Chapter 203
The night had passed in eerie silence after the tavern brawl. Dawn light seeped through the cracks of the worn wooden shutters, casting narrow beams across the battered floor. The scent of blood, burnt meat, and spilled ale still lingered.
Kael stirred awake on the creaky bed, letting out a low grunt as he stretched his limbs. His body ached slightly from the fight, but a good sleep had numbed the soreness. He yawned and cracked his neck lazily.
Beside him, Lyria lay sprawled on the mattress, her hair a fiery mess and her mouth open slightly. Soft snores escaped her lips, one leg tangled in the bedsheet, the other dangling off the edge. A half-empty mug sat on the floor beside her, long gone warm.
Kael stared at her, bewildered.
"How can one be this drunk from one sip…" he muttered, running his hand through his messy hair.
Shaking his head with a faint smile, he grabbed his shirt and walked out of the room. The hallway of the inn was silent, most patrons still unconscious or nursing bruises from last night's chaos. He made his way to the rear yard where an old, cracked tub stood near the well.
He filled it with cold water, steam rising slightly in the morning air. Just as he cupped some water in his hands, he noticed something—a faint glint. A flicker, too sharp for morning dew.
Kael's muscles tensed. In that instant, he twisted his torso just as a thin, almost invisible dagger sliced past his ribs. A black-cloaked figure, face covered, had appeared from behind the shed like a ghost.
Kael ducked under the next swipe and rammed his shoulder into the assassin's gut, sending him staggering back. The assassin regained balance and lunged again—fast and silent. Kael caught his wrist mid-air, twisted it violently, and brought his knee into the man's chest.
CRACK! The sound of ribs breaking echoed across the yard.
Before the assassin could scream, Kael grabbed his head with both hands and slammed it into the edge of the stone basin. Blood splashed the tub. The skull gave in like crushed fruit, brain matter seeping out as the lifeless body dropped beside the water.
Kael exhaled slowly, staring at the corpse.