Gold's Assassins

[ 6 ]

It couldn't have been even an hour after that when Luka Riddin, Isaias' contact in End, came to get us out. He didn't speak to us much, though he did say our ship would be returned to us when we needed it - after it was searched for illegal contraband, of course.

After about ten minutes of walking, we reached the margravine's court. It was a surprisingly small building, reminiscent of an inn or tavern. There were no lights in the windows, though a flickering LED glowed above us. Luka opened the door and ushered us inside. I hesitated before walking in, glancing at the margravine's grandson. He gestured into the darkness, and I again wondered why he didn't speak.

The door slammed shut behind us, encasing us in shadow.

"Wire cutters." It was Luka's voice.

The overhead lights clicked on, making us all blink. "Wire cutters" must have been a code.

Luka brushed past me. "Come," he said. I saw Rad looking in awe at a model of the margravine's ship on the greyish-green wall. It was a silver-plated whale with a laser gun perched on its head, like something out of a science fiction novel. The plaque below it read "Leroy".

"Hey, if you don't mind, where are we going?" Xander asked. I could tell he was frustrated.

"You are not going anywhere. Your captain only. The rest of you will wait here until the audience is finished. I'm sorry," Luka said, looking at Isaias, "But that was all I could get grand-mere to agree on."

Isaias nodded in understanding, then smiled sadly at me. "Go get 'em, Verano."

I swallowed and didn't respond. Luka's sharp glance whipped over to us, and though I wasn't sure of it, I thought I detected a glimmer of suspicion. But he couldn't know. There was no way.

He jerked his head, and I followed him.

We walked through a door, and the scenery changed suddenly. It went from the bare, bland lobby to a dark, lustrous throne room. It was a long, rectangular room hung with deep, wine-colored velvet all the way to the very end. Guards stood at equal intervals beside an aisle, silver whales emblazoned on their uniforms. There was a gold chair draped in purple at the end. Lights shone on it, highlighting the sparkle of gold and the shadows in the fabric.

In the chair was a woman wearing a braided circlet of leather across her forehead. Her short black hair was artfully streaked with grey in a way that could not possibly be natural. She wore a tradesman's vest over a very official-looking uniform with draping sleeves and black pants. Her boots, like the vest, were military-issue and looked like they had seen a lot of action. I instantly wanted to know the stories behind each scuff, each imperfection in the otherwise shiny material.

Then I remembered I was here to kill her.

Luka bowed before Lidakun. "Grand-mere, I present Azalea Verano, captain of the Seventh Sister." He stepped aside, leaving me the sole receiver of the margravine's attention.

"Um."

Lidakun waited patiently.

"M-margravine," I stammered, bowing quickly. "I-I come to request permission for r-requisition of supplies and..."

The words stuck in my throat. I couldn't speak. I couldn't think. I didn't want to do this, I wouldn't, I couldn't.

But I didn't have a choice. And so I did what Andar Gold had asked of me.

Quick as a whip, I pulled a knife out of my belt and whirled towards the margravine, slashing through the air. I heard Luka shout for the guards, and the sound of the golden chair falling over. A second later, my knife ripped into the wine-red curtains on the wall. I had missed.

I turned again, but my legs went out from under me as Lidakun aimed a kick at my ankles. Before I could think, she was on top of me, pinning my hands to the ground.

"Bring them in here. All of them," she called to the guards, and I could hear their running feet as they hurried out to take my friends, my family. The margravine looked back at me, studying my face.

"So young," she murmured. "You are so young, and already you must murder?" She sighed, and I think I saw a tear glisten at the corner of her eye. "You are like me."

The margravine of Lowtown End released my hands and stood. "So I am going to give you a second chance. I do not know who you'll be running from or where you'll be running to or what you're going to do in the future. But I do not believe that you wanted to do this. That is why you and your crew are going to run far, far away from here.

"My one request is that you take Luka with you. He has longed for adventure since he was a little boy. It is adventure I have not been able to provide. I hope he will be a useful addition to your crew."

I licked my suddenly dry lips and scrambled to my feet. "I...I can't..."

Lidakun smiled at me gently. "Go, before someone calls the Galactic Sentinels."

So I turned and ran, not looking back to thank the margravine I had just tried to kill.