Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Cormac woke to find himself on his stomach and his left knee searing with pain. He flinched as something cold was rubbed into the wound. He let out an involuntary grunt of pain.

"Sorry," he turned his head to see Isabel keeling over him, green ointment on her fingertips.

He nodded to her, allowing her to continue cleaning the wound. He clenched his teeth as pain spiked through his body. Once she had finished with the ointment, she cleaned her fingers on a rag and reached for the bandages. While she was tightening the cloth she spoke to him.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

"Tavern brawl," Cormac lied, he was not about to admit he had been beaten by a girl, and a noble one at that.

She accepted his answer without comment but Cormac saw her lips tighten. She continued to wrap the soft cloth around his leg.

"Luckily the cut isn't too deep," she said, pushing a blonde lock of hair out of her eyes, "it should be fine in a week or so. No jumping or running until it is closed over fully."

"Of course," Cormac agreed. He couldn't help but frown, he was to be out of action for a full week.

Isabel secured the bandage and helped him to sit.

"I'll be back in a moment. I just have to clear up," she indicated to a bucket of bloody water and the mess of rags.

The sudden change in orientation caused Cormac to feel rather light headed and all he could do was nod in response. He watched her pack away the medical supplies and then walk off with the bucket and rags. While she was gone he allowed himself to take in his surroundings.

The attic was spilt into three rooms. The biggest being the main sleeping quarters, a section partitioned off for Isabel and Mouse. In the far corner was the kitchen, for want of a better name. It had a sink and a wood stove but served very little purpose. Next to the kitchen was the wash room.

In the sleeping quarters there were at least a dozen beds including Cormac's and he noted that they were all empty.

He moved towards his trunk, pulling out his key from around his neck. He unlocked the trunk and began rifling through its contents, pulling out a plain tunic and breeches. He was going to have to ditch his black clothes and pretend to be a normal law-abiding citizen for a while.

He stowed his lock picks and dagger in a box near the bottom of the trunk. He folded his cloak neatly into the box. He then donned his new clothing, pulling his black tunic over his head. He winced as he pulled his breeches up as they rub against the wound on the back of his leg.

Once dressed, Cormac dragged his boots towards him. He pulled off the strips of fabric from his boots. He didn't need the mufflers anymore. Just as he was locking the trunk back up Isabel returned.

"When did the others leave?" He asked.

"Around dawn," she said, seating herself next to him.

Cormac cursed, he would have wait before he could go out again.

Seeing his frustration she smiled slyly, "I know you want to get out of here but at least you'll give your knee a chance to heal. You were never very good at following doctor's orders."

He grimaced, she was right and it did nothing to please him. There was nothing really to do at the hideout besides eating and sleeping.

Cormac glared down at the floor, all the action happened out on the streets. In a city as big as this one there was always something happening. Then he realised he wasn't just angry about being forced to wait. He couldn't believe that he had been so easily bested by a girl. That was the first robbery he had failed for a long time and he had been doing it for nearly ten years.