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And then the real fight would begin
"Should I be relieved or worried that you haven’t said anything?" Sah the backstreets of the capital, weaving their way hoed a puddle that could have been either rainwater or urine "I’ve been thinking of ways to begin that don’t involve screaround her teeth A bag of coins jangled at his waist Although the hood of his cloak was pulled up over his head, she could still clearly see his split lip
She fisted her hands "You proo back there"
Sam kept his eyes on the narrow alley ahead of theer "I didn’t promise I said I’d think about it"
"People die in the Vaults!" She said it louder than sheoff the alley walls
"People die because they’re fools in search of glory They’re not trained assassins"
"Accidents still happen Any of those men could have snuck in a blade"
He let out a quick, harsh laugh, full of pure ance "You really think so little of my abilities?"
They turned down another street, where a group of people were s pipes outside a dimly lit tavern Celaena waited until they were past the yourself for a few coins is absurd"
"We need whatever et," Sam said quietly
She tensed "We have money" Some money, less and less each day
"It won’t last forever Not e haven’t been able to get any other contracts And especially not with your lifestyle"
"My lifestyle!" she hissed But it was true She could rough it, but her heart lay in luxury--in fine clothes and delicious food and exquisite furnishings She’d taken for granted how much of that had been provided for her at the Assassin’s Keep Arobynn ht have kept a detailed list of the expenses she owed hied thees And now that she was on her own …
"The Vaults are easy fights," Sam said "Two hours there, and I canpile of shit," she snapped "We’re better than that We can make our money elsewhere" She didn’t knohere, or how, exactly, but she could find so in the Vaults
Sa her stop to face hih her own hood covered most of her features, she raised her brows at hi
Unable to answer hi
It was an absurd idea, really Leaving Rifthold Where would they even go? It was nonsense
They reached the warehouse and were quickly up the rickety wooden stairs at the back and inside the apart to him as she tossed off her cloak and boots, lit some candles, and went into the kitchen to down a piece of bread slathered in butter And he didn’t say anything as he strode into the bathing roo water was a luxury the previous owner had spent a fortune on--and had been the biggest priority for Celaena when she was looking for places to live
Benefits like running water were plentiful in the capital, but not widespread elsewhere If they left Rifthold, what sorts of things would she have to go without?
She was still conte that when Sam padded into the kitchen, all traces of blood and sand washed away His bottom lip was still swollen, and he had a bruise on his cheek, not to mention his raw knuckles, but he looked to be in one piece
Sam slid into one of the chairs at the s food for the house took up more ti hiring a housekeeper, but … that’d costcost lass of water fro on the oak table, and leaned back in his chair Behind hi sprawl of the capital and the illu over the to speak tois expensive If ere to leave Rifthold, then we’d need a littleto fall back on if we can’t get work right away" Celaena thought about it "One ht not be Arobynn’s protégée anymore, but I’m still Adarlan’s Assassin, and you’re … well, you’re you" He gave her a dark look, and, despite herself, Celaena grinned "One more contract," she repeated, "and we could h of a cushion"
"Or we could just say to hell with it and go"
"I’ just to slum it somewhere If we leave, we’ll do itif--but what else is there to decide?"
Again: nothing Everything
She took a long breath "Hoe establish ourselves in a new city without Arobynn’s support?"
Triumph flashed in Saht that she was agreeing to h for both of therown up here, and yet in the past et any hires Arobynn always handled those things"