The Saintess and the Villainess

Chapter 93

Agis took the lead as the trio fled back through the halls of the church, no longer bothering with rooftops or sneaking or subtlety. didn't bother to sneak over the roofs this time. They haphazardly shoved their way past shocked acolytes and screaming clerics and kept running even after they'd reached the streets outside, ignoring the shouts from surprised pedestrians. They didn't stop running until they reached the alleyway where the horses were waiting.

"I half expected they'd have run away by now," said Corvina.

Anne could see why Corvina was surprised. It seemed like the horses weren't tied up to anything. Maybe her rescuers had been in too much of a hurry to worry about things like that. But anyway, somehow the horses hadn't gone anywhere. They were waiting patiently, looking at the trio with mild curiosity.

"If the other two had tried anything, Iramus would have kept them in line," said Agis. He patted his horse with a subdued smile.

Corvina shook her head in a bemused way but didn't argue. "Come on," she said. She swung herself up onto her horse and then reached down, holding her hand out to Anne. "Let's go."

"Wait," said Agis. "Anne, you should take Iramus."

Anne watched Agis closely again, trying to work out what he was feeling. But the serious look on his face wasn't giving anything away.

Anne suddenly remembered that Agis was late thirties. It had only been mentioned once in the book. And that wasn't that old for an elf, but nevertheless... For the first time since she'd known him Anne thought he kind of looked his age. He wasn't some goofy, naive kid. He was an adult man. Well, elf. And a prince at that.

"You want me to take Iramus?" asked Anne. "Are you sure? He's your horse. I know how much you love him."

"Yeah, I'm sure," said Agis. "He's the swiftest steed in the world. I trust him to see you to safety. I have to go back anyway. The assassin might need help."

Corvina withdrew her hand, shifting back in her saddle. "Do you think that's a good idea?" she asked. She was poker-faced, but Anne could sense the nervousness in her voice. "We barely escaped with our lives just now. And whatever else is true, Eva was your friend. Do you really want to keep fighting her?"

"Not really," said Agis. "And not just because she scares the shit out of me. But I can't just abandon someone who chose to help us when they didn't have to. It wouldn't be right."

It was the noble thing to do. Anne could try to tell him that they would need him on the road, or argue that the assassin would be fine on their own, or even try to undermine his confidence and tell him he could never win against Eva in a fight. All of that might even be true. But none of those things would change his mind. For all his insecurities, Agis lived up to the ideals of an honorable prince when it really mattered.

And what's more, Anne actually agreed with him. She didn't want Agis to get hurt, but she didn't think Rain deserved to die, either. And it felt wrong to leave an ally behind like that. If Anne had any skills as a fighter whatsoever she might be trying to do the exact same thing.

It was almost ironic, how similar Anne and Agis were, at times. It was a big part of why they'd gotten along so well as siblings.

Even if they weren't really siblings at all.

Anne nodded, sullenly, a huge knot of guilt tangling up her insides. "I get it," she said to him, not able to meet his eyes. "Just... don't get killed."

Agis grinned and for a moment he seemed young again. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm basically immortal anyway."

Anne smiled back, wanly, but she wasn't sure what else to say. The day before she would have hugged him goodbye, but she couldn't be sure he would want that anymore.