Page 44 of Cursed By Gold

I slam my fist down on the heavy oak desk, making the neatly arranged papers jump. "Damnable thieves!" I snarl. "Like rats scurrying back to their filthy holes."

Sofia waits silently, knowing better than to speak when I am in such a temper. She has witnessed my rages often enough over the long years of our friendship. I continue seething, stomping over to the window overlooking the castle gardens.

"After all the preparations, all the resources spent trying to apprehend them, still they evade me at every turn!" I grit my teeth, glaring out at the cheerful blossoms swaying in the breeze, oblivious to my dark mood.

"Sire, we will find them," Sofia says evenly. "We were close this time. Their luck cannot hold forever."

"Can it not?" I snap, whirling to face her. "Tell me, in over three years of hunting these criminals, have we ever once managed to capture their leader? Or uncover the identity of even a single member?"

Sofia's silence speaks for her. In all our years of dedicating guards, spies, and endless hours trying to root out this persistent thorn in my side, they remain as elusive as mist. It galls me to admit defeat, especially to Sofia, who has aided me tirelessly in this vexing pursuit.

I turn back to the window, planting the golden gloves that protect everything from my hands on the smooth stone sill. The contact helps calm my racing thoughts, allowing me to gather the frayed edges of my temper.

"Forgive my outburst," I say in a low voice. "I should not take my frustrations out on you." I hear Sofia step up beside me.

"You have every right to be angry," she says. "I let them escape when they were within my grasp." Self-recrimination colors her usually composed tone.

I shake my head, turning to face her. "You carry no blame in this, my friend. The failure is mine alone."

Sofia looks ready to argue, but I hold up a hand. "I am king. The security of this realm and bringing dangerous criminals to justice ultimately falls to me. If I cannot manage even that..." I trail off bitterly, despising the helplessness writhing within me like a caged beast.

"There must be a traitor close to the throne, feeding them information," Sofia muses. I nod grimly, having already reachedthe same conclusion. It is the only explanation for how they always remain one step ahead, slipping through my fingers no matter the preparations made.

I sink into my chair with a weary sigh. "I do not even know who they truly are or how to contact them openly. When we've tried reaching out before, it was grasping at shadows, uncertain if we were even speaking to the right people."

Sofia nods solemnly. "They cover their tracks well. But their random acts of defiance seem aimed at provoking you, not personal vendetta."

"Which perplexes me more," I reply, kneading my temples where a headache throbs. "With no way to engage them in discourse or address any grievances, they remain a cipher. Are they mere nuisance or more dangerous threat? Their antics breed doubt in my capability to lead! Already whispers spread, speculation that I am unfit to govern."

Sofia stands beside me, steadfast as ever. "Pay no mind to fearmongers and rumor mills. No one devotes themselves more fully to the kingdom's prosperity."

I draw strength from her staunch loyalty. "If only that were enough," I say bitterly. "With each brazen theft, faith in my rule wavers. Even my own council questions my strength, and some guards' loyalties twist."

I rise abruptly to pace, shaking off dark thoughts. "But how to stop them when we cannot even discover their true names or origins? We must end their ceaseless provocations."

Sofia's eyes flash with determination. "We will uncover the source in time and bolster security."

I stop before the window, gazing sightlessly at the city below. "But how? I have tried attacking directly to no avail. We need a new approach."

Then inspiration strikes. "The trials! Is the arena almost finished?”

“They are. We employed a company that uses magic users to speed up their construction times.”

“Perfect. Such spectacle could draw them out into the open, tempt intervention."

Sofia's eyes shine as possibilities unfold. "Perhaps allow the crowds some engagement, sire? Cheering for favored champions, giving tokens of esteem, maybe even tools and items that could help them in the trials?"

"I like it," I reply, intrigued by the implications. "Public gifts could expose ties back to the thieves themselves if they already have any members in the trials themselves."

"And any suspect patronage would be in full view of all," Sofia adds.

"Now we're getting somewhere. Meddling in the games could entice them into reckless action."

I resume pacing, energized by this breakthrough. "Have the marketplace criers and broadsheet peddlers feature the participants. Stoke zealous support from all corners. Arrange a set of interviews with the participants by several of the papers as well. We need those with money to be tempted as well."

"A fine strategy, my king," Sofia agrees. "Generate fervent emotional investment in the victors."

"Make the people feel connected to the outcomes," I continue.

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