Page 8 of The Wind Dancer
Finally, silence.
I exhaled, allowing myself to relax a bit. Then I felt the sharp pain in my shoulder. The flight back would be uncomfortable because of it, but at least I was alive.
To the Demons with this estate, its owner, and the creatures that came after him. I’d keep my end of the deal and put this all behind me. Grabbing the Wing, I ran and jumped off.
The silk caught the air current, pulling taut, and I began to put distance between me and that awful place. My heart was still racing, but now it was from the exhilaration of actually pulling this off, and from the sheer joy of flying. The air whistled in my ears. The winds almost felt like they were hugging me, as if the sky itself held me in its arms, helping my escape. I smiled and slowly began to think about the delightful ways I’d spend the money.
Then I was snapped out of my daydream by the sound of heavy steps below. Peering down, I spotted archers in cultist robes emerging onto a neighboring rooftop beneath me, already setting their stance like professionals.
“Damn it!” I cursed, pulling the Wing strap sharply to the side.
Arrows whizzed through the night sky, and I did my best to move to the side to dodge them. But one found its target.
I felt the impact on my chest, heard the fabric tear and almost lost control of the Wing. I was panicking, breathing hard, how could I have gotten shot after all that? And then I realized there was no pain.
I looked down and saw my shirt was torn, and that some cords had been cut and coins were pouring out from the rip, sparkling in the moonlight. I could only grit my teeth as I watched my hard-earned money rain down and disappear in the darkness.
I would’ve preferred blood! At least then I could’ve kept the money!
More arrows flew past me, and I barely dodged, as my hands were shaking in rage. I wanted to rip out their throats, they stole — well not stole — they cost me MY money. It had slipped away — the cushy life, the nice house and books,the booze, THE WOMEN! I wanted to scream and curse the cultists and the dragonblood and this stupid job, but I had to keep quiet if I wanted to avoid getting the guards’ attention as well.
A lot of shots missed since they didn’t really have time to aim, they just had to fire enough before sheer number resulted in one lucky shot. And I really felt like I was out of luck with the evening I had.
With a jerk I folded one side of the Wing, sharply turning away and then moving the Wing to glide faster in the new airstream I caught.
I would’ve gloated as I left those bastards in the dust, but I was still too pissed off about the money. Everything I had risked life and limb for tonight was strewn across back alleys and the dirt. I gritted my teeth harder, trying not to let tears of rage fill my eyes, I had to focus on flying as far and as quickly as possible.
But even as I flew further, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had missed something.
I looked back.
There was a tall silhouette standing perfectly still among the archers. His posture was perfect, his hands clasped behind his back and he was too calm for someone whose prey had gotten away. Even from here I could see his eyes, softly glowing golden in the dark, following me with the calm gaze of someone who knew that it was only a matter of time before they had what they wanted. I could feel his powerful aura even from here, as if the air was heavy around him.
He was a dragonblood.
The archers obediently lowered their bows when he did a small gesture. I couldn’t hear him over the wind, but I was certain he had told them to let me go for now. Any more arrows and he’d also risk the attention of the Upper City guards.
I could feel his icy gaze follow me as I escaped, and it made my blood run cold.
Interlude
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Lian Rui’s cold, almost lifeless golden eyes were focused on the night sky. Behind him, his right-hand man, a tall thin man in a hooded dark robe, respectfully bowed his head. His monotonous, quiet voice broke the silence, as he delivered his report.
“Everything of value has been taken from the estate, sir. The rest will be burned and with that our tracks fully covered. The creatures will be burned too, but now the cultists will be able to summon them much faster.” Both he and his master despised anyone who begged for crumbs of power from demons.
Lian Rui remained silent. His fingers slowly clenched and unclenched, as if he was trying to grip something that kept slipping away. His thoughts were far away, but he was listening to the report.
“We found this,” the assistant continued, holding out a dagger. The blade was thin, perfectly balanced, and wickedly sharp. “He had lodged it in a wall. It’s a masterful weapon, even though it appears inexpensive. And this...” He placed a piece ofglass on the table, which had blood on it. “Is his blood. We have already started a ritual to analyze it.”
Lian finally turned to him. His gaze slid over the knife, then halted on the bloody shard. He picked it up and turned it between his fingers, as if trying to see the Shadow in the reflection.
“Description?” His voice was low, but as cold and strong as steel.
“Young. No more than twenty-five. As fast as the wind. His fighting skills...” he paused, as if choosing his words. “...were too good. Every strike was accurate, each step calculated. In my opinion, he’s not just some Shadow, sir. He’s a professional assassin. Definitely not self-taught, there were certain schools of martial arts he used...”
Lian smirked. An assassin. As if that explained anything.
“And the Heavenly Wing?” he asked, putting the glass aside.
