The Gifted

Chapter Sixteen: Masquerade

I sat in the back of the carriage we had acquired from the town's inn, looking at the darkening sky. Dark clouds swollen with rain were in the distance and a strong wind started to settle in to greet the coming storm. Normally, I loved days like this. It called for you to stay indoors, settle down with a book, and allow the hours to pass in comfortable silence. However, that was not the case for today.

I shifted in the deep-blue fabric around myself, uncomfortable, no longer used to the heavy material. I tried slipping the strap of the dress back up but it simply fell back into place off my shoulder. When was the last time I wore a dress? My birthday? I looked at Flint beside me, recalling the memory that contained him.

Feeling my stare, he turned to me and gave me a smug smile. "Nervous?"

I slight blush tried to make its way to my face since he caught me staring, but I was able to push it back. "Not particularly." A lie. There were many ways this could go and many of those ended poorly. I took in a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves. This was ridiculous. I had gone on far worse missions than this, there was no need for me to be nervous. Yet here I was with that feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Want to go over the plan again. Talking through it might calm you down," Flint suggested, clearly ignoring my previous statement. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. How could this man always read me? It's not as if I was an open book to be read. If that were the case, the King would have tried to kill me long before now.

I sighed, slightly frustrated, knowing Flint was right. Again. "Very well."

His smug smile spread into a genuine one, knowing he had seen right through me. "Don't take it too personally, reading people is part of the job. Now, what are you in charge of?"

"To keep watch while you get Sir Witney, one of the councilmen that you people believe to be a weak link. But Flint, no one on the King's council is weak. No one."

"Thank you for the clear confidence in my abilities." Seeing the light sarcasm was doing nothing to brighten my mood, Flint became serious. "Relax Evelyn. You and I have the easy job." Flint nodded his head toward the man sitting in front of us, "He's the one that's going to need to be careful. His target is Sir Tharlow." I cringed at the name. Sir Tharlow was an outspoken man on the King's council. On more than one occasion, he had tried to have me do his own dirty work, coming to me with assignments as if he were the King. All of the requests required gruesome tasks towards people. I had always refused his requests but that never detoured him. He was a difficult man, one I certainly didn't mind handing to Kane to deal with.

Kane just glared at the two of us. "If the girl is that nervous she shouldn't be coming with us. She'll compromise everything."

I laughed but the melody was dry, without humor. "That's such an odd statement coming from you. Try not to kill anyone this time. After all, there is nothing more compromising than a trail of bodies."

Anger flared to life in Kane's eyes, "I would be careful what you say Miss or one of those bodies may belong to that friend of yours."

I felt the band containing my emotions beginning to bend, Kane's words pushing the boundaries. "Wh-"

"Enough. We're almost there. I don't need anyone overhearing your argument and Kane, no one dies tonight. Having a Lady with us allows us to be less conspicuous, you know that." Flint's voice was quiet but full of authority, leaving no room to argue. I sat back in my seat, seething with anger. Kane just threatened my friend. He threatened the sole reason I even agreed to this assignment. Of course, he had no idea that this 'friend' was actually my sister, Clara.