Ashe Knightley

Adjusting the collar to my button up shirt, I walked into the bar. It was seemingly packed with strangers chattering, mainly trying to get a bit of action tonight. Luckily, I was here as a distraction while Avaloryn and Whila began searching through the next door library.

"Is Randa here?" I asked the bartender.

She nodded and gestured to the far table. "She'll join you there in a bit. Something came up."

I sat at the table and shoved my hands into my lap. Being around so many people made me feel suffocated. How did people handle this many voices all at once?

There were a group of men and women sitting at a table behind me. Leaning back, I listened into their chatter.

"Apparently, Princess Valarya of Thaeleck is engaged! To a guard, nonetheless."

My chest tightened.

"If she could marry a typical guard, then I have a chance with the Kandose prince. They say he's very charitable." The girl who said that laughed and proceeded to down a shot of liquor.

"Come on, Kim. The only prince old enough in Kandose is Prince Thresan, but he's away on diplomatic matters."

"Hasn't he been away for years?"

"I think he's dead," Kim mumbled. "Too bad for Kandose."

I stared out on my table.

"Would you like a drink, sir?"

I shot a glare at her. "No."

"Then why are you at a bar—"

"Where's Randa?"

"I'm right here, darling." Arms wrapped around my shoulders as she kissed my cheek. "Hello, Theodore. Apologizes for being a bit late." I leaned back against my chair as Randa took her seat in front of me. "You look well today."

"I tried dressing up for the occasion." It was child's play. A black button up and simple black pants could make anyone seem like they tried. "You look decent today as well."

"Only decent?" Randa pulled on her low cut blouse.

"What would you like me to say?"

"Don't I look appealing?"

"I suppose?"

She mumbled a little curse word, though I wasn't sure if it was directed at me. "Talk to me, Theodore."

I fidgeted with my bracelet as I watched everyone talking. There was so many people in one place. Why did anyone need to socialize to this extent? "The weather was nice, yes?"

"It was raining."

"Oh."

Randa tapped her nails on the table, gesturing for the waitress. "Two shots of vodka."

"I don't drink."

"Not for you." Randa rubbed her temples. "Make it four, please. And some lemon slices."

The waitress nodded and pranced away.

"Your hair looks nice," I told her. "It must've taken long to manage."

"It did. Took me nearly two hours to get it under control." Randa ran a hand through her hair, tossing it over one shoulder. "I like your style. Tell me why you thought to wear that."

Because it was simple, easy to put on, and I didn't need to put much thought into it. "Because it's neat, classy, and very charming, don't you think?" I held Randa's hand and kissed the back of it. "Traditional for a Kandosian to offer a kiss on the hand."

"Is it?"

I sat straighter, attempting to keep her attention. "It is. And there's lots of dragons to ride throughout the place."

She smiled and fixed the neckline of her blouse that kept riding down. "I've been to Kandose myself, actually."

"Really?" Now that caught my attention. "Do tell."

"Just some business. I work with their government in the taxes department."

Taxes. I made a mental note of that.

"What's your job?" she wondered. Her hand traveled to mine.

"I'm a cartographer. Clients send for me and I sketch out their land."

"That would explain why you travel so much."

Which was exactly why I said that. "I love traveling. It's freeing and exciting. Something new every day."

"I'm the other way. I prefer staying in one place and adjusting to it as best as possible."

"That's unfortunate. I was looking forward to taking you aboard my ship and sailing the world." How the hell did I make up that lie? Where was I going to get a whole ship?

"Well, I could definitely travel with you." Randa's fingers skittered up my bare forearm. She definitely knew what she was doing because... "We could start by going to my apartment."

She flipped her hair again, caressing her neck. Saints, this woman was going to break her neck if she kept flipping. She almost resembled a fish out of water.

"I'll think about it," I told her.

The waitress came back with a tray of alcohol. She set two down and made her way to the large table behind me.

"Take a shot, Theodore." She handed me a tiny glass.

I yanked my hand away from the cup. "I don't drink," I stated again. "Feel free to drink both."

"Come on, just a little—"

I waved her hand holding the cup away. "I don't like repeating myself."

"Fine." She rolled her eyes and downed the drink in one go. "Your loss."

I hated alcohol. It reminded me of the times Kace and I used to hide out in the training grounds when my father was being a drunk. He'd go around yelling at guards and my stepmother, Kace's mother.

Randa shot down the second glass. "So have you thought if you'd like to come back to my apartment?"

"Again," I started, standing up from my seat, "I'll think about it. Let's meet up here again tomorrow."

"Good enough for me." Randa rushed up from her seat and kissed both of my cheeks. "Nice meeting you, Theodore. I'll see you tomorrow."

Randa walked away briskly, stopping to talk to a few people that looked to be rushing as well. As I walked out, I watched a group of husky men whiz past and into the library that Whila and Avaloryn were in—

I ran to the alleyway behind the library. Shit, shit, shit. Did they trigger something? Why the hell were there so many running in and out of the building?

"Ashe," I heard a soft voice say. I spun, getting ready to swing, but Whila stood there crying. "I don't know where Avaloryn is."

"What are you doing out here?" I grasped Whila's arm and pulled her behind me.

She tripped and followed, keeping up as best as she could. "Avaloryn told me to wait back here. I don't know where she is."

There was a loud series of screams that radiated from the library. Suddenly, a body flew out the window and landed in front of us, covering in shards of glass.

Then another body flew out.

And another.

Whila yelped into my arms. I pulled her with me, but it was no use. Bodies were flying out. They were shredded; their insides were out, and their jaws hung loosely.

Whila and I stared at each other—

One more person flew out the window, but it was not a mutilated body. Avaloryn came out, her golden hair whipping behind her in a tight braid.

"Let's get out of here!" she yelled down to me.

I decided to not question her. Avaloryn grabbed our hands and ran us through the streets, weaving through the crowds of people who were equally confused. Commands were yelled out behind us, but most weren't the kindest words. Oh, well...

"Split up!" Avaloryn pushed Whila and I apart. Whila picked up her skirt and ran through the back alley of the bazaar, and I climbed a ladder to the top of a building.

They were shouting orders in a language I didn't know. They didn't sound too kind, particularly when an arrow jetted passed my head. Lousy aimers. They should be ashamed of their—

A slab of wood slapped my back, sending me toward the edge of the roof. Ten guards had their swords pointed to me and slowly backed me toward the edge.

That was an... awfully large fall. I gulped and glanced around. A few fruit stands, some raw chicken, a stand full of what I assumed were scandalous dancers, and a carpet stand.

"We can talk about this, yes?" I negotiated, break sight with the ground.

They charged toward me.

I leapt toward the dancers, grabbing ahold of their pole. One of the girls started shrieking and grabbing my hair as I slid down. I kicked her off with my leg and stumbled up, sprinting into a crowd full of people.

Where the hell did Whila go?

The alleyway that she ran into earlier appeared from my periphery. I dashed in, hoping to find her in one piece, but there was no one.

There was only a dead end and a dumpster.

As I turned to leave, double the amount of guards rushed toward me.

I grabbed a pebble and tossed it at one of them, but nothing happened.

An explosion went off, breaking the guards into pieces. The lid of the dumpster went up.

It took everything I had to not let my jaw drop.

Whila crawled out the dumpster holding a cigar. "They're dead," she mumbled, kicking the corpse of one of the guards.

My body went limp. I regained control of my breathing as Whila came up to me, holding a small knife.

"Impressive," I whispered, glancing at the bloodied bodies.

I reached out to Whila and was about to grab her hand—

She threw me into the back wall, her knife against my neck. "I've wanted to kill you since you took Valarya," Whila hissed into my face. Her elbows dug into the front of my shoulders, pining me back.

"Valarya is fine—"

"I don't think you should talk before you die, Ashe." Whila wound up her arm and shot it out to me—

She collapsed to the ground and held her leg. There was a knife sticking out of it.

"I don't think you'll be killing anyone, darling," Randa called out, polishing her boots. "Now, Theodore—or should I say, Ashe. What are you actually doing here?"

I sighed and slid down the wall. What a night.