Valek turned. His disguise was adequate, but wouldn’t hold under close scrutiny. “Sorry, sir. Busy day.” He rushed to loosen the straps.
Ignoring him, Tam scanned the almost-filled stables. “Got some visitors, I see. Anything new?” His tone was casual, but Valek could sense the tension.
“Yes, sir. You missed the commotion.”
Tam’s gaze snapped to him. “Really?”
“Yes, sir. The infamous Valek was spotted nearby last night. Caused a panic.”
The assassin’s confusion lasted a mere second before he drew his sword. “Are you sure it was him,
Tam’s skills with a sword were formidable. Valek didn’t care to engage him in a sword fight. And he held far too much respect for his old colleague not to allow him a fair match. So Valek stared past Tam’s shoulders and let fear show on his face as he backed up.
Too smart to turn his back on Valek, Tam smirked. “Come on, give me a little credit.”
“Why should I, Tam?” Ziva said in Valek’s voice. She stood behind the assassin. Tam shifted to the side so he could see both of them. Ziva’s magic thickened the air. She looked and sounded exactly like Valek. Her special skill.
“You ambushed me with twelve locals. I figured your one-on-one skills have gotten rusty.” Ziva brandished a sword.
Tam immediately forgot about the “stable boy” and stepped to meet her attack. Valek moved. Coming from behind, he pressed his knife into Tam’s throat.
“Drop your weapon,” Valek said.
Tam’s sword clattered to the ground. Ziva picked it up and released her disguise. The assassin grunted with surprise. Valek pushed him away and threw a knife at him.
Snatching it from the air, Tam grinned. “Cocky aren’t you? Considering
They circled each other, searching for an opening. Well matched, Tam countered his thrusts with ease. Then Valek stepped up the pace, increasing the speed of his attacks. Tam scrambled to block.
“Yelena has taught me a few tricks,” Valek said as he followed a jab with a spinning kick, knocking Tam’s knife from his hand.
“Wait,” Tam panted. He pulled a folded paper from his pocket. “Yelena’s execution order. Take it. I won’t go after her again.”
“I know you won’t.” Valek’s arm blurred as he threw his knife into Tam’s throat.
The assassin gurgled once and collapsed.
“Ziva, could you take the paper and put it in my saddlebags?”
She shot him a questioning glance, but he wasn’t about to explain his unwillingness to touch the order.
“Time to go,” he said. “We should be well away before Yelena’s group arrives.”
Shock bleached Ziva’s face. “Don’t you want to see her? Tell her…?”
Valek wanted to see Yelena more than anything. His arms ached with the desire to hold her. Yet he knew her focus should be on learning about her magical powers, and he was needed elsewhere. He would see her again. Of that, Valek was certain.
He grinned. “No. I have a promise to keep.”
The End
