to cycle up , listening for any movement that would indicate his plan of attack .
“ If you come out now , I promise … I ’ ll go easy on you .” I called , attempting to keep the sarcasm out of my voice .
“ Oh , that ’ s funny ! From what I ’ ve heard , you went easy on Kurada as well and I do believe he ’ s dead , is he not ?” His voice mocked me . “ I do not wish to fight , for I do not wish to kill you ,” he paused dramatically , “ Out of my respect for Lazarius .”
My eyes flew wide at the mention of that name . Nothing . Neither the abilities I had inherited , nor the decades of training , could have stilled the shock which rushed through me at those words . Someone knew about my connection to Him ? How ?! How in the hell had he discovered this secret ? Who else might he have told ?
“ I ’ ll take your silence for shocked surprise . You thought no one knew of your past ?” He laughed . “ How truly simple-minded you are , my dear !”
An impulsive thought struck me ; at once absurd but clearly the truth . It was too intense an idea to be wrong . It was instinct feeding me this information and my instincts were never wrong .
“ Simple-minded am I ? Perhaps I shall ask that of Lazarius when I see him - since he has finally decided to come out of hiding - and kill him when I do .”
The slightest sound from behind the wall directly in front of me told me my intuitions were dead on . I had him cornered like a fox hunted by hounds . Changing my mind in an instant , I returned the dagger to its sheath to
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