The Death Dealer - The Complete Series Read online

  Kay watched her go with great interest; thoroughly impressed with the girl’s stubbornness. “She certainly has spirit.”

  “She’s wonderful to have around, Kay,” Ridley said cheerfully. “She has even been able to put up with Mayhew, and Jack has been less sharp and bitter toward everyone since Grace arrived.”

  “Has he?” Kay turned her eyes toward Jack and raised her eyebrow. Jack said nothing. He simply blew another smoke ring in Kay’s direction.

  ~*~*~

  After supper that evening, Grace and Ridley practiced knife fighting. The girl was still far better than Grace ever hoped to be, but she was catching up. That fact comforted her. Many of those she encountered as The Death Dealer were proficient enough with daggers and knives, so sword fighting was almost obsolete against them. The instruction received from Ridley was invaluable.

  Not long into Ridley’s lesson, Kay came down to join them. “Ridley, dear, mind stepping aside for me?” Kay removed her jacket and threw it aside. “I’d like to fight the noblewoman.” Kay unsheathed her sword.

  Ridley moved out of the way and one of Kay’s men provided her with a sword; handing it to Grace.

  “Not afraid are you, milady?” Kay mocked as she circled Grace.

  “Afraid of a girl pretending to be a pirate? Hardly.”

  “Pretending?” Kay swung out with a high arc and Grace caught her blade with little effort. “Who’s pretending?”

  Kay tried a lower hit the second time around, but Grace caught her blade and smirked. She had no doubt Kay would try to pull something, so Grace stayed on her toes. Kay had a height advantage and more combat experience, she was sure, but Grace was faster and could read Kay’s body movements even in the failing light. After so much time hunting bandits in the dark, her eyes became suited to fighting with little light for guidance. If Grace guessed correctly Kay had no formal training, which she hoped meant the pirate would be more uncoordinated.

  “I’ve met kittens with more ferocity,” Grace said.

  In her anger Kay made for another high arc, which Grace sidestepped and blocked. Kay realized Grace would be able to block her shots all night and knew it was time to step things up a bit. Kay used her height and weight advantage and threw herself hard against Grace; catching Grace right where she wanted her. Grace brought her sword up to block Kay’s downward arc and immediately knew the pirate planned to do something with Grace’s midsection, since it was left wide open. Kay moved fast and caught Grace in the gut with her hilt. Grace felt winded and would have only staggered a little, but she let herself drop down to one knee. Grace kicked out hard and fast and her foot made contact with Kay’s legs; knocking them out from underneath her. With a thud, Kay landed flat on her back. Grace jumped and hovered over her with her sword tip directly over her throat.

  Kay was stunned at first, but slowly a smile crossed her face and she laughed. “Well done!” Grace held out her free hand and helped Kay to her feet. “Ridley, bring us some water!”

  Ridley didn’t need to be told twice. She hurried back to the Angel to fetch a bucket for the two women.

  Kay wiped a bit of sweat off her face and clapped Grace on the back. “You’re not as soft as you look. You used my own trick against me.”

  Grace was panting and nodded to Kay. “You have to be prepared for anything your opponent can throw at you, especially when they’re bigger than you.”

  “I can see why Jack is so smitten with you.” Grace was thrown off by Kay’s remark, but the pirate only grinned. “Surely you could tell.” Grace stared blankly at her. “Stupid girl. I’ve tried to win over Jack in the past, and you’re barely here a season and you’ve already got him.”

  “I am sure you are mistaken.”

  Kay laughed under her breath. “I’m not stupid, noblewoman. I know a thing or two about Jack Anders.” Kay looked down at Grace with fire in her eyes. She was jealous.

  “Believe as you will,” Grace replied, and returned the sword to Kay’s man. She bowed to her opponent as a show of respect, but she was annoyed.

  “You may be a decent swordswoman, but you can't even recognize attraction when you see it. So step aside and allow me to take over.” She winked and gave Grace a condescending smirk.

  “Whatever you think is happening, is not,” was all Grace said on the subject.

  ~*~*~

  That night, The Death Dealer took to the streets. The men of the Fearless Dawn were renowned throughout the city as scoundrels, and Grace needed to catch just one to make an example of him. The problem with this plan was that she might bring the wrath of the rest of the crew on herself. If she did manage to catch one of Kay’s men, she hoped Marcus would be able to stop the pirate from any rash action.

  A woman screamed nearby. Moving like a shadow through the dark, Grace followed her ears to the source. The big man who sported Jack’s scar was handling a young woman roughly. Grace could just see her angered face, and if she guessed correctly, this was one of Jim Little’s barmaids. He would be most displeased to find out she was being mishandled.

  “Scoundrel!” she cried as the man tried to get a firmer hold on her. “Let me go or I’ll see to it ’ou get a whipping!” She slapped and punched at him.

  “’Ou wouldn’t do that to me.” He laughed. The woman tried to get away but the pirate held her tightly. He barely flinched, even when she boxed his ear.

  Grace unsheathed her sword and cleared her throat, and the pirate looked in her direction. He couldn’t be sure who or what he was looking at, but he did recognize the reflection of steel in the streetlight. The woman seemed relieved. “The Death Dealer!” she cried out in joy; tears now visible on her rosy cheeks.

  “Oye, so the stories be true. A fight ’ou looking for, sonny?” When the pirate threw the barmaid to the side, The Death Dealer didn’t give him time to sufficiently react. Once his captive was freed, she made her move. He was distracted when the barmaid kicked his shin, and Grace used this to her advantage. Hurting him wasn’t the plan tonight. Rather, Grace used the hilt of her sword to hit him upside the head; causing him to go down. His eyes remained open, so Grace gave him another good shot. This time he was knocked out.

  The Death Dealer said, “Go back to the Angel and report this to Marcus.” The woman ran off into the night and Grace set to work.

  ~*~*~

  Kay fumed upon hearing of the attack on her man, Albert. Marcus’s thieves found him bound and gagged in an alley about three blocks from the Angel Tavern. No one had ever challenged the men of the Dawn before, and Kay would be damned if someone dared to start now. Normally she could count on Marcus for aid, but apparently he knew Albert’s attacker and seemed reluctant to help Kay track him down.

  “Death Dealer? I fail to believe he just decided to help the Thieves’ Guild out of the kindness of his heart,” Kay spat out as she paced in front of Marcus’s throne. “Not after killing whole bands of highwaymen before. I’ve heard stories of dozens of men dead on the road up north. He doesn’t do favors for the likes of your people.”

  “The Death Dealer and I have an understanding. I leave him to his business and he leaves me to mine. Besides, your man accosted a barmaid. You can't seriously be thinking of letting him go?”

  “I discipline my men, and Albert was duly punished by me for taking liberties, but it is my duty; not that of some upstart! Am I expected to sit back and let this dog harass my men?” Kay grabbed the arms of Marcus’s throne. She was bent over, looking into his face carefully, with eyes blazing in fury.

  “Don’t act like your men are so guiltless, captain. Albert got what he deserved.”

  “I whipped him personally for his transgression, but he is my responsibility. I can’t have people thinking I allow others to discipline my men! That I do not have a hold on my own crew.”

  “Take your hurt pride somewhere else, Kay. Albert is twice punished now and hopefully he’s learned a lesson. That is what matters.”

  Kay’s teeth were grinding in her skull, but she mov
ed away from the throne. There’d be hell to pay if Kay ever caught The Death Dealer.

  ~*~*~

  The Angel stayed relatively quiet the next day around the lunch hour, and Grace sat with Ridley as they ate their meals. They were enjoying the quiet and chatting softly to one another when the doors to the Angel swung open and an enraged Kay entered. She held out a small leather bag for all to see.

  “Three pieces of gold for whoever brings me The Death Dealer!”

  There was a long silence while Kay dangled the bag out for the patrons to see. Finally someone snickered from the corner, which only caused increased rage in the pirate. “What are you laughing at?” she growled; glaring menacingly at the crowd.

  The laughter stopped and the culprit refused to say anything. With no one coming forward, Ridley stood. “Kay, while you strike fear into the hearts and minds of everyone who dwells in Glenbard, everyone here is more afraid of Marcus. And for one simple fact: he lives here always, while your arrivals are seldom in a year. Marcus formed an alliance with The Death Dealer, and if anyone takes that gold, they’ll have to deal with him.” Ridley laughed. “Three pieces is hardly enough to encourage anyone to cross the King of Thieves’ new friend.”

  Grace watched the expression on Kay’s face. It went from confused, to angry, to a look of utter annoyance. However, Ridley had obviously hit a chord with the pirate. The truth was that Kay was annoyed because on the Dawn she was in charge, but in Glenbard, Marcus was the King and she had no power. She might have influence over him, yet the final say was ultimately his. If Marcus liked The Death Dealer, her three pieces were useless. Kay realized this, and everyone in the inn saw the rage written plainly on her face.

  “One day this Death Dealer will make a move against Marcus, and on that day my gold pieces will be available.” And like she had burst in, she stormed out.

  Ridley returned to her seat across from Grace. She resumed eating her food without so much as a word.

  “Do you think she’s right?” Grace finished her lunch and pushed her plate aside. “About The Death Dealer turning against Marcus?”

  Ridley looked up from her fish and bread. “I suppose it’s possible, but Marcus told me some things about the Death Dealer. I think if they betrayed one another, it would not be without just cause.” So Ridley knew about the blood oath, and Grace now knew she had another supporter. Though the patrons of the Angel didn’t take Kay’s offer for fear of Marcus’s punishment, that didn’t mean others in the city wouldn’t. Grace would have to be extra careful in the weeks to come.

  ~*~*~

  That night, Grace entered the common room to find Kay and her pirates carousing. One of the Dawn’s crewmen was playing a fiddle while his mates danced about or sang drunkenly with the barmaids and prostitutes. Only Kay seemed to be abstaining from the same sort of merrymaking as her fellows.

  Instead, she was in Jack’s corner occupying his attentions. And what a sight Kay was this evening. She had put away the hose and shirts and wore a fine silk dress that was dyed a rich red color. Her hair was down; a black, flowing wave over her shoulders and down her back. A finer lady in Glenbard Grace had not yet seen. Certainly in court women would be matched in beauty and grace, but here and now there was no equal to Kay. She easily held Jack’s attention and pangs of jealousy ran through Grace, for she had no dresses that could rival the pirate captain. It was probably what Kay wanted Grace to feel. Her face flushed at the thought.

  Looking about the room for a friendly face, her eyes fell upon Marcus. Unlike others who were making use of the common room, to the older man, Grace’s entrance had not gone unnoticed. He crooked a finger and beckoned her toward him. Getting through the crowd of drunks and giggling women was no simple task, yet in the end she was rewarded with a seat at the King’s table; an honor never before bestowed upon her.

  Marcus had accepted Grace because Ridley did. He was happy to treat the girl with the same fatherly love as he did Ridley, but never before had he invited her to sit with him for any meal. Now Marcus dismissed the thieves that gathered around him. Even his man Thom left. Few were so blessed to enjoy a meal alone with the man.

  “Your usual mates seem to be occupied this fine evening,” he remarked, and turned his eyes toward Kay. Ridley joined them, though the pirate was far more interested in keeping Jack’s attention. She was succeeding quite well, especially since Grace now saw how low-cut her dress was. It would have been a most immodest garment for her old life, yet it fit Kay's curvy form well.

  “She is quite beautiful tonight,” Marcus continued. “Hardly a man can take his eyes off her. Not even Anders.” As he planned, this got a stiff backed reaction from Grace. He laughed.

  Suddenly Grace realized how jealous she really was and how embarrassing it was for her. After all, it was Jack. Jack!

  “You’re a young woman. You are allowed to wish to be the center of attention once in a while.” His eyes gleamed in the candlelight of the inn’s common room. “Vanity isn’t always a curse. You must have seen this sort of thing at court. Perhaps there you played the role of Kay?”

  Grace cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I was considered plain by many of the beauties.”

  “Fools.” Marcus laughed again. He looked over at Kay as other locals came by to admire her beauty. They laughed at her jokes and she obviously enjoyed their compliments. “Kay is an intelligent woman, witty and fun. However, she’s always felt she was the world’s greatest living person. Even now she tempts my followers with gold to bring my death dealing friend to justice. Sometimes embarrassment serves to put one in her place.”

  “Sir?”

  Kay finally looked in their direction. Seeing Grace, plain in her gray linen dress, she smirked. Had it been her plan all along to simply show her up? Marcus seemed to think so.

  Marcus rose from his seat. “Court ladies are all well versed in dance, I assume?” Without waiting for an answer, he strode to the fiddler.

  After a few quick words and the passing of a silver piece or two, the fiddler began a soft ballad. He signaled to Thom, who was engaging Jim in conversation. Thom broke away and moved to Kay’s table. He asked for her hand and led her out to dance.

  Marcus returned to Grace. “Watch.” At first it was silly to sit and watch, but finally Grace understood what the King of Thieves had done. Kay stumbled and stepped on Thom’s feet; much to her embarrassment and the room’s amusement. Everyone howled in laughter. Kay’s face turned a bright red and she stormed back to Jack’s corner.

  Marcus took hold of Grace’s hand and pulled her from her seat. Others came out to dance the ballad after Kay’s failure, and now Marcus and Grace joined them. It was amazing to see that the thief was as good a dancer as he was. Certainly he hadn’t been trained formally, but still his motions were fluid. With what Grace assumed was his natural skill and her training in such things, they were the best couple dancing. After the ballad ended, they returned to Marcus’s usual table.

  “That was unnecessary.” Grace blushed, seeing that a few men were elbowing each other, pointing at her. Among them was a very surly-looking Mac. Kay had the same sort of sour expression on her face.

  “You bested Kay with the sword I heard, but no one saw it. And here she comes in, attempting to look like a great court beauty, but she lacks the good manners to be one.” Marcus reached across the table to pat Grace’s cheek. “She comes here expecting royal treatment, and sometimes forgets her place in my city. Our little dance was for me to embarrass her for trying to get The Death Dealer’s head, and also so you could show her you are not only a swordsman, but also a lady. Maybe some others took notice as well.” He winked at her.

  Marcus ordered food and took to chatting with Grace about her life before Glenbard. In the course of their meal, five men came forward to ask Grace for a dance, but she respectfully declined each one. She didn’t want any more notice that night, so she just sat and enjoyed her chat with Marcus.

  Around midnight, the Angel was almost cleared out.
Jack was still in his corner and Kay had only just left his side. Grace got some tea and sat next to Jack.

  “No activities tonight?” he asked; putting his feet up on the table.

  “People in the Angel may not cross Marcus,” she whispered, “but who knows who else heard about the gold?”

  “A wise and safe choice. The first I’ve seen you make since your arrival.”

  “There is no need to treat me like that,” she snapped with a glare.

  “Don’t ruffle your feathers, my little chick. I do not mean to hurt your pride so. Besides, you must be exhausted from turning down so many young men this evening. Would it be wise for you to run around all night? After all, belles of the ball need as much sleep as the rest of us.” Jack smiled into his tankard and Grace realized he was toying with her.

  “That was Marcus’s doing. He was trying to make Kay look like a fool.”

  “While making you look better? Kay did come in here acting like a fine lady of the court. It was most certainly a change of character.”

  “She was quite beautiful tonight.”

  “In her own way. I wish she could have been beautiful away from me. Her perfume feels as though it will be forever burned into my nostrils. Besides, she halted my plans for the evening.” Grace raised her eyebrows. “Five men looked to dance with you and each one met with defeat. I wanted to see if I could tempt you away from Marcus’s company.”

  The two locked eyes. Grace read his face, looking for a hint of sarcasm or mockery. She found none, which was frightening. Thinking back to her jealousy from earlier in the evening and how Marcus pointed it out, she turned red under Jack’s continued stare. Under normal circumstances this never would have happened.

  “Get some sleep,” he finally said. “You’ve more hearts to break tomorrow.”

  ~*~*~

  Kay and her men stayed for two more days and they did everything Jack said they would. The Death Dealer left the Guild alone, but she could not do the same for the crew of the Fearless Dawn. If she came across them at night being too friendly with someone who didn’t want them to be, or if they were trying to steal from where they shouldn’t, Grace came along and gave them a good whack on the back of the head with the hilt of her sword. She refused to kill or seriously hurt any crew members, but she didn’t mind giving them a bump they wouldn’t soon forget.