When Jamie Arren returned to Sophia's newly inhabited Hightown manor alone, she could not help but feel disappointment. She was disappointed that he could not bring Dairren Quinn with him, disappointed to even see his face again, after she had made the ill-advised move of setting him free, to find the man she sought. He was seemingly unharmed, too. She would never be rid of her animosity towards him for what he had done, but she had the self control to bury it down beneath the surface, and do what needed to be done. And while he did not have the man himself with him, he at least brought news of him.
Sophia proceeded to make him wait just inside the front door while she retreated into her quarters and donned her armor. She was certainly not going anywhere with Jamie, or doing anything relating to her would-be father, without it. With her sword on her back she returned to Jamie, and ordered him to accompany her to Lowtown, and the barracks of the Argent Lions. She was not going to be diving into this without consulting those she trusted most.
On the way she stopped by the Keep, and the guard quarters inside, to call on their new captain, who had the time to spare for her. Ashton clearly seemed relieved that Jamie actually came back, and didn't just take the the chance to bolt. He left command with Vesper and flanked Jamie, unwilling to let him get too far out of reach when he could help it. The three of them walked in a fairly terse silence, as Sophia preferred to explain the situation once, rather than to each man individually.
Once she'd arrived in the lion's den, she pulled her prisoner (for she did indeed have a vise-like grip on his arm since leaving her home) into Lucien's office, Ashton joining them. A few of the mercs noted the scene with interest from the outside, but Sophia trusted Lucien would call on them only if necessary. It was, after all, a private matter.
"Tell them what you told me," she ordered Jamie at last, releasing him. He rubbed at his arm for a moment, sheepish, but then began to explain.
"Nearly got gutted in Darktown, but I made contact with the Coterie, and met Quill again, face to face. No messages, no nonsense, saw him in the flesh. He looks different now. Older, I guess." He shook his head and shrugged, realizing he was getting off the point. "I told him you were looking to meet. He would like to meet as well, but he doesn't want to end up in chains, or headless. He'll meet you if you're alone, or not at all. Well, alone save for me. Picked a spot on the Wounded Coast, and I'm to lead you there. The two of you can say what needs to be said from there."
He lowered his head, a sign that he was finished. Sophia's hands rested on her hips, her lower lip between her teeth. She glanced up at Lucien. "Thoughts?" Her two advisors here would know that she was determined to meet him, and that this was her best and possibly only chance. Of course, this was more than personal. According to a previous dialogue she'd had with Jamie, Dairren was playing the Coterie for fools, intending to cripple them upon reforging a bond with Sophia. She would have to see that to believe it.
"A few, and none of them pleasant," Ashton said grimly. "How do we know this isn't a trap? Because it definitely feels like a trap."
"Didn't you listen?" Jamie asked. "He's her father. He's never meant her any harm, not from the first. He'll--"
âNot trust her enough to allow her to bring friends, which means that your estimation of his feelings is rather irrelevant, Iâm afraid.â Lucien broke in, his eyes narrowed. Jamieâs words likely would have weighted very low in terms of relevance anyway, considering, but he wasnât especially in the mood to entertain them right now. âPerhaps you can see why this is still a discussion.â Reaching for the office door, he opened it and gestured over Havard and Idris, the two Lions whoâd been in the common room at the time his guests entered.
âPlease sit Ser Arren down, and make sure he doesnât go anywhere.â Havard nodded, gripping the younger man by the shoulder and steering him firmly out of the room. Lucien shut the door again behind them, then waited long enough for the sound of their footsteps to recede. âThere. Let him think the conversation is about whether you go at all.â Realistically, he knew she would beâheâd read it in the expression on her face. He knew she wanted these answers, and he did not blame her for it.
âWhat Iâm actually interested in is making sure you can do it safely. I donât think itâs wise to assume that Quinn will be alone, and so it seems ill-advised for you to be so, either.â
Ashton let out a sigh and gazed downward to the floorboards in deep thought. "The coast has plenty of brush and coverage to hide in... For both parties. We could slip a few of Lucien's scouts in it, but there's no guarantees that Quill won't have a few of his own doing the same, and it's also reasonable to assume he'd expect something of the sort." As a previous captain of the guard himself and current head of Coterie, it was less an assumption and more assured. Quill was the type to have all of his bases covered at all times, for any contingency. It was the type of person Ashton hated dealing with the most.
"And I also don't trust Jamie, not as far as I can throw him. He already tried to kill you once, damn the excuses he tries to feed us. There's nothing saying he won't try to finish the job, save for his own words. And I'm not too keen on trusting a criminal's word." Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling all that more weary.
"If Jamie goes with me, he stays within reach of my blade at all times," Sophia said, leaning back against the wall. She was glad to have Jamie out of the room. The sight of him... sickly, weak, a hollow shell of his former self... she didn't know why, but it made her uncomfortable. "Not saying I would kill him if he tried to betray me, but he might come back short an arm." She wondered how thick the walls here were.
"I'll go mounted, of course. If it is a trap, there isn't much that Aiden can't run past, or through. Bind Jamie's hands to the saddle... cut him loose if I have to." The Coterie would no doubt have his head if a trap failed. They had no great love for him. And she was quite certain that he had no death wish. And strangely, she was fairly certain he was sincere in his desire to not hurt her. Perhaps he was insane, and misguided in what he thought was best for her, but she did not think he would intentionally lead her to harm.
She didn't know if she could persuade the two men in the room of that, though. "I could use some cover," she said, directed at Lucien. "They'd need to stay out of sight all the way to the meeting point, though. No knowing where he might have eyes, and if he catches wind of others, he could be gone."
âThereâs also the Coterie to be considered, quite apart from Quinn,â Lucien pointed out. There was no telling how they would take their leader meeting with Sophia, whether he told them or not. Actually, he almost certainly would, since they would probably take it worse if he didnât. He had heard that the manâs grip on the organization was strong, but some were bound to chafe under that yoke, even if they were few. There were any number of possible combinations of attitudes and allegiances that could spell trouble, but he knew Sophia was right.
If he sent people, they would have to be good at staying hidden. Good enough to match the very best. He wasnât that skilled at it, and neither were most of his more battle-ready men and women. But he had two who should be able to accomplish such a task. Heâd hesitate to send many more, anyway, for more people had a greater risk of being found. Rubbing at the stubble on his jaw, Lucien nodded, more to himself than in response to anything specific. âIâll send Tessa, and Lia as a runner. She can get word back if anything happens.â Likely not fast enough to make a difference, but it was better than nothing. They were the best scouts the Lions had. Heâd put another chunk of the troops on standby as well, just in case.
âBut letâs keep that away from the ears of Ser Arren. He may not intend you harm, but that doesnât mean he wonât cause it.â He also had to check with his scouts, to make sure they were willing to take on the risk this would entail. If all went well, this would be a lot of caution for nothing. But very little ever went well, and Lucien didnât dare expect it would.
"As much as I'd like to peel off this armor and tag along, I'm the guard captain now, I can't just go skulking in the woods any more. I'll have to leave this in your hands," Ashton told Sophia, pushing himself off of the wall. "I'll stay here and wait until you get back. Be careful and don't let Jamie out of sight. I'd hate for my first act as captain to be losing a would-be political assassin. That'd be a difficult one to explain to everybody..." he said, nervously.
"Don't keep us long, yeah?"
"I'll be cautious, I promise." Sophia took a step over to Lucien, taking his hand lightly. "First sign of trouble and I'll bolt like a hare from the wolves." She kissed him briefly, not wanting to make a scene of this, but still hoping to offer some reassurance. "I'll be back with some answers. One way or another, it's time I put this all behind me."
Lucien expelled a heavy breath, not looking terribly reassured, but smiling slightly anyway. âDo what you must. I will be here when you return.â He rested a callused palm on her cheek for a moment, then let his hand fall back to his side.
Opening the door again, Sophia made her way out, where Jamie immediately looked up with rather wide eyes. She gestured for him to stand.
"You'll be tied to my horse. One wrong move and I leave you for the Coterie. Let's go."
The rope that tied Jamie Arren to Sophia's horse kept him at about six feet in distance, and she made sure to keep it that way, refusing to let him walk beside her. The going was predictably slow, with her captive on foot, and not particularly able-bodied anymore. More than once she wondered who here was the captive and who was delivering them, but it was foolish to linger on it. She focused instead on watching her surroundings. The Coast looked as it always did, even if it felt colder. The occasional ocean spray they caught when the road drifted too close to the shore was chilling, and she sometimes could hear Jamie's teeth chattering behind her. Thankfully, the sky had remained clear. It looked to be about midday.
At various turns, she asked Jamie for instruction, and he guided her left, right, left, wherever she was needed to go. The roads here were winding and twisting and convoluted, so many new paths created to try and find routes that the bandits did not prey on. He seemed to know where he was going, though. At no point in her trip did she see or hear her two shadows watching over her, as was for the best. She knew they were there, and while the help of an archer and a runner was not likely to turn the tide of overwhelming odds, it was comforting to know she was not alone.
"It's just up ahead," Jamie said quietly. "See that rock there?" he pointed in front of them, towards a three way intersection of the path, settled in the middle of rolling hills and rocky formations. They had traveled inland a short distance, away from the spray of the sea. Sophia had noted no less than three gaping cave mouths, and wondered if they housed Coterie cells, or other wicked creatures. She liked to think that the feeling of eyes watching her was just Tessa and Lia.
"I see it. I don't see anyone else." The area appeared as deserted as the rest. Jamie took a few quicker steps to try and catch up to Sophia's side, prompting her to urge Aiden ahead a little faster.
"We're a little early, I think. We should wait here, at the crossroads. He'll be here." She came to a stop at the point where the little paths met. It could hardly be called a crossroads, as any caravan of wagons would have difficulty getting through here at all. Sophia reached a hand down to pat her horse's neck, watching the various angles of approach all the while. It seemed they would just have to wait.
Tessa was on high alert as she and Lia tailed Sophia and Jamie over the Coast. There was a fair mount of cover, but it wasnât absolutely everywhere by any means, and both had to make use of considerable skill and experience hunting and tracking to remain hidden. At times, they were forced to drop back far enough that they could no longer see their charges, and followed the rather peculiar amalgam of hoofprints and human boot-tracks trailing to the side of them. They managed, however, and not too long after the other two had settled in to wait at the crossroads, their shadows had concealed themselves as well, blending into two separate clusters of cover and waiting there.
There didnât appear to be anything out of the ordinary. The area had its share of prints from both men and beasts, but nothing more in volume than Tessa would have expected. She allowed the steady rhythm of her own heart to mark time for her, her muscles relaxed, but ready to spur herself into motion at any point necessary. The commanderâs instructions had been painstakingly clear: the minute anything looked to be going sour, Lia was to run back to Kirkwall and inform those waiting at the barracks. Tessaâs actions were more for her own judgement, but she could read between the lines well enough. Lucien was asking her to do whatever she could to protect the woman he loved, and she had accepted that entreaty. Any of the Lions would do that much for another, she knew.
"He'll be here," Jamie reiterated, and Sophia spared him a glance, to find that he looked more nervous than ever. Slowly, she slid her sword from its sheath across her back. He looked up at her, holding his tied hands up submissively, and keeping himself at the maximum distance the rope that bound him would allow. "Please, Sophia, just a little longer."
"He wouldn't be late, not the man I knew. Deceptive, maybe, but if he intended to be here, he would be here on time. Do you not agree?" Jamie seemed to struggle for words, and nothing but an uncertain whine came out. Just as Sophia began to wheel her horse around to face him, however, there was movement behind the largest of the rocks ahead of her. A man appeared, dusting off his leather armor, as he'd apparently been sitting in the dirt. He was hooded and hid his face, but clearly displayed were his weapons, a longsword at his hip and several knives on his arms and legs.
"You need wait only a little longer, m'lady," he said, with a heavy Lowtown drawl. She did not know Dairren to speak that way, and as she soon as she heard the words, she reached across her with the sword and slashed through the rope binding Jamie to her, cutting him loose. She did not intend to drag him behind her if she needed to flee. Jamie jumped back a step, looking up at the other man with surprise.
"Who are you? You're not supposed to be here!"
"Dairren sent me to greet you, make sure there were no surprises planned." He held out his empty hands as though in a show of peace, though the mailed gauntlets they were in spoke otherwise. Sophia narrowed her eyes at him, though she made sure to continue checking the approaches, and the place others might hide.
"He said he'd come alone," Jamie continued. "He was very clear about that."
"I've heard enough," Sophia said, disgusted. "Goodbye, Jamie." He protested, called for her to wait and not leave him, but immediately she put her heels into her horse and turned around, taking off at a gallop the other way. In the distance, the sound and rumble of many other horses could be heard.
Lia, for the moment, didn't know what exactly to do. She seemed to be making a clean getaway, so there was little point in giving herself away when she had no horse to escape so easily. It was only after the white horse that bore Sophia away rounded a corner and left her sight that she had her mind made up for her.
All Sophia saw was the axe, a broad, two-handed weapon emerging ahead of her, the wielder obscured behind a jutting rock on the side of the road. He must have moved into position there some time after she'd passed on the way in. The axehead cleaved more than halfway through her horse's neck, nearly severing the head clean off. The beast made a hideous attempt at a screech as it stopped and reared back, about to topple over. Sophia managed to slide her feet from the stirrups just in time to avoid having her leg crushed, as Aiden fell heavily onto his side, leaving her to crash into the sand behind him. The horse quickly ceased to move.
A massive man appeared over Sophia, at least seven feet tall and heavily built, wielding the axe that had easily slain her horse, but he did not attempt to bring the blade of this down on her. Instead, he stomped a foot down on her wrist before she could bring her blade up. The butt of the axe came down to try and strike a blow to her head, but she was at least able to twist out of the way of that. Drawing a knife from her boot, she plunged it into the back of his calf, causing him to cry out, but not release the pressing weight on her wrist.
Back at the crossroads, a troop of at least two dozen horsemen were arriving at full speed, most armed with various blunt weapons, as well as some nets, bolas, and other less common tools. Several of them dismounted with bows, and made for the high grounds, watching places other than the struggle between Sophia and the axe-man. Lia had long since departed, though the man that had initially greeted them had taken notice. He was now in the process of assaulting Jamie, who put up little resistance.
Tessa assessed the situation and grimaced. It wasnât goodâin fact, she knew she would make next to no difference if she chose to participate. Still, she wasnât going to run away and leave Sophia to her fateâit wasnât right. So she moved, reaching for the bow at her back and nocking an arrow to the string. Her draw was as calm and practiced as it had always been, and when she let it fly, it struck trueâto the back of the axe-manâs neck. It wasnât enough to fell him, though, and sheâd given away her position by loosing it, something she knew the other archers would take advantage of if she let them.
So she didnât. Staying low, Tessa moved into a different piece of cover, tracking the progress of those who moved to put themselves in high-ground positions. She was definitely worried about them, but also about the ones carrying nets. She wasnât stupidâthat meant theyâd come for hostages, and there were only two people guaranteed to be here, meaning Sophia was the most likely target. She doubted they cared much about Jamie.
Another shot took down the horse of one of two men carrying a large, heavy net between them, pitching he and his partner both to the ground, tangled in their own device. She had to focus on delay tactics, because she wouldnât be able to kill them allâit was just impossible. So the best she could hope for was to keep them busy long enough that the literal cavalry could come riding in. Even that was a threadbare chance.
Her third shot thudded into the left lung of an archer, this one taking aim for somewhere near her hiding place. He fell, but the woman next to him didnât miss, and Tessa bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood when a barbed arrowhead pierced her left bicep. That was going to make drawing incredibly difficult. She still had her swordâand never had she been more thankful for her increasing repertoire of skillsâbut she didnât relish the thought of being so close she had to use it. Moving again, she barely rolled out of the way of another two arrows before she finally found more solid cover: a stone this time. Bracing her back against it, she peered out at the crossroads, aiming and firing again. Her weakened off-hand caused her shot to go wide, merely injuring the next archer she hit.
âCome on, Tess,â she muttered to herself. âMake it count.â Gritting her teeth and suppressing an agonized cry, she drew again and fired, this time hitting her target square in the foreheadâanother fellow with a net. An arrow whizzed by her nose, but she still had ground roughly as high as the other bowmen, so most clattered off her stone.
Sophia proceeded to make him wait just inside the front door while she retreated into her quarters and donned her armor. She was certainly not going anywhere with Jamie, or doing anything relating to her would-be father, without it. With her sword on her back she returned to Jamie, and ordered him to accompany her to Lowtown, and the barracks of the Argent Lions. She was not going to be diving into this without consulting those she trusted most.
On the way she stopped by the Keep, and the guard quarters inside, to call on their new captain, who had the time to spare for her. Ashton clearly seemed relieved that Jamie actually came back, and didn't just take the the chance to bolt. He left command with Vesper and flanked Jamie, unwilling to let him get too far out of reach when he could help it. The three of them walked in a fairly terse silence, as Sophia preferred to explain the situation once, rather than to each man individually.
Once she'd arrived in the lion's den, she pulled her prisoner (for she did indeed have a vise-like grip on his arm since leaving her home) into Lucien's office, Ashton joining them. A few of the mercs noted the scene with interest from the outside, but Sophia trusted Lucien would call on them only if necessary. It was, after all, a private matter.
"Tell them what you told me," she ordered Jamie at last, releasing him. He rubbed at his arm for a moment, sheepish, but then began to explain.
"Nearly got gutted in Darktown, but I made contact with the Coterie, and met Quill again, face to face. No messages, no nonsense, saw him in the flesh. He looks different now. Older, I guess." He shook his head and shrugged, realizing he was getting off the point. "I told him you were looking to meet. He would like to meet as well, but he doesn't want to end up in chains, or headless. He'll meet you if you're alone, or not at all. Well, alone save for me. Picked a spot on the Wounded Coast, and I'm to lead you there. The two of you can say what needs to be said from there."
He lowered his head, a sign that he was finished. Sophia's hands rested on her hips, her lower lip between her teeth. She glanced up at Lucien. "Thoughts?" Her two advisors here would know that she was determined to meet him, and that this was her best and possibly only chance. Of course, this was more than personal. According to a previous dialogue she'd had with Jamie, Dairren was playing the Coterie for fools, intending to cripple them upon reforging a bond with Sophia. She would have to see that to believe it.
"A few, and none of them pleasant," Ashton said grimly. "How do we know this isn't a trap? Because it definitely feels like a trap."
"Didn't you listen?" Jamie asked. "He's her father. He's never meant her any harm, not from the first. He'll--"
âNot trust her enough to allow her to bring friends, which means that your estimation of his feelings is rather irrelevant, Iâm afraid.â Lucien broke in, his eyes narrowed. Jamieâs words likely would have weighted very low in terms of relevance anyway, considering, but he wasnât especially in the mood to entertain them right now. âPerhaps you can see why this is still a discussion.â Reaching for the office door, he opened it and gestured over Havard and Idris, the two Lions whoâd been in the common room at the time his guests entered.
âPlease sit Ser Arren down, and make sure he doesnât go anywhere.â Havard nodded, gripping the younger man by the shoulder and steering him firmly out of the room. Lucien shut the door again behind them, then waited long enough for the sound of their footsteps to recede. âThere. Let him think the conversation is about whether you go at all.â Realistically, he knew she would beâheâd read it in the expression on her face. He knew she wanted these answers, and he did not blame her for it.
âWhat Iâm actually interested in is making sure you can do it safely. I donât think itâs wise to assume that Quinn will be alone, and so it seems ill-advised for you to be so, either.â
Ashton let out a sigh and gazed downward to the floorboards in deep thought. "The coast has plenty of brush and coverage to hide in... For both parties. We could slip a few of Lucien's scouts in it, but there's no guarantees that Quill won't have a few of his own doing the same, and it's also reasonable to assume he'd expect something of the sort." As a previous captain of the guard himself and current head of Coterie, it was less an assumption and more assured. Quill was the type to have all of his bases covered at all times, for any contingency. It was the type of person Ashton hated dealing with the most.
"And I also don't trust Jamie, not as far as I can throw him. He already tried to kill you once, damn the excuses he tries to feed us. There's nothing saying he won't try to finish the job, save for his own words. And I'm not too keen on trusting a criminal's word." Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling all that more weary.
"If Jamie goes with me, he stays within reach of my blade at all times," Sophia said, leaning back against the wall. She was glad to have Jamie out of the room. The sight of him... sickly, weak, a hollow shell of his former self... she didn't know why, but it made her uncomfortable. "Not saying I would kill him if he tried to betray me, but he might come back short an arm." She wondered how thick the walls here were.
"I'll go mounted, of course. If it is a trap, there isn't much that Aiden can't run past, or through. Bind Jamie's hands to the saddle... cut him loose if I have to." The Coterie would no doubt have his head if a trap failed. They had no great love for him. And she was quite certain that he had no death wish. And strangely, she was fairly certain he was sincere in his desire to not hurt her. Perhaps he was insane, and misguided in what he thought was best for her, but she did not think he would intentionally lead her to harm.
She didn't know if she could persuade the two men in the room of that, though. "I could use some cover," she said, directed at Lucien. "They'd need to stay out of sight all the way to the meeting point, though. No knowing where he might have eyes, and if he catches wind of others, he could be gone."
âThereâs also the Coterie to be considered, quite apart from Quinn,â Lucien pointed out. There was no telling how they would take their leader meeting with Sophia, whether he told them or not. Actually, he almost certainly would, since they would probably take it worse if he didnât. He had heard that the manâs grip on the organization was strong, but some were bound to chafe under that yoke, even if they were few. There were any number of possible combinations of attitudes and allegiances that could spell trouble, but he knew Sophia was right.
If he sent people, they would have to be good at staying hidden. Good enough to match the very best. He wasnât that skilled at it, and neither were most of his more battle-ready men and women. But he had two who should be able to accomplish such a task. Heâd hesitate to send many more, anyway, for more people had a greater risk of being found. Rubbing at the stubble on his jaw, Lucien nodded, more to himself than in response to anything specific. âIâll send Tessa, and Lia as a runner. She can get word back if anything happens.â Likely not fast enough to make a difference, but it was better than nothing. They were the best scouts the Lions had. Heâd put another chunk of the troops on standby as well, just in case.
âBut letâs keep that away from the ears of Ser Arren. He may not intend you harm, but that doesnât mean he wonât cause it.â He also had to check with his scouts, to make sure they were willing to take on the risk this would entail. If all went well, this would be a lot of caution for nothing. But very little ever went well, and Lucien didnât dare expect it would.
"As much as I'd like to peel off this armor and tag along, I'm the guard captain now, I can't just go skulking in the woods any more. I'll have to leave this in your hands," Ashton told Sophia, pushing himself off of the wall. "I'll stay here and wait until you get back. Be careful and don't let Jamie out of sight. I'd hate for my first act as captain to be losing a would-be political assassin. That'd be a difficult one to explain to everybody..." he said, nervously.
"Don't keep us long, yeah?"
"I'll be cautious, I promise." Sophia took a step over to Lucien, taking his hand lightly. "First sign of trouble and I'll bolt like a hare from the wolves." She kissed him briefly, not wanting to make a scene of this, but still hoping to offer some reassurance. "I'll be back with some answers. One way or another, it's time I put this all behind me."
Lucien expelled a heavy breath, not looking terribly reassured, but smiling slightly anyway. âDo what you must. I will be here when you return.â He rested a callused palm on her cheek for a moment, then let his hand fall back to his side.
Opening the door again, Sophia made her way out, where Jamie immediately looked up with rather wide eyes. She gestured for him to stand.
"You'll be tied to my horse. One wrong move and I leave you for the Coterie. Let's go."
The rope that tied Jamie Arren to Sophia's horse kept him at about six feet in distance, and she made sure to keep it that way, refusing to let him walk beside her. The going was predictably slow, with her captive on foot, and not particularly able-bodied anymore. More than once she wondered who here was the captive and who was delivering them, but it was foolish to linger on it. She focused instead on watching her surroundings. The Coast looked as it always did, even if it felt colder. The occasional ocean spray they caught when the road drifted too close to the shore was chilling, and she sometimes could hear Jamie's teeth chattering behind her. Thankfully, the sky had remained clear. It looked to be about midday.
At various turns, she asked Jamie for instruction, and he guided her left, right, left, wherever she was needed to go. The roads here were winding and twisting and convoluted, so many new paths created to try and find routes that the bandits did not prey on. He seemed to know where he was going, though. At no point in her trip did she see or hear her two shadows watching over her, as was for the best. She knew they were there, and while the help of an archer and a runner was not likely to turn the tide of overwhelming odds, it was comforting to know she was not alone.
"It's just up ahead," Jamie said quietly. "See that rock there?" he pointed in front of them, towards a three way intersection of the path, settled in the middle of rolling hills and rocky formations. They had traveled inland a short distance, away from the spray of the sea. Sophia had noted no less than three gaping cave mouths, and wondered if they housed Coterie cells, or other wicked creatures. She liked to think that the feeling of eyes watching her was just Tessa and Lia.
"I see it. I don't see anyone else." The area appeared as deserted as the rest. Jamie took a few quicker steps to try and catch up to Sophia's side, prompting her to urge Aiden ahead a little faster.
"We're a little early, I think. We should wait here, at the crossroads. He'll be here." She came to a stop at the point where the little paths met. It could hardly be called a crossroads, as any caravan of wagons would have difficulty getting through here at all. Sophia reached a hand down to pat her horse's neck, watching the various angles of approach all the while. It seemed they would just have to wait.
Tessa was on high alert as she and Lia tailed Sophia and Jamie over the Coast. There was a fair mount of cover, but it wasnât absolutely everywhere by any means, and both had to make use of considerable skill and experience hunting and tracking to remain hidden. At times, they were forced to drop back far enough that they could no longer see their charges, and followed the rather peculiar amalgam of hoofprints and human boot-tracks trailing to the side of them. They managed, however, and not too long after the other two had settled in to wait at the crossroads, their shadows had concealed themselves as well, blending into two separate clusters of cover and waiting there.
There didnât appear to be anything out of the ordinary. The area had its share of prints from both men and beasts, but nothing more in volume than Tessa would have expected. She allowed the steady rhythm of her own heart to mark time for her, her muscles relaxed, but ready to spur herself into motion at any point necessary. The commanderâs instructions had been painstakingly clear: the minute anything looked to be going sour, Lia was to run back to Kirkwall and inform those waiting at the barracks. Tessaâs actions were more for her own judgement, but she could read between the lines well enough. Lucien was asking her to do whatever she could to protect the woman he loved, and she had accepted that entreaty. Any of the Lions would do that much for another, she knew.
"He'll be here," Jamie reiterated, and Sophia spared him a glance, to find that he looked more nervous than ever. Slowly, she slid her sword from its sheath across her back. He looked up at her, holding his tied hands up submissively, and keeping himself at the maximum distance the rope that bound him would allow. "Please, Sophia, just a little longer."
"He wouldn't be late, not the man I knew. Deceptive, maybe, but if he intended to be here, he would be here on time. Do you not agree?" Jamie seemed to struggle for words, and nothing but an uncertain whine came out. Just as Sophia began to wheel her horse around to face him, however, there was movement behind the largest of the rocks ahead of her. A man appeared, dusting off his leather armor, as he'd apparently been sitting in the dirt. He was hooded and hid his face, but clearly displayed were his weapons, a longsword at his hip and several knives on his arms and legs.
"You need wait only a little longer, m'lady," he said, with a heavy Lowtown drawl. She did not know Dairren to speak that way, and as she soon as she heard the words, she reached across her with the sword and slashed through the rope binding Jamie to her, cutting him loose. She did not intend to drag him behind her if she needed to flee. Jamie jumped back a step, looking up at the other man with surprise.
"Who are you? You're not supposed to be here!"
"Dairren sent me to greet you, make sure there were no surprises planned." He held out his empty hands as though in a show of peace, though the mailed gauntlets they were in spoke otherwise. Sophia narrowed her eyes at him, though she made sure to continue checking the approaches, and the place others might hide.
"He said he'd come alone," Jamie continued. "He was very clear about that."
"I've heard enough," Sophia said, disgusted. "Goodbye, Jamie." He protested, called for her to wait and not leave him, but immediately she put her heels into her horse and turned around, taking off at a gallop the other way. In the distance, the sound and rumble of many other horses could be heard.
Lia, for the moment, didn't know what exactly to do. She seemed to be making a clean getaway, so there was little point in giving herself away when she had no horse to escape so easily. It was only after the white horse that bore Sophia away rounded a corner and left her sight that she had her mind made up for her.
All Sophia saw was the axe, a broad, two-handed weapon emerging ahead of her, the wielder obscured behind a jutting rock on the side of the road. He must have moved into position there some time after she'd passed on the way in. The axehead cleaved more than halfway through her horse's neck, nearly severing the head clean off. The beast made a hideous attempt at a screech as it stopped and reared back, about to topple over. Sophia managed to slide her feet from the stirrups just in time to avoid having her leg crushed, as Aiden fell heavily onto his side, leaving her to crash into the sand behind him. The horse quickly ceased to move.
A massive man appeared over Sophia, at least seven feet tall and heavily built, wielding the axe that had easily slain her horse, but he did not attempt to bring the blade of this down on her. Instead, he stomped a foot down on her wrist before she could bring her blade up. The butt of the axe came down to try and strike a blow to her head, but she was at least able to twist out of the way of that. Drawing a knife from her boot, she plunged it into the back of his calf, causing him to cry out, but not release the pressing weight on her wrist.
Back at the crossroads, a troop of at least two dozen horsemen were arriving at full speed, most armed with various blunt weapons, as well as some nets, bolas, and other less common tools. Several of them dismounted with bows, and made for the high grounds, watching places other than the struggle between Sophia and the axe-man. Lia had long since departed, though the man that had initially greeted them had taken notice. He was now in the process of assaulting Jamie, who put up little resistance.
Tessa assessed the situation and grimaced. It wasnât goodâin fact, she knew she would make next to no difference if she chose to participate. Still, she wasnât going to run away and leave Sophia to her fateâit wasnât right. So she moved, reaching for the bow at her back and nocking an arrow to the string. Her draw was as calm and practiced as it had always been, and when she let it fly, it struck trueâto the back of the axe-manâs neck. It wasnât enough to fell him, though, and sheâd given away her position by loosing it, something she knew the other archers would take advantage of if she let them.
So she didnât. Staying low, Tessa moved into a different piece of cover, tracking the progress of those who moved to put themselves in high-ground positions. She was definitely worried about them, but also about the ones carrying nets. She wasnât stupidâthat meant theyâd come for hostages, and there were only two people guaranteed to be here, meaning Sophia was the most likely target. She doubted they cared much about Jamie.
Another shot took down the horse of one of two men carrying a large, heavy net between them, pitching he and his partner both to the ground, tangled in their own device. She had to focus on delay tactics, because she wouldnât be able to kill them allâit was just impossible. So the best she could hope for was to keep them busy long enough that the literal cavalry could come riding in. Even that was a threadbare chance.
Her third shot thudded into the left lung of an archer, this one taking aim for somewhere near her hiding place. He fell, but the woman next to him didnât miss, and Tessa bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood when a barbed arrowhead pierced her left bicep. That was going to make drawing incredibly difficult. She still had her swordâand never had she been more thankful for her increasing repertoire of skillsâbut she didnât relish the thought of being so close she had to use it. Moving again, she barely rolled out of the way of another two arrows before she finally found more solid cover: a stone this time. Bracing her back against it, she peered out at the crossroads, aiming and firing again. Her weakened off-hand caused her shot to go wide, merely injuring the next archer she hit.
âCome on, Tess,â she muttered to herself. âMake it count.â Gritting her teeth and suppressing an agonized cry, she drew again and fired, this time hitting her target square in the foreheadâanother fellow with a net. An arrow whizzed by her nose, but she still had ground roughly as high as the other bowmen, so most clattered off her stone.