Chapter 871: Assassins
My mind reeled, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The glint of the dagger fragments falling through the air, the shock in the assassin’s eyes, and the beat of my own heart. None of it felt real.
Silence rippled across the market. Elves turned, gaping as they caught sight of the demon and the blade in his hand. Kahlen had kept a low profile during our time at Wildblossom, but now his silvery cloak unfurled, his gleaming silver skin on full display. Worse was his aura, which rose like a dragon, gripping the market with full seventh-level fury.
Seventh? Hadn’t he only been sixth?
The thought drifted hazily through my mind, mixing with a hundred others. But in the end, as reality came crashing down, all I could do was scream. I reeled back, clutching at my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. My fingers met smooth, flawless skin, but memories of scorching blood, breathless gasps, and inquisitor steel overran the sensation.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the glint of steel. An arrow? Throwing knife?
I turned toward it, dread curling my tail, only for Luxxa to leap in front of me, shield raised. Three heavy thunks drove her a step back, almost toppling into me. She grunted and steadied herself. I stared with wide eyes at the glowing arrowhead protruding through her shield. It had punched all the way through, drawing a thin line into her bracer.
Screams filled the air as the crowds scattered. Merchants abandoned their stalls, sending pots and baskets crashing to the ground in their haste. Children wailed and women shrieked, trampling each other in their haste to flee. More black-robbed figures appeared, struggling against the flow.
The assassin who had tried to stab me screamed as Kahlen’s other hand darted forward, grabbing him around the neck. He beat futile at the demon’s wrists, growing more and more violent as he was jerked into the air.
"Who are you?" Kahlen growled, shoving his face into the elf’s.
Another arrow drew a bright line of magic across the sky. Luxxa intercepted it with her shield, but unlike before, this arrow detonated, releasing all of its magic in a single shockwave. It was all she could do to lunge as far away from me as she could, absorbing the brunt of the blast with her body.
My wards were in tatters, destroyed by the assassin’s knife. The shockwave blasted through them, catching me mid-breath. The fire mana was absorbed by adaptive resistance, but the concussive force of the wave flipped my organs. I doubled over, coughing as blood filled my throat.
Luxxa was sent flying. She slammed into a stall, obliterating the wooden frame in a flurry of scattered blossoms. The others were pushed back, save Kahlen, who turned slowly, the assassin dangling limply in his grip, forgotten.
"Get her away from here," he hissed, eyes narrowing at the bow-wielding assassin who had sent the arrow. The elf was perched on the roof of a three-story building overlooking the market. A warehouse, by the look of it.
Strong, gentle hands grabbed me. I struggled to open my eyes, Gith’s silhouette appearing through the tears.
"Breathe. Try and heal yourself," he said, hefting me in his arms.
I took a shuddering breath, hacking as more blood filled my lungs. "Restoration," I gasped.
The surge of life magic left me breathless. The blood evaporated from my lungs as my insides knit together. When the itching stopped, I started to cough weakly.
"Thank the gods. Keep breathing," Gith said. "Clear your throat."
The clash of steel rang out behind us, but Gith held my head with a hand, keeping me from seeing anything but his leather breastplate. From the tug of the wind on my hair, we were moving quickly.
"They have anti-magic," I gasped.
"What was that?" he asked.
My voice cracked as I strained it. "They have anti-magic. It’s how they pierced my wards."
"Damn it! Hear that, Jenna?"
"On it." Jenna’s voice sounded I my mind, breathy like a breeze. Her ability. "Alright, they know. Luxxa’s orders are to regroup by the carriage. They’re routing the assassins now."
"Good. Hells, I hate crowds. It makes it impossible to tell when someone’s getting too close."
"That demon can move, though," Jenna said, "Did you even see that dagger?"
Gith shook his head. "Not before he grabbed it. But it doesn’t surprise me. Trying to catch a blade demon off guard with a knife." He spat on the ground. "Stupid bastards."
"I-I can walk," I stammered, finally catching my breath.
Gith let me down, but kept an arm on my back. His grip tightened as I stumbled, but I managed to catch my balance.
"Sorry," I said, biting my lip. "I should have seen that coming. I had a vision, and...I thought it was Selena."
"We can discuss that later," Jenna said, "We’re almost there. Hurry."
Gith unsung his bow and notched an arrow, shadowing me as I chased after Jenna. We were on the edge of the now-abandoned market, out of sight of the battle behind. As we ran, I soul cast a nexus, linking to Gith and Jenna. Getting Luxxa without seeing her was impossible, but after spending so much time around Kahlen, it was easy to find his soul in the mark and link him. It took almost twice as much mana as it should have, but I hadn’t even been sure it would work.
The sound of boots made us turn. A patrol of armored knights rushed toward us, weapons drawn. The elder, an old elf with a belly that made his armor straps strain, went red-faced when he saw us.
"On your knees!" he shouted, releasing his fifth-level aura.
The soldiers, a smattering of second and third levels, surrounded us, spears leveled at our chests. Jenna stepped in front, putting on a wide-eyed, innocent look.
"We were the ones attacked," she protested, raising her hands. "Please, you have to help us.
"Drop your weapons," the guard captain snarled.
She nodded at Gith, who lowered his bow. I shrank closer to him, conscious of the hostile gazes directed at my horns and tail.
"Two humans and a demonkin. Where are your elvish escorts?"
"E-Escorts?" This time, Jenna’s confusion was genuine. "I don’t understand."
The guard’s expression darkened. The captain stepped forward. "On your knees. You’re in direct violation of city law. At the scene of a demon attack, no less."
My blood ran cold. Was this what the old seamstress had warned me about?
"Please, it’s a misunderstanding. The demon’s on–"
"You know of the demon? Submit for questioning. I won’t ask again."
The captain’s hand brushed his belt. Hanging from them was a pair of slender manacles made of polished steel. They had runes engraved in them and glowed a faint white. I pale, clutching at Gith’s sleeve.
He looked at me in alarm, and Jenna leaned forward.
"It might be best to follow them. We can get everything sorted out at their guard station,’ Jenna said softly.
"Please...I can’t," I whispered, "They’re anti-magic, too.’
"A setup?" Gith hissed.
’Are you refusing to come peaceably?" the captain asked, eyes narrowing.
Another rush of footsteps sliced into the tension. My heart sank as another guard patrol ran onto the scene. The captain of this one was a younger elf with piercing blue eyes. His soul was sixth-level, stronger than either Jenna’s or Gith’s.
My heart trembled as they sowed, locking ranks with the other guards.
"Lord Ashton," the older captain said, saluting sharply. "We’ve intercepted these...suspects. Two humans and a demonkin fleeing a demon attack. They have no escort and are refusing to surrender."
"I told you, it’s a misunderstanding. We’re guests of Lord Sunsinger. he had to–"
"Silence! Save your lies," the captain snapped.
"Lord Aerion, was it?" Lord Ashton asked, expression unreadable. His eyes raked over us, coming to stop on me. I shivered, gripping Gith’s sleeve tighter. The Lord’s expression softened.
"I’ll take over here, captain. Continue to secure the scene. We can’t allow the demon to escape."
"But–’
"That was an order."
The captain swallowed hard, taking a small step back, before giving a shaky salute. "Yes, my Lord. Let’s move out!"
At his order, his squad broke the encirclement and ran off, heading toward where we had fled from. That left just twenty men around us.
"Sergeant, take half the squad and search and recover. Detain any witnesses and see if you can put together what the hell’s happening," Lord Ashton said.
One of his men saluted, and the squad split. For some reason, Gith let out a breath, relaxing. I gave him an anxious look.
"It’s alright, my Lady," he whispered. "This Lord’s sharp enough to know our strength. If he meant to escalate, he wouldn’t have sent his men away."
I nodded, but that did little to ease my trembling. Each of the guards had a pair of magical manacles. Where had they gotten them? And where had those assassins gotten gear like that? The only time we’d encountered it had been in Blacksand, fighting against inquisitors!