runks leaving the taverns. No one noticed the black-clad shadow that s

the job gave her. She was also more comfortable wearing her uniform, as

imself walked back into the main building. He was still entertaining guests in the ballroo

d then onto the building. Most of the guards were stationed ne

window, where she took a look inside a dark room. It wasn’t the office, but a

ice was locked, so she quickly used one of her thinnest knives to open the latch. Sh

as making. Most of the papers were contracts and statements. No maps. Then she went through the drawers, then the shelves behind the desk. The dim moonli

had been wiped off, merged into what was now the empire of Hovania. The human lands to the south remained mostly the same, except for a few kingdoms that had been add

he biggest of all Fae Kingdoms. It was where Emperor Dari

eard a sword being unsheathed. But it was a s

half her life, she swirled as she unsheathed the

as he was. It was pinned to the wall by one of Ara’s daggers. With one swoop,

er back. Her preferred weapons had always been dag

the room. His voice was deep and smooth, and he spoke with an accent she couldn’t q

rniture. She had wanted to come in and get out without being

Ara said, just as the Hova stepped int

ther clothes that were similar to what she was wearing. He had long, black hair like hers, but his was tied back sloppily. His skin was the palest shade of wh

reddish either. Sapphire

d rather not know. If you leave quietly, I won’t have to hurt

of all the ways I can hur

lit second, and he parried he

clearly a good fighter, even if she wasn’t going for a killing strike. She just needed to weaken him a bit and manage to get behind him. Then she’d incapacitat

cut through the air, almost slicing at

f your

e they played just before balls ended. A long, melodious tune that

very piece of furniture stood, she jumped over the couch and flew towards the Hova and ducked, bringing him off h

aining with her eyes covered at Count Thorn’s insiste

his soft spots: ribs, neck, and groin. He let out a yelp after a hard kick in the stomach. She just

ing her off. Before she could react, a strong punc

im moonlight. She was back on her feet instantly, but she had lost her advantag

tanding in front of the window, heaving. “Except, the thing yo

ng the fancy covers sprawled on the floor. Ara darted towards it at the same time as the Hova did, an

top of her, pi

e reached into one of the many pockets of his leath

rpheus

keep from inhaling some of it. The effect was instant. Her arms and le

pulled the map from

ged. It had been a lovely life, despite the circumst

his pocket and pull out the daggers

ut I have to get

her, looking

gone. All she wanted was to go to sleep, and she didn’t want to fight it anymore.

ped. Loud shouts came from somewhere in

the daggers hidden throughout her leather clothes, even the smaller o

flour and opened the window. He jumped off as if the he

his shoulder, he r

uld see was his feet moving at an impossible speed over t

. Arrows rained over them, and one gr

ll, the Hova set her on a black horse that seemed to have been waiting for him. He climbed on a

into darkness a