Peony's Blade

Chapter 9

Ice blanketed the air, heavy in the silence that fell over the private room. Rejin sat next to Serielle, and Blade was across the table, casually drinking out of a small porcelain cup. He put it down and tapped his forefinger against it. It was something Serielle noticed since her first encounter with him. The restlessness trapped within him, the constant need to move subdued by twirling his knife or tapping his finger, ready to pounce into action at any given moment.

A cold rage poured out of Rejin, the source of the chill that settled in the air. If Blade could command shadows, Serielle might believe that Rejin commanded ice. Doubtful, though it was a fanciful notion she could entertain to distract herself from the tension between the men.

“You could have been killed,” Rejin bit out in a low grumble. Though he kept his eyes on Blade, Serielle knew he was speaking to her. “What a foolish thing to do, barging into a killer’s den.”

“I knew the risks I had to take,” Serielle retorted, carefully threading the annoyance out of her voice. “The task is complete. Now all that’s left is to discuss the details of our arrangement.” Her thigh still throbbed with the mark of the Shadow. She needed to speed things up so she could get some rest. The night was dragging on for too long.

“For starters,” she began, “Blade.”

The assassin responded with a tilt of his head.

“We need a proper name to call you by. It’ll only be a matter of time before they find out I hired a Shadow, but I would like to prolong that for as long as possible. I would rather not give the Viper a chance to slither back to its nest. Discretion gives us an advantage I will not waste.”

Blade leaned back, resting his elbow against a ledge jutting out of the wall. He made no attempt to straighten his posture in Serielle’s presence. That was something she would have to remedy, but for now she needed to focus on more pressing matters.

“I have names I previously went by. Why don’t you choose one that suits you?”

“No need. It would be best to use a name you’ve never been associated with before.” It was something Serielle had thought about on her way here. She knew she might as well be publicly announcing that she hired a Shadow if she were to continue calling him Blade. So, she had decided on an inconspicuous name that wouldn’t raise too much suspicion. “From this point on, you shall be known as Lupi.”

Rejin snorted and mumbled something under his breath. Serielle pinched his thigh from under the table as hard as she could and twisted without changing her posture. He was insufferable enough as it was. Why couldn’t he at least have the sense to keep his mouth shut during such a delicate time?

Rejin unfolded his arms so he could take her hand in his. It was enough for Serielle to release him, and she forced her fingers out of his grasp.

“Not the best I’ve had,” Blade said, narrowing his eyes. Serielle had made sure to keep her expression neutral during the entire exchange with Rejin, yet she felt as though Blade had seen everything. “But I suppose it’ll do.”

“It’s obvious my brother will question who you are.” It was the first hurdle Serielle needed to overcome. If Deru found out who Blade really was, he would do everything in his power to break their contract. “You will be posing as my personal guard, recommended by Rejin.”

Serielle ignored the sigh that escaped Rejin. At least, he wasn’t speaking out against it. “Leave the introductions to me and keep your distance from Deru. The less he knows about you, the better. However,” Serielle sharpened her gaze into a glare, “His safety is your priority. Protect him at all costs without revealing yourself to him. Can you do that?”

A ghost of a smile touched Blade’s lips. “As you wish.”

It was part of their terms that Blade would follow her every order without question, yet Serielle couldn’t stop the doubt from creeping in. It was too easy. Trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford. She would need to be prepared to eliminate Blade should he get out of hand. No matter how well he followed her orders, he was still an assassin operating under a secretive organisation. If the Shadows were plotting to harm royals, she had given Blade the perfect opening.

“One last thing before we wrap this up.” Serielle clasped her hands together and buried them within the folds of her dress. The ache in her thigh was spreading to her hip. “You may be an assassin, but under the guise of my personal guard, killing is your absolute last resort. The Viper is your target, and I want him alive for public execution. Kill him only if capture is impossible.”

Blade’s smile faded into a grim line. “You’re asking a killer not to kill.”

“Killing brings attention. Your objective is to protect me and my brother and bring the Viper to me without revealing yourself. Reserve the killing for the clients you won’t be residing with.”

“Residing?”

“You’ll be known as my personal guard, my very own shadow, so to speak.” Serielle allowed herself to smile at the double entendre. “It’s only natural that you’ll be residing in the same premises.”

Rejin’s frosty gaze fell upon her, no longer satisfied with watching the assassin. Serielle could see the angry clench of his jaw and the scowl on his lips without having to look at him.

“We’ll arrange the paperwork, including your payment, in the next few days, but I want you to start searching for the Viper right away.” The sooner he found the Viper, the sooner she could release him. Even if the Shadows watched her every move afterwards, there would be little they could do without a direct connection. “I’ll officially meet you once your background has been cleared.”

“Alright,” Blade conceded. “No killing unless there is no other option, living in the palace, and adopting a false identity. Anything else?”

“That’ll be all.” Sleep prickled Serielle’s eyes. She resisted a yawn as she stood. Rejin followed suit.

The ache in her leg flared with the flex of her muscles, the mark still fresh and tender on her skin. Serielle endured it with a composed expression. Rejin, still unhappy with the arrangement, slammed the door open and stalked out of the room. Blade remained seated, another breach of courtesy.

“When you come to the palace, you will need to follow our etiquette.”

“Save it for the palace, Princess.” Blade lifted his cup in a sardonic toast. “Rest your leg. It’ll take a day or two to heal. I’m sure it’s still quite…sensitive.” Amusement glinted in his eyes as he took a swig of his drink.

“When we meet again,” Serielle promised, holding back the fiery rage bubbling beneath her, “I will not be so tolerant.”

She left the room and found Rejin waiting for her outside the door he slammed open. Without a word, he fell into position behind her as they made their way out of the pleasure house. The horses they took stood next to a trough of water, pawing at the ground.

Shìt.

Serielle had forgotten that they arrived on horseback. Her thigh was screaming with every step she took. She didn’t think she would have enough strength to stay seated on the horse, but it was better to ride than to go on foot.

“Is there a problem?” Rejin asked.

So he speaks, Serielle was tempted to say out loud. Instead, she shook her head and raised her foot to the stirrup. Rejin knelt down to lift her remaining foot. Agony tore through her thigh, and Serielle bit back a whimper as she hoisted herself onto the saddle.

Rejin climbed his mount with infuriating ease and they began their journey back towards the palace. The silence between them was thick, and Rejin’s anger was prominent in his tense shoulders and rigid posture.

The night was pitch black, their way back guided only by the pitiful light from the lantern Rejin held in front of him. They were in the quiet part of a forest between the outskirts of the city and the palace. It would take some time to arrive where they were headed. Serielle’s breath fogged the air in front of her. It would have been nice to be in a carriage, but considering the nature of her visit, horseback was their only option.

“You’re quiet,” Serielle remarked. Now that they were alone, she wanted to speak to him about accommodating Blade.

“I didn’t know speaking was a requirement of our journey,” he replied as frostily as the snow that surrounded them.

Serielle held back her temper. Her thigh pulsed in agony with every step her horse took and she was too exhausted to burn him with her contempt.

“I want you to keep an eye on Blade when he arrives.”

Rejin slowed his horse to Serielle’s pace. He held up the lantern between them and fixed her with an angry glare. “I warned you this was a terrible idea, Serielle. Whatever happens because you let him into the palace will be your problem to solve. I’ve done what you asked. Leave me out of the rest.”

“I need you to arrange the paperwork.” Serielle returned his glare with ease. The terrible ache was beginning to reach her lower back. “If Blade becomes a problem, I will find the means to eliminate him. I’ve weighed my options, General. He’s the best chance we’ve got against a Viper.”

If the Shadows could command, well, shadows, then it was likely the Vipers had command over their own sorcery. How else would the Vipers have held their own against the Shadows if they didn’t? And how could ordinary guards hope to fight against something they knew nothing about?

Serielle had to think of the possibility that the assassins weren’t even human. But great power must have come with great sacrifice. There had to be a weakness to them that she could exploit should Blade turn against her.

For now, Blade was on her side. The mark that tormented her thigh bound him to her, though she didn’t know to what extent. It was a mystery she would solve soon enough.

“You’re a stubborn, stubborn girl.” Rejin sighed, lowering his arm. The halo of light was comforting in the dark. “I’m only following orders as your general. Don’t expect me to support what you’re doing.”

Serielle only allowed him to get away with his remarks because of the pain.

Show no weakness, show no fear. Gritting her teeth, Serielle endured the throbbing ache without uttering a single word for the rest of the way.

****

“Serielle Wei.” The name rolled off Blade’s tongue as he relived the memory of the previous night. He imagined a peony’s name would taste sweet, but he only got a mouthful of salted fish thanks to the dried squid tentacle between his teeth.

“You seem rather distracted, my lord.” A courtesan gently poured his drink into the shallow porcelain cup. “Might I be so bold as to ask you to indulge me?”

Blade pulled the length of the tentacle until it snapped. It had been a while since he sought out the company of a courtesan, yet Blade couldn’t be entertained. Her attempts at making conversation barely pulled him out of the intrigue he was tempted to pursue.

Princess Serielle Wei.

It was rare for Blade to take new clients, yet the princess had easily convinced him to work for her. She was emotionless, relentless in getting what she wanted, and haughty beyond belief. She came off as a spoiled, rich flower sheltered by her wealth, yet there was a sureness in her that suggested she was completely cognizant of her flaws. She played her strengths well and kept her weaknesses hidden away. Not once had her calm, unbothered demeanor shifted, not even when Blade threatened her life.

When she gave him her commands, she only disclosed what Blade needed to know and kept everything else, including her emotions, close to her chest. A spoiled brat wouldn’t have the composure to make such a calculated move.

And therein lay his intrigue. Based on their interaction, Blade was certain the princess knew exactly what she was doing when she sought him out. Yet at the same time, she had the naivety to demand no bloodshed knowing full well what Blade was. After Lakken, it was like finding a rare gem in a*****e full of forgeries. Whether it was real or fake was the mystery he wanted to solve.

In addition to that, there was also the man who accompanied her. It was obvious he was completely against the idea of hiring Blade, and he still followed everything the princess said. He hadn’t worn a uniform, but it didn’t take much for Blade to figure out he was a soldier, likely in a higher rank, perhaps a captain or even a general. He was probably the reason the princess was able to find the Golden Sun, which meant he had some knowledge about the Shadows. And to divulge that knowledge to a princess…

Blade let out a small chuckle.

“My lord?” the courtesan inquired.

How truly fascinating. Rejin was easy to read, which was what made his relationship with Serielle so intriguing. The man couldn’t hide the fact that he absolutely despised the idea of letting Blade into the palace, yet the princess was completely unfazed.

“Nara,” said Blade.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I get the feeling the future will be quite entertaining.”

Nara’s blood-red lips curled into a smile that mirrored his anticipation as she refilled his cup. “That’s wonderful, my lord.”

I look forward to working with you, Princess. Blade drank his alcohol in one gulp. Hide behind that mask for as long as you can endure, little peony. By the time I catch that Viper, I’ll peel back your layers and reveal who you truly are.