The Rebel Assassin

Chapter 52: A Choice

It started raining as I walked through the city. My cloak was drenched within minutes. Between my hood and hair plastering to my face and the rain pouring down, I could hardly see where I was going. I kept my eyes on my feet instead, watching my thoroughly soaked boots squelch through puddles and, where there were patches of missing cobblestones, thick mud.

No one with sense would be out in this weather. But the kind of theatrics we had pulled today tended to rob people of their common sense. I passed huddles of people under any awning or canopy they could find, snatches of their conversation competing with the ceaseless rainfall.

"...heard that the dead captain killed the live one... well no, he's not alive anymore... and the dead one is, I guess..."

Lies and acting. Well, except for Luca dying. He probably hadn't been acting. I refused to let that piece of information sink in. I sloshed onward.

"...just lifted up her hand and the guard dropped dead. Everyone saw it."

Accurate, even though it left out the part where Liz shot the guard.

"...Auxiliary Captain's sword shattered... cousin who's a guard saw... think it was Guardian magic that did it? Gave the old captain unnatural strength?"

Joshua didn't need unnatural strength to shatter Luca's ceremonial sword. He'd replaced the blade with a damaged one before he left the castle. A little gift for Roman, he'd said, who would enjoy the theatrics and symbolism of it all.

It was all tricks and misdirection and cunning, everything I loved. So where was my pride in our success?

I almost missed our unassuming new headquarters in the deluge and had to backtrack, fumbling with the key. I let myself, and quite a bit of water, in, and was greeted immediately by Nemia's relieved voice.

"Thank God. Morie, what took you so long? Joshua got back an hour ago." She took over for my cold-clumsy fingers and pulled the water-logged cloak off me. "You look like hell."

Normally I would have at least three retorts for that, which was probably why she'd said it. But now all I could do was wrap my arms around her, ignoring her protests about me being cold and wet. "You know I love you, right?" I said into her hair.

"Of course."

"Good. Because I do. I love you so much." My voice caught, giving away much more than I'd intended.

Nemia pulled away sharply. "What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, I squeezed her arms and walked into the main room. I needed to do this while I could still hold myself together. Just a few more minutes of pretending I could handle this.

A few of the capital's rebels were here, called in by Ysmay. Nali, practically glowing with fervor, and Dell, quiet as usual. Aiden and his righthand man Beck were notably missing. Evvie was at her aunt's shoulder as she talked to some high level rebels, every bit the thoughtful heir to the revolution's leader. Liz leaned against her, playing with her fiancé's hair. Kay looked on as Lucien talked animatedly over several large sketches of pistol schematics. Jaden sat at the planning table covered with maps of the city, holding a steaming mug and talking to Gordan. Through the door into another room, Joshua was speaking to Roman, voice low, their heads close together.

My heart suddenly ached seeing them all there. The man who had taught me. The rebels who had given me a different future to look forward to. The friends I was fighting with and for. Things had been much simpler when all the people I really cared about could fit in front of the fireplace in my old bedroom.

Jaden smiled when he saw me, and held out an arm. I couldn't walk into his hug. I stuttered to a stop in front of him, saw his smile fade as he took in my expression.