Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,6

find a way to get you out.”

“It’s impossible.”

Used to being underestimated, she shrugged. “Nothing is impossible. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Now that I know where you’re being held, I can make plans.”

He shook his head. Even through the gloom, she could see it. Her eyes had readjusted to the darkness. And there was a bit of light visible beneath the bottom of the door at the end of the long corridor.

A muffled sound came from the outer room. “I’ll be back,” she promised. She hurried down the hall and shoved herself up into the tiny chimney just as the door was flung open, smacking against the inner wall. Hand and feet braced, she clung to the chimney, staying completely silent.

“I heard voices.” The guard’s footsteps were heavy as he stomped toward Ivar’s cell.

“I was talking to myself. It helps pass the time.”

The guard snorted. “Better you talk to Balthazar. It would end your pain faster. Now shut up. I need me rest. Don’t make me come back here. Next time, I’ll bring me club.” With that promise, the guard lumbered back out and shut the door, throwing the heavy bolt.

Delphi remained where she was for long minutes, breathing slowly and steadily. Ivar’s voice reached her as he steadily recited, “I am strong. I am a weapon,” in various languages.

Closing her eyes, she struggled with the urge to go back down and be with him. It felt as though she was deserting him, even though that wasn’t the case.

Even though it was impossible, her hand still seemed warm from his touch.

Focus.

This mission was the most important one she’d ever been sent on. Ivar’s safety, his life depended on her.

That wasn’t new. As an assassin, she’d often held people’s lives in her hand. But she’d always been sent to end them. This was the first time she’d been sent to save someone.

Enough time had passed that she began her careful ascent up the chimney. She paused at the top and poked her head out, scanning the area. It was almost morning, which meant most of the inhabitants were in bed or passed out somewhere. She eased herself down the side of the building, using the chinks in the stones as hand and footholds.

When she reached the bottom, she moved silently and quickly through the streets, having mapped and memorized them her first few days here. An excellent memory for such things was a must in her profession. She could move as easily through the narrow streets as someone who’d lived here their entire life.

The hovel at the end of this lane was her destination. She went around the back to the small room she was renting. It wasn’t ideal, but it was all that had been available since she wanted privacy.

Her keen gaze ran over the doorframe. The piece of thread she’d placed there had been disturbed. Someone had been inside. Might still be there. She drew out her knives from beneath her shirt, took two deep breaths, and then burst into the room. Staying low, she rolled across the floor and came up onto the balls of her feet.

The intruder was waiting just inside the door. He’d struck, or tried to, but she’d ducked beneath his swing. Without hesitation, she launched her knives, hitting her target. On a shocked cry, he went down.

She stalked toward him and slammed her foot on his hand, breaking his fingers so he couldn’t hold his knife. “Who sent you?”

The man shook his head, blood bubbling up from his lips.

“By the god Melton and his fiery hell,” she muttered. Melton was the god of the Zaxian version of Hell and one of her brother’s favorite ways to express his displeasure. Her knives had hit him too well. The intruder was going to die before she got information if he didn’t talk fast.

“Tell me who sent you, and I’ll get help for you.” Not that it would do any good. He was already dead. It was only a matter of time.

He shook his head. “Easy score,” he gasped.

She snorted. “You were wrong about that, weren’t you?” The man took one final desperate breath before going silent. Delphi lowered her head, hating that she’d been forced to kill someone. There were already enough faces haunting her dreams without adding unnecessary ones.

There was no time to wallow. The sun would break over the horizon at any moment.

Moving fast while being thorough, she went through his pockets and patted down his body. There was a small