The Watcher's Eyes (The Binders Game Book 2) by D.K. Holmberg Read Free Book Online Page B

later.
    I still chewed the narcass as I loped toward the front side of the house. With each bite, I felt a little bit of my strength coming back to me. Maybe by the time that I needed it, I would be back near full strength.
    I rounded the corner and nearly collided with another man gripping a crossbow. I fell to the side and flipped a dart at him. The mistake I’d made earlier had been in my unwillingness to use terad. That was a mistake I didn’t repeat.
    The man fell quickly.
    Moving on, I reached the front door and pushed it open. Candles flickered within, giving light that I didn’t need. I paused, listening as much as looking around. A shadow slipped past the doorway in the distance. Moving as soundlessly as I could, I hurried to the doorframe and stood behind it. When the person on the other side neared, I stepped through.
    Another man, this one with a pointed beard and a thick mustache. His mouth dropped open when he saw me. The dart caught him in the throat before he could speak.
    I dragged him toward the door and continued into the house. Where had they taken the man with the crossbow injury? The trail of blood stopped inside the front hallway. I expected him on this level, but there was no sign of him.
    This floor consisted of eight connected rooms. From what I could tell, each was empty. I made my way quickly through the rooms, searching for Natash, but saw no one. The kitchens were toward the back of the house, and I glanced inside, noting only a plump servant dressed in white. She raised her hands defensively and I shook my head.
    “Where is he?” I hissed.
    “D-don’t kill me!” she said too loudly.
    Damn, but I didn’t want to harm the servant. She’d done nothing to deserve it.
    I reached into my pouch and slipped out a coxberry-tipped dart and flipped it at the woman, catching her in the chest. Her eyes went wide as it sunk into her flesh, blood staining her shirt and spreading out around the dart.
    Steps sounded off boards on an upper level at the same time I heard the voices searching outside making their way back toward the house. I wouldn’t have much more time.
    I scanned the kitchen. I’d rarely been in homes this large, but if it were anything like other manor homes, there should be a servants’ stair near the back. It took a moment to find it, but it was there, against the far wall. A voice shouted toward the front of the house.
    I sprinted up the stairs. They let out into an antechamber of sorts. Plates and towels were stacked on a lacquered table nearest me. A basin of water rested along the wall. Another two servants looked over at me as I emerged. One holding a plate dropped it, and it broke with a loud crash. The other stood stiffly, as if unable to speak.
    I loosed two darts on them, catching them in the chest and arm. Both fell, thudding to the ground.
    Footsteps echoed beneath me.
    I ran to the door and pulled it open.
    Natash stood on the other side. He was tall for someone of Eban and moved lithely, with a clear familiarity for the sword he carried. A dark smile twisted his mouth. “Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to attempt to attack me here.”
    In answer, I flipped a dart at him. He turned and swatted it with the flat of his sword. It seemed his reputation with the blade was well earned. Moving like that would be difficult, especially in the tight confines of the narrow hall.
    He slashed to keep me back but didn’t attempt to attack. The sounds beneath me told me that he knew he didn’t need to. Whoever else would be coming would reach us soon.
    I sent a pair of darts at him, and he managed to knock them both away. I didn’t have many remaining. I needed to end this quickly, or I would be facing a different challenge. With my back still burning from the knife wound and the residual effect of the Neelish poison, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to survive whatever full contingent of men Natash might throw at me. Even uninjured, I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to