All the Things You Never Knew - By Angealica Hewley Page 0,113
him close.
The guards rushed in, but the old man held them back with his hand.
“You will let go of Lord Herring and Longsword now, wherever he is, or your life would be at its end,” Leon hissed.
“Don’t try to scare me with that threat, my boy. Even if you have my life, you can only save one of your folks here. It’s either your lying father-in-law or your stupid friend. Which do you pick? I suggest you let me go or they’ll both die. Worse yet, all three of you will die.”
Leon hated how he had nothing to negotiate with and had to release the marquess once more. His stone hadn’t yet played its part.
“Dumb boy,” the marquess smirked. “Guards!”
All the men of Lansing’s closed in and came in to full attack.
“Hell!” Leon growled and tried to fend them off, only to get tackled down by three of the guards.
“Let me go now, you old man!” he snapped, struggling to free his arms from the guards’ hold. He should have killed the old man despite what he said.
The old man shrilled into laughter and came forward to take the dagger from Leon. “Haven’t you learned from our last encounter?” he said, sliding the weapon out of its sheathe and bringing it to Leon’s face. “You are too gullible.”
He popped out the garnet from the dagger and threw the weapon across the room.
“I only need this to get to my dream,” he said, sticking it inside his pocket.
“The only dream you’re living is in your deathbed!” Leon snarled, trying to fling himself off at the man.
Lansing just laughs again and turned on his heel, giving a dismissive wave to the guards.
“Take him to join his friend,” he ordered. “Keep an eye on him. Don’t do anything until I have Marcus back here.”
“Yes m’lord!”
Waiting for Marcus, huh?
A secret smile played on Leon’s face as the guards took him away. He may be captured again, but there’s still going to be time for him to plan an escape. He wasn’t unconscious like the last time. His sanity is in full advantage. The old man shouldn’t be smiling yet. He’ll have his hell coming soon enough.
* * * “This is the Marquess’s death lair, then?”
It was barely visible in the dark.
Avangelene and Laguna stood, watching from afar as the old
marquess came to meet his son by the front gate.
Laguna nodded. “Seems so.”
“Let’s go.”
They left their horses hidden in the forest and hurried to follow
the marquess.
The gate was not guarded, making it easy for them to slip through.
“I love the security here,” Laguna said, following after Avangelene as they trotted up the stairs.
“I sense he has more protection from the inside then the outside,” Avangelene said, pulling Laguna’s arm and hurrying to the side of the house when light spilled out from the open door.
“We have to find a way inside now since we can’t just barge in like some kinsmen.”
That brought a smile to Avangelene’s face as she looks at the duke and she answered, “Perhaps we could find a way.”
And they did.
As the door closes, two guards came out and Avangelene made the move for them to knock them out and steal their costume.
“You look a bit too tiny to be a bodyguard,” Laguna said to Avangelene with a light chuckle as he put on the helmet of the guard.
“Shut up,” she just said, and went in through the door.
Avangelene wasted no time once they’re inside. She went to the nearest guard and asked him in her most manly voice to direct them to where the marquess went.
Laguna had to try hard not to laugh, although she did pass and was able to lead them away. He wonders if the guards even realize the shortness in Avangelene’s height compare to the others. He had to admit she’s quite…fascinating and remarkably talented. He was wrong to even call her dull in the first place, for she certainly is not and is full of surprises.
“Duke,” she said, stopping in her tracks and turning to Laguna. “Do you think you can knock out a few guards while I go in to check on the marquess?”
He shrugged. “I could try.”
“Thanks.”
She stripped off the guard disguise and pulled Laguna’s face to hers as if to kiss him, but instead flick his nose and whispered, “I owe you, Duke,” and then moving back, gave him a wave and turned on her heels.
Laguna stood speechless for a moment but then grin, taking off his own disguise.