Chapter 2

Loki Burroughs was tucked behind several stacked barrels of meed behind the loud tavern and sifted sand through his dark fingers while he waited.

Eli had told him to stay inside, but people bothered Loki. They made him uncomfortable and anxious.

"Where is that kid?" A conceded voice muttered.

Loki heard two sets of footsteps and knew Eli had finally found her. He hopped out from behind the barrels and Eli cursed, his large hand going for a blade.

"It's-it's, just me, Eli." Loki sputtered. "Sorry I-I scared you. I didn't mean to."

Eli uttered another fowl word. "Don't do it again. Now come on."

Greer stood a couple feet behind Eli with her pale arms folded beneath her cloak. Her strange eyes swept over Loki quickly and Loki shifted uneasily.

"Hi," he said nervously. "Loki Burroughs. You must be Greer."

She nodded once and Eli hooked his head North. "We'll take Bridger's Gouge for 'bout three miles and make it to the Outer Wall. It'll take about a sennite to get to the palace from there."

Loki recognized this Eli more than the conceded jerk he was. Eli was a warrior, one who took charge and thought everything through. Though, Loki didn't believe he'd ever seen him with a bruised jaw. No one hit Eli Gamble unless Eli Gamble let them.

"How did you find me?" Greer asked.

Eli shifted away from her. "It was east, actually."

Loki arched his brow. Easy? Nah. Eli had been searching the entire city on foot since yesterday. It was Loki's guess he'd only found Greer by sheer luck.

The trio took alleys and back roads to avoid being seen with Greer. Everyone knew the bounty she had on her head, and everyone knew she was the only one who wore a cloak to keep from being hurt by the sun.

Bridger's Gouge was a thief's haven. It was a single street that stretched on for miles and interlocked with escape routes and cubby holes that easily concealed a number of criminals.

By nightfall they reached the Outer Wall and hunkered in a small, stone alcove. It would be a struggle to get past the guards.

Loki's heart hammered in his chest as his nerves threatened to put him out cold. He noticed neither Eli nor Greer seemed to be scared. Eli had a look of steel, while Greer looked uninterested, as if she'd done this a hundred times.

"Something isn't right." Eli murmured to them.

Loki swallowed a lump. "What do you mean, Eli? What's wrong?"

Eli lunged and clamped a hand over Loki's mouth. "Not so loud," he hissed in a tight whisper.

Loki gulped and nodded, fear running rampant in his veins.

"You're right." Greer had her head peeking out the alcove, studying the high stone wall. It was lined with torches, guards patrolled both the top and the bottom, and stood stationed at the main entry way.

"There aren't as many guards." She whispered. She turned and looked sharply at Eli. "There are only three guards at the door, Gamble."

Eli clenched his jaw. "I doubt it's coincidence. Do you think it's a trap?"

"Without doubt." Greer said gravely.

Eli carefully looked out. "Where do you think the rest of them went?"

Loki shifted backhand forth on the balls of his feet, anxiety swirling in his chest and giving him a suffocating feeling. He never should've come. He was no help. The most he could do was get them all caught and killed.

"I don't know." Greer said. "What do you want to do?"

"I have a plan." Eli said confidently.

"Great. What is it?" Greer asked.

Eli glanced back at her with a red glint un his eyes. "It involves fire."

Greer's eyes widened. "Absolutely not." She hissed. "We need them not to see us."

Eli gave her pointed look. "It's called a distraction. It'll pull out the other guards and enable us to slip through undetected."

Distraction? Was Eli mad? They'd never be able to pull it off. Loki grabbed his stomach as vile threatened to come up.

"Why not just take 'em ourselves?" Greer asked. "I've gotta a knife, and you're obviously able to kill people."

Eli arched his brow with a small grin. "How obvious?"

Greer's face was deadpan. "You're wearing several blades, Gamble."

Loki dared a peep out the alcove. "I have an idea." He whispered, proud how quiet he managed to say it.

"Let the grownups handle it." Eli said, not giving Loki a glance.

Like frowned. He was fifteen. Greer was only a year older. And Eli had only turned eighteen that month. He continued to look out the alcove above the roaring anxiety in his ears.

"Here's how this is going to go," Eli said, "I'm going to go go over and talk to the three guards, and before they know what hit 'em, I'll attack. When I do that, I want you both to slip out the gate."

Loki's heart lodged in his throat. "Eli...?"

"No." Greer said, "that won't work. That guards atop the wall will shut the gate before we get there."

"Eli..." Loki grabbed for Eli's arm.

"What, Loki?" Eli hissed, "we're tryna talk here."

"Look." Loki whispered with a pointed finger.

Eli and Greer both look and their jaws dropped. The three guards were slowly walking towards the alcove. They'd been heard

What to do?! What to do?!

Without thinking, (because if he had, he wouldn't have done it) Loki jumped out, "Evening, gents." He said chipperly.

"A little late to be out and 'bout." One of them said. His voice was oily, and sent chills up Loki's spine.

"No sir." Loki smiled, his insides turning to mush as he tried to keep his face calm. "I was just walking and wanted to sit for a bit in this here alcove."

"We heard talking. Do you have friends with you?"

Loki swallowed. "No sir. I was talking to myself. Mama's birthday is tomorrow, and I was tryna figure out how she bakes her moist cakes. I was going back and forth in an argument with myself. Eggs and oil, or eggs and buttermilk?" Loki shook his head. "Would any of you happen to know?"

"No, kid, get outta here. Haven't you heard there's a rogue thief on the loose? They're dangerous, tried to kill our Mayor after stealing from him."

Loki nodded eagerly. "I heard of her. You're right, I should get home right quick." He turned to go but the guard grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.

"I didn't say it was woman." Leaned in close to Loki's face, smelling of garlic and onions. "Where is she?"

There was a loud clash of metal against metal as Greer lunged from the alcove with Eli's sword swinging through the air as she chopped into the two guards. The guard dropped Loki and drew his sword.

Loki scrambled back, breathing hard as he watched the battle unfold before his eyes.

The three guards swarmed Greer and it was apparent they weren't ordinary guards. They moved with a deadly grace that turned Loki's fear into thick sludge.

"Assassins." He whispered.

He'd seen them once before, the day they killed his family and left him with the scar over the right side of his face.