Korning didn’t make him wait long before he jogged down the last step. Risens scoffed as the man paid no attention to his surroundings, disregarding any suspicion that the voice of his master had not been accompanied by her form. He’d blindly chased her voice into the depths of the estate. The soldier stopped as he entered the chamber, where his hand fell to the sword at his hip.

  “What the fu—”

  Sprinting from the concealment of the shadows, Risens crossed through the soundless barrier in a matter of steps. Dropping his shoulder, he slammed his weight into the back of the unexpecting knight. The vicious man whimpered as he spilled into the cracked tiles of the floor beyond. He landed hard, skidding to a stop as he reached the deep grooves cut by the guardians’ swords.

  The trap triggered.

  Risens looked away as the first blade smashed into the ground. From the shrieks of agony, he knew that the man’s legs had paid the price. The three consecutive jolts of the blades cutting into the stone did nothing to decrease the volume of his wail. At the sudden whirring of motors, he had seen, he had heard enough. Pinned to the ground by rough stone across the bloody stumps of his legs, Sir Korning howled as the sentinels came to life.

  The man’s screams went quiet as Risens exited the barrier of sound-dampening protection. The guard and his forthcoming death were sealed and in. Risens felt a measure of peace that was two-fold. He’d given plausible answer to the lingering question of the undisguisable destruction of the chamber. Though the scene was bloody and disturbing, none would have reason to suspect that any had gained access to the Gilded Cage. It was to appear only as if a greedy or foolish soldier had strayed where they were undoubtably warned never to go. And second, he’d provided a fair allotment of justice for the helpless servant girl. She hadn’t deserved the beating, as he had not either. In his case, none had been strong enough or foolish enough to stand up for him.

  Of the consequences, only the latter gave him sustained fulfillment.

  The stairwell was silent as he padded up to the next floor. With the screams of the soldier hidden behind the protection of the chamber, and the commotion of the servant girl ended, the second floor was still. Risens watched from the dark for several moments, confirming that no one lurked in the darkness before crossing over the passage. Putting on speed, he made the opening on the ground floor without intervention. It only took a quick glance to understand the difficulty ahead.

  Marlaine had outdone herself with her distraction, but due to the excellence of her work, she was nowhere to be found. Back at his station, planted in the center of the corridor to the estate, the solitary guard stood rigid, staring into the empty hallway ahead. He had no way of knowing if she had been returned to the room, or if she had been detained—either way, it was out of his hands at the moment. Currently, the positioning of the soldier presented the greatest concern.

  It would be a simple matter to render the man dead or unconscious. Hiding his body could be done with relative ease in a place so large. But unless he wanted to drag the corpse into the wreckage below, a second guard found dead or unconscious would surely raise the alarm. It would point too much suspicion on the carefully crafted persona of Duke Marten.

  He grinned at the simplicity of the solution that came to mind. It seemed the facade would continue.

  Cupping his hands before his face in an effort to throw the sound of his voice, he called out into the hallway. But it was not his voice that was thrown. Lady Myrenas’s shrill tone echoed through the corridor.

  “Guard, your presence is requested in the hall!”

  He had no idea if she was one to typically shout orders from adjacent rooms but it had worked on Sir Korning. The man sighed and rolled his eyes as he turned slowly.

  Risens had to assume the Lady was not one to be kept waiting, and furthermore, if she’d seen the look the man just gave, she’d have had his head.

  “You fool!” he called, mimicking Myrenas again. “You’ve caused enough trouble tonight already. Do not delay.”

  Risens stayed in wait, hoping he’d instilled enough consternation to cause a stir of embarrassment or discomfort in the guard. With a final glance down both of the intersecting halls, he hastened toward the chamber where the Myrenas truly was, along with her court of councilors. When the guard’s hasty steps went silent, he slid out into the main hallway. Silent movement, even at a full step, was something he’d long since mastered. Though he had to admit, it was considerably more difficult while being weighted down by the large tone hidden in his possession.

  He slowed to a jog and slipped around the corner. When the guard was found once again having abandoned his post, he’d be in for a rough night. Luckily for him, he’d likely had enough pleasure to merit the first act worth it. Risens doubted his mistress would act kindly at his unexpected entrance, nor be understanding of his feeble, yet entirely honest excuse.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Risens reached the door to their temporary lodgings. Disguised by the darkness around the inset door, he placed his ear to the wooden panel, listening carefully for sounds of movement within. Marlaine’s tryst with the guard had done its job, but if anyone had returned with her to the room, the pillows used to disguise Duke Courterie’s form in the bed would have garnered explaining. No noise whispered from the chamber beyond. No shadows moved, blocking out the barely perceptible glow of the moonlight that filtered through the thin gap under the door.

  Silently, he turned the handle and the door swung inward. He remained crouched in the entry while his eyes adjusted to the light. The fabric of his multicolored design—draped over the peepholes in the bench—had a slight sheen to it. Where everything else in the room was dull and without sheen, it reflecting a touch of moonlight. The other elements of his hastily scattered outfit were still strewn around the room, abandoned without care in the implied throes of passion. The human shape disguised among the disheveled bedsheets looked unchanged. Marlaine was not there.

  Silently cursing her absence, he stepped wholly into the chamber. Senses on high alert, he heard the hint of motion, the slight ruffle of fabric against skin. Crouching lower, he felt the sudden gust of something weighty as it rushed a finger’s width over his head. Reactions born from years of training kicked in. Twisting toward his concealed attacker at his side, his hands grabbed hold of their clothes and he spun. The instinct continued as he tossed them across the room.

  The body tore through the sheer canopy of the bed. Risens winced as he heard the muffled, high-pitched squeal of what was to be his next victim. Bounding over the bed, he landed soft on his feet. He’d not yet drawn his blades and so his hands were free to pin the intruder down. Together, they writhed in the tangle of blankets, rolling until they both hit the floor. Marlaine’s dyed blue eyes stared up at him, her expression shifting from shock to a sheepish regret.

  His weapons were free now, having deftly pulled them in the tussle. The tip of his blade against her throat silenced the words that were forming in her mouth.

  “I promised you that your betrayal would mean your death,” he growled. “I have no qualms about slitting your throat here, leaving you to bleed out in this estate.”

  “I had no idea it was you” she said, her voice strangely calm after having been manhandled by the King’s Rightmaker. She kept her movements slight as the pressure of the knife remained. “I have not betrayed you, nor will I. I’ve been waiting in the dark for your return.”

  Risens slowly pulled his dagger away from its threatening position.

  “I did as you asked.” She lifted herself by her elbows. “I managed to slip away when I heard Lady Myrenas’ men searching for us. I am not a traitor.”

  The words sent a sudden fire through his veins, yet he believed them. Were she to have conspired with Lady Myrenas or the guard, the trap set would have likely been thorough. She had no idea of the true extent of his abilities, but no one would be foolish enough to have left the entirety of the work to an untrained escort. The room would have filled with blades at this point to seal his doom.

  Risens stood and helped her to her feet. “Striking for the head alone is an ill-advised tactic when trying to catch someone unawares. The target is small and it’s far too easy to dodge.”

  Straightening her dress, she said, “Your head is anything but small, my Duke.”

  “And you are anything but stealthy,” he retorted. “Did I injure you?”

  “I am not the weak woman you believe me to be.”

  “I never said—”

  “I’m fine.”

  Sliding quickly across the room, he closed the door that had been left ajar.

  “Did I injure you?” she asked with far too playful a tone for such a dire situation. “I’m sorry that I nearly hit you.”

  The second statement was uttered with far more conviction than the first.

  “It’s over and we are both relatively unscathed,” he replied. “It’s time that we take leave of the Lady’s hospitality.”

  He collected his clothing, donning the colorful fabric once again, saving the coat for last. He looked around at the bed, the torn canopy couldn’t be disguised, yet if it came to it, could be justified by tales of an overly zealous evenings activities.

  It likely wouldn’t matter either way.

  With the evidence in hand, Lady Myrenas’s treason would soon be in full light. Her fate was sealed. Her life was no longer measured in years, but hours.

  Once they were both dressed, he collected Marlaine by the arm, leading her toward the door.

  “Come, let’s go,” he insisted.

  Her hesitation was slight, yet he wasn’t necessarily surprised. He had, only moments earlier, pinned her to the floor with a knife to her throat and deadly intent in his eyes. After a breath, she latched on, much as she had earlier.

  Leaving the room, he led Marlaine toward the guarded intersection. The soldier who’d abandoned his position at his call glowered at him, though his gaze didn’t linger long before it shifted to the woman at his side. He pursed his lips, a leering sense of expectation crossing his features.

  “My good sir,” Risens called to the guard as they approached. “It seems there is much in store for this night and I am refreshed but wide awake. The comforts of your Lady’s lodging have been rejuvenating. Is there access to the beach from here? I hear the sea is stunning at night.”

  The guard maintained his composure, though the sudden flash of amusement sparkled in his eyes. He had no doubt been privy to the tale of the young Duke’s failed endurance by now.

  “Yes, my lord, there is access to the beach from this hall.” He kept his tone measured, though his eyes kept darting to Marlaine’s figure. “Head back down the hall and use the last door on the right. The stairs will lead to the beach beyond.”

  “Indeed,” Risens replied with the air of one used to having servants.

  Turning his head to his escort wrapped around his arm, he saw the muscles of her face return from the sly wink as she continued to play the role.

  “Come, my dear,” she said “Let’s go for a walk.”