“I think that’s a theory we should test.” She had an overwhelming urge to head-butt him, but refrained from doing so.
He released her chin and removed his daggers, throwing them into a nearby tree, high enough so she couldn’t reach them. She raised her eyebrows and chuckled—he’d never removed them before.
The assassin laid down, smiling at Jarvik as he pulled Allyssa next to him on the leaf-coated ground. She remained as far away from him as the short rope would allow.
Chapter Three
Allyssa startled awake from a light squeeze to her arm. Jarvik was crouched next to her, a dagger in his free hand. She nodded and remained still, not wanting to wake the sleeping assassin. As to how Jarvik had managed to undo his own bindings, climb the tree to retrieve the assassin’s dagger, and cut her ties, all without rousing their captor, she had no idea.
He pulled out a small tin from his pocket. He must have stolen the assassin’s paralyzing substance before he’d set the horses free. Twisting the lid off, he poked the tip of the dagger into the gooey gel and silently moved to the assassin’s side. Allyssa held her breath while he slid the knife down the man’s leg, cutting him to ensure the ointment penetrated his blood stream.
The assassin’s eyes flew open, and he reached out, latching onto Jarvik’s wrist. The dagger fell to the ground. Allyssa slammed her fist into the assassin’s stomach. Grabbing his free hand, she yanked his arm across her chest while she twisted her legs over his body, pinning him down. Jarvik punched the man’s jaw. The assassin clutched onto Jarvik’s hair, yanking him down. Allyssa pulled the assassin’s arm harder, and there was a sickening pop. He screamed, his arm going limp. She scrambled away from him. He released Jarvik, clutching his dislocated elbow against his chest. Jarvik picked up the dropped dagger, cutting the assassin’s other leg.
“Do his arms, too.”
Jarvik pricked the assassin’s arms, paralyzing them as well.
“I’ll get you for this,” the assassin snarled, hatred flaring in his eyes. “You won’t be able to escape me.”
“We should kill him,” Jarvik said to Allyssa.
“You should,” the assassin said, seething with rage. “Because if you don’t, I’ll eventually catch you. When I do, you know what I’ll do to the princess.” The paralyzing substance must have taken effect because his arms fell to his sides, unmoving.
Allyssa ignored his threat. She was pretty sure she knew where they were. “We have ten hours to reach a town and send soldiers here to collect him.”
“He’s an assassin. By killing him, we will be saving countless lives.”
“But we’re not assassins. We can’t stoop to his level and behave in such a way.” She wanted him rotting in a dungeon, regretting everyone he harmed.
“What if soldiers don’t get here in time?”
She nodded toward the forest, and Jarvik followed her. When they were far enough away so the assassin couldn’t overhear, she said, “Do you remember before we left the castle, I sent a squad of my elite soldiers after the Russek men who set up a military base in the Romek Mountains?” He nodded. “That cave is roughly five miles from here. My soldiers are more than qualified to handle the assassin and escort us to Fren.”
“That’s an excellent idea. Let’s tie him up and drag him along.”
She rolled her eyes. “The base is at the top of the waterfall we saw earlier today. We can’t climb that with someone in tow. We’ll leave him here and send my men back for him.” They had more than enough time.
He ran his hands through his hair. “Fine. But we’re still tying him up as a precautionary measure.” He tucked the dagger in the waist of his pants. “Let’s move quickly.”
Moving fast was the last thing she felt like doing right now—it was dark and exhaustion consumed her. However, the prospect of being away from the assassin was enough to fuel her on. “Let’s secure him to the tree and go. Our time is already running out.”
When they returned to the assassin, Jarvik pulled the man’s limp body to a tree and expertly tied him to it. Even if the paralyzing substance wore off before someone returned, it would take quite some time to undo the knots to free himself. Not to mention the fact that he was injured—his dislocated elbow hung at an unnatural angle.
Allyssa pulled her long hair back and wound it into a knot at the base of her neck. The assassin didn’t say another word as he watched her with a hatred that made her hands shake and her stomach churn. She started walking in the opposite direction they needed to go. After thirty yards, they turned and headed south, walking in silence.
A mile into their journey, they came to a river. “We need to cross.” The sun had not yet risen, making it impossible to see the depth of the fast-moving water.
“Can you swim?” Jarvik asked.
“Yes.” Although the strong current intimidated her.
Jarvik threw a rock into the water, trying to determine its depth. “I doubt anyone would have established a military camp here if the water isn’t crossable.”
Gazing up and down the bank, Allyssa searched for a bridge, not seeing one.
“What’s that down there?” Jarvik asked, pointing south.
She squinted, trying to see in the moonlight. “Just some fallen trees along the edge of the river.”
“Maybe we can use them to make our way across.” She followed him to the fallen trees. The trunks were white from water and sun exposure through the years. A few extended into the river, but none went from shore to shore. Jarvik walked out onto one of them, testing its sturdiness. Satisfied, he returned to the bank and found a large, thick branch he could carry. Making his way out onto the tree, he walked slowly so as not to lose his footing. At the end, he placed the branch so it extended to another tree on the opposite side of the shore, bridging the two. Jarvik removed his tunic, tying it around the branch and tree. He waved her out. Gingerly placing her feet on the tree, Allyssa made her way over the water to Jarvik.
“It’s not very steady, but it will do,” he said, pointing to the crude bridge he’d made.
There was no way she was stepping a foot on the branch. “It’s not thick enough.”
Jarvik was sitting on the tree so she carefully sat next to him, only a couple of feet above the rushing water. “I want you to hold onto the branch with your hands, put your body into the water, and use your hands to make your way across to the other trunk.”
She stared at him. Blimey. He was mad. The water would be freezing. However, there weren’t any other options. She nodded, not wanting to be a wimp and complain like a pansy.
“When you get to the other trunk, secure the branch so I can cross. If you don’t hold it in place, it will jostle loose and I’ll fall.”
Allyssa didn’t want to think about it too much, so she slid her legs into the water, yelping from the cold.