Alena realized the next few days would be complete chaos within the city. No doubt, Bayt had put plans in place if something happened to him. Zane had just inadvertently released dozens of pieces of compromising information on city and government officials.
But Zane wouldn’t care about any of that. Alena suspected he only cared about the diamond.
And he had tortured and killed Bayt, who had been innocent enough of the crime, without a second thought.
She understood well enough what had happened to her master. Only one question remained: what did she do next?
If Zane had found Bayt within a day of the theft, he would quickly make his way through the underworld here. He would learn that Bayt’s apprentices knew about more than just spices. Soon Zane would be coming after her, seeking information. He wouldn’t know she had the diamond, but he’d get lucky all the same.
She sipped at the tea, fighting desperately against the tightness in her stomach, the bile rising in her throat.
She just had to test herself, didn’t she? She couldn’t leave well enough alone. Bayt’s death landed squarely on her shoulders. Her breathing came fast and shallow as further consequences unfolded in her imagination.
She couldn’t stay at the academy. Her family would be in danger.
Her only hope was to return the diamond. She wouldn’t be able to do anything with it anyway. Bayt had been her only fence.
If she returned the diamond, maybe Zane would stop the hunt before it reached her.
She bit her tongue. It was a slim hope, but the only one she had.
She finished the whole pot of tea, the warm liquid calming her a little. The sun fell on the horizon, and she figured there was no point wasting time. She placed a few coins on the table and left the teahouse.
Alena used most of the remaining sunlight to ensure she wasn’t being followed. By the time it was dark, she was certain no one was behind her.
She made her way toward the Arrowoods’ house, stopping about a block away to climb to the roofs.
Alena watched every rooftop, looking for shadows out of place, or a hint of movement in the dim light of the stars. The moon wasn’t up yet, and there wouldn’t be a better time.
She waited. She almost convinced herself it was because she was checking for traps, but she fooled no one.
Her heart raced and her palms sweat. In so many ways, tonight was like the night past.
Last night, though, she had welcomed the nerves. Tonight she wished them away.
Thoughts of her family in danger forced her feet forward, but she almost didn’t make the jump across the first roof gap. Lightness was difficult to summon with her internal energies all awash with torn thoughts.
She had to pause. Any hope she had depended on her abilities, and her abilities required a calm mind. She ran through the same practice as she had at the teahouse. She sat in the darkness and closed her eyes. She breathed deeply and relaxed the tight muscles throughout her body.
Her family needed her to return the diamond.
She focused on that one thought, pushing out all others.
Her heart slowed.
Alena stood up and ran her eyes over the roofs one more time. The city was quiet. She leaped from roof to roof, each jump bringing her closer to the house and the chimney where she had taken out the package. Soon only two gaps remained.
She looked one last time for hidden warriors, then leaped across the gaps to the Arrowoods’ house, making her steps as light as possible. Once there, she waited for ten heartbeats, listening for any sounds that signaled danger.
Alena took the hide-wrapped package from her pocket and placed it next to the chimney. She didn’t want to be on the roof long enough to wiggle the loose brick out and replace it exactly where she had found it.
She leaped off the rooftop just in time to see the tall silhouette of Zane Arrowood dash up the other side, rush to the package, and pick it up.
“Halt!” he yelled.
The tone of command in his voice almost gave her pause. But she had seen Zane’s handiwork up close. She wouldn’t stop for him. She had left the diamond. That had to be enough.
In an instant, Alena learned firsthand how the Arrowood family had earned their name. Zane Arrowood leaped across the roof with ease, landing only a few paces behind her. His hand whipped out and Alena’s heightened senses caught the slim displacement of air as a needle threaded its way toward her.
Alena ducked, and the needle passed overhead.
Poison?
She didn’t want to find out. Alena sprinted. What little martial skill she possessed paled in comparison to Zane. Her only hope was in escape.
Alena kept to the roofs. There were fewer obstructions up here. Streets and alleys passed below. Every so often, Zane would whip a needle at her, but every time she felt it approach and avoided it.
Unfortunately, the needles kept her from escaping Zane. He was the stronger fighter, but her lightness was superior to his. If she could just open a gap between them, she might have a chance.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a brick at the edge of a roof crumbled as she stepped on it. Even as light as she was, she couldn’t clear the gap. She fell, landing lightly on her feet. But before she could move, the ground gave way under her. She swore, unable to dodge as a stone slammed into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs.
A shadow emerged from an alley just as Zane dropped from the roof. In a moment, Alena was forgotten as the two men focused on one another.
“Where is it?” asked the shadow.
“Out of your reach. Now, will you take off the mask, or will I take it
