The Boy in the Field (17 page)

“Come on!” You yelled as his grip remained loose on your throat.
“Show me what kind of man you’ve become! Show me what I made you become!”

He released your throat and balled his hand into a fist,
striking the floor beside your head with metal knuckles.

“I never thought I could hate you so much,” he snarled, his
face inches from yours. You felt your hair catch in the joints of his gauntlet
as he pulled back.

“Ethan would have left, even if I didn’t,” you said. “Nothing
either of us could have done would have made him stay.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Have you ever tried to talk Ethan out of doing something? Once
he’s made up his mind, you can’t stop him.”

He paused. “Where is he?”

“I’m not telling you.”

Noah laughed. “Let’s try this a different way. Do you know what
he’s doing in Ethigos?”

“Why? Do you?”

“Of course I know. I sent him. It’s not difficult to pass
information to the Liberationists and sway them into action.” He laughed again.
“He thinks he’s going to kill me. He didn’t tell you, did he? You were supposed
to go too, but he obviously thought you couldn’t handle it.”

“He wouldn’t hurt you.”

“He already did!” He stood up. “If you continue on this path,
you won’t walk it for long. I might not be able to kill you, but somebody else
will. I’ll make you a deal. Help me bring them down and I’ll make sure you
live. Refuse and I’ll hand you over to someone who doesn’t care.” He offered
you his hand.

Choice:
120. Be His Informant
or
121.
Refuse to Give up Your Friends

You picked up the brown envelope and opened it. Inside were
two bundles of cash and another sketch, this one of a woman with a scarred face
and a tattooed chest. Everyone in the city had seen that woman. Her name was
Ulva Dey.

“Can I ask why?”

The man smiled. “Hunters don’t usually ask the questions.”

You shrugged. “I’ll do it.”

“That’s what we’re paying you for.” He stood and moved to the
door. “You’ll get the rest when the job is done.”

* * *

Ulva Dey was easier to locate than Amitava but even more
difficult to catch alone. She had paid friends, people who would take a knife
for her or put one in anyone she wanted gone. Dey had few connections with the
Liberation and even fewer with the Serlorans. Her main interest was money, in
particular, relieving the wealthy of theirs.

The easiest way to take her out was to take on a shift in the
bar she frequented. Then, all you needed to do was wait for her to order a
drink. Of course, trying to navigate your way through the drunken patrons
wasn’t easy and twice you had to stop yourself from breaking a man’s fingers
when he got too familiar with you.

“Oi!
Kuji
!” A rough voice barked at you. “Four
saraba
and make it quick!”

You glanced across the room at him. He was one of Dey’s mob.
You nodded and approached the bar. The
saraba
was stored in kegs behind
the bar. You took four clean mugs from a shelf beneath the keg and began to
fill each from a tap on the end of the barrel. Just before you took them to the
table, you added a drop of liquid from a tiny ridged bottle in your pocket. You
left the bar once they started to drink. The story was in the news the next
morning.

GANG FOUND DEAD AFTER
NIGHT OF HEAVY DRINKING

You placed the article on the table of the man who had given
you the job. Just like before, he placed two envelopes on the table.

“The white one contains your payment. The black one contains
more than double,” he said. “As ever, the choice is yours.”

Choice:
100. White
or
101.
Black

You picked up the white envelope.

“I’ve got a feeling that if I had chosen the other one, the
next job would have been a lot more dangerous,” you said. “Am I right?”

The soldier nodded. “Your work was good, but I can appreciate
that sometimes you have enough to walk away.” He stood up to show you from the
room. “But, if you ever fall on hard times, we can always use someone with
your, shall we say, talents.”

“I appreciate the offer.” You stepped out of the room. “It’s
been a pleasure.”

“I’m sure it has.” He showed you to the exit and watched you leave.

* * *

“Where did this come from?” Ethan asked when you told him about
the money. “This is a lot of money for one job.”

You nodded. “Yeah, but it was worth it.”

“This is…” He counted the notes and shook his head. “This is a
lot.”

“I think I’m done hunting,” you said. “I think I’m going to put
this into the bank and retire.”

“Really? I thought you liked your job.”

You shrugged. “I’m happy with the money. Besides, how many
forty year old hunters do you see? I think I’d like to live a little, maybe
find a job a little less demanding.”

Ethan smiled. “Whatever makes you happy,
masuki
.”

The End
(Back to start)

“Third time lucky.”

You picked up the black envelope. The sketch inside was of a
magister, but his face was obscured by a helmet. The only details about him
came in the form of a fragment of a street map, a circuit drawn across several
of the roads and forming a loop. A time was scribbled beside the starting
point.

“Really? This is all I’ve got to go on?”

The man crossed his arms. “Count the cash,
laraki
. You
could buy a house with that much money. And that’s only your upfront payment.”

“You’ve given me an impossible task. This needs to keep me
going for months while I work out who this guy is and how I can get to him.”

“It will keep you going for two weeks. If you haven’t completed
the job by then, your services will no longer be required.”

“Is that a threat?” You straightened.

The man remained relaxed in his chair. “It’s a promise. Now, if
I were you, I would get out there and start working. Tick tock.”

* * *

The map showed the magister’s route and the time was marked at
the point he started. On the first night, you simply watched him, following him
from a distance. The route was exactly as it had been marked on the map; he
never strayed from it once. It gave you a good idea of where you would be able
to hide to ambush him. The next night, you would strike.

The best hiding place was halfway around his route between two
tall buildings where little light fell. You waited for him to begin his patrol
before you went to your hideaway, getting ahead of him, but not so far that you
couldn’t see him. Once he turned onto that street, you slid into the alley,
listening to the sound of his footsteps drawing closer and the clatter of his
armour. Closer. Closer. One more step.

You reached out and grabbed him, throwing him as hard as you
could into the wall before jabbing your knife through the softer leather at the
back of his knee. He fell, roaring in pain, his voice much louder than you had
anticipated. You needed to silence him before he attracted too much attention.

Choice:
122. Cover His Mouth
or
123. Kill Him

“This is going to take a lot more planning, No.” You stood up.
“I’ll find someone to follow him for a day or two. Then we’ll see what we
learn.”

* * *

Ethan, it turned out, was working as a soldier in the Kinel
military as well as with the Liberationist movement. Noah was convinced that he
was helping to undermine the Kinns’ military strength.

“I know exactly how we can take Ethan down.” Noah banged his
fist on the table.

You sat back. “Go on. Impress me.”

“He’s transporting one of the King’s aides to a meeting in
three days time. You talk to Ethan. Delay him before he can reach the hotel
where he will collect the aide. He was in love with you once – seeing you again
will distract him. Then, I go in. I wear a uniform like his. I find some
witnesses, I kill him, they think it’s Ethan.” He smiled. “I run, you ‘capture’
Ethan, Serlora gets the credit and we keep working to push the Taatars back.
The people will be on our side.”

“Or,” you suggested, “We simply find Ethan and get him to tell
us what he knows. If he’s on our side, he’ll tell us anything. If he’s
obstructive, he’s the enemy.”

“Okay. So when you speak to him, work it out. I can wait a few
minutes before moving into place. Signal if you think I’m wrong.”

* * *

Ethan was easy to distract. All you needed to do was wave at
him. As soon as he saw you, he deviated from his path, crossing the road to
join you.

“
Masuki
?” He grinned. “Is it really you?”

“It is.” You nodded. “I wasn’t sure it was really you.”

“I tried to find you,” he said. He looked up at the clock on
the side of the council building. “I’ve got to be in work in ten minutes.” He
shook his head. “Will you walk with me? There’s so much I want to say to you.
So much I want to ask.”

You smiled. “I’m sure they’ll forgive you a few minutes. I was
just heading across there.” You pointed to the building at the end of the road
where the other two members of your team were waiting. Noah was in a building
behind you, waiting for your signal.

“I was so sure I would never see you again.” He took your hand
and then let go, blushing. “Sorry. I didn’t… I didn’t think to ask if there
was…”

“I’ve never seen you so nervous.” You laughed and held your
hand out to him. “It’s okay. I’m single.”

He laced his fingers through yours. “How did you escape Landia?
The town was overrun.”

You shrugged. “We just ran. We hid in my father’s house.” You
looked up at him. “You just left me there.”

“I’ve regretted that every day. I tried so hard to find you,
but Landia was wiped out.” He looked away from you. “Is he alive? My brother?”

You were nearly at the building now. All you had to do was take
him to the door and your job would be done. When you looked at him, he smiled
at you, but he couldn’t keep eye contact. You looked up at the clock. Two
minutes remained.

Choice:
124. Go Ahead with the Plan
or
125. Abort

“Forget about him! He’s nothing to us anymore!” You took
Noah’s hands to stop him moving. “He left us. We’ve got a job to do and if
you’re emotionally compromised, we can’t do it.”

“I can. I just need to…” He shook his head. “I can’t.”

“Then I hope you can forgive me for what I’m about to do.” You
kissed the side of his head before turning to leave the room.

* * *

Noah scowled at you the whole journey back to Ethigos. After
you reported what you had found to your commanding officer, you were both
pulled from the mission and sent home. It didn’t matter how many times you told
him you were sorry or that you had only been looking out for him; time was the
only thing that would make him forgive you.

You kept track of Ethan’s movements through one of the
colleagues you had left behind. Ethan was doing well for himself. He was part
of King Sadin’s Security Council and had risen quickly through the ranks of
their army. He was their man inside the Liberation, working to bring them down.
The day you told Noah that was the day he forgave you.

“I would have killed him if you hadn’t stopped me,” he said.
“And then it would have been my fault that the country fell to the Taatars.” He
put his arms around you. “Thank you.”

“That’s what family is for.” You smiled. “Just wait until this
war is over. We’ll find him again. You’ll see.”

The End
(Back to start)

You grabbed Noah by the shoulders, pulling him away from Ethan
and moving to get in between them. Noah’s fingers raked your arm, leaving three
vivid red lines across your skin. Ethan pushed himself away, shrugging and
cursing.

“Some greeting for a long lost brother,” he spat. “I’d have
gone with
hello
.”

“Traitor!”

Ethan shook his head. “I haven’t got time for this.”

As he walked away, you felt his hand brush against yours and he
forced something into your palm. You looked at it while you ushered Noah along
the street. It was a piece of paper folded into a tight square and written on
it was an address and a time.

“You’re not meeting him alone,” Noah said when he read it. “I
want to know what he’s got to say for himself.”

Instruction:
126. Meet Ethan

You grabbed Noah by the shoulders, pulling him away from Ethan
and moving to get in between them. Noah’s fingers raked your arm, leaving three
vivid red lines across your skin. Every time Noah moved, you followed him,
keeping yourself between him and Ethan.

“Why are you protecting him?” Noah shouted. “He’s a traitor!”

Ethan shook his head. “I haven’t got time for this.”

As he walked away, you felt his hand brush against yours and he
forced something into your palm. You looked at it while you ushered Noah along
the street. It was a piece of paper folded into a tight square and written on
it was an address and a time.

“You’re not meeting him alone,” Noah said when he read it. “I
want to know what he’s got to say for himself.”

Instruction:
126. Meet Ethan

You grabbed Ethan by the shoulders, pulling him away from Noah
and moving to get in between them. Ethan’s fingers raked your arm, leaving
three vivid red lines across your skin. Every time he moved, you followed him,
keeping yourself between him and Noah.

“I don’t want to hurt you,
masuki
, but I will if you
don’t get out of my way!”

“Ethan, please!”

“It’s okay,” Noah whispered. “I’ve got this.”

Before you could react, Noah had moved, pulling you aside and
getting in front of you. The blade of his knife glinted in the sun a moment
before disappearing into Ethan’s stomach.

“Noah! What the—”

“Run!” Noah didn’t wait for you before turning and fleeing.

You glanced at Ethan and put your arm around him before he
fell. He clutched the front of your cloak and grunted. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

“Ethan?”

“Seriously! Go!” He pushed you away. “You need to protect him.”

* * *

“You were seen.” Captain Chamak crossed his arms over his
chest. “Four separate witnesses saw you both fleeing the scene. That man was
one of the King’s personal guards!”

Noah lifted his head. “With respect, sir—”

“With respect, nothing!” He slammed his palm down on the table.
“You jeopardised our mission. Everything we were working towards, you put at risk
over some spat about your brother leaving home. You don’t deserve to wear that
uniform.” The Captain turned to face you. “And you should have stopped him
before he could do anything so stupid!”

You nodded but said nothing.

The Captain sighed and shook his head. “I had high hopes for
you both, but I suppose my faith was misplaced. What have you got to say for
yourselves?”

“Sir, this was my fault,” Noah said. “Don’t take it out on
her.”

Chamak laughed. “You’re telling me how to do my job now? I
don’t even know why I’m wasting my time talking to you. Get out! You discharge
papers are in the post.”

“Yes, sir.” Noah nodded and left the room.

“And you?”

“Is he okay? Ethan Wicker, I mean. Did he survive?”

“Luckily for you, yes.” The Captain sat down once again. “The
witnesses said that you remained with him after Mr Wicker fled.”

“Yes, sir. Ethan told me to run or I would have stayed with
him.”

“I know. He told us.” He sighed. “You’re dismissed, soldier.”

“Sir, I wish to resign.”

Chamak looked up. “That is not necessary, soldier. I understand
that you tried to intervene.”

“Yes, sir. But you’ve just discharged my brother for his
reckless behaviour. I think it would be unwise for me to leave him on his own.”

“Very well. You too are discharged. I wish you luck. I’ll have
an escort collect you in the morning.”

You met Noah outside the building, looking sheepish. He didn’t
make eye contact as you approached him. You didn’t try to make him speak. Your
only objective now was to ensure that he didn’t go off after Ethan again.

The End
(Back to start)