Grace of the Goddess (The Death Dealer Book 3) (9 page)

“
Did
you force yourself on her?”

“No, but I struck her.” The rope frayed as Jack sawed at it in earnest.

Ridley brought her knees to her chest. Jack could feel her studying him. “Why?”

Jack sighed and stopped his work to look at Ridley. Her anger seeped away, leaving only tired curiosity. “We were set to be married. Everyone agreed it was a good match. I, however, was involved with her maid and was making plans of my own to run away with Eloise.”

“She could have just been your mistress,” cut in Ridley. “You didn’t have to run away.”

“My father kept many mistresses over the years. It hurt my mother, and I vowed never to be that sort of man. Anyway,” he said, returning to his work. He cut the rope free and set on loosening the knot. “This fine lady stole some jewels and I caught her in the act. Knowing my plans with Eloise, she threatened to turn her maid over to the castle guards and tell my family about the affair. The punishment for a servant caught stealing from the nobility is a lost hand, followed by the stump being boiled in oil. Danielle – that was her name – talked on and on while poor Eloise sobbed. No one would believe a servant over a noblewoman, and when it came to light that I’d kept Eloise as a lover, then doubt would be cast over my word. My anger boiled over and I slapped Danielle. As retribution, she turned me in with her tale that
I
was the thief. Eloise fled at my instruction, and I was arrested. I stood trial with the prince and my mentor, Lord Henry of Egona, speaking for my character.” Ridley nodded. She had once met Henry.

“What did you say for your own defense?” Ridley’s eyes were wide now, soaking up every word of his tale like he was a bard talking of great feats and fearless heroes.

“Nothing. I was ashamed that I hit Danielle, and I felt I had disgraced the vows I took upon gaining my shield. I had already made plans to flee Cesernan and meet Eloise in Glenbard, however, when I got to Glenbard, Eloise was waiting for me, but only to tell me that Danielle had offered her old post back. That was that. Loving me wasn’t enough to make her turn away from the prestige of being a lady’s maid. After a few years went by, Frederick visited me at the Emerald and asked me to return to court. He said such a fine knight was wasted as a rusher. I turned him down and assumed that was the end of it. I never realized he was keeping tabs on me all these years.”

“Does Grace know this? Does she know who you are?”

“Not by my telling. Henry of Egona told her, though in his eyes I have never done wrong. She doesn’t know about Eloise, and I have never felt the need to tell her. As far as she was concerned, I loved Danielle back in those days.” He shrugged. “We never talked much about it once she found out about the scandal.”

Silence stretched between them as Jack worked at the rope. Each time he thought he had undone it, another more complex knot seemed to spring up.

“They offered you a bribe to be a magistrate. Magistrates can’t take bribes, Jack.”

“Neither can guards, but how often does the Guild pay off guardsmen? If one gets caught accepting a bribe, there are serious consequences. To accept one to turn a blind eye, or ignore a call for help is considered a miscarriage of justice and the law. Do you know about the Glenbard Uprising?” Ridley shook her head. “Some peasants revolted against their lord over unfair treatment. The histories say these peasants used to burn shops and harass soldiers, and supposedly they managed to flood the land. Whatever really happened, it ended with the rebel leaders and their former lord in the magistrates’ court. As you know, there are five magistrates to avoid a tie in votes. Well, two decided in favor of the rebels, and two in favor of the lord. The lord, being a rich and wily man, bribed the fifth to vote in his favor and two hundred peasants were put to death because of it. Two years later, the bribe was discovered and the fifth magistrate was beheaded and buried in an unmarked grave for his treachery. That was when bribery among upholders of the law was banned under king’s law.”

“And what does this have to do with anything?”

“Bribes were banned, but that doesn’t mean it stopped them. When I took a vow as a guard we were forced to acknowledge the dangers and say aloud we would never do such a dastardly thing. Once we took our vows we were still told to take coin if offered, so long as no one was being murdered. It is the same among men like Lord Gregory and Duke Brayden. Brayden took bribes. The Emerald should have been shut down years ago, but the owner knew who to bribe. Whatever Frederick wanted Brayden to do, he apparently felt that no bribe was big enough and it got him killed. The only reason bribes became illegal is because two hundred men, women, and children died. Just imagine what Frederick wants that a man who has lined his pockets in the past won’t do so now.”

              Ridley nodded her understanding. “And now you’re in His Majesty’s hands…”

              “Yes. He’s planning something. He must have two other magistrates in hand, and now he’s trying to buy a third.”

              “So why did Brayden die? Why not one of the others? And why did he put
you
in the empty seat?”

              Jack shook his head. “He thought I was an easy person to buy.”

              “What are you going to do? You said yourself that whatever this is, was bad enough that Brayden was killed for not taking part.”

              Jack’s eyes darted to the door and he tapped his ear. Ridley shook her head, not understanding him at first. He rolled his eyes. “Gillam,” he called. “Can you have a maid bring us some food and drink and a healer for the lady's hand?”

At first nothing happened, then they heard some scuffling in the hall and some grunts. The door opened and Gillam poked his head into the room. “Wine or ale?”

              “Ale, please,” instructed Jack. Gillam grumbled again and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

              “They’re listening to your conversations?”

              “And will be reading any letters I send. And now they know I know I’m being watched. Let them watch. I’m a bought man now.” He winked at Ridley when he said this. “I suppose you’ll want to be off home, but will you at least stay until we’ve eaten?” She nodded and the two sat and waited for the maid to arrive.

~*~*~

The next evening, Jack sat across from Frederick at a large table. Jack still felt uneasy with his decision to agree to be a lackey, but there wasn't much else that could be done. He wasn't about to run and leave Ridley open to attack. Tomorrow evening, the king would announce his promotion, right after they discussed terms.

              “And what do you want? Aside from freedom for your little thief friend?” Frederick steepled his index fingers together. His stern eyes landed on Jack, unnerving him with their intensity.

              “Twenty gold pieces and I want to monitor the emergency food stores.”

              “You don’t think Lord Gregory is handling his duties?” One eyebrow went up as Frederick regarded him.

              “I don’t think Gregory will be as immune to ‘persuasion’ as Brayden was where those stores are concerned.”

              “Fair enough. I shall see to it that you are present whenever the stores are opened. Anything else?”

              “An assurance that there will be food to last the winter.”

              Frederick shook his head. “There is no issue with the crops this year,” he said, fighting to keep an even tone. “The emergency stores are put in place every winter, and every winter they are not needed. Contrary to the nasty rumors circulating, there was a very bountiful crop.”

              Indeed, and the sallow-cheeked children are only playing at being hungry
, Jack thought bitterly. “The well-being of this city is of the utmost importance to me. Rumor or no, I want to make sure no one is getting more or less than his fair share, Your Majesty.”

              “Is that all?” The king was looking for something, something he could hold over Jack no doubt.

              “No. Now what is Your Majesty looking for in return?”

              “Soon, your father will bring a vote to the attention of the magistrate’s court. I am looking to drive Sera out of the Nareroc Islands forever, and we will need men and supplies to do it. Your father will look for approval to quarter his soldiers in Glenbard while they wait for favorable shipping weather.”

              “With all due respect,” Jack began. He needed to tread carefully to avoid undue trouble. “You are the king. Can’t you command the people to allow it? Why put it to a vote?”

              “It is important that it not be revealed that I am officially behind any attacks on Nareroc until our victory is assured.”

              Jack’s mouth dropped open and he quickly checked himself, assuming a rock-like countenance. It troubled him that the king would sacrifice men in an underhanded attack and then not claim them if they lost. If his father failed to drive Sera’s settlers off the islands, Frederick could easily say the duke was a land-hungry fool and a shaky peace would return. The plan was folly. There were no gains to driving off his pronounced enemy. He searched the king’s face for answers.

              Frederick had always been a hard man; unforgiving, though wily at times. He was shrewd and calculating, but not foolish. Jack saw a glimmer in the king’s eye. The king who had knighted him all those years ago was dead, and now only cruelty lay in the depths of his eyes. Already he had thrown Duke Nicholas of Actis into a labor camp on the islands for “fraternizing with the enemy.” Nicholas, a man who would be loyal unto his death. Frederick would risk everything because of a feud with Queen Elanor. Why?

“Then the rumors are true?” Jack said. “You really do plan to fight. I thought it was just some nonsense being passed along as fact.”

“It will be an armed offensive to claim what should rightfully be ours. Vote in my favor and whatever you wish shall be yours on top of a nice sum,” Frederick said.

              “I will vote as you command when my father puts his plan before the magistrates' court.” Jack lowered his head.

              “A wise decision, Sir Jonathan. I wouldn't want you making the same mistakes as His Grace, Duke Brayden, or His Grace, Duke Nicholas.”

              “What exactly did they do to offend the crown? What was worth sending one to slavery and killing the other?”

              The king's eyes furrowed, his mouth became a hard line, turning down at the corners, and his nostrils flared. He nearly snorted in anger. “Never you mind about those treacherous snakes.” Frederick rose and Jack did the same. “I will have a servant bring the appropriate papers to you, and then I will announce your promotion tomorrow evening. Then, I am afraid I must depart the city. I have duties in the north to attend to.”

              “Very good, Your Majesty.” Jack bowed as Frederick swept out of the room.

              Jack waited a few minutes before sitting at his new desk and set to work writing a letter. Ridley was still with him. He would have her get it out and into the hands of the right person.

~*~*~

              Nathaniel Moore never thought he would spend a morning tracking down the Princess of Thieves. Ridley, like Jack, had seemingly disappeared into thin air. He’d waited at the King’s Beard two mornings in a row, but she never arrived. Then he went to the Angel where the owner, Jim Little, cursed the Guild and pointed to the door. He checked the Emerald, the docks, the market, and even the temples. It was midday, his legs ached, and he was cold despite the heavy jacket he wore. There was only one stop left, and he loathed having to make it.

              Marcus’s home was quiet. Looking in through the windows, Nathaniel didn’t see Marcus’s usual throng of thieves hanging about, waiting for instruction. He saw pock-marked Ginger in her red wig sweeping the kitchen and no one else. He sauntered up to the door and knocked.

              Ginger opened it, holding her broom like a weapon. “Oye, he’ll be in a temper to see you. Might be best to speak to him out here so you can run if you need to.” She closed the door again and Nathaniel heard her call for Marcus.

              He heard the clatter of boots on stairs, followed by Marcus peering through the kitchen window. The thief king flung opened the door and grabbed Nathaniel by the front of his jacket, giving him a shake. “Where’s my girl?” he bellowed.

              Nathaniel had never seen the man in such a state before. Marcus usually remained calm and collected, never letting his emotions give him away. But now he had a wild look in his eye and wore a rumpled shirt with dirty trousers. And where was Thom? The man was practically Marcus’s shadow.

              “Unhand me, you old fool!” Nathaniel pulled back and Marcus loosened his grip, letting the fabric slip through his fingers. “I came here to find Ridley myself. We were looking for Jack Anders together. She was supposed to meet me at the Beard for breakfast yesterday. At first I thought perhaps she mixed up her days, but she wasn't there again today.”

              “She never came home! Last anyone saw of her she was with
you
.”

              “And she left the guardhouse unmolested.” This was bad. The last man to lay a hand on Ridley had met an ugly end. “Thom has ears and eyes everywhere; what has he seen?”