Page 69

The mage could smell prey and he was keen for them to get on with their hunt.

“What’s our approach?”

“Direct confrontation would be unwise,” Viggo advised.“The building has multiple exits, including two through the back alley.If one of those women is indeed Thornfield and he panics, we could lose him in the maze of the rookery.”

“We should contain the situation, then,” Evander said with a frown.“Rufus and I can approach from the front, while you secure the rear exit.If Thornfield attempts to flee, you’ll be waiting.”

Viggo nodded.It was a solid plan and it played to their respective strengths.“There should be a window in their room that overlooks the back alley.If they try to escape that way, they’ll need to drop nearly twenty feet.Not impossible, but difficult for someone unused to such manoeuvres.”

“Very well,” Evander said with a brisk nod.“Let’s move quickly.The longer we linger around, the more attention we’ll attract.”

They separated, Viggo slipping through a narrow passage between buildings that led to the rear of the tenement.The alleyway behind was deserted save for a mangy dog nosing through a pile of discarded food scraps.Viggo positioned himself in a recessed doorway across from the building, his dark clothing and the deepening gloom of the rainy evening rendering him nearly invisible.

He frowned as he calculated the time it would take Evander and Rufus to climb to the third floor.The tenement was old, its stairs likely creaking with every step.If Thornfield was as nervous as a fugitive should be, he might hear them coming.

Viggo’s instincts proved correct.Barely five minutes later, the window above him scraped open.A face peered out briefly—young, feminine, with auburn hair and a determined set to the jawline.The figure glanced down before withdrawing.

A rope fashioned from knotted bedsheets unfurled from the window a moment later.Viggo remained motionless and watched as a slender figure in a plain dress began a clumsy descent, followed by a second woman who moved with more confidence despite her older appearance.

He waited until they were both committed to their escape and halfway down the improvised rope before stepping into view.

“Going somewhere, ladies?”he called up to them.

The younger woman froze, head whipping towards Viggo with wide eyes.For a moment, no one moved.

Surprise jolted Viggo when she released the sheet and dropped the remaining eight feet to the ground, landing with surprising grace.She immediately pressed her hands against the cobblestones.

The ground rumbled beneath Viggo’s feet.

The alley floor buckled, bricks and dirt erupting in a wave that rushed towards him.Viggo gasped and leapt sideways, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack.A jagged stone pillar shot up where he’d been standing a heartbeat earlier.

He scowled.It was earth magic, powerful and controlled.

“Mary, run!”the young woman shouted.

The maid had reached the ground.She shot a scared look at her companion.

“I’ll be fine,” the young woman reassured, her tone resolute despite the fear rendering her pale.

The older woman nodded jerkily and darted down the alley, heading east.Viggo caught a glimpse of Evander appearing at the far end to intercept her.

The young woman sent another wave of earth magic surging towards Viggo, cobblestones and soil twisting into crude projectiles.The Brute ducked and rolled.His immunity to magic only extended to direct attacks on his person.

Physical objects hurled by magical means could still harm him.

“We’re not here to hurt you,” Viggo called out as he jumped to his feet.He closed the distance between them with powerful strides.“Duke Ravenwood is investigating Professor Whitley’s disappearance?—”

The young woman could not hear him in her terror.“Stay back!”she yelled.Her hands twisted in a complex gesture.

The brick wall beside Viggo cracked.Chunks broke free and slammed into his shoulder before he could move.

Viggo grunted from the impact but didn’t slow.Another move from his opponent and the ground beneath his feet turned to quicksand.He cursed as he was quickly engulfed to his knees, the muck grabbing insidiously at his legs.

The young woman didn’t wait to see if her trap would hold.She bolted, weaving agilely between the eruptions of earth she’d created.

Viggo wrenched himself free of the magical quicksand with a roar of effort and went after her.She was fast but hampered by the skirts of her dress.A momentary stumble gave Viggo the opportunity he needed.He launched himself forward in a diving tackle that sent them both crashing to the wet ground.

The young woman struggled violently beneath him, a stream of Latin incantations spilling from her lips as she tried to summon more earth magic.Viggo pinned her hands, disrupting the casting.