Chapter 14 · Blood From Thirty Years Ago

The bunkmate's name was Ryder. Evira remembered because he used to snore like a dying boar. Now he was standing in the doorway with a crossbow, and the bolt was already loaded.

"Evan." His voice was flat. "Guild wants you back. Alive."

Marcus moved before she could. He slammed the door into Ryder's face, hard enough that she heard something crack. Could've been the wood. Could've been bone. Didn't matter. Marcus grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward the back of the room.

"Window. Now."

She didn't argue. The window was small and filthy, but it opened onto a fire escape. She went through headfirst, landed on rusted metal that groaned under her boots. Marcus came through right behind her, smooth and fast for a guy his size.

Behind them, Ryder was shouting. The door wouldn't hold long.

Marcus took the fire escape down three steps at a time. Evira followed, her ribs screaming with every jarring impact. They hit the alley and he didn't slow down, just kept moving, pulling her along by the arm like she was cargo.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere they won't look."

That turned out to be a gutted warehouse near the docks.