"Keep back, Sabat! And the rest of you." Her sword whistled through the air.
Sabat sneered. "I'll snap that thing in half!" He took another step forward. The stem of her mother's rosebush snapped and the velvet petals crumpled under his heel.
Ilanna gasped involuntarily, her eyes widening.
Sabat looked down and his smile grew. "Oh, poor little Hawkling. Did I ruin your garden?" He lifted his foot and stomped, trampling the crimson flower deeper into the soft earth.
Ilanna gritted her teeth. Bastard!
Sabat turned to regard the viola shrub. "What's this? Such pretty little flowers. So delicate. It would be a shame if something happened to them." His boot crushed the purple and yellow blooms.
"No!" The word burst from her lips. Fury burned in her veins, setting her hands trembling. All the time she'd spent in the garden, tending to the little patch of flowers. They were her last link to Mama, to baby Rose. And Sabat had destroyed them just to spite her.
The gleam in Sabat's eye told Ilanna he had much more in mind. "You think that's bad? Wait until we're done with you, little Hawkling. Even the filthiest whore in the city won't envy you."
He advanced, his friends falling in behind him. Her eyes darted around. She had no hope of escaping through the garden. She was trapped, the door at her back.
Without thinking, she twisted the door handle and leapt inside the house. She dropped the bolt into place just in time. Wood shuddered beneath the impact of heavy bodies. The door wouldn't hold for more than a few seconds. Her eyes darted around in search of anything she could use to fight off the Bloodbears, wished she'd had the foresight to store weapons in the house. Her father's rotted corpse had kept out squatters; why hadn't she turned the house into a safe haven with weapons, supplies, and coin?
Cursing herself for not anticipating Sabat's discovery of her hiding place, she sprinted through the kitchen and burst out the front. Her feet pounded in time with her racing heart. I just have to reach Old Town Market! She could lose him in the crowd and it would be easy to find a way up to the rooftops. Once there, she would be out of his reach. They'll never find me on the Hawk's Highway.
Old Town Market flashed by in a whirl of colors and scents. Ilanna slithered through the crowd, ducking and dodging the myriad carts, animals, and people. People hurled curses at her retreating back, but Ilanna didn't care. Can't let him catch me!
She raced toward a darkened alley and lunged into the shadows. Ducking behind a stack of crates, she scurried up the hidden rope ladder. Slipping, she slammed face-first into the stone wall, but she bit back a cry of pain. She had no thought for anything but escape.
Pulling herself onto the roof, she hauled up the rope ladder and sagged to the warm tiles. She gasped for air, her lungs burning. She peered over the edge. Below, Sabat and his companions shoved through the marketplace, snarling, cursing, and hurling people aside. One Bloodbear scanned the rooftops.
Heart thundering, Ilanna ducked out of sight. Twin blazes of fury and hatred burned in her chest. Damn you, you bastard! Heaving sobs shook her shoulders. Tears blurred her vision. How could anyone be so cruel, so vicious? He'd destroyed her garden out of sheer malice. She'd lost the one thing she cared about more than anything, all for vengeance.
Someone has to do something about him. Someone has to stop him! She clenched her trembling fists. And it has to be me.
But not yet. She couldn't allow anything to distract her from her Undertaking. She couldn't risk confronting him. Even a minor injury could spell the difference between success and failure in her attempt on the Black Spire.
So be it. Sabat could wait. One problem at a time. The Undertaking is more important. In two weeks, she would take on the impossible. She would conquer the Black Spire and earn her place in the Night Guild. After that, she would return to the matter of Sabat. I will find a way to deal with the bastard once and for all!
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ethen burst through the double doors of House Hawk. "Ilanna! Where are you?" The fury in his voice echoed from the vaulted room.
Ilanna slid down the pole to the Aerie floor.
Ethen turned to her, eyes blazing. "What in the twisted hell happened to our garden?"
She shook her head. "Sabat. Sabat happened."
"What? When?"
"Yesterday, after you left. I don't know how he found it, but he did. And he…" Ilanna swallowed.
Ethen seized her shoulders. "Did he hurt you? If he laid a finger on you, I swear I'll—"
"Ethen!" Ilanna's voice cracked like a whip, and the Scorpion flinched. "I'm fine. I slipped through the house and escaped out the front. I lost them in Old Town Market."
Ethen's shoulders relaxed, but the rage in his eyes remained. "He can't go unpunished, Ilanna. He's gone too far this time."
"This time?" Ilanna's lip curled into a snarl. "He's been out of control since the beginning. Someone should have done something about him long ago, but here we are."
Disbelief flashed across Ethen's face. "How can you be so calm? After what he did to you, to our garden? Why aren't you stalking through House Bloodbear and carving him to pieces right now?"
Ilanna shook her head. "I can't. Not yet."
"What does that mean, Ilanna? Don't tell me you're afraid of him!"
Ilanna slapped him, hard. "If that's what you think of me, Ethen, then you don't know me at all."
Ethen rubbed his cheek more from shock than pain. "Then what's stopping you? Why are we talking instead of hunting him down and making him pay! I know of a poison that will—"
"Because I can't, Ethen."
"Why not?"
"The Undertaking. I-It's going to take everything I have to make that climb. If I so much as stub my toe, it could mean failure in my attempt. I want to confront that bastard, Sabat, more than anything else in the world. But not until after the Black Spire." She placed her hand on his cheek, where she had slapped him. "One enemy at a time, Ethen."
Ethen looked ready to relent. Something snapped. He straightened, throwing his shoulders back, clenching his jaw. "No. I won't let this go unpunished. Not again."
"Ethen, you can't—"
"Can't what?" His eyes flashed. "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Ilanna. When he hurt you before, your friend Denber convinced me to leave it alone. He said he would protect you. But where is he now? It's up to me to keep you safe."
Ilanna's heart lurched. "Don't be stupid, Ethen. Sabat is twice your size."
"I wouldn't care if he was a hundred times my size! I won't let him hurt you, not again. Not when there's something I can do about it."
Fear coursed through Ilanna. What is he going to do? She opened her mouth to warn him.
"Ilanna! You ready?"
Ilanna whirled. Denber strode from the tunnels, a large sack clutched in his hands.
"What?" The word came out in a shout.
Denber raised an eyebrow, surprised at her vehemence. "We're headed out for a practice run, remember? Going to see how you handle climbing with the weight of the rope."
She'd forgotten. "O-Of course. Give me a minute, will you?"
Denber nodded. He threw the sack at her feet and leapt up into the Perch. "I'll meet you up there. Don't be long. We've barely got a week until the new moon."
"I know, Denber. I'll be right up."
She turned to face Ethen. One glance at his tight lips, blazing eyes, and clenched fists told her everything she needed to know. "Don't do it, Ethen."
"I have to, Ilanna. I won't let him hurt you. I l…" He swallowed. "I care for you too much to let that happen."
Ilanna seized his hands in hers. "Promise me. Promise me you won't do anything foolish."
"Ilanna—"
She locked eyes with him. "Look at me, Ethen." He complied. "Swear it, on the Watcher in the Dark, that you won't do anything."
"But—"
She squeezed his hands. "No buts. When I finish this Undertaking, we'll find a way to make Sabat pay. You have my word on
that. But we'll do it together."
Ethen stiffened. "I don't need you to protect me, Ilanna. It should be the other way around."
"I don't care what it should be. All I care about is that you're safe."
"I will be. He won't expect—"
"Promise me, Ethen." She tightened her grip. "Swear it, or I will shatter your fingers here and now."
"You wouldn't."
She squeezed and he winced. "I'd rather have you crippled for life than dead."
"Fine!" Ethen wrenched his hands from hers. "I promise."
Ilanna eyed him, but his expression gave nothing away. "Two weeks, Ethen. After that, I'll be done with the Undertaking and we'll both be full-fledged members of the Night Guild. We'll have plenty of time for vengeance then."
Ethen nodded. "Go. Denber's waiting for you." An odd tightness filled his voice at mention of the Hawk.
She retrieved the bundle and slung it over her shoulder. "I'll meet you at the garden tomorrow, at sunrise? We'll fix it up. It'll be good as new."
Ethen nodded. "As you say."
Ilanna eyed him, unconvinced. Please, Ethen, don't do anything stupid! Something about the way he toyed with the leather sling at his belt…
"Let's go, Ilanna!" Denber's voice echoed through the vaulted room.
Squeezing Ethen's arm, she leapt up to the Perch. As she scaled the maze of ropes, ladders, and walkways, a prayer came unbidden to her lips. "Bright Lady, hear us and protect us in our hour of need. Keep Ethen safe."
* * *
Ilanna stifled a yawn. After a night of training with Denber, she wished for the soft comfort of her bed. She could sleep for days in the silence of her empty bunk room. But, try as she might, she couldn't shake her worries for Ethen.
I have to find him and stop him from doing anything stupid. Something about the way he'd refused to meet her eyes made her nervous. He'd promised to meet her at their garden at sunrise. Even if she left now, she'd arrive late. He'll wait for me there. He has to!
"We done here, Denber?"
Denber raised an eyebrow. "Got somewhere to be?"
"Ethen."
Denber nodded. "Yeah, we're done for today. You're pretty much ready, anyway. These last few days are just to be certain you're in shape for the climb. Though I'd have to say you handled yourself well out there. Rope and all."
Ilanna grinned and dumped the heavy sack at his feet. "Which is why you'll be carrying it back to the Aerie for me, right?"
Denber rolled his eyes. "Fine, off with you. See you tonight."
Ilanna groaned. She hadn't slept much over the previous days. When she did, Sabat's leering grin filled her nights. He destroyed her garden over and over. In her dreams, she failed to escape. She shuddered in remembrance of a particularly violent nightmare from a few days past. The things he'd done to her after he caught her…
Another night of training is better than that!
Thoughts of the vicious Sabat faded beneath the warm sunlight. A gentle breeze wafted across the rooftops, carrying the scents of the city below. The noise of the busy Merchant's District floated up to her. Life returned to Praamis with the rising sun.
Ilanna's heart lightened. Just a few more days and this will all be over. She'd attempt to scale the Black Spire on the night of the new moon, eight days hence. I just have to stay out of Sabat's way until then. And keep Ethen away from him.
Her boots pounded on the tiled rooftops, her legs pumping as she flew toward the garden. She kept to the Hawk's Highway, not daring to take to the streets. Sabat would be somewhere down there, no doubt waiting for her. She would only descend near Old Town Market. She'd be safe there. With the bustling early morning crowds, she could slip into the garden without being seen.
She leapt onto a brightly colored awning and dropped to the cobblestone streets without alerting the stall's owner. Her lessons with Errik and Garrill had done her good. She flitted through the press of people like a wraith. Heart pounding, she studied her surroundings from beneath her hood.
No sign of Sabat, or any of the Bloodbears for that matter. Good. She slunk through the early morning shadows, wary as an alley cat. Nothing out of the ordinary. No one leapt out at her. By the time she scaled the garden wall, her heart had slowed its nervous thundering.
She winced at the sight of the garden. Sabat and his cronies had trampled the dirt to mud. Her yellow and purple blooms hadn't escaped their wrath. Not a speck of color stood out from the brown mud.
Fury burned in her chest. Her hand wrapped around the hilt of her saber and she squeezed until her knuckles turned white. Soon enough, Sabat, there will be a reckoning.
She would fix it up, would plant again. With Ethen's help, the garden would be as good as new.
"Ethen?" No answer came. He's not here yet. She glanced at the sun. He should have arrived hours ago.
Anxiety churned in her stomach. Why isn't he here? Her mind raced. What could have happened?
She pictured Ethen confronting Sabat and her heart sank. No, she told herself. He promised me he wouldn't. Maybe he was still back at the Aerie, where she had left him. Or he'd returned to the Burrow. Yes, he has to be there. He has to!
Hurrying over the garden wall, Ilanna slithered her way through the Old Town Market crowds. She kept a wary eye on the passersby, but saw no sign of the Bloodbears. Try as she might, she couldn't ignore the nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Something was terribly wrong.
Slipping into the alleyway, she moved toward the rope ladder. I have to find him!
A weak cough caught her attention. She whirled, her saber whispering from its sheath. "Who's there?"
A soft, wet gurgle reached her.
Ilanna's heart thundered. "H-Hello? Come out where I can see you, or I'll run you through."
Someone groaned. "I-Ila…nna?"
Ethen lay a dozen paces down the alleyway, rubbish heaped high atop him. Crimson stained his pale face and curly brown hair. Blood spread outward in a pool that soaked into the muck of the alley. Ilanna's heart stopped. Her sword dropped from numb fingers. She stood there, frozen in place by shock and horror.
He groaned again. The sound snapped her trance.
"Ethen!" Ilanna scrabbled through rotten vegetables, sacking, and other substances too horrible to contemplate and pressed her fingers to his neck. His pulse was weak, thready. She pushed the refuse away, not caring that it stained her hands, seeped into her clothing, and filled her boots. "Ethen, what happened to you?"
Ilanna gasped. Blood spurted from deep wounds in his arms, shoulders, and abdomen. Her stomach lurched. A cold, detached part of her mind analyzed the lacerations. Whoever had done this had taken their time. Though deep, the wounds weren't fatal, but the rubbish heaped atop him meant infection. Infection could lead to a slow, agonizing death.
Her thoughts whirled in a seething maelstrom. I have to get him back to the Night Guild, now! Journeymen Tyman can take care of him. He'll—
Her eyes fell on the dagger buried in his stomach and her blood turned to ice. She would recognize the blade anywhere. Th-That's…mine! Master Velvet had given her the knife in the Menagerie. She'd lost it on the day Sabat had beaten and broken her. And now…
A scream bubbled up from somewhere deep within her, a horrible piercing sound, the primal cry of an animal howling in anguish and rage.
A hand grasped her shoulder. "Ilanna? Are you—?" The words died in a gasp and a curse.
She whirled, the bloodied dagger in her hand. "Don’t touch him! Get away!"
A dim part of her mind registered the familiar face before her. She knew him. He was…friend. "D-Denber?"
"What in the twisted hell happened here, Ilanna? Did you—?" His words died on his lips.
Ilanna rocked back and forth, Ethen's head cradled in her arms. No! Tears streamed down her face. Please, no!
Heaving sobs shook her shoulder. She didn't care about the muck, the offal, or the foul smell. She didn't care that Ethen's blood stained her face, hands, and clothing. She
fumbled with his hair, pushing the locks aside. She just wanted him to open his eyes.
* * *
Ilanna sat beside Ethen's bed, holding his hand—the only part of his body free of cuts, shattered bones, and lacerations. "Please, Ethen, talk to me. It's been eight days, Ethen. You have to wake up. Please!"
He remained silent, unmoving. His chest rose and fell in a shallow rhythm. He rasped with every labored breath. The sound thrust a knife into Ilanna's heart.
The door opened and closed behind her.
"How is he?" Journeyman Tyman laid a hand on her shoulder.
Ilanna didn't look up. "Same."
"It would be easier for me to care for him in House Scorpion, you know. I'd much rather—"
"He stays here." She spoke in a quiet voice, but there was no question or plea. Ethen would stay in House Hawk, in her bed, where she could care for him.
Journeyman Tyman said nothing. He bent over Ethen, raising his eyelids, lifting bandages, and prodding. "I'll return in a few hours to check on him."
Ilanna nodded, too numb to speak. She wanted Tyman out of the room so she could cry, but when the door closed, no tears came. Her rage left no room for sorrow.
Sabat. The Bloodbear had done this to her friend, that much she knew. No one else would discard his body like refuse. No one else would leave the knife—her knife. It was a message, and she heard it loud and clear. You will suffer for this, you bastard!
The Undertaking first, then payback. She ached to feel her blade slip through the cartilage of his throat. She would bask in the gush of hot blood spurting from the wounds she would inflict. He wouldn't die quickly; she wouldn't let him. But how? When? She would bide her time. She would find the right moment to make him pay.
"I will do what I must," she whispered. "Watcher hear me, I will do what I must."
She thought she heard Ethen stirring. Her eyes darted to the unconscious Scorpion. She leaned over him, squeezing his hand, eager to hear him speak. But Ethen remained silent, still. He moved! I heard it. But had she or was it all her mind willing it to be so?
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