopped shaking, he reached for the ledge again.
This time, he crammed his toes into higher holds and shoved upward with his legs. He managed to get most of his body onto the ledge before his toes slipped.
He rolled onto the stone ledge, panting and shaking. He left his bent dagger where it was, jammed into the bricks below the ledge.
A scream tore the night. Its echoes drifted on the clear air. Renna.
Leith scrambled to his feet as another shriek poured from Renna’s bedchamber. He’d promised her he’d protect her. He couldn’t fail. Not with her.
He dashed as fast as he dared along the foot-wide ledge. The muscles in his arms and shoulders still ached from climbing, his right hand cramping. Leith flexed his fingers, trying to loosen his muscles.
He skidded to a halt in front of Renna’s window. Inside, a black figure stood over the bed, knife raised for the killing blow.
43
Renna jerked awake. Her door rattled under a heavy pounding. “Lady Rennelda, open the door. Lord Shadrach says you must come quickly.”
She rolled to her feet and pulled the knife Leith had given her from under her pillow. Since she’d slept in her dress, she didn’t have to change.
Dashing to the door, she fumbled with the key. It slid from her slick fingers and plunked onto the carpet. Scooping it up, she tried to insert it in the lock.
Her window creaked, and something heavy landed on the carpet. She whirled as the First Blade stalked across the room towards her. She darted away and pointed the knife at him. If he came any closer, she’d use it.
He sidled past her and jammed his knife into the keyhole. “There. Now no one will disturb us.”
He rushed at her and swept her dagger aside as if it were nothing more than a minor annoyance. The back of her legs hit the edge of her bed, and she stumbled. He pinned her hand to the bed and raised his knife.
She was going to die. The truth wracked her body until each limb convulsed. She fought to draw in air past her thundering heart. She had to scream. She wasn’t going to survive, but maybe she could warn Brandi. She put all the strength in her body into another scream.
A black shape dove through the window and rolled over the windowseat. The First Blade’s mouth curved into a taunting smile. “Perfect timing, Torren. You get to watch her die.”
She couldn’t wait for Leith to save her. She’d be dead before he crossed the room. Gathering her strength, she lashed out with her foot. She missed the sensitive area she’d been aiming for, but she managed to kick the First Blade’s thigh hard enough to send him stumbling backwards.
Rolling to her feet, she swiped at the First Blade with her knife. The tip sliced along his cheek.
She stared at the blood dribbling down the First Blade’s face. She’d hurt him. Her fingers trembled so much she nearly dropped the knife.
The First Blade touched his cheek and held his fingers in front of his face, as if he were as shocked as she was. When he looked up, his eyes blazed. He raised his knife again.
Leith rammed his shoulder into the First Blade. Both of them tumbled to the floor. They rolled, each of them seeking to pin the other down.
An icy claw raked at her chest. Leith’s words from the gallery at Stetterly Manor haunted her. I can’t face the First Blade alone.
Leith needed Shadrach’s help. Renna dashed to the door and yanked at the knife embedded in the lock.
It didn’t budge.
Smashing the hilt of his knife into Vane’s jaw, Leith scrambled to his feet. With a snarl like an enraged mountain lion, Vane rushed at him.
Even in his anger, Vane didn’t aim high for Leith’s chest like an amateur but came in low, his knife poised to plunge into Leith’s stomach and rip into Leith’s chest underneath the ribcage.
Leith sidestepped, grabbed Vane’s wrist, and twisted it away from his body. With his other hand, Leith blocked a chop at his neck.
Vane grabbed Leith’s wrist and wrenched his arm backwards. Leith stepped to the side to relieve the pressure and twisted Vane’s other hand.
For a moment they wrestled, trying to either free themselves or get the other off balance. Out of the corner of his eye, Leith caught glimpses of Renna leaning her weight against the knife jammed in the lock.
Vane reeled back, turning as he did. The move launched Leith forward. Rather than fight it, Leith used the momentum to yank his wrist free from Vane’s grasp. Leith pivoted and gained a few feet of space between them.
They eyed each other warily, waiting for the other to make a move. Leith tightened his grip on his knife, ignoring the bitter taste sticking to his tongue. He needed to remain sharp to outwit Vane. He couldn’t outfight him.
Vane rushed Leith again. They grappled, knives close to skin, breath hissing over each other’s faces.
With a snarl, Vane hurled Leith away from him. Leith stumbled and fell against the far wall. His head clunked against the top edge of the wood paneling. Black spots burst across his vision, splinters of pain creasing his skull.
Vane turned towards Renna, the tip of his knife pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
Leith scrabbled at the paneling, trying to pull himself to his feet. His head was clearing, but not fast enough.
Renna faced Vane. Her body shook, but she raised her chin a fraction. Her trembling fingers closed on the latch. With a swift motion, she jerked the door open.
Shad stepped inside, bow in hand, an arrow already nocked to the string.
As Shad drew back the arrow, Leith’s stomach tightened. Shad wouldn’t get off the shot before Vane threw. Leith lun
ged from the floor and hurtled into Shad. Shad stumbled a pace but stayed on his feet.
Something heavy struck Leith. His back slammed against the door jam and slid down the wall. As pain tore through his body, Leith watched Shad steady himself and draw the bow back the rest of the way.
Vane reached for another knife. Leith could see the next seconds play out. He’d seen it before. Vane would dodge and throw his knife as soon as Shad released the arrow. The arrow would fly through the air where Vane had been. Vane’s knife wouldn’t miss.
Leith opened his mouth to warn Shad, but the words stuck in the pain closing his throat and squeezing his chest. He could only stare helplessly as Shad let the arrow fly.
44
A meaty thunk filled the room. Renna clapped a hand to her mouth as the First Blade staggered. Blood pumped around the arrow buried in his chest halfway to its fletching.
His hand wavered. He tried to throw the knife, but it slipped from his fingers. His eyes met hers, their depths going dark, then blank. His body crumbled to the floor, his hand still twitching.
He was dead. No more tormenting. No more danger. Renna leaned against the wall. For the first time in months, she was safe.
Guards peeked their heads into the room. Shadrach jumped to block their view of the room. “Danger’s over. Fetch my father.”
Leith. She sprinted across the room. Leith leaned against the wall next to the door, eyes closed, chest rising and falling. A knife stuck from his left shoulder. He pressed his right hand against the wound, his fingertips red with blood.
She pressed her hand against the wound as well. Blood dripped between her fingers, hot and wet, while her forefinger touched the knife, its metal warmed with the heat of his body. He turned his face towards her and opened his eyes. “I knew you were brave.”
She glanced at the knife she’d left beside the door. She’d been brave. Like her mother, she’d faced the First Blade and fought back.
Shadrach knelt beside her. Leith’s mouth quirked at the corners. “You remembered your lessons. Good thing you realized he’d try to dodge.”
“A snap decision. Thankfully the right one.” Shadrach bowed his head. Renna caught a flash in his eyes. Was it regret? Or lingering fear? She couldn’t tell.
Leith twitched his fingers towards Shadrach’s bow. “I’m sorry you had to be the one to do it.”
“One of us had to.” Shadrach shrugged, but his voice scratched rough and low. He turned to Renna. “What do you need?”
She tipped her head towards the leather satchel on the floor next to the dressing table. “I’ll need my medical kit, boiling water, and a fire started.”
The door flew open. Brandi skidded to a halt a few steps into the room, her eyes and mouth widening as she stared at the First Blade’s body.
“Sorry, sorry. I should’ve covered him.” Shadrach staggered to his feet. He ripped a blanket from Renna’s bed and tossed it over the body. It formed a grotesque sort of tent, the arrow a middle pole, the blanket draping down over most of the body. Only the First Blade’s boots stuck out.
Brandi’s gaze swiveled from the body to Renna’s direction. “Leith!” She shrieked, shoved past Renna, and crashed to her knees.
Leith’s face lacked color, but he still managed a smile as he nudged Brandi’s knee. “I’m still alive. Hurts less than that arrow your sister yanked from me.”
Shadrach placed her medical kit beside her, hurried to the door, and shouted a few more orders to the guards outside.
Renna yanked a linen square from her kit, nudged Leith’s hand aside, and pressed the linen against the wound next to the knife. She could feel the rhythm of his heart, the warmth of his chest, the shudder of his breath beneath her hand. “I need you to lie down.”
His mouth skewed in a tight line, Leith eased himself away from the wall and onto the floor with her and Brandi’s help. Renna did her best to keep her hand pressed against the wound, and she felt more than heard Leith’s gasps of pain.
She lifted the linen. The knife stuck from one of the straps that crossed his chest and looped over his shoulders. The leather hadn’t stopped the knife, but it’d slowed it so the knife had only gone halfway to its hilt. A bad wound, but not life-threatening.
Unbuckling the leather straps, Renna and Brandi helped Leith ease the straps off until only the knife pinned them to him.
Renna handed a fresh linen to Brandi. Brandi nodded, her eyes shiny, the tip of her nose red. If only Aunt Mara were here so Renna didn’t have to put Brandi through this. It had been bad enough when Leith had been a stranger, but now that Brandi saw him almost like a brother…Renna shook her head to clear it.
She counted to three under her breath and yanked the knife from Leith’s body. He moaned in the back of his throat.
As soon as the knife was clear, blood welled from the wound. It wasn’t spurting nor was it forming bubbles, the lack of both of those things a good sign.
Brandi pressed the linen onto the wound and leaned her whole upper body onto his shoulder to increase the pressure. Leith’s fingers formed fists while his face blanched, but he didn’t cry out.
“Shadrach, I need more light.” Renna flipped open the leather top of her satchel as Shadrach scrambled to light all the lamps and candles in the room.
The door opened again, and Lord Alistair stepped inside. His gaze swept the room before he strode to Renna’s side. “How bad is it?”
“Not as bad as it could have been.” Shadrach set a lamp next to Leith’s head. “The First Blade was aiming that knife at my chest.”
Lord Alistair’s gaze flickered between the knife and Shadrach. Lines wrinkled his forehead.
“It was my fault Vane got to Renna’s room. I messed up our plans.” Leith shook his head. “I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Renna paused, her vial of laudanum in her hand. Why had Leith tried to talk to the First Blade? About what? The skin between her shoulder blades crawled. The First Blade’s dead body still sprawled behind her.
Lord Alistair cleared his throat and rested a hand on Shadrach’s shoulder. “No matter. You stopped him. Well done. Both of you.”
Renna uncorked the vial, but Leith’s hand closed around hers. “No. Not yet.”
“Why not?” She needed to clean and stitch his wound. No need for Leith to be awake and in pain while she did so. Not this time.
“I need to be alert.” Leith’s gaze switched to Brandi, and he patted her hands. “Brandi, I left Blizzard in the trees beyond the flower garden. He and the First Blade’s horse should be taken into the stables before morning. If Lord Alistair can spare a few guards to go with you, do you think you could take care of them for me?”
Brandi glanced at Lord Alistair, her eyebrows lifting. Lord Alistair’s gaze met Leith’s, and he nodded. “I know just who to send with you.”
The two of them strolled from the room, Brandi chattering up a storm. Shadrach took Brandi’s place pressing the linen to the wound.
“Thank-you for that.” Renna laid a hand on Leith’s arm. She should’ve realized from Brandi’s silence that she needed to get out of there.
His mouth quirked, though his eyes remained shadowed. “If I had a little sister, I’d want her to be just like Brandi.”
Setting aside the laudanum, Renna peeled the linen and his shirt away from his wound. When she’d pulled the collar of his shirt open and exposed his mark-free left shoulder, she washed the wound with the warm water and rag Shadrach handed her.
Renna reached for her bag to find her needle and thread to stitch the wound. Leith gripped her wrist. She jumped. “That wound needs to be stitched closed.”
He shook his head, his mouth tightening into a grim line. “I’m returning to Nalgar Castle.”
“What?” Shadrach thumped onto his knees beside Renna. “Why? Why would you return now? We can get you out of there.”
“This isn’t going to end here. Respen will retaliate.” Leith’s green eyes stared at the ceiling. “A
war has started, and you’re going to need me to help fight it.”
A war? Renna squeezed her fingers into fists. No Blades had been sent after Uncle Abel and Aunt Mara this time, but would they still be all right if Respen started a war? Would he ignore Stetterly since Renna and Brandi were at Walden or would he attack Stetterly anyway?
“But how can you return? Respen will know you were the one that betrayed him.” The pitch of Shadrach’s voice rose, as if he was desperate.
“Not if I convince Respen that the First Blade was the traitor.” Leith bobbed his head in the direction of the First Blade’s body. “Only a few of your guards know a Blade was killed here. If we hide his body, I’ll tell Respen that the First Blade is still alive and working for the Resistance. Respen was already suspicious. It won’t take much to convince him.”
Shadrach heaved a sigh. Renna could’ve sighed as well, but arguing only delayed her healing. “What does this have to do with stitching your wound?”
“When I return to the castle, Respen has to believe I was wounded and forced to flee. I would’ve tended this wound by myself.” He glanced down at his shoulder, then back up at her. “I wouldn’t be able to stitch a wound like that closed.”
She frowned. She could see his point. Not only would he be unable to see what he needed to stitch, but it’d be impossible to stitch it closed with one hand. Even if he managed a few stitches, they’d look nothing like her neat ones. “What do you suggest?”
He drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to have to cauterize it.”
Renna slammed her mouth closed against a gasp. She’d seen her Aunt Mara cauterize wounds before. It involved getting a piece of metal hot and burning the flesh so it no longer bled. The patients usually screamed and thrashed when the metal was applied to their skin.
“Clean off my knife and stick it in the fire. I’ll do it myself. Might as well be able to tell Respen the truth.”
Renna nodded and hurried to do as he asked. While the knife heated, she prepared cold water to press against the burns afterwards, a poultice of herbs, and the bandages.
Dare (The Blades of Acktar Book 1) Page 23