Blood of Innocents (Book Two of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) by Mitchell Hogan
Authors: Mitchell Hogan
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thought, he gave a soft chuckle. Softly. Quietly in the night, he reminded himself.
Dangerous. He turned the word over in his mind. He was certain he could take them all. Caldan was the most dangerous. A quick thrust with his knife, and the young man would be down. Then the soldiers, followed by Elpidia. He’d be alone with Bells then.
Ah! She wouldn’t like that, not at all. And neither would he. There were two talented vessels for the taking, and the best plan he had was to only take one? No. That’s not right. Why take one when two was so much better.
And so he waited. And restrained himself. Night after night. Day after day.
Bees he’d had to let escape, though he could easily have tracked him down the night after he’d left and no one would be the wiser. But he needed someone to deliver his ducats to Zakarius to ensure Pieter and Annie were looked after, and for his sister’s treatment to continue.
Amerdan closed his eyes and leaned back against the rough bark of a tree, listening to the night, letting it flow around and through him. Crickets chirped. Small nocturnal animals rustled in the grass and leaves. Voices drifted from the campsite, mostly the crass Quivers, but fragments from Caldan and Elpidia as well. He’d left them some time ago, after they’d stopped for the night. He’d needed to get away.
Now he was alone, he could start to shed the skin he kept on in their presence. It chafed, a constant weight on his shoulders. At least in his shop he had some time when there were no customers and he could relax. Out here, with them constantly watching, he couldn’t let go. Couldn’t be himself.
Abruptly, he lurched to his feet and headed further away from the camp. Long grass brushed his pants and left them damp with evening dew. Animals and insects heard and felt him coming and froze or skittered away. But he saw them all. The night was bright to him, and had been for years. One of the vessels he’d absorbed had provided him with some surprising gifts. Or perhaps he’d been on the edge, and the woman’s talents had tipped him over it. No matter.
A faint light caught his eye, and he altered his path. It was far away but… too steady to be a campfire.
Is this what you are looking for? Is this what you need?
He increased his pace, pushing his way through thickets and around trees. A wide stream blocked his path, and he barely paused before wading in, boots held over his head. In the middle, it rose to his waist, and he scooped handfuls of cold water to quench his thirst. It tasted sweet but did nothing to sate him. He thirsted for something else.
He stopped among the stones on the other side and wrung his pants out, considering the spurts of water as they splashed onto the rocks. The wind picked up, began howling through swaying trees. Dust and leaves blew over him, and he blinked, turning his head from the breeze. He came across a narrow trail. It was well worn, leading to the stream, or from it.
Boots making barely a sound, he followed the dirt line toward the light. To either side of him, wild growth gave way to planted fields. As he closed the distance, the light resolved into two separate sources, both steady. Minutes later, he determined they were square, and he grinned. Windows, then.
Amerdan stayed on the path, not bothering to conceal himself. At this time of night, it was unlikely anyone would see him. They’d be inside their farmhouse, doors barred and windows closed against the wind and darkness.
A gate loomed in front of him, and he halted. It was well made, and part of a fence that surrounded an also well-maintained dwelling. There were no missing shingles or weeds growing on the roof. Someone had made a home they… loved. A family, perhaps.
A guttural growl alerted him an instant before the guard dog lunged. It yelped as he bore his weight down on its neck and plunged his knife under its armpit, seeking its heart. With one hand, he clamped its jaws shut, reducing its cries to
Dangerous. He turned the word over in his mind. He was certain he could take them all. Caldan was the most dangerous. A quick thrust with his knife, and the young man would be down. Then the soldiers, followed by Elpidia. He’d be alone with Bells then.
Ah! She wouldn’t like that, not at all. And neither would he. There were two talented vessels for the taking, and the best plan he had was to only take one? No. That’s not right. Why take one when two was so much better.
And so he waited. And restrained himself. Night after night. Day after day.
Bees he’d had to let escape, though he could easily have tracked him down the night after he’d left and no one would be the wiser. But he needed someone to deliver his ducats to Zakarius to ensure Pieter and Annie were looked after, and for his sister’s treatment to continue.
Amerdan closed his eyes and leaned back against the rough bark of a tree, listening to the night, letting it flow around and through him. Crickets chirped. Small nocturnal animals rustled in the grass and leaves. Voices drifted from the campsite, mostly the crass Quivers, but fragments from Caldan and Elpidia as well. He’d left them some time ago, after they’d stopped for the night. He’d needed to get away.
Now he was alone, he could start to shed the skin he kept on in their presence. It chafed, a constant weight on his shoulders. At least in his shop he had some time when there were no customers and he could relax. Out here, with them constantly watching, he couldn’t let go. Couldn’t be himself.
Abruptly, he lurched to his feet and headed further away from the camp. Long grass brushed his pants and left them damp with evening dew. Animals and insects heard and felt him coming and froze or skittered away. But he saw them all. The night was bright to him, and had been for years. One of the vessels he’d absorbed had provided him with some surprising gifts. Or perhaps he’d been on the edge, and the woman’s talents had tipped him over it. No matter.
A faint light caught his eye, and he altered his path. It was far away but… too steady to be a campfire.
Is this what you are looking for? Is this what you need?
He increased his pace, pushing his way through thickets and around trees. A wide stream blocked his path, and he barely paused before wading in, boots held over his head. In the middle, it rose to his waist, and he scooped handfuls of cold water to quench his thirst. It tasted sweet but did nothing to sate him. He thirsted for something else.
He stopped among the stones on the other side and wrung his pants out, considering the spurts of water as they splashed onto the rocks. The wind picked up, began howling through swaying trees. Dust and leaves blew over him, and he blinked, turning his head from the breeze. He came across a narrow trail. It was well worn, leading to the stream, or from it.
Boots making barely a sound, he followed the dirt line toward the light. To either side of him, wild growth gave way to planted fields. As he closed the distance, the light resolved into two separate sources, both steady. Minutes later, he determined they were square, and he grinned. Windows, then.
Amerdan stayed on the path, not bothering to conceal himself. At this time of night, it was unlikely anyone would see him. They’d be inside their farmhouse, doors barred and windows closed against the wind and darkness.
A gate loomed in front of him, and he halted. It was well made, and part of a fence that surrounded an also well-maintained dwelling. There were no missing shingles or weeds growing on the roof. Someone had made a home they… loved. A family, perhaps.
A guttural growl alerted him an instant before the guard dog lunged. It yelped as he bore his weight down on its neck and plunged his knife under its armpit, seeking its heart. With one hand, he clamped its jaws shut, reducing its cries to
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