She was fast.
Faster than Kael expected. Her first strike came at his throat, and he barely got Soulrender up in time to block.
Lyra attacked from the side, knives flashing. The Crimson Blade twisted, deflecting one knife with her armor and the other with a blade, never stopping her assault on Kael.
They fought in the cramped room, destroying furniture, weapons clashing in rapid succession. The Crimson Blade moved like water, flowing around attacks, finding gaps in defense.
Kael pressed forward with Soulrender, using the sword's power to enhance his speed. The black blade cut through her armor in places, drawing blood.
But she kept fighting. Kept moving. Kept attacking.
"You're good," she said, breathing hard. "Better than I expected."
"You too," Kael admitted.
She laughed again. "Is this the part where we respect each other and become friends?"
"Or the part where one of us dies."
"Also possible."
Lyra threw a knife. It caught the Crimson Blade's shoulder, making her stumble. Kael seized the opening, driving forward with Soulrender aimed at her chest.
The Crimson Blade dropped, rolled, came up behind Lyra. Her knife at Lyra's throat.
Everyone froze.
"Stalemate," the Crimson Blade said. "You attack, she dies."
"You kill her, you die," Kael replied, Soulrender steady.
"True. So what do we do? Fight until someone gets lucky?"
"Or," Lyra said calmly, despite the knife at her throat, "we talk."
"Talk?" The Crimson Blade sounded amused. "About what?"
"About who hired you to kill Kael," Lyra said. "Because I'm guessing it wasn't just random."
The Crimson Blade was quiet for a moment. "You're smarter than you look."
"Thanks. I think."
"It was Julian Voss. Paid quite well, actually. Said his dear cousin needed to die before he became too powerful." She tilted her head. "But then House Roe hired Kael to kill me. And I started thinking—that's too much of a coincidence."
"Someone's playing both sides," Kael realized. "Using us to eliminate each other."
"Exactly." The Crimson Blade lowered her knife, stepping back from Lyra. "I don't like being manipulated. Do you?"
Kael didn't lower Soulrender. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"You don't. But consider—if I wanted you dead, I could've poisoned this room before coming back. Could've collapsed the floor. Could've hired a dozen other assassins to hit you from all sides." She sheathed her knives. "I fight face-to-face because I have honor. Twisted assassin honor, but honor nonetheless."
Lyra rubbed her throat where the knife had been. "She has a point."
"We can't trust her," Kael said.
"We can't trust House Roe either," Lyra countered. "They specifically sent you after someone who was hired by Julian. That's not coincidence. That's setup."
Kael thought about Marcus. About how convenient everything had been. How eager House Roe was to trade the chains for this particular assassination.
"Why would they do that?" he asked.
"Because if we both die, House Roe gets rid of two problems at once," the Crimson Blade said. "Me, for being a thorn in their side. You, for being too dangerous and unpredictable to control."
It made horrible sense.
"So what do you suggest?" Kael asked.
"Temporary alliance. We figure out who's really pulling strings. Deal with them. Then we can go back to trying to kill each other if you want." She pulled off her mask.
Kael stared.
She was young. Maybe his age. Dark hair cut short, sharp features, startling green eyes. Beautiful in a dangerous way.
"My real name is Seraphina," she said. "Seraphina Roe."
"Roe?" Lyra said. "As in House Roe?"
"Marcus is my uncle." Seraphina's expression was bitter. "And he's been trying to get rid of me for years. I was the family embarrassment—daughter of his disgraced brother. He wanted me dead but couldn't do it openly. So he's been arranging 'accidents' instead."
"And you became an assassin to survive," Kael guessed.
"And to spite him. Every time I kill one of his people, it's a reminder that I'm still alive. Still a problem." She sat on the bed, wincing at her wounds. "But sending you after me? That's new. He must be getting desperate."
Kael lowered Soulrender slowly. "Why should we believe you?"
"Because I'm bleeding from three different wounds and haven't tried to kill you again? Because I just told you my real identity?" Seraphina shrugged. "Or because we both know House Roe doesn't give away artifacts like the Chains of Binding without serious ulterior motives."
She was right. It had been too easy. Too convenient.
"So House Roe wanted us both dead," Lyra said. "Julian wanted Kael dead. Who wanted you dead besides your uncle?"
"Long list. But recently?" Seraphina pulled out a folded paper from her armor. "I've been investigating something. A secret organization. Very powerful, very dangerous. They offered to pay House Roe a fortune to have me eliminated."
Kael took the paper. It was a list of names. Nobles. Merchants. Church officials.
And at the top: "The Conclave."
"You know about them?" Kael asked.
"I've been tracking them for months. They're planning something big. A coup, I think." Seraphina stood, testing her injuries. "And they really don't want people digging into their business."
Kael looked at Lyra. She nodded slightly.
"Alright," he said. "Temporary alliance. We figure out what House Roe and the Conclave are planning. Then we deal with it."
"And the chains?" Seraphina asked. "You still need them for your sword problem, right?"
"How do you know about—"
"I'm an assassin. Information is part of the job." She moved toward the door. "House Roe keeps their valuable artifacts in a vault beneath the bathhouse. The same one where Marcus met you. I know how to get in."
"You want to steal from House Roe?" Lyra said.
"I want to hurt my uncle. You want those chains. Win-win." Seraphina grinned. "Besides, technically they're part of my inheritance. I'm just collecting early."
It was insane. Risky. Probably going to end badly.
But Kael was running out of options.
"When?" he asked.
"Now. Tonight. Before Marcus realizes his plan failed and moves the chains." Seraphina pulled her mask back on. "You in?"
Kael looked at Lyra. She sighed.
"We're in," she said. "But if this is a trap—"
"Then you can kill me for real," Seraphina finished. "Fair enough. Now come on. We need to move before the bathhouse closes for the night."
They left the inn together—a cursed swordsman, an information dealer, and an assassin with family issues.
What could possibly go wrong?
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 34