With the Kendorians' deaths, the trap haddisappeared.
The captain stood in the hatchway, pistolaimed at Sicarius. A squad of men had entered and fanned out oneither side, swords ready, firearms raised. All weapons focused onSicarius.
Though she was not sure it would stop anyonefrom shooting, she stepped in front of him, arms spread. She metthe captain's eyes. How much had the men seen? Did they know sheand Sicarius had saved the ship? Even if they did, would itmatter?
The captain closed his eyes for a longmoment, then told his men, "Lower your weapons."
"Sir?" a nervous corporal squeaked, his wideeyes toward Sicarius.
"You heard me," the captain said. "Lower yourweapons and step aside from the hatch."
Amaranthe swallowed, emotion choking herthroat. With this many witnesses, there was no way the captain'ssuperiors would fail to learn he had let Sicarius go.
She waved for him to sheath his weapons, andslowly, very slowly, they started for the hatch. For Sicarius towalk past armed soldiers, leaving them at his back, must have goneagainst every instinct ingrained in him, but he did. He andAmaranthe made it to the captain without incident.
"Thank you," she murmured as they passed.
"Thank you." He looked at her, at Sicarius,and back at her. "Just don't make me regret giving up…" A musclejumped in his jaw.
"I'll do my best, sir," she said.
Snow sifted from the heavens. A pile restedatop the trolley stop sign. Amaranthe's watch promised they were intime for the last run of the night. The flame in a nearbystreetlamp sputtered and hissed.
She watched Sicarius survey theirsurroundings. Even with the streets empty and the city silent, heremained vigilant. He had not spoken since the fight in the boilerroom, and she wondered what he thought of the night. Even his'heroics' had ruined a man's career. Perhaps he never would escapehis past. Still, they had helped the city, and she had to believeword would get back to the emperor one way or another.
To lighten his mood, or perhaps hers, shewaited until his back was to her, then swept the snow off the signand patted it into a tidy ball. She chucked it, grinning at thethought of a satisfying splat.
Just before it hit, Sicarius blurred intomotion. She was barely conscious of him evading the projectilebefore a snowball splattered against her chest.
"I asked for that, didn't I?" she groaned, awry smile tugging at her lips. "Cocky to think I could surpriseyou."
Sicarius strolled over and leaned against thepost next to her. "You do know that whether you outrun, outfight,or out-snowball-throw your men is irrelevant, correct?"
Amaranthe tilted her head toward him,eyebrows raised.
"That you concoct, and lead the way into,crazy schemes that not only succeed but make us look like bettermen than we are… that is why we follow you."
She dropped her chin and brushed the snow offher sweater in order to hide the flush creeping into her cheeks.Hugging him for the compliment probably would not be professional,so she merely said, "Crazy, huh?"
"Utterly."
The trolley chugged into view, a plow at thehead churning snow off the track.
"As far as the obstacle course is concerned,"Sicarius added as it slowed for their stop, "strength exercises andfootwork drills would help more than endurance training."
"Oh? Perhaps tomorrow afternoon wecould-"
"Start at dawn."
She groaned again. "I asked for that, didn'tI?"