“Recognize her?”

The dead woman’s face was relatively unharmed. Her blood was sprayed and pooled everywhere, but Mugs had recognized her almost instantly. He was the only one given the target’s name, as the client required as much discretion as possible. They feared his team may behave in a way that would compromise the job before it could be completed. None of that mattered anymore.

“No, bossman, I…” Thomas scratched his head. “Who she supposed to be?”

Mugs stared at her pale face of death for a moment. “D’ya read the newspaper in that awful little town two nights back? Remember the front page?”

Thomas gasped sharply and widened his eyes with horror. “It can’t be! Boss, I’m sorry, these people all look the same to me, but you’re sayin’ that…”

“Mhmm.” Mugs grimaced. “You’re looking at Denka Akamine Suki. Her Highness, the Emperor’s niece, and next in line for the throne.”

Thomas gulped. He pointed shakily to the side. “And who is that?”

Mugs couldn’t believe himself. This had to be one of the most damn foolish days he ever did live. After everything that just happened he failed to see what lay in the corner. Were it a threat, he may well have been lying dead in the mud himself. But it wasn’t. At least, not now.

For in the corner, shrouded in the darkness of this dreary and sunless day, was a girl. She was unconscious, her head propped up in the corner. She was dressed in men’s trousers many sizes too big for her, tied at the waist with an oily piece of rope. They were in tatters, as was her blouse, exposing nearly enough chest to flush Mugs’ cheeks with embarrassment. Her hands seemed once to have calfskin gloves, which were torn away, leaving only the pieces along the wrists which had been tied absurdly tight with lines of string. Along with the rest of the carriage, she too was spattered in her Highness’ blood.

“That over there,” Mugs whispered, “that’s an unknown.” He thought for a moment. “Get her out of the carriage, would you? She’s coming with us. Hopefully she knows something we can use.”

Thomas nodded. “I’ll take care of her.”

“And the rest of you!” Mugs shouted to his men, who turned attentively. “Take what’s valuable and drag the bodies off the road. We’re moving out in one hour.”

“Oi, sounds lovely, boss,” Jim spoke up,” but where’s the boy? He can miss the fightin’ all he wants but he’s got some stones if he thinks he can sit around while we do the rest of the work!”

Shin coughed.

Mugs blinked against the rain. “Boy ain’t comin’, Jim. He ain’t with us anymore.”

The crew was silent. Kate just shrugged and began yanking the boots off the nearest body, while Shin’s eyes were closed. Jim didn’t say anything for a moment before shaking his head.

“Never was goin’ to make it anyhow. What, you off him yourself for runnin’ out like a little runt?”

Mugs stepped off the carriage slowly, forgetting the pain in his ankle, walked calmly to the man who just spoke and punched him squarely in the jaw, sending him face-first into the mud.

Kate guffawed at the two nearby, sitting on a corpse while he swapped boots with it. “Ha! You earned that one, white man!”

Muffled, Jim moaned quietly, turning on his side. “Why’d you have to go and hit me…”

Thomas exited the carriage with the unconscious girl over his shoulder. The only one to notice, Shin turned his head slightly with curiosity.

“More importantly,” he asked,” who might this be?”