Poisoned

Tyr caught up to Sierra. He walked beside her and their steps echoed through the long hallway. Sierra kept her eyes focused ahead and asked, "Who's the woman?" She served in the army with Freyr and Tyr, and she had been friends with both of them for a long time. Sierra could tell that Freyr acted strangely tonight.

"My girlfriend," Tyr growled. He tried to keep his anger under control, but he was positive Ivan had been behind the attack. He doubted if he would be able to capture Ivan alive because he wanted to rip the man's arms off.

It seemed obvious to Sierra that Freyr had romantic feelings for Macha based on how Freyr acted around her. If Freyr only harbored friendship towards Macha, he would treat the woman like he does Luna or herself. "Don't count on it for very long. I think Freyr likes her." She wanted to warn Tyr. She knew Tyr was a nice enough guy, but Freyr was the King.

Tyr slammed his hand against the stone wall in front of Sierra's face. The attack on Macha and Freyr already put him in a bad mood, he did not understand why she would bring that up now. In a low cold voice, he said, "She already turned him down. Focus on your fucking job. I want Ivan captured tonight."

Sierra's hazel eyes narrowed, and she looked into Tyr's eyes. They were full of wrath. "I can do my job, but can you do yours? Get your anger under control. You can't fight like that." She recognized Tyr's skill as a fighter, but he tended to lose his temper and it clouded his judgment. Sierra hated when Tyr was in the military because the stronger he got, the less he would listen to orders. He and Freyr were not cut out for military life. They both wanted to listen to their morals and live according to whatever sense of justice they felt. Sierra felt Tyr creating a guild and choosing to take on missions was a better line of work for him.

Tyr's jaw clenched, and he continued walking. He understood what Sierra said, but he did not want Ivan roaming the streets anymore. Ivan's freedom was too dangerous for Macha and if he really attacked Freyr, it would be grounds for execution.

****

Ivan changed his pants because he had gotten the boy's blood on the old ones. He expected Tyr to come and visit him at any moment. Ivan laughed at how predictable Tyr was. He regarded Tyr as an animal, led by his emotions.

Ivan smiled as he reviewed his plan. He knew Macha cared for Tyr, so if he killed the man, then Macha would feel despair. Ivan wanted to witness her face full of tears and grief. He decided he would keep Tyr's body at his house and send a messenger to tell Macha to meet Tyr in the park. Ivan would kidnap her and torture her in front of Tyr's mutilated body.

A young woman with shoulder-length hair ran into the room. "Master, Tyr came with a woman. What do you want me to do?" The woman knew her master expected Tyr, but she did not think he expected a woman as well.

Ivan gestured to his servant. This was a small twist on his plan, but it would not change the outcome. "Show them in and make The Tea." He finished dressing and combed his hair. He needed to stall. The tea he ordered his servant to prepare took a while to steep. If he served it too early, then the effect would not work properly.

After a while, Ivan entered the special room that he spent over a month preparing. He glanced at Tyr, who seethed with anger as he paced around the room. Ivan smirked because he thought Tyr looked like a caged animal. Standing next to Tyr was a woman. Ivan recognized her as the Captain of the Guard. "Lord Valois and Sierra, how kind of you to visit me. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Ivan sat down on a chair and crossed his leg over his knee while his servant brought the tea in.

Sierra ordered Tyr to let her do the talking. The investigation was her jurisdiction, and she did not want Tyr to mess it up. She looked at Ivan. "We just have a few questions we would like to ask you. Where were you this evening?"

"I attended the masquerade. Have some tea, it is a special brew," Ivan said and took the cup closest to himself. He held the cup in his hand but did not take a sip. Ivan knew if he held it, most people would grab a cup for themselves. Ivan bounced his leg on his knee. He enjoyed toying with Sierra.

Sierra took a cup and sat down. She took a sip and continued her questioning, "Were you with anyone?" Sierra tried to read Ivan's body language, but he did not appear to show any signs of guilt.

Ivan shook his head, "Not anyone who could identify me. After all, I was wearing a mask." He gave her an evil smile. Ivan noticed Sierra continued to take sips as she studied him.

Sierra did not acknowledge his taunting gaze. "Do you still have the mask?" If she brought the mask back, it would be possible that the King could identify it. Ivan's position as leader of the slave guild made this investigation tricky. Sierra needed to conduct it by the book.

"No. I threw it away." Ivan watched as Sierra took another sip of the tea. It annoyed him that Tyr did not pick a cup up. "Lord Tyr, please sit down. We are having a civil conversation here. You are being extremely rude." He doubted his social pressure would work, but he had to try.

Tyr did not trust Ivan. He did not know if Ivan planned to shoot him once he sat down, but he knew the man planned something. "Not a chance," Tyr replied.

Sierra continued her inquiries, "What shop did you get your mask from and what did it look like?" Sweat formed on her forehead and she was having trouble breathing. Sierra took another sip to ease her throat.

Ivan could see that the poison took effect. "I got it at Diannie. It was a wolf mask." Ivan pretended to take a sip of the tea and put it down on the table. His motion of putting the cup on the table indicated to his slave that he wanted someone to shoot Tyr. Ivan stood up and strolled towards the door. He wanted Tyr's focus to be solely on him.

A hidden passage opened silently behind Tyr. A small boy stood with a loaded crossbow pointed at Tyr's back. He looked at his master and pulled the trigger. The bolt shot through the air and hit Tyr in the back.

Tyr watched Ivan and saw the man's eyes squint. Tyr felt a push from behind and pain coming from his back. He turned around and a small boy in rags held a crossbow at him. "Ivan!" Tyr bellowed. He ran across the room and drew his lance.

Before Tyr could reach Ivan, Ivan ran through the door and locked it. Tyr kicked the door but it would not budge. He looked back at Sierra in frustration. He warned her not to trust Ivan and to arrest him first, then question him.

Sierra had to steady herself on the couch. She looked up at Tyr's wound. She was not worried about it. They shot him in his lower back. "Tyr, I think he poisoned me," Sierra gasped for air. Sierra cursed herself for trying to do things according to the law. She wanted to listen to Tyr but did not want Freyr to be angry with her.

Tyr turned to glare at his friend. "I warned you. We should have killed him earlier," Tyr snapped. Tyr did not trust Ivan from the start and was annoyed at how naïve Sierra was to accept anything from him. She thought her status would stop Ivan from doing anything to her.

Aži took a deep breath and tried to burn the door down. His flames licked the door, but only caused it to become black. He tried the walls, but the results were the same. Everything seemed reinforced and fire resistant.

Tyr realized it had been a setup. He inspected the carefully crafted room. This room had no windows and Ivan had firmly locked the door. Tyr hoped the ceiling was not as reinforced as the walls.

Tyr pulled his lance back and stretched his arm out. White light circled around him and Aži blew flames that wrapped around them. Tyr threw his lance at the ceiling. Wood chips and plaster rained down on them. Tyr's lance created a hole, and he saw one of the moons high in the sky.

Sierra stumbled to her feet. "Help me," she gasped, "I don't know how much longer I can stay conscious." She took a step towards Tyr and fell onto the floor.

Tyr scooped her up and jumped to the roof. When he got to the roof, he could view the city lights in the distance. Ivan lived in the slums, despite his wealth. Tyr assumed it was for nefarious reasons. Tyr jumped down, and an arrow whizzed by his face. The feathers cut his cheek.

Tyr turned around and saw five slaves getting ready to shoot at him. Tyr tossed Sierra behind a wagon and dodged out of the way. The arrows hit the ground where he had stood. One of the arrows clipped Aži's wing, and he fell to the ground. Tyr picked up his friend and put him on his pauldron.

Ivan stood at his front door and clapped his hands. "Nice dodge," he smirked. He was not afraid of Tyr. He had the slave put poison on the bolt and he waited for it to take effect.

Tyr's eyes narrowed. "You!" He ran at Ivan and lunged to pierce Ivan's chest with his lance. A strong force met his lance causing it to stop at the threshold. Tyr stood there eyeing Ivan, his lance was a finger's width away from piercing Ivan's chest. He said in a low dangerous voice, "I'm going to kill you."

Ivan raised an eyebrow and shook a finger at Tyr. "Tsk tsk. You should be worried about the lovely lady, Sierra. That poison will stop her breathing and her heart if you don't hurry." Ivan gave a lazy smile. He enjoyed watching things unfold how he planned. It gave him a sense of satisfaction.

Tyr stood looking at Ivan for a moment, but he knew he had to help Sierra. He summoned his mount and scooped Sierra up. As Tyr rode off of Ivan's property Ivan ordered his slaves to follow them.

Tyr rode quickly through the streets. It was late and most people were either in bed or at the festival. Tyr felt dizzy and black spots blocked his vision. He shook his head and blinked his eyes. Something did not seem right.

Tyr noticed his body slipping and he secured Sierra to his saddle. "Take her to the palace. Don't stop for anything," he commanded his mount. He was unsure if he would be able to hold on, but wanted to make sure Sierra got help.

Tyr was almost out of the park when he fell off his mount. His vision refused to focus and he staggered to his feet. Aži screeched with concern. Tyr heard his lizard scuttle off into the distance and hoped Sierra would be ok.

The sound of horses came from behind, the sound grew louder as the group headed his way. Tyr ducked behind a tree. He tried to shake his head to focus his eyes, but it did not work. Tyr closed his eyes. He would be better off fighting blind than trusting his vision.

Ivan's voice sounded through the night, "Are you sure you laced the bolt with poison? Why did he not fall yet?" He grew angry because they were further than he expected them to be. Ivan hated incompetence.

The frightened boy responded, "I did as you asked, Master. I swear." The sound of a sword being drawn rang in the night. "No, please, I swear. I did it!" The boy's wail faded and Tyr could hear a thump of a body hitting the ground.

"Keep going. He should be falling soon. I don't want someone to find him before we do." Ivan snapped his reigns and trotted away. The other mounts followed and the sound of their hooves faded into the night.

Tyr leaned against the tree and took an uneasy step. He drew his lance to use it as a staff to help keep himself steady. Aži tugged his collar to direct him.