Chapter 115: Deadly Canary (2/2)
Looking up he met the gaze of those smoldering orbs of crimson hate. A canine beast the size of a small horse advanced towards him slowly, lips pulled back to reveal pink-stained fangs.
The approach of inevitable death did wonders for his mental state, as his all consuming fear faded to a dull roar in the back of his mind. He fell back against the tree into a sitting position, feeling strangely calm.
[I guess this is it. Shit. If I had known that things would end up this way, I would have accepted that cooper apprenticeship like my dad wanted.]
The beast tensed, preparing to spring. Mattias cringed and instinctively brought his arms in front of his body in a vain attempt to protect himself.
A high-pitched whistle rang out across the garden.
After a few moments, he cracked one eye, and saw that the beast had vanished. He looked around, and not seeing any sign of it, decided he wasn't going to stick around to find out what was going on.
He ran over to the wall, scaled it, and began running back to the Guild's safe house. He'd had enough of this assassin business. If he survived the rest of the night, he was definitely going to quit the Guild.
[I've got enough saved up anyway, maybe I can finally open that tavern I've always been talking about....]
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”It looks like the last one made his escape. Are you sure this is what you want, my lord? Won't this attract attention? Especially since the real expert already got away.” Tanya asked from the balcony where she had been watching the assassin's progress.
An elegantly dressed man, who was calmly reading a book from his chair, glanced up at his longtime bodyguard before answering. ”I'm counting on it, actually. This way, their employers will take the opportunity to reevaluate their methods. We'll probably have a few days before they try again. Still, I'm surprised that three separate groups tried to assassinate me so quickly after my arrival. Apparently, I'm more popular than I thought.”
She glanced over at the pair of men dressed in servant garb. They'd been among the many individuals hired on to care for the manor while her lord stayed there. Evidently she needed to vet all future employees more thoroughly. Combined with the team of assassins that they'd just dealt with, and the expert who managed to get away with a few injuries after failing to slit her lord's throat in his sleep, this made three attempts just this night.
Tanya wasn't sure if she believed her lord's reasoning, but she'd long ago given up trying to understand the vagaries of this sort of thing. She was content to be a blunt instrument in his service. Resting her dominant hand on the hilt of her favorite mace, she turned when she felt Shadow come back in.
A misty cloud of dark smoke appeared at her lord's side before coalescing into a large canine shape. He reached out with his free hand and scratched behind it's ears, causing the beast to lean into the touch as its eyes narrowed in pleasure. Tanya could only watch with disbelief as the Turastian Death Hound acted like an affectionate puppy around her lord. She'd seen it several times before, but it was still a sight to see.
Viscount Wendel set his book down and fixed his gaze on Tanya. ”I'll be able to use their hesitation to my advantage. We'll accomplish our mission here, and be on our way back to Gold Spear before they've even decided on a course of action.”
”If you are certain, my lord, I won't worry.”
He rose from his seat, and stalked with his characteristic long-legged grace towards the shattered door, the monstrous hound trailing behind obediently. ”Now, I suggest we seek alternate accommodations.”
”Where to?” She asked, falling into step beside him.
”I took the liberty of reserved rooms at the Lion's Gate Inn. We still have a few days until preparations are complete, and the ship is ready to move.”
As he stepped into the hallway, the Viscount looked around at the bodies of the dead assassins with a frown. ”Once we've arrived, send a letter to Igor. Have him compensate Baroness Huthryn for the damage and the mess.” He said dismissively as he swept passed them.