That looked nasty, and Yasmin hadn't actually expected him to get cut. She had assumed he'd protected himself enough to withstand a blow--but this certainly did sell the defeat better.
But it also made her feel a little queasy inside, because if he hadn't been precise, if he hadn't moved at just the right moment, that could have ended very badly for him.
But as he ran she chased after him, though she came to a limping halt when he crashed through the window and vanished into the night. Panting from exertion that wasn't at all faked, for he had given her quite the workout, Yasmin leaned forward with her hands on her knees and her head down and gulped in air.
It had worked. His stupid, foolish, crazy plan had actually worked.
Now to see if it worked on Faruq.
Straightening back up, she sheathed her scimitar and headed for her master, lips a grim line and beads of sweat on her skin. "He's gone, sir," she said, and bowed low. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."
Faruq looked pale, his eyes wide as they moved over the slaughtered guards--all fully trained men, and not a slave among them. They had chosen this work, which made their deaths a little less terrible to Yasmin, though she knew they would still have families and her heart went out for them. Still, unlike her, they had made their choice.
"Stop him? Girl, you..." The man worked moisture back into his mouth. "He did all this?"
Yasmin nodded again and chanced a look up at him. "He did, sir. He was headed for your room when I came upon him. He was making off with this." She nudged several pieces of silverware that had clattered to the ground when Herrick fled.
If possible, Faruq grew even paler. "And you stopped him..." Yasmin and he both knew that with the guards dead, if she had failed--or not performed--then Faruq would have died. She could have let him die, but instead, she defended him.
She nodded again. "Of course, sir."
Faruq looked at her, long and hard, as though seeing her for the first time. Then he smiled, a relieved if still frightened smile, and clapped her on the shoulder. "Well, Yasmin, my girl, I must say you've surprised me," he said, and shook his head. "That business I said earlier, about your earnings and confinement and such...let's wipe the slate clean, shall we? Come, walk with me. We need to fetch the guard. We'll talk while we go, about your...privileges, and how I think it's safe to say you've earned yourself a reward tonight."
With a hand still on her shoulder, they headed out together, and it was an effort not to smile.
It had worked.