Citadel of Fire (The Ronin Saga Book 2) (37 page)

“How do you know?” the rogue asked, cleaning his nails with his dagger, rooting out the grime and dirt of the Shadow’s Corner as he leaned his chair against the wall. The action reminded Gray of Maris.

“I… was a part of them once,” said Zane. “No more than a single day I served Darkeye, until I realized the horror of what I was doing. I left, but I have been hunted ever since, for that and other reasons.”

“If you left them, Faye, won’t they wonder why you are back now? Won’t it seem curious?” Gray asked.

Faye merely smiled. “Perhaps, for those who remember, but Darkeye’s clan is made mostly of a constant inflow of new recruits who are simple dimwits or cowards who will tremble before an officer. Besides, out of the officers, only a few will know me.”

“Why is that?” Ayva asked.

“There are not many who outranked me, aside from Darkeye himself.”

“Dice!”
Darius cursed, as his dagger froze mid-pick. “I
really
don’t like this…”

“Exactly!” Ayva added. “For all we know you could be Darkeye!”

Faye sighed. “That’s beyond foolish. If I were Darkeye, I would have killed you all a long time ago.”

“Great,
that’s
comforting,” Darius grumbled.

She continued, “I would simply have swarmed
Maris’ Luck with my men and been done with this nonsense. Besides, if I was Darkeye, I wouldn’t have nearly died to an Algasi, even a two-stripe one.”

“I hate to admit it, but everything she says has the ring of truth,” Zane said.

“Then how will you get past the officers who know you?” Gray asked.

Faye stood up from her seat. She flipped a small dagger from her sleeve, and it flit amid her fingers. She walked closer to him, hips and narrow waist swaying seductively with each step. It reminded him too much of Vera. “As you know, I can be very convincing,” she replied. “A lie or two, and I will be back into their dark folds.”

“No, I don’t like it!” Ayva said. “How can we possibly trust her?”

Faye twisted and a dagger flew through the air, hitting the wall paces from Ayva’s head. Ayva stiffened, and a glow blossomed in her hand. The ring of swords filled the small room, Morrowil in Gray’s fist, ready. Darius had risen in his seat, gripping his green blade. Faye merely sneered. “How dare you… Trust
me?
Out of anyone in this room, I’m the only one who has reason to mistrust. Tell me, who got you to this point? Exactly how long would you have survived without me? I aided you at every step, and what did I get? You deserted me, leaving me half dead. Then I return to Farbs only to save your worthless hides yet again. I even offer to help you when no one else can. And what do you do? You treat me like dirt. All of you,” she said, glaring at each, until her gaze rested on Gray. He grew hot under her accusatory stare but refused to look away. “Whose idea was it, Gray? Was it yours?” Faye whispered.

He held her gaze stubbornly. “It was a joint decision.”

Faye laughed and then looked to Ayva. “So it was yours then.”

“
All
of us decided,” Ayva agreed, emphasizing the words.

“And you?” she asked looking to Darius. “You were glad to leave a nearly dead woman in the middle of the desert?”

“Don’t look at me like that,” Darius said. “We both know you can handle yourself beaten and bruised better than most men can on a good day.”

“Compliments. Strange to leave me out to die, and then shower me with praise.”

“It was the truth. That’s all,” Darius said stubbornly.

“I see you four have a past,” Victasys interrupted. “But if you haven’t noticed, there are more important things at hand than such childish bickering. We need to work together or we will fail separately.”

“What he said,” Zane added, stepping forward. “So if you don’t mind, either help me or shut up. I’d appreciate it—because, as I see it, this woman is our only chance.”

Gray touched Ayva’s shoulder. “Zane’s right. What other option do we have?”

Zane grabbed a sheath from the wall, then rammed the blade home, and stood tall. “It’s my sister—I say she goes.”

Faye gave a nod. “I appreciate your trust.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t trust you,” Zane admitted. Gray still saw Zane shaking. “But it seems you’re our only option. If you betray us, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

Faye laughed. “That’s one way to treat someone who is risking her life for you.”

Zane’s ire wavered. “Please… Save her. I will be in your debt.”

Lightly, Faye dipped her head. “I will do my best.”

“Then who will go to save Ezrah with me?” Gray said.

“You cannot enter the Citadel without the mark of a Devari,” Victasys replied.

Gray pulled back his sleeve. “I bear the mark.”

Victasys eyes narrowed.

He swallowed. “Do you know me? That is, who I once was? I might have gone by the name Kirin.”

All but Ayva and Darius seemed shocked by his question.

“Kirin?” Faye questioned coolly from her seat, looking intensely interested.

“Who you
were?
What kind of man are you?” Zane asked.

A lost man,
Kirin said, laughing in the back of his mind. But Gray ignored them both, eyeing the Devari. Victasys uttered at last, “I do not know you, or the name Kirin. But you’re not a Devari, so how do you bear the mark?”

“Another life,” he said simply.

“Well,” Zane voiced. “If I cannot go to save Hannah, for it is certain death, then it seems I’ll join you, Gray, to save your grandfather and repay at least one of my debts.” He glanced to Victasys, and Gray saw the copper-eyed man was hoping to repay more than just Ezrah’s debt. “My sword is yours.”

Victasys sighed. “Were you not listening? You must have the mark.”

Zane pulled back his sleeve, exposing a sinuous black mark. “I do not know where I got it, but I’ve had it as long as I can remember.”

“Mysteries upon mysteries,” the Devari breathed.

“Indeed,” Faye said.

Gray turned to Victasys. “Well? You said my grandfather saved your life, this is your chance to repay that favor.”

“You two may bear the mark, but you have neither the memories nor the skills of our kind. I will be surprised if we make it past the entry. Beyond that, I am not even a Devari myself any longer. I was banished and disgraced.”

“You still move like one, and that’s enough for me,” Zane said.

“How many know of your banishment?” Gray asked.

“Few, I suspect,” Victasys admitted. “But Zane does not even possess the cloak.”

Faye moved, opening a door to a tall chest. She grabbed something and tossed it through the air. Zane snatched it, and Gray glimpsed twin crossed swords.

“How did you get that?” Victasys questioned threateningly.

“Relax, Devari. It was a gift,” Faye said genuinely. Zane swiftly shed his tattered shroud, replacing it with the Devari’s mantle. “It suits you nicely,” she observed.

“Now, what was that you said?” Zane asked, standing smugly at Gray’s side.

The Devari growled. “You two don’t know the first thing about being a Devari.”

Zane smiled thinly. “I’m a quick study.”

And Gray sheathed Morrowil with a nod. “Time is running out. It seems a short lecture will have to suffice.” At the same time, Zane moved to the wall of weapons. He sheathed a dozen daggers up his sleeves and in his leather belt.

“So be it,” Victasys said with a heavy breath. “Then it is decided. Zane, Gray, and I will save Ezrah, while Faye and you two will go to save Zane’s sister.”

“How the… How did I get wrapped up in this?” Darius replied.

Faye snorted. “I don’t need them. They’ll just get in my way.”

“We’re coming,” Ayva insisted.

“And how exactly are you supposed to get past the guards without the mark?” she asked.

Ayva’s eyes were like blue daggers, as if waiting for her moment to strike. She held up the metal manacles, chain rattling. “You said Hannah will be in the prisons, did you not?”

Darius made a strangled sound. “Dice, I don’t like where this is going…”

Faye laughed. “You would willingly shackle yourselves? Put yourself in
my
hands? Why?”

“If it saves a life, gladly,” Ayva said.

“Do we really need
two
prisoners?” Darius asked. “Isn’t one enough?”

“Besides,” Ayva said, ignoring the rogue, “I don’t believe you’ll be able to trick those guards, not without a cover that is believable. And what’s more believable than this? Also, if it comes down to a fight, you won’t be able to handle Darkeye alone.”

“If it comes down to a fight, we’ll all be dead,” Faye replied.

“Then trust that it won’t,” Ayva said.

“Fine,” Faye conceded with a twist of her lips.
“Together.”
She made the word sound like a curse.

“Uh… Do I get a say in any of this?” Darius voiced.

“Do you really want to leave two women alone and defenseless, Darius?” Gray asked, smiling.

“These two? Defenseless?” he scoffed. “As much as a badger in a corner is defenseless.”

Ayva lifted a brow and Faye smirked.

Darius grumbled, “If you’re trying to guilt me with those looks, it won’t work. You all go play the fool heroes, but I’m staying right here!” he said, flopping down upon the rumpled bed and crossing his arms.

“Did I mention that I put scorpions in my bed incase intruders ever returned?” Faye mentioned.

Darius yelped, leaping to his feet and brushing down his body furiously.

Faye picked up a scorpion from the ground letting it scuttle across her finger.

The rogue growled, looking to Gray. “Defenseless?
Really?
”

Gray shrugged, hiding a grin. Victasys’ expression was humorless, but Zane looked amused.

“
Alright,
fine,” Darius griped, “But if we’re going to do this, let’s get it over with. No use waiting around.”

Faye cleared her throat and followed as Darius threw open the door.

“You best leave your sword here, rogue,” she said.

Darius grumbled. “My sword goes where I go.” Snatching a sheet from the bed, Darius shook it, and a few loose scorpions fell to the dirty ground. Deftly, he wrapped the sheathed sword, strapping it low upon his back to hide the handle. All done, he placed his hands upon his hips, looking satisfied with himself. “Better?”

Faye lifted a brow with a sigh but didn’t object, and Darius headed for the door without waiting for an answer. Gray followed, squinting from the sun as they walked out into the light of day.

* * *

Gray waited with the others, exchanging plans while Faye was inside. She had to change clothes, she had said. Just then, the door swung open and she stepped out. Gray swallowed just to keep his jaw from dropping.

Faye now wore a wholly different outfit. A large pauldron sat on one shoulder with layered plates, each of which came to a sharp point. The dark metal looked like dragon’s scales. The top plate’s spike rose high enough to shield her cheek. More dark-plated metal covered her chest, flaring at the collar. Deep brown leather adorned the rest of her, molded to her body like a second skin, accented with dark silver lines. Heavy metal vambraces were cuffed onto her slender arms. She wore a black cloak as well, its pointed hood pulled far forward, hiding her scarlet hair. Her eyes were now darkened, a smoky black shadow encircling them
,
making them appear like light brown lanterns staring out from the shadows of her hood. Lastly, weapons decked her body, maces, swords, daggers, and more.

All in all, the effect was truly menacing.

The woman looked ready for a war all by herself.

Faye moved into the desert street, hips swaying—the tight leather and plate armor accentuating her alluring curves. Gray hid the desire to turn away when her gaze passed over him, flashing a seductive smile. She joined the other two.

“What are you preparing for?” Ayva asked.

“For anything,” Faye replied.

Ayva’s lips made a tight line, but she said no more.

Gray eyed Ayva and Darius standing beside Faye in the dirt street. He felt suddenly strange splitting from them. They’d spent so much time together that to part now felt somehow wrenching.

“We’ll see you soon,” Ayva said firmly.

“Soon,” he agreed.

“And after you’ve rescued Hannah, we’ll meet back here,” Victasys stated.

“So be it,” Faye agreed. “As you know, even if we don’t run into any obstacles it’ll take us a full day to make it into The Lair of the Beast. I know how you worry, but don’t lose any sleep over me,” she said with a wink.

“I’ll try not to,” Victasys replied.