Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant and the Villain, #3)(98)
Sage frowned, and the wind swept her locks away from her face. “We’re entering through the docks? What contact?”
Clare gasped in realization, followed closely by Tatianna. “No! Trystan, you did not ask Jellyfish Jones!” Tatianna whined. “Even you’re not that sadistic.”
“In this case, it would be masochistic, considering this hurt me just as much as it’s hurting you,” he grumbled, cantering ahead.
Sage frowned as she came up alongside his horse. “Uh, hello? Earth to Evil Overlord? Who in the deadlands is Jellyfish Jones?”
Say it fast and maybe she won’t catch on.
Tatianna sighed, throwing Trystan a death glare that well outshined his.
“Jellyfish Jones is the best fisherman in the southern part of the continent. His boat is legendary.” Clare patted Tatianna’s arm. “And he also happens to be Tatianna’s father.”
Evie flinched. “Oh.” Tatianna’s defensive glare made Evie brighten. “I’m excited to meet him.”
“You should be, Sage. You have much in common.” Trystan smirked at Tatianna, and she threw her canteen at him, hitting his gut hard.
“Thirsty?” She gave him a saccharine smile.
“What do we have in common?” Sage asked, obviously not following a thing they were talking about.
“You’ll see. It’s not for me to explain, but do let me know if you spy anything fishy,” he whispered.
Sage laughed, confused, but her eyes sparkled anyway. For him.
“Trystan!” Tatianna screamed, galloping after him.
He laughed all the way to the docks and the Lilac Sea.
Almost forgetting every reason he had to never laugh again and all the danger that lay ahead.
Almost.
But not quite.
Chapter 61
Gideon
“Well. At least we know for certain that they’re holding her in here,” Gideon supplied as they crept over the wall to the left of a tunnel’s set of stone stairs. He had no idea how many hours had passed, but he’d guess it was lunchtime, by the yawning emptiness of his stomach.
Keeley sighed. “Did the screaming cries of a mother in pain not already assure us of this?”
Gideon rubbed at his chin. “Yes, but I’m endeavoring to be the positive one of the two of us, since you seem to have trouble managing it.”
Wrong. Wrong thing to say.
He flinched just from the molten burn of her glare. “I am the captain of an evil guard. My job is not to be positive. It’s to be realistic, so I can make sure nobody dies.”
“From your side,” Gideon corrected.
“What?” she snapped, looking over the edge again to see if the Valiant Guards outside the enclosure below were still there.
“You make sure nobody dies from your side, and you do a stupendous job. Whoever is working for King Benedict cannot agree.”
“As in…”
“At least four Valiant Guards die a week with regularity, and the truth is, King Benedict doesn’t care. He doesn’t even bother to remember their names.”
“But he knew yours,” Keeley said quietly. “He knew yours, and he used that against you, and you didn’t deserve that.”
Gideon’s lips parted, a short breath coming out. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Keeley rolled her eyes and shoved him, though not with any force. “Savor it, as it was also the last.” She motioned to the stairs. “All right. Shall we go dispatch some of your former brethren? Probably a few new faces with the turnaround you described.”
“Real nice.”
“I never said I was nice.”
“I know. I was thinking positively again,” Gideon said gravely.
Keeley shuddered. “Well, knock it off.” Her helmet hid her face from view once more as she dragged the heavy metal over her head, concealing her golden locks. “Let’s go.”
“Follow my lead,” Gideon said, moving in front of her. This endeavor was the greatest risk of the whole journey. If the two guards suspected either of them, they’d alert the rest of the barracks, he and Keeley would be captured, and Gideon would fail Evie…again.
Keeley followed his uniformed march until they reached the two guards standing sentry outside the guvre’s cage. The animal looked battered behind the bars, with a large gash on her head that sent a surprising spike of ferocity through him.
He hardened his voice, all signs of humor gone in favor of cool command. “Morning, gentlemen. The king is requesting you report to his offices—immediately. We’re here to relieve you.” Sweat was building at his neck despite the chill from being underground.
The two Valiant Guards lifted their helmets, brows raised in suspicion they couldn’t afford. “Who says?”
Keeley deepened her voice. “The king.”
The two guards looked at each other and then squinted over at Gideon, and he realized he recognized them—they’d been training captains his first day in the Gleaming Palace. They had been ruthless in their teachings, brutal in every session in a way that imprinted in his memory. Gideon tried not to jerk when one of them narrowed his eyes at Gideon, leaning too close.
“Oy! It’s the fucking Sage boy!” The larger of the guards grabbed him by the neck, and the other circled Keeley.