Leaning back farther against the wall, Jala did her best to remain unnoticed. The bar was crowded to the point that Marrow wouldn’t even come inside. She watched Finn and Valor play the crowd. Finn would brag about how Kithkanon didn’t stand a chance and then Valor would play his own dramatic denial. Judging by the crowd around them the show was entertaining. With a sigh, she lifted her glass and took another sip of the wine. It was proving impossible to get images of the Merro district from her mind. She stared down into her glass and wondered how everyone had let it go for so long. Even if she wasn’t responsible for those people she still would have wanted to help. It didn’t help her mood, either, hearing Finn and Valor talking so much about the coming duel. Just the thought of it brought back to her mind images of Death nodding to Finn and her dread increased.
The harsh grating of a chair being pulled back raised her eyes. Glancing over, she expected to see Finn or maybe even Valor, not the stranger seating himself beside her. He was shrouded completely in a dark grey cloak with no hint of his face visible at all.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to be rude but I’d rather be alone. Surely there are other tables with empty chairs,” she said quietly and frowned as the man reached across to her bottle and lifted it to his lips. “Well, by all means then, no sense in getting a glass or perhaps ordering your own,” she said dryly.
“You know, most seek my permission before they change anything in the city,” his voice was cool and low, barely a whisper in the crowded room.
“I haven’t changed anything in the city. And why would I need your permission? You don’t look like a High Lord to me or even a Justicar,” Jala said, wondering if it was the earlier sights making her so snappish or the wine she had been drinking. She stared down at the glass thoughtfully for a moment, wondering if she should write off drinking completely. She didn’t seem to have much luck with it.
A low chuckle came from under the cloak’s hood and the bottle tilted again. He sat it down on the table with a solid thump and wiped his mouth with the back of a gloved hand. “No, I’m not a High Lord, not even close. But I think perhaps you have heard of me anyway. Hemlock. Does the name ring a bell?”
She felt the color drain from her face and took a sip of her own wine. As subtly as she could, she glanced over Hemlock’s shoulder in the direction of Finn and Valor hoping that one of them had noticed she was no longer alone.
“Ahh, you have heard of me,” he said sounding amused. Turning slightly in his chair he glanced at Finn. “You know it really isn’t good for him to be drawing so much attention. The both of you have already drawn far too much attention.” Slowly he shifted back to his original position and traced a finger across the table top smearing a bit of spilled wine into a long trail. His head tilted up and she could feel his eyes upon her, though she still could see nothing but shadows from the hood. “Here is a question for you. Should I kill you? I’ve been offered a lot of money to. I’ve also been offered money not to. Sadly, though, you have more enemies than friends right now.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” she replied without hesitation, drawing another chuckle from the Assassin.
“And why is that?” he asked, not sounding the least bit interested in whatever answer she gave.
“You asked if you should, I said ‘no.’ You didn’t ask me to have a reason,” she said dryly and tried desperately to come up quickly with a reason he might actually listen to. “Because if you wait and let me accomplish what I have planned, I’ll be worth a lot more money dead,” she said finally, not really believing that was the only quick reason she could think of.
“Ahh, now, that is one reason I’ve never heard before. So you are saying I shouldn’t kill you now but should kill you when you are worth more money. I’ll have to give that some thought. Do you have a reason I shouldn’t kill your husband? I’ve had more offers for his death than I have yours.” He leaned forward on the table as he spoke and propped himself on his elbows as if to hear her answer better.
“Well, the same reason for me could apply for him as well but you want something new. How about if you kill him I will bring Sanctuary to its knees,” she said with more confidence than she actually felt.
“Will you now? And how exactly would you do that?” He sounded genuinely amused.
“In every possible way that I can,” she replied smoothly and took another sip from her wine, hoping her hand wasn’t shaking visibly.
“I don’t think you would. Too many innocents here. And if you are as kind hearted as Shade says you are, than that isn’t an option for you.” Taking a single finger he twirled the wine bottle slowly and shook his head. “Horrible vintage, by the way. I would have thought Finn would have left something better for his wife while he was busy flirting and pandering to the crowd.”
“He isn’t flirting,” she said defensively and ignored the fact that the majority in the crowd surrounding her husband were women.
“Give him a message for me. Tell him he shouldn’t leave his wife alone. There is no telling who might decide to keep her company,” he said and dipped his head in a slight bow. “You have my permission to change Merro’s district, Milady,” he added as he stood smoothly and left the table.
“Wait. Are you going to take the contracts,” she called after him but he gave no answer. Not that she had really expected him to. The knot in her stomach grew tighter and she downed the rest of her glass in one swallow and considered pouring another. The rumors about Hemlock adding poisons to everything he ate or drank kept her from it.
With a sigh, she leaned back in her chair again and contemplated the odd visit. It didn’t seem typical behavior for an Assassin. Shade had mentioned him asking about her as well. It seemed she held a particular interest for the Assassin and the thought sent cold chills through her. Having Cassia Avanti obsessed was bad enough. She didn’t want Hemlock too interested in her as well. Rubbing her face, she watched Finn and Valor for a while longer and then slowly stood. Quietly she made her way through the crowd surrounding them and moved close to Finn.