Chapter 39: Another beautiful girl

A scream tore down the alley ahead of us, high and raw, like a wild goat being slaughtered.

I ran faster. Lia was right behind me, both of us breathing hard. We had searched half the district for Leah, and now that scream was the only lead we had.

"My hands! My hands!" a man shrieked. "Who the hell are you? Why did you do that?"

I came around the corner just in time to see Mira’s boot slam into his face.

THUD.

It was a clean kick. His head snapped back and hit the ground, and he stayed there, groaning and twitching. Mira stood over him, lightning still crawling faintly along her blade, her face cold and calm. Beside him in the dirt lay the iron pipe, and next to the pipe, his hands.

"Leah!" I called.

I stopped and took in the scene. Bodies were scattered everywhere. Blood covered the ground, and the air smelled like iron and smoke. Leah sat against the wall, pale and barely moving. So Mira had found her first.

"It seems someone already did the saving for us," Lia said slowly. She tilted her head toward a figure lying a few feet away.

I followed her gaze. It was a woman in sleek armor, her hair spread across the dirt, an empty quiver on her back and a bow beside her hand. Her ears were long and pointed.

"An elf," I muttered, and my eyes narrowed. "She’s the one who saved them."

I crouched beside her and noticed the wound on her arm, and the dark purple veins spreading out from it. I touched her skin. It was burning hot.

"She’s been poisoned," I said. "Lia, carry her. Be careful with that arm."

"On it." Lia slid her arms under the elf and lifted her carefully, shifting her weight until she was comfortable. "She’s lighter than she looks."

"Hold her there until we’re ready to leave."

While she did, I walked back to the man on the ground, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him through the dirt, ignoring his groans. I dropped him in front of Leah.

She was sitting with her knees pulled in close, barely keeping her eyes open. When she saw him, her whole body flinched and she looked away.

I knelt in front of her so we were eye to eye.

"Leah," I said softly. "I need to hear it from you first."

She looked at me with tired eyes and said nothing.

"I’m willing to save you. I’m willing to protect you. I’m not saying this to trick you, and I’m not going to convince you with pretty words. I want you to understand that I’m doing this because I want to." I paused. "Do you want to be free from this life? Do you want to be happy?"

Leah hesitated. Her lips trembled, and her eyes moved to the man on the ground. I waited and didn’t push her. The seconds stretched out.

Then, in a very small voice, she said, "Yes."

"Good." I gave her a small smile and stood up. I looked at Mira. "Take her out of here."

Mira nodded and scooped Leah into her arms. The girl rested her head against her shoulder, and Mira shielded her eyes with one hand as she carried her away. Lia followed with the elf, glancing back at me once before she vanished around the corner.

The alley went quiet. I stood alone in the dark with the man at my feet.

"Please," he croaked, his voice cracking. "Please, I have money, I can..."

I drew my sword and ended it in a single swing.

I stood there for a moment, flicked the blood off the blade, and sheathed it.

Then I felt it.

A presence, like someone was watching me. The back of my neck prickled. I turned slowly and scanned the rooftops, the corners of the alley, the black windows above me.

Nothing.

I stayed still a few more seconds and then shook my head. Probably nothing. I turned and followed the way the others had gone, back to the inn.

It was warm inside. The old man behind the counter looked up from the counter he was wiping, took one look at me, and let out a loud chuckle.

"Another one? You bring home beautiful ladies every day, young man. I’m starting to think you’re running a business."

I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck. "It’s not like that, old man. I need one more room, please."

"Of course, of course." He pulled out a key and set it on the counter, and I dropped a few coins beside it.

As I reached for the key, my eyes landed on a piece of paper at the edge of the counter. It was rolled up tight, but a small corner had been left open, and I could see a crest printed there. The crest of the kingdom.

I frowned. "What’s that?"

The old man followed my gaze, and his smile tightened for a second. He pushed the paper aside with the back of his hand and started talking fast.

"Oh, that? Nothing, nothing. Say, have you eaten tonight? My wife made some stew, and there’s plenty left. You and your girls should have some. Growing boys need their food, you know." He began pulling bowls from under the counter and kept going before I could answer.

I looked at him for a moment, then took the key and smiled. "Maybe tomorrow."

I went upstairs.

The new room was small, with two narrow beds and a window overlooking the street. Mira and Lia had already laid the elf on one bed and Leah on the other. They had cleaned their faces and wounds with warm water and wrapped their injuries in fresh bandages. Lia was tucking a blanket around Leah’s shoulders while Mira checked the elf’s breathing.

Both of them were asleep now, and the room was quiet except for their slow breaths.