‘“Murder!” came a cry. “Murder, by God!”
‘I shook my head to clear it, blinking about me. I saw one of the house gens d’armes staggering into the hall, the body of a serving lass in his arms. The girl was dead, drained pale as ash, twin punctures at her throat. The crowd about me gasped in horror.
‘“N-nobody of consequence, eh?” Véronique moaned in my arms.
‘With a moment to check on the bewildered lass, I pursued my master and Talon, flying through the broken window. I could see Aaron by the carriages, struggling with a tall, bearded man. Greyhand charged through the bailey past bewildered soldiers, Talon behind, both swift as hawks with the sacrament they’d smoked. Running to Aaron’s side, I slammed my dagger’s pommel into the thrall’s head, allowing the lordling to lock up the man’s arm and hurl him into the ground. I saw Aaron’s doublet was soaked with blood – clumsy with drink, the lordling had earned himself a stabbing. But he seemed more furious than pained.
‘“Damned bastard,” he spat, putting his boot to the thrall’s head.
‘“Are you well?” I gasped, looking at his bloodied clothes.
‘“Unknot your gizzards, you quivering peon.” He winced, pressing his chest with one bloody hand. “What in God’s name happened in there?”
‘“Luncóit spotted me … That is to say, I …”
‘De Coste met my eyes. “Oh, Mothermaid, de León, you fucking didn’t …”
‘My stomach sank. I’d no regrets, but I knew my disobedience had landed me hip-deep in shite again. I heard a rush of footsteps, felt someone seize my throat. I was slammed back into the carriage, black stars bursting in my eyes. A fist struck my stomach, another blow cracked the side of my head so hard it almost popped my jaw loose. Blood in my mouth, I collapsed to the cobbles, crying out as a boot collided with my ribs.
‘“You shitblooded little arsegrubber!” Talon spat. “I should’ve dragged you to Heaven’s Bridge when I had the chance! You just cost us our fucking quarry!”
‘I pulled myself up to my elbows, spitting blood. “I just s-saved a girl’s l-life!”
‘“And ended untold others!” Master Greyhand’s stoic mask was abandoned, his fangs grown long as he loomed above me, drawing his silversteel sword. “What did I tell you, boy? What did I say would happen if ever you disobeyed me again?”
‘Feastgoers had gathered out front of the manor house. Aaron looked to the steps, saw his cousin among the throng, her silken dress torn, her autumn hair in disarray. The Baron and Baronne themselves looked on as Greyhand raised his blade. But God had stood with me as I stared down that monster. He’d willed me to save that girl’s life.
‘Surely he’d not abandon me now?
‘Dull moonslight glinted on silversteel, all my life flashing before my eyes. And as the sword began to fall, Aaron stepped into Greyhand’s path.
‘“Master, stop!”
‘Greyhand held still, glowering as de Coste pointed to the unconscious thrall.
‘“This bastard spilled where they nest! An estate near Falls Bridge, on the Silver Lane. If we move with haste, we can burn them out before they escape.”
‘“Presuming they return there, having now been discovered,” Talon spat. “And presuming Luncóit does not tear us to pieces before e’er the sun rises.”
‘“All the more reason to spare this idiot.” Aaron glanced to his cousin, back down to me. “At least for now. We’ll need every blade we can muster to best this foe.”
‘Greyhand and Talon exchanged blood-red glances. I saw my master’s grip on his sword tighten. He was so close to letting that blow fall, I could taste it. But in the end, he glanced to the gentry and soldiers about us, then to Aaron, standing now his way.
‘“You’d best pray God that Initiate de Coste is right, de León,” Greyhand growled. “Because if this monster and her brood elude us, every murder they commit thereafter is a stain upon your soul. And whatever happens tonight, when we return to San Michon, there will be a reckoning. Mark my words, boy. You will never Hunt as my apprentice again.”
‘I hung my head, nodded slow. “Oui, Master.”
‘Greyhand sheathed his sword. Talon turned back to the keep, eyes red as blood.
‘“Gather your gear, brothers. We have a leech to kill.”’
V
THE AGE OF THE FALL
‘I LAY ON a rooftop in the Silver Lane with Aaron, both of us peering over the roof’s ridge. The cobbles below were packed with feastgoers, their music and laughter muted by the rush of the nearby waterfall. But the estate across the way was pitch dark. All too silent. Archer sat on an iron weathervane nearby, watching me like a hawk.’
Jean-Fran?ois quirked his lip. ‘A falcon watching you like a hawk? Truly, de León, your wordsmithery is a marvel to behold.’
‘My story, coldblood. I’ll tell it how I like.’ Gabriel finished off his wine and wiped his lips. ‘And for your information “wordsmithery” isn’t a real word.’
‘Nor is “fuckarsery”， but you hear no complaints from me.’
‘Strange, I swear that’s exactly what I just heard. Now, can I tell my tale or no?’
Jean-Fran?ois sighed. ‘As you like it, Silversaint.’
Gabriel topped up his glass, tapping his chin.
‘So. We’d no knowing if Luncóit or her brood had returned here after the keep. But we had no other trail to follow. Aaron kept his eyes on the estate, stuffing his pipe with the sanctus entrusted to him by Greyhand. Guilt was gnawing at me as he lit his flintbox, dragged a deep draught into his lungs. I wondered again if our master was right – if my disobedience had saved one life only to cost hundreds more.
‘But moreover, I was harbouring another guilt besides. I knew it made no sense for de Coste to have stepped up to my defence if he were behind the attack in the San Michon stables. If Aaron truly wanted me dead, he could’ve just shut his mouth and let Greyhand’s sword fall. Despite how bad I wanted it to be true …
‘Maybe I’d been wrong about him.
‘Perhaps someone else had set La Cour free.
‘Or perhaps she’d just broken free herself, as Talon always claimed.
‘So why the fuck had Aaron been sneaking around the Armoury that night?
‘When the lordling opened his eyes, I saw them washed red, irises almost swallowed by his pupils. I nodded as he handed me the pipe. “Merci.”
‘“You’re welcome, Peasant.”
‘“No … I mean … for standing up to Greyhand on my behalf. Merci, de Coste.”
‘Aaron’s eyes were back on the house, his breath coming like a racehorse’s. But the sanctus seemed to have sobered him up at least. “You’re an idiot, de León. A stubborn ass who thinks he knows better than men who’ve hunted these monsters for years. And that vanity is going to get you killed.” He glanced my way briefly. “But you saved my cousin’s life. Famille is famille. Now hurry up. They’re already moving.”