KINGSLAYER

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Act 2 Chapter 38
JAYLAH

Things were ordinary until Alexander leaned in closer to me, barely moving his lips. "We're being pursued."

Daggen's men. "Where?" I asked, equally soft.

"Behind and to the left. Don't look over your shoulder."

It took all my self-restraint to keep my eyes forward and not run at Daggen's lackeys to give them a taste of my steel. "Can we evade them up ahead?"

He studied the tangle of overgrown ferns and bushes. "If we're lucky. And the chances of that are shit."

"Because you know more of these mens' capabilities than me, what would you advise we do?"

I could see him weighing our options. Then: "You run. I'll take care of them."

"You will kill them." I made it clear, wishing I could be the one to deliver swift justice. But it made sense. I, as the target, needed to be out of their way. And I suspected Alexander feared being enslaved enough to permit me this small courtesy.

"I'd be a shitty mercenary otherwise. Slip away now."

Feeling as though there was a target painted onto my back, I took a sharp turn behind a tree trunk and built up speed until I was at a steady sprint. This constant running from enemies was doing wonders for toning my legs. I was unable to hear anyone following, but then again, I had not known they were near until Alexander alerted me. Perhaps it was only something a person trained in the arts of murder, stalking and deceit could innately know.

A gap in the ground had me nearly falling flat on my face. I caught myself on a fallen log just in time, my hands scraping against the crumbling bark. When I regained my footing, I steadied my breathing and looked up. There, partially hidden by the swell of ground around it, was a cave with a jagged opening. Perhaps I did have a little luck yet.

At first, I only intended to crouch by the entrance. But then I longed for the safety of walls around me and I stepped into the hole. I looked up as the ceiling turned from overhanging grass to stone. Like a monster's jaws.

I stood there with my back to the wall for what seemed like an eternity. Time felt funny here, as if an entire day could pass without my noticing.

As I hid there with nothing to do but listen to my thoughts, the questions bubbled up. Where was Daggen finding these expert trackers—through searching for the worst of the worst off the streets? I did not doubt Alexander's skill, but I wondered how long it would take him to slay the unnumbered group. And how was he going to know where to find me once he was finished? I certainly could not go looking for him myself, alone and exposed in the vast forest.

I whirled, thinking I heard something down deep in the tunnel. There was nothing but the barest echoes from my feet. If there was going to be a creature inside, it would be waiting near the entrance for prey, I rationalized. Unless I was the prey it was luring in.

"Jaylithia..."

A trill of terror ran from head to toe. Was my name being called or was it all in my head? My father used to hear imaginary things. Was this the beginning for me too?

No, it was certainly there. It was called again in a voice that was both a whisper and deep enough to echo around the walls of the cave. Vaguely familiar.

I realized I was already striding forward. Even so, I did not stop. The wise option would be to run, but I sensed whatever was down there wanted something from me beyond my blood. Drawing a sword, I ventured into the dark.

The deeper I went, the more the walls widened and branched until I could not see them any longer. I struck a firestick but it did not do much to illuminate the path ahead.

Something moved before me. My vigilance heightened and I pointed the tip of my sword to where I guessed it was.

"Your iron will not hurt me," it said, making me cease walking immediately. Despite the warning, I did not drop my blade.

"You know who I am."

"I can smell you. Your bones, your hunger, your thoughts. I want them."

I hid the shiver that went down my spine. My ears were ringing. "What are you?" This was no human, no normal creature.

The thing repeated my words. "You know who I am."

With a solid, sliding sound, I knew it was nearing, but remained out of the firelight. I thrusted the fire forward, insistent on seeing the thing that could very well be my enemy. The creature moved back, but not before the light caught several pairs of unholy golden eyes.

Just like the naga's, I realized. But this was no normal naga—this was something older. Something worse.

It had not sought to kill me, so there must be something it desired if not for my flesh or my Bloodiron. You know who I am.

"You slaughtered that band of travelers," I guessed aloud. "Not the naga."

"They were no small band and no sinless journeymen. Not all of them met the fate they should have."

Did it want me to kill the escapees? "They harmed you?"

"They drew me out to take my treasure. Prideful mortal men believe with enough strength, anything is theirs."

My throat felt tight as I asked, "What use do you have for me?"

"I will not kill you if you retrieve my treasure."

"You cannot?"

"If I lay waste to the city of Valentou as I wished, my prize would be destroyed."

A plan began to unfold in the very back of my mind. It clearly wanted this thing badly enough to grant me mercy. Perhaps it would grant me other things.

"I will do it," I decided. "What is it that they stole from you?"

"Franck Castex. The fool took my offspring as a prize."

My whole body went cold. It wanted me to steal back a young naga? I turned to go, wondering how I was going to pull this off.

"Go, little thief," it said. "I will be waiting."