Chapter 33

The rest of the night passed without incident. The four remaining guests tried to get some sleep. At Neville's insistence, everyone paired up, the women in one room, and the men in another. Matilde turned out to be a light sleeper, so Aria couldn't get to anyone else. She finally fell asleep, annoyed at the delay.

However, Matilde herself provided another opportunity after they both got dressed for the day. Despite the two deaths, the older woman still believed that there was a chest of gold somewhere in the manor. She decided to search the first floor and insisted that Aria come with her so they could look after each other.

As Aria poked through shelves and drawers, she thought about how to kill Matilde. She could always use her dagger, but that would be impossible to explain to the other two guests. No, she needed to find another way.

A sound from above caught her attention. Nels was standing near the balcony railing, looking out the window as he drank more ale. A heavy marble bust was displayed on a pillar next to him. If she could get Matilde to stand beneath the railing, she could put the blame on Nels. If she missed, the ensuing drama would prove entertaining, anyway.

She glanced at Matilde. The woman was methodically making her way around the room. Eventually, she would stand under the railing, but there was no guarantee that Nels would still be at the railing. She needed to get her over here now.

She grabbed a book from the nearby shelf. "Hey, Matilde, she called. "Do you think there's anything about Summitmist Manor in the guidebook?"

Matilde looked up and started to walk over. "It's possible. It's become something of a sight for visitors to see. Let's take a look." She stopped next to Aria and looked over her shoulder.

Now for the hard part. Aria had been practicing a telekinesis spell recently, but always when she was looking at her target. Vicente had told her it was possible to do it without looking, but it was far more difficult. Aria closed her eyes and tried to focus on her memory of the marble bust.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" Matilde asked.

Before Aria could answer, they heard a grinding noise. Matilde looked up just in time to see the bust tilt and fall off the edge. She didn't even have time to scream.

Aria, however, couldn't help but scream as she was showered with blood. Okay, that was messier than I thought it would be, she thought. Her scream brought the men over to the railing.

"Aria, are you alright?" Nels called down.

"What happened?" Neville demanded.

Aria pointed up at Nels. "It was him! It had to be! He pushed the statue!"

Neville faced Nels. "I should have known it was you," he said. "Nords are raised to be cold-blooded killers."

"So that's what you really think, huh?" Nels said with a sneer. "I guess once an Imperial Legion bulldog, always an Imperial Legion bulldog. I didn't do this, and if you would climb down off of your Imperial high horse, you would see that."

"I've searched every inch of this house. It's sealed up tight. There's no way in or out, and there's no one hiding inside. There are only three of us left, and I know Aria and I aren't killers. That just leaves you. I think you're a lawless barbarian with no respect for authority who will do anything to get your hands on the chest of gold. Just like every other Nord."

Nels was getting even angrier. "You and your kind are scum, but I didn't kill anyone!"

"Really? Then the statue just magically threw itself over the balcony? Nice try, you mead-swilling barbarian."

Nels slammed his fist on the railing. "That's it!" Aria watched from below as he launched himself at Neville. Nels may have been bigger, but Neville still remembered how to fight. After a few minutes of fighting, Neville got him in a chokehold and knocked him out.

As he laid the unconscious Nord on the floor, he called down to Aria. "Can you find some rope and bring it up?"

Aria found a length of rope and hurried to the second floor. Neville quickly tied Nels' hands behind his back. "Well, that's it, my friend. We're the last. Keep an eye on him. I'm going to find an axe and do my best to chop the door down and get us out of here."

Aria nodded and Neville left the room. As soon as he was gone, she knelt next Nels. A few minutes later, she heard rhythmic banging as Neville tried to chop through the front door. She drew her dagger and quickly slit Nels' throat. Then she went to find Neville. Playtime was over.

Neville must have sensed her behind him. He turned around and narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of her bloody dagger and the look in her eye. He nodded slowly.

"Well done," he said. "I have to give you some credit. You had me fooled. You made me trust you, which is not an easy thing. Oh, and the chest of gold was a nice touch. I knew it was all too good to be true, but I guess my greed got the best of me. But I'm afraid your little game is over now."

Aria casually slid her fingers along the edge of the blade and watched the blood drip from her fingers. "Yeah, you're right. The game is over. It's too bad, but I was starting to get bored, anyway. Now I just have to deal with you and then I can go home."

"Good luck," Neville said, hefting the axe. "I've killed more assassins in my day than I can count."

Aria shrugged. "Too bad it's not your day," she said with a sly grin.

Neville lunged at her, but as Aria had said, it wasn't his day. She was more than twenty years younger than him and leapt aside with ease. Neville turned and came at her again more carefully. He had some skill with an axe, but he was old and out of shape. He didn't have the stamina that she did. It only took a moment for her to find an opening and drive her blade into his chest.

Neville stared down at the dagger in his chest, then looked back up at Aria. He tried to say something, but all he could do was cough up blood, further bloodying Aria's face. She pulled the dagger out and he crumpled to the floor.

Aria glanced down at her blood-spattered dress. It was a good thing she had decided against wearing the Deceiver's Finery again. Bloodstains were difficult to get out of velvet. She stepped over the body and went upstairs. She had time for a bath before heading home.