Page 30 of The King's Man 3
What now? What do I do now? I inhale deeply, closing my eyes, and Quin’s face flashes in front of me—a reminder what’s at stake, but also a clue what to do. I start sniffing and wipe my eyes, blinking them open. “I came here for help getting revenge.”
Gappius squints.
I scramble onto my knees and clutch at his arm. “Please let me join your cause.”
“Ya know what our cause is?”
“You—you steal from linea and share it around.”Sometimes killing those linea in the process.I cry harder. “A very bad man is to blame for my loss. I want him to pay.”Keeping Quin alive is the first step.
Gappius’s suspicion softens into gruffness. “Pretty thing like you? Dunna seem strong. What use are ya?”
I jump to my feet and lift my box. “You must get hurt often. I’m a vitalian.”
“A vitalian, eh?” He inspects me with renewed curiosity and tugs me across the soggy grass. I trot to keep up as vespertines continue to stack logs into stone circles.
I stumble alongside him, recalling that moment in the inn. They’d mentioned money; a beloved sister that needed saving.
We enter an old barn, its wooden beams sagging with age, the air thick with the smell of damp straw and sweat. The man with the freckle under one eye paces, barking orders.
He snaps his head up at our entry and I’m shoved onto my knees. “Found him peeking from the bushes. Says he wants to join us—he’s a healer.”
He steps up to Gappius and fists his shirt. His words are low and lethal. “Does this seem like the time to recruit?” He shoves him back. “Get him out of here.”
A palm descends and hauls me up.
I yank my shoulder forward. Gappius isn’t expecting resistance—I get free and throw myself at the leader’s feet. “I can help your sister.”
He raises a booted foot and shoves it against my shoulder; I rock back, exposing my face to him. He pauses. It takes a moment before his eyes lighten. “The inn. You were spying there, too.”
Whips uncoil. A dozen eyes narrow on me. At any moment, they’ll unfurl those whips, tie me up in knots of leather, and hold a debate about whether to kill me or enslave me.
The freckled man’s lips curl tight. He removes his boot from my shoulder and waves for his men to put their weapons away. His gaze hits mine with a warning. “We can always get rid of him later.”
I’m hauled roughly into a large room full of rather uniquely frescoed walls. Like the vespertines had got bored and decided painting their triumphs over the wealthy was a grand idea. I don’t focus on the gore for long. Disease permeates the air. I find the source—a young woman, lying deathly still among rough woollen blankets.
She’sso young. Fourteen or fifteen at most. Innocent. Flashes of River’s youthful, smiling face have me curling a hand, reining in wisps of leaking magic.
I sink to the side of the bed, take her pulse. Frown. This is unusual, and yet... familiar—
I shift my gaze over her sharply. “Does she have an unusual outbreak?”
Eyes narrow on me. “You know what it is?”
“Show me.”
He pulls the fabric back from her shoulder. Where smooth skin should be, there’s a line of blue scales.
I check her blood. Indeed, this is what I encountered in the Crucible.Need to act fast.
But also . . .
I get to my feet.
“Can you save her?”
“I want something in return.”
The air tightens with hostility. Men hiss and start forwards.
