Page 9 of Of Kings and Thieves

“Maybe she doesn’t know it’s his. She’s a thief. An opportunist. She heard about it and tracked it down for herself.”

“No,” the Deviant said quietly. “I don’t think so.”

I had heard enough. Struggling, I pulled myself the rest of the way through the hole I’d created. There wasn’t a way to get my feet out first, but I tried to twist as I dropped so I wouldn’t land on my head. I was only partially successful and landed on my neck and shoulder, a puff of dust rising around me. Suppressing a groan of pain, I forced my limbs to obey and staggered to my feet.

The sun was setting, casting long shadows among the decrepit buildings, but they weren’t dark enough to hide me. I slid back toward the refuse pile from where I’d watched the half-goblin. Just as I ducked down, the soldier stomped out, scowling as he looked up and down the narrow, broken street. Behind him came more screams, and I didn’t want to know if they were Harry’s or the guard’s.

I ducked around a corner and touched the ring in my pocket. Getting it hadn’t been the smartest move. In fact, I didn’t know why I’d gone back to the clothier. I should have stayed far away from Prismvale.

I didn’t even have a plan for the ring now that I had it. But it had seemed wrong for Col to trade it for something as simple as a cloak. A warm cloak better than any I’d ever had before, but for the last two days, I hadn’t been able to shake the idea of getting his mother’s ring back.

Now that it was in my hands, I had another decision. Going home would be the wisest option, and part of me desired that course more than anything else. My sister Laney needed me, and I had been away from her far too long.

Col… I didn’t know if he needed me or not. He hadn’t wanted me with him. I balled my hands into fists as I took alleyway after alleyway, working my way back toward the main city gate. It closed at dark, and I had no desire to spend the night in the city alone.

It isn’t your problem. He doesn’t want you. You can’t fight. You don’t have any magic but your siren song, and it won’t stop an army.

The reasons for leaving Col wouldn’t stop running through my mind, and by the time I reached my horse, whom I’d paid to stable for the day, I had renewed my decision to go home. Col—Prince Andris—wasn’t my problem anymore. He had lied to me, had broken my trust. And it would be foolish to not go to my family while I had a chance.

The half-goblin’s screams followed me out of the city. Today’s escape from the Deviant had been too close, and I wished to never see another one of those hooded monsters again.

Finding a campsite hidden away from the road, I leaned against a tree and tried to think of something else, anything to get my mind off Col and the Deviants hunting him. I thought of Laney, of my father, and wondered what they were doing. If Rose, Flint’s widow, had managed without me there.

Of course she hadn’t. Taking care of Laney and my father required patience and a lot of work. Rose had her own troubles without adding more mouths to feed.

I shook my head as if that would clear my guilty thoughts and watched the stars slowly appear. Pulling my cloak around me, I allowed myself to doze off. I wouldn’t sleep long. As soon as the moon appeared over the mountains, I would leave.

* * *

I woke with a start, my body sticky with sweat. The images in my mind took a long time to fade, their hold on me strong.

A Deviant holding a cruel dagger, his eyes bright with lust for my blood, the rest of his face hidden behind a mask. He laughed while the soldiers took their turns with my body…

I blinked into the dark, but it was a few moments before I noticed the tree branches above my head. Shuddering, I took a deep breath. It was only a nightmare. It couldn’t hurt me. Still, I lay on the ground, breathing through my nose and listening to the nighttime noises. The moon had risen—I’d slept longer than I meant to.

My horse snorted, and I sat up to see her grazing not far away, the swish of her tail in the moonlight somehow reassuring. If there were any danger, she would tell me.

Or run away, I thought bitterly. I still hadn’t figured out how to get her to go where I wanted, and we had ambled aimlessly for the better part of two days. At least we were heading in the general direction of home—east to leave the valley, and then I’d have to figure out how to point the mare south to the Fell Marshes.

I sighed. Knowing I wouldn’t get any more sleep, I began gathering my things. The night had turned cool with the impending rain. I slipped my cloak over my shoulders, the soft fur brushing against my face. As I pulled my cloak around my neck, I thought of what Col had given up so that I could be warm.

Col. He gave me the cloak, paid for with his mother’s ring. The ring that now resided in my pocket. I pulled out the velvet pouch, and then the golden ring, which glimmered in the moonlight. The ruby in the center was set delicately with golden branches intertwining around it.

I had abandoned Col. Just like I had abandoned Laney, my father, and Flint’s body…

No one knew what had happened to him, and maybe they never would, if I didn’t return home. I told myself I had reasons, that I’d left to protect them. But it didn’t bring any comfort.

Three days—that’s how long I had been on my own. Not long, but with only my guilty thoughts for company, it felt like months. In a way, I had been on my own since my mother had died, so why did it feel strange now?

The nightmares had certainly grown more intense. I touched the bruises on my wrist, created by the merchant and the half-goblin, and scowled. I should have been more careful.

Eager to leave this foul place behind, I mounted and urged the mare forward, but she shook her head and pawed the ground.

“Damn horse,” I muttered. “Just go!” I raised my voice, trying to get her moving. But the mare planted her feet, tossed her head, and half reared. I gripped the saddle, grateful I’d learned enough about riding over the last few weeks that I didn’t fall off.

I waited until the horse was calmer and then tried again. But she still didn’t budge. Cursing, I dismounted and began to lead her. The mare tossed her head and snorted, but followed.

It was the same fight every day.

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