KINGSLAYER

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No. There was one idea I could try. I eyed Khan as he stood sullenly beside me, formulating the plan as quickly as I could. If this played out correctly, I could obtain everything I desired: some space from this pushy crowd, an audience with the King, and more information on Khan's criminal status.

"How skilled are you at breaking free from prison cells?" I muttered to Khan in Navrikan, keeping my voice as low as possible.

He feigned casualness. "I've only done it...oh, a thousand times. Why—thinking of finally putting me out of my misery?"

Why was I not surprised? "I am thinking," I started, beginning to push through the tightly-packed group, "that you must not fail in a second royal assassination attempt."

He followed, mood increasing significantly. "I get to kill him?"

Maniac. "I do not trust you enough for that. You cover me." Without drawing too much attention to myself, I glanced meaningfully to the men standing guard.

He got the insinuation and we parted ways. I knew Khan would be pleased at any chance to disrespect authority. Meanwhile, I strode parallel to the King's procession, waiting for an opening. The front lines of the crowd were so close... My hand wrapped around the hilt of my sword.

Then, planting my feet, I stopped and hurled the blade for the King's throat.

Because it was a sword, the throw was anything but ideal, missing the King by about a meter. Even through the screams of the crowd, which rapidly turned horrified, I thought I heard the clatter of the blade on the street.

Even before Lorenzo turned to check the source of the failed assassination attempt, hands clamped around my arms and dragged me backward. My feet fell limp against the cobblestone. I felt my second sword being drawn for confiscation. Off to my right, Khan was taking his role a bit too seriously and spitting in the faces of the three guards holding him captive.

"Down with the King!" I shouted in their accented language as I pretended to fight my arrest.

But I had to hide my satisfaction as we were forced into a dark carriage, aimed for the Stenska palace.

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A guard passed by our dim cell, her shadow passing over where my feet rested on the cold stone floor. The two of us sat leaned against the wall, watching her in silence. She did not stop by the door, leading me to wonder when we would be questioned for our crimes.

When she had gone, Khan stood. "Surely you see the imbalance of effort here. All you had to do was badly try to kill the King, while I have to break us out of a heavily guarded cell under constant watch."

I gave him my darkest look. "Do not forget the power difference in our dynamic. Count yourself fortunate I do not simply force you to do my bidding and kiss the ground at my feet."

"I would sooner sign the death certificate for my own hanging." He flexed his hands and only then did I notice the chains binding his wrists were popped open. When he noticed me looking, all he said was, "Everything has a weakness."

Predictably, he left me cuffed. I simply watched as he went to the cell door, holding his wrists together as if they were still bound, and letting them hang through the metal bars. Though it was as casual as possible for picking the lock, I still kept a watchful eye on both sides of the hallway for any sign of palace guards. Thank the Gods we were the only prisoners there; no witnesses would rat us out.