Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,34

trick.”

“It’s a dirty trick when used how I was taught it. It came from the Inkna.” Shanti put away her throwing knives and spread her Gift out. She felt her people, a few females that were probably prostitutes, and a couple of hiding enemy that the Shadow were making their way toward. No cunning intellect of a higher officer or inner-circle member. It didn’t mean they weren’t there. If last night had taught her anything, it was that Xandre wasn’t showing his entire arsenal, and he wasn’t going after her. He was waiting, and watching. Learning. When he did move, it would be with intelligence and purpose.

“How many cities like this does he have?” Shanti asked with a flash of rage. She faced her people. “How many in this land are his puppets, hoping for handouts and willing to lay down their lives for a cause they barely know? He can hide forever, sending disposable troops at us until he organizes a well-trained horde to take us down. It disgusts me how callous he is with human life.”

“Which is why we are going to kill him.” Kallon’s stormy eyes flashed. “It is why we will avenge our people, and those who suffer by his hand. This is our destiny.”

“It’s why we are going to hit him where it hurts the most.” Cayan dragged a piece of fabric over his blood-smeared blade. “In his pocket.” He gestured Shanti toward the door with a last look at those on the ground. “Let’s clear out the rest of the city. I want to make sure there’s no one hiding in here with us, waiting for the cover of darkness.”

10

“Sir, I am pretty sure there is someone in there…” Gracas looked at the door to the dilapidated house with wide eyes.

Sanders gritted his teeth in an effort to maintain calm. The grinding sound gave him away. “Private, speak only when you can add to the situation.”

“Yes, sir.” Gracas shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then back again. “But do you want me to go in there, sir?”

Sanders stepped forward and grabbed the idiot by the back of his collar. He gave a mighty heave, smashing Gracas into the door. The door burst open, spilling Gracas into the dark space beyond. Sanders stepped in a moment later, and saw the woman Denessa had said was in there. Just as Denessa said, the woman wasn’t armed, nor hostile. She sat at the edge of the bed with a patient air and a dead man lying beside her.

“Did he forget to tip?” Sanders peered behind a dresser into the shadowed corner, making sure there was no one intending to pop out unannounced.

“He scum, like them all.” The prostitute heaved her girth up off the bed and adjusted her bodice. Her large chest wiggled, drawing more than one set of eyes.

“What happened to the people who used to live here?” Sanders asked, checking the closet. “They try to pay you, too?”

The woman sauntered forward with confidence. “Graygual move in, the others move out. Into graves. All dead.”

Sanders motioned for the others to evacuate the small room. “You saw this?”

“No. I hear. I came after.”

“You came of your own volition?”

The woman’s brow scrunched up for a moment. “Your big words don’t make your dick grow.”

Sanders huffed out a laugh. “Too bad, ay? You come here on your own, or did the Graygual move you in?”

“Graygual come, we come. We work. We wait.”

“For what?”

“For Wanderer. We help.” The woman gestured down at the dead man. She didn’t seem to notice the droplets of blood puddled on the floor and reaching toward her heeled shoe.

“We need all the help we can get.” Sanders turned toward the door. To those waiting for him, he said, “Check in with all the women in the houses. Make sure they know the skirmish is over and they are free to go.”

“We always been free to go.” The woman, who had followed Sanders out, put her hands to her ample hips.

Sanders gritted his teeth again. What was it about him that invited women to speak their minds? Would nothing in his life be easy? “Tell the men that these women have a habit of killing their clients.” He stalked toward his horse.

“You think anyone in here has that mind mask like last night?” Tomous asked as Sanders neared the horses.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, aren’t we?” Sanders said. “Let’s get this wrapped up and get gone. If we don’t find them