The Cutthroat Prince (William of Alamore Series Book 2)

by C. J. R. Isely

  Will stepped sideways, trying to move around Haru again. Again, his knight grabbed his arm. Haru turned his head to give Will a warning glower out of the corner of his eye. “You stay behind me, got it?”

  “If we have to fight, I won’t do a lot of good with you in the way,” Will shot back in a whisper.

  “Will, that was an order,” Haru growled, eyes flashing.

  Will gritted his teeth, biting back his retort. He saw Draccart waiting to strike and The Cutthroat Prince’s hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His stomach tightened. If what The Cutthroat Prince said was true, then that was it. They were trapped. They couldn’t escape let alone outrun seven horsemen. He didn’t even see how they could get past these two.

  “Perhaps introductions are in order?” The Cutthroat Prince asked.

  “Yeah, that’s not necessary as we don’t intend to stick around for your hospitalities,” Haru snapped.

  “Oh, aren’t we witty,” The Cutthroat Prince drawled. “Alright, Sir Senseless, as I have manners more than a common hound, I’ll introduce myself. I am The Cutthroat Prince, and I am going to make this simple for you, knight. Either you can give him up, let us take him with us, or we can fight you and still take him with us while you lie paralyzed on the ground, helpless due to the effects of Inanimus.

  Now, before you answer.” He held up his hand as if to stop Haru, descending the last stair. “I know you will be inclined to think you need to choose the latter because you are a knight of Alamore.” Will imagined that The Cutthroat Prince was rolling his eyes. “But knight of Alamore or no, you will bleed red, and you will die. I’ve heard that the toxin causes excruciating pain.”

  Behind them, Draccart laughed again, and Will felt a prickle of hatred crawl up his spine as he reached for the dagger on his belt.

  “Use your brain instead of your gallantry and you will realize that letting him go with us gives you a better chance of saving both of you. You attempt a heroic rescue after we go. Though, it will be worthless because we’ll have ridden far away before you can, but I don’t mind your trying. It could make the whole thing more…entertaining,” The Cutthroat Prince said. His teeth flashed white in a smile under the shadow of his grey hood.

  Haru snorted. “Yeah, like you’d let either of us walk out of here alive. You expect me to believe that you’re here just to take squires on adventures or some other cracked logic? I’m not letting you touch him, got it? If you want to kill Will, you’ll have to go through me first.”

  “Oh, but I don’t want him dead.” The Cutthroat Prince shook his head. “Surely you can understand how much of an advantage it would be if he was alive.” He took another step toward them then paused, as if a thought had just dawned on him. “Or do you? Don’t you know how much it could do for the Thornten crown to keep him alive?”

  “What?” Haru asked sharply.

  Will bit back an urge to swear. If it wasn’t for Haru blocking his way, he was sure he’d make a wild run at The Cutthroat Prince to clamp a hand over his mouth. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t how he had ever wanted Haru to find out. The Cutthroat Prince’s smile was broadening in amused understanding.

  After several heartbeats that may have been years, The Cutthroat Prince threw back his head with a bark of manic laughter. “You don’t know? You truly don’t know? I know the Ranger’s been seeing to it that things are kept silent, especially of late, but you? Of all the people in Alamore! The one who’s teaching him, protecting him, and you don’t have any idea who he is? What he could become?”

  Will opened his mouth then closed it again, not sure of what to say. He was torn between telling the truth first and the more enticing idea of throwing every Rowan worthy insult at The Cutthroat Prince. Haru had gone rigid in front of Will but he wasn’t speaking. He didn’t try to block Will as he stepped sideways again. He saw the confusion and fury on Haru’s face, but he was listening, waiting for The Cutthroat Prince to say more.

  The chance to tell Haru first was lost in another laugh. The Cutthroat Prince was strolling toward them as if they were in a garden instead of a slum. Beneath the hood, Will knew he was watching Haru closely. “Tell me, knight; haven’t you ever wondered why Marl wanted Will dead? We thought he was a threat to Thornten, we thought his change of loyalty made it certain he needed to be killed but matters in the south have changed this: the uprisings, the unrest.”

  “Get to the point or get out of the way,” Haru snarled.

  “Don’t you see?” asked The Cutthroat Prince. He had come to a halt, a stride away from striking distance. What little Will could see of the teenaged face was elated, triumphant. “That boy’s father is Tollien’s brother. The squire you’re hiding behind you? He’s not just a squire. He’s an heir.”

  The street fell silent. If not for his racing heart, Will might have thought time itself had frozen. Haru was staring at The Cutthroat Prince, the color washing from his face. The sword in his hand started to sag, the point lowering to the dirt.

  “What?” whispered Haru.

  When The Cutthroat Prince only smiled, he wheeled round to face Will, grey-green eyes blazing. “Is this true? Or is he lying? Are you an heir to Thornten?”

  Hating himself, wishing he could vanish into thin air, Will nodded. Instantly, Haru’s gaze became unrecognizable–cold with fury.

  “Haru, I wanted-” Will started then stopped. He hadn’t wanted to tell Haru, or he would have ages ago. If he had wanted to tell Haru, it would have been that day Marl tried to kill both of them before Haru was a knight. Before he’d become Will’s knight.

  The Cutthroat Prince broke into laughter again, echoed by Draccart at the other end of the street. “And here I was thinking that this day could not be better. You see, knight? Your squire has been lying to you, and you are willing to die for him. Now, that isn’t worth your life, is it? So, why don’t you let him come with us? I don’t intend to hurt him, only to bring him back to where he belongs.”

  Will dropped his gaze to his boots. He felt he might be sick. He couldn’t bear to see the betrayal in Haru’s face. It was his fault. He should have told him. He had allowed himself to be a coward and hide the truth at first, then the Ranger and Miller’s words had given him the perfect excuse. Never had he believed Haru could be the spy and yet…

  Haru’s voice made Will’s head jerk up again, staring as the knight turned away from him, toward The Cutthroat Prince. “Alright, if you want him, take him.”

  Will could see the surprise on The Cutthroat Prince’s shadowed face. After a moment of stunned disbelief, Draccart started to cackle, his head thrown back in wild mirth. The sound bounced off the surrounding walls, eerie, haunting.

  Staring at Haru, all Will could hear was a ringing in his ears. He made to move forward and grab Haru’s arm, but the knight sidestepped away, refusing to even look in Will’s direction. There was cold steel in his eyes, a look that Will hadn’t ever seen before.

  “W-what? Haru, I-”

  Haru shook his head to silence Will and glowered at The Cutthroat Prince instead.

  “Go on then, get him. He’s all yours.”

  He was sheathing his sword, stepping away from Will, his features a mask of cold fury.

  The Cutthroat Prince looked between knight and squire a moment, frowning. It was evident that he had been as blindsided by Haru’s change in attitude as Will had been. Then he straightened with a nod, his smirk returning.

  “I’m glad to see that some of the knights of Alamore have common sense. You’ve made the right decision… I could use someone like you inside the walls.”

  “Don’t push your luck,” Haru snapped. “Just get your heir and leave.”

  Will was frozen to the earth. He couldn’t believe what was happening. Again, he tried to catch Haru’s eye, but the knight was staring at a point above The Cutthroat Prince’s shoulder and Will understood. He’d betrayed his knight and Haru was returning the favor.

  For one mad instant, Will considered running. If he sprinted no
w, he could try to get around The Cutthroat Prince. He had the advantage. These were the streets he’d grown up in, he knew like the back of his hand.

  But what then? Even if he did, it would be Haru they killed and he couldn’t do that, couldn’t let Haru die. He’s handing you over though, the whispering voice in his head spoke in Marl’s snarling voice. It would serve him right.

  “Throw your dagger in the dirt,” The Cutthroat Prince ordered, striding toward them, chest stuck out with new confidence. “Or the knight dies.”

  Will hesitated a moment. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Haru. If he fought… if he fought and ran, he might survive. It would cost Haru’s life but…

  Suddenly sickened that he would even entertain the idea of sacrificing Haru to save himself, Will drew the dagger and threw it into the dirt at his feet. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Haru any longer, watching The Cutthroat Prince instead.

  Haru stepped back, moving to stand behind Will, blocking the thought of turning and running away. It didn’t matter though. Will knew he couldn’t leave Haru here, no matter what he had done.

  The Cutthroat Prince pulled a length of rope from his pocket. It might have been cut from the same length as the prior and Will’s jaw clenched, remembering the bite of the fibers into his wrists, bracing himself for that pain again. That pain which couldn’t match the tight feeling in his chest. Haru was really going to let them take him. He was handing Will over without a second thought.

  “Nothing funny this time, Will, or I guarantee you’ll regret it,” The Cutthroat Prince hissed, coming to stand in front of Will. He grabbed Will’s shoulder roughly and shoved him around. Will gasped in pain as his arms were yanked behind his back. A kick to the back of his knees sent him crashing to the earth. He closed his eyes. He wouldn’t fight. He couldn’t risk Haru’s life. The rope bit into his wrists again, burning and tight. Already he could feel his fingers going numb.

  “Anything you’d like to say to your squire before he comes with us?” The Cutthroat Prince sounded taunting, the words stabbing into Will’s chest.

  “Yeah, actually,” Haru replied.

  Will’s eyes shot open, and he twisted as far as he could in a kneeling position. Haru standing behind him and The Cutthroat Prince and Will stiffened. Something in his knight’s expression had changed. It was still cold, still furious, but he was watching Will and The Cutthroat Prince with a small frown creasing his forehead. He met Will’s eye and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  Before Will could make sense of the action, his arms were yanked upwards, pain screaming through his shoulders. “Stand up, then, and face your knight,” The Cutthroat Prince snapped, annoyed. Will stood, staring at Haru, heart echoing in his ears.

  Will felt The Cutthroat Prince standing at his back, still gripping the rope that bound his hands. “Get your goodbyes over with then,” The Cutthroat Prince ordered. “We haven’t time to stand around all day.”

  “Right.” Haru’s eyes locked with Will’s and Will could almost see the ideas tangled behind the grey-green set. “Only way to know is if you try.”

  Will frowned, bewildered. What was Haru on about?

  “Inspirational.” The Cutthroat Prince snorted. “Truly inspirational. Now, come on.” He pushed Will’s shoulder and Will felt the realization crash over him.

  Taking a half step forward, Will stopped again, watching Haru. The Cutthroat Prince snarled and made to push Will again. Before he could, Will leapt backwards with all his strength. He felt his back collide with The Cutthroat Prince then they were crashing into the dirt. Somewhere behind him, Draccart yelled, Haru moved, and Will’s bound wrists were crushed under his weight. The moment of heart slamming success died in an instant. The Cutthroat Prince was already climbing to his feet, snarling and swearing. Will rolled to the side to avoid a kick. Dirt blinded him, stinging his eyes, filling his mouth. Above him he heard a strangled cry of surprise, another string of swearing.

  Blinking up through the settling dust, it took a moment for Will’s eyes to focus on what he was seeing. He pushed himself onto his knees, staring at the sight before him.

  Haru was gripping The Cutthroat Prince with one arm, pinning Prince’s arms to his side. In his other hand, he was gripping the dagger Will had dropped, the blade pressed to the throat exposed beneath the hood. The Cutthroat Prince went rigid, his breathing shallow and panicked.

  “Alright, I’ll make this really simple, step by step,” Haru called, and Will saw the arm pinning The Cutthroat Prince tighten. “Unless you want to see how fast a dagger can kill a Cutthroat, get off the horse.”

  Draccart didn’t move, eyes flitting from Haru’s snarling face to The Cutthroat Prince’s shadowed one. It could not have been clearer that he was torn between obeying orders from his Prince and saving the Prince’s life.

  “Do what the moron asks!” The Cutthroat Prince snarled, his voice breaking slightly. “Get off the horse!”

  Draccart sheathed his sword and slid off the saddle, his movements slow and deliberate. He held up both hands, wriggling empty fingers. “Let him go now.”

  Haru snorted. “Like Thornten. This rat is our ticket out of here. Will, get up.”

  Will struggled to his feet, nearly off-balancing with his arms bound but managing to steady himself, bracing his feet.

  “Now, Princey, you’re going to untie Will’s hands, got it?” Haru said, voice crackling with fury.

  “And how do you expect me to do that when I can’t move?” snarled The Cutthroat Prince.

  “You get one arm. Now, enough back talk.” Haru half pushed, half carried, his prisoner toward Will. “Any funny stuff at all and you’ll be painting the streets red with your blood. Got it?”

  “You will pay for this.” The Cutthroat Prince’s voice was shaking with fury. “You are going to pay for this.”

  “Less chat, more untying. Will, turn so he can get you untied.”

  Feeling uneasy about having his back to The Cutthroat Prince, Will obeyed all the same, keeping his eyes fixed on Draccart. After a moment, the ropes fell free and he stepped away, rubbing his wrists and wincing.

  “Right, Will, come over here and unarm our fine fellow. You need a sword, and I don’t think he does,” Haru ordered. “Careful of the blade, though. Can’t guarantee that it’s not like the one that hurt Vis.”

  “My other riders won’t stand for this.”

  “Which is why I’ll let you go very shortly,” Haru promised. “In the meantime, if they appear, you’re dead, is that clear?”

  With The Cutthroat Prince’s muffled oaths above him, Will hurried forward and reached for the sword at his side. He drew it carefully, the blade shining dully in the muted light of the grey clouds above. He stepped back, holding the blade as far from him as he could, feeling disgusted with the weapon and the poison it carried.

  “Dagger, too, Will. He doesn’t need it,” Haru ordered, jerking his head to gesture to The Cutthroat Prince’s other side.

  Will stepped round to see the second weapon and froze. The hilt of the dagger was barely visible, tucked into a sheath under The Cutthroat Prince’s right arm. But it wasn’t how it had been hidden that made the air grow cold around him.

  “What are you doing?” Haru demanded. “Hurry up!”

  Will forced his hand out and grabbed the dagger, pulling it free from the sheath. The Cutthroat Prince was hissing like an angry cat. He barely noticed, stepping away, still transfixed by the weapon he was gripping.

  He knew this dagger. How many times had he seen it? The ornate blade, the hilt in the shape of a diving falcon, wings outstretched into cross bars, beak opening wide to swallow the blade. He could remember staring at it in fascinated envy, wondering at the craftsmanship even when he was little.

  The last time he had seen it had been in the house, that house, when Marl stared through the grime-streaked window at the sight of Rowan and Colin waiting for Will the day he became a squire. He could still picture it turning slowly in Marl’s han
ds.

  “Will!”

  Will started, blinking hard to bring himself from his thoughts. For some reason, the presence of the dagger somehow felt that Marl was there with them. He shoved the blade roughly into his belt, trying to shake the cold sense that gripped him.

  “What’s the fastest route to the main road?” Haru demanded.

  “This way.” Will turned on his heel and broke into a jog, moving away from Draccart, toward the house at the end of Traitor’s End. Behind him, Haru grunted with the effort of dragging The Cutthroat Prince along.

  When they neared the house, Will refused to turn toward it. Part of him feared that if he did, it would be Marl who leered out of the window this time. Instead, he turned right, down the street he’d first seen Rowan and Colin race down a lifetime ago.

  “Wait, let him go!” Draccart roared. Will spun. Haru was still pulling The Cutthroat Prince with him, Will’s dagger still held ready.

  “Like the blazes I will. You can come with and get him when I decide I can let his sorry ass go, how’s that sound?” Turning to Will he raised his eyebrows. “Let me know if anyone else comes at us, got it?” He raised his voice. “Because if there are other riders, and they do show now, I’ll kill The Cutthroat Prince myself! Understood?”

  “They get it!” The Cutthroat Prince snapped, spluttering as Haru pulled him back another few paces. “They’re not stupid.”

  “I wouldn’t reckon on that kid,” Haru retorted. “Will, get us to the main road. Now.”

  Each step seemed painfully slow, Haru dragging The Cutthroat Prince, Draccart following on foot, a silent shadow. They turned down the side street, Will turning back and forth, expecting to see someone attack at any moment. He gripped the sword in both hands so tight that his palms throbbed with his own pulse.

  Each step brought them nearer the sound of the main road. Will glimpsed people hurry past the narrow alleyway opening ahead, never glancing toward them. This was the end of the main road, where people didn’t linger, only rushing to get to the market and shops before the clouds, growling above, could pour rain over them.