Midnight Quest Read Free Page B

to avoid drawing attention to himself. Sarvell ran at his heels, keeping an eye on their quarry as they moved.
    This late in the evening, most people were home, ignoring anything going on outside their walls. The few pedestrians still on the street were so focused on getting their business done so they could go home, they were oblivious to the two men running along overhead. Their boots against the ceramic tiles sounded very loud in Sarvell’s ears, but it apparently didn’t carry to the street as no one glanced up.
    They changed roofs several times, leaping and climbing as needed. Rialt went up and down with no apparent effort, which amazed Sarvell considering how big the man was. He moved as if he were half-cat. Sarvell scrambled just to keep up with him, getting a bit winded in the process, if he were honest with himself.
    They shadowed the guard for several moments, waiting for him to turn the corner into a more deserted area. Sarvell started to think they were doomed to shadow the man all the way to the castle when he finally turned into a deserted street.
    It was one of the older, more distinct neighborhoods, so the street lamps were lit. They would have to time this carefully, catching him when he passed through one of the shadier areas on the sidewalk. Both men went two houses ahead, moving cautiously in an effort to muffle their footsteps.
    They found the perfect place to ambush the guardsman. The light was dimmer here, with a narrow alley between both houses that would give them a place to retreat. Sarvell sank into a low crouch and murmured to his companion, “Do you want to snag him, or should I?”
    “I will do it.”
    He hadn’t expected a different answer.
    Taut moments slipped past in silence as they watched their quarry walk unknowingly toward them. He was indeed very close to Sarvell’s size, and even similar in coloring with his sandy blond hair and tanned skin. The Goddess was indeed smiling at them.
    He passed through the circle of lamplight. Sarvell counted it down in his head, five more steps, four, three, two—
    Rialt dropped from the roof’s ledge, the edges of his coat flapping up a bit as he sliced downward. His feet hadn’t even properly touched the ground when he clamped a hand around the startled guardsman’s mouth, wrapped a restraining arm around his chest, and hauled him into the alley. It had all been so smoothly done the guard didn’t look like he knew what had hit him.
    Sarvell dropped quickly down after them, following Rialt as he dragged the man several feet into the alley. He was relieved at this sign of expert prowess. The Ramath Clan was known to be excellent fighters—some people claimed they never had toys as children, just daggers and shields—but rumors weren’t always accurate. He’d doubted that the goddess would send anyone on such a dangerous mission that didn’t have excellent fighting skills, either. Sarvell just didn’t like diving into high risk situations with people he barely knew.
    The guardsman jerked in delayed reaction, eyes wide with sheer panic.
    “Now, now,” Sarvell murmured to him soothingly, “no need to panic. We’re not here to kill you. We just need some information and your uniform.”
    “I be no as nice,” Rialt rumbled in warning near the man’s ear. “You try to alert anyone, and I be breaking your fool neck.”
    Judging from the nervous swallow, the man believed the Ramathan would do just that.
    Rialt slowly took his hand away, allowing the guardsman to speak. The man kept wisely silent, eyes darting between both men.
    “First,” Sarvell asked calmly, “your name.”
    “Adair. Ihan Adair.”
    Just a first rank man, eh? Sarvell hadn’t expected differently since the man was slotted for night patrols. “Who is your supervisor?”
    “Nihan Stamons.”
    “Is he on duty tonight?”
    “Yes.”
    Sarvell kept asking him questions as Rialt methodically stripped the man of his coat, pants, and shirt. By the time that Sarvell had