Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Cormac followed Kiayani and they stood beneath the stars. He was eager to keep going on considering he had no idea exactly when the Shadow Blades would strike.

To his surprise Kiayani lowered herself over the edge and swang to the ground below just as a guard's torch went around a corner. Cormac slid down the wall and landed lightly beside her.

"How can you do that?" He said in awe.

"It's not too different to trees," she said. Cormac was confused but she didn't elaborate. For the first time he felt like he had no idea who she was and there was a lot he didn't know about her.

They ran through the gardens towards the back of the palace where the training grounds were. Every fibre of Cormac's instinct told him to not get any closer to the barracks, but he had to prove that he was trust worthy. Also showing that he was not afraid would help and it was the boys he had really expected the most help from.

It was as the stench of horses and the dusty air reached Cormac that he realised he had never appreciated the size of the training grounds before. There was a massive space in the middle of the yard. Closer to the stables was a fenced off area where horses would be trained. The barracks were the furthest away. Unlike the emptiness of the gardens however, there were quite a few guards walking around with lanterns.

Just before they left the safety of the gardens Kiayani turned to him and made him stop.

"You wait here."

Cormac nodded and was glad. It would dangerous for him to get any closer than he already was. If Kiayani had recognised him in the dark, then so would the guards. He tapped his foot impatiently as she ran across the yard to the barracks. None of the soldiers stopped her and she walked up to the furthest barrack away. He watched as she climbed into one of the windows. Cormac sunk into the closet bush. He would have to wait to see if they wouldn't be so easy to persuade.

Cormac shivered slightly while he waited. Now he was standing still he was getting cold. The moon was almost at its highest point and Cormac couldn't help but want to pace. Time was of the essence. The king could already be dead. Even the prince could be under attack if Isabel hadn't reached him in time. If Isabel had, then all she could have done was to tell them to be on guard. She was not a fighter.

That was why Kiayani sending the boys to help made Cormac happier. They would protect Isabel when he couldn't.

At last he saw Kiayani return. She had Koran and Mik with her as silent guards. Leo and the twins headed for the stables. Cormac backed out of the shrub and ruffled the leaves from his hair. When the boys approached they had looks of mistrust on their faces and their hands resting on their sword hilts. Their expressions were enough for Cormac to get the message; one wrong move and blood would be shed.

They came to a halt in front of Cormac.

"To the king's chambers?" Kiayani asked.

Cormac avoided the boy's gaze, "Lead the way."

Koran and Kiayani walked on ahead but Mik didn't move. He had a steely look in his eye. He waited until the others were out of earshot before speaking to Cormac in an undertone.

"If you have lied to Kiayani I will run you through without hesitation."

Without waiting for a response he pushed past Cormac. Cormac glared at his back for a moment. As much as he had good reason to hate him, he had hoped they would have been a little friendlier in the face of a sheared foe. But he had guessed wrong.