The Death Dealer - The Complete Series Page 29

  “Geared for war?” Nathaniel pointed to the sword.

  She had it sheathed, but it was an open act of aggression if Kay saw her. She wasn’t about to leave her sword behind in case Kay did try to waylay her. “I feel safer having it.”

  “Your friend Jack seemed fairly unhappy at your current predicament.”

  Grace looked up him. He looked bemused that he’d been summoned to walk her to Marcus’s. “Thank you for coming to see me safely through the streets.”

  “What sort of guardsman would I be if I left you to Captain Lansa? I got this scar…” He rolled up a sleeve to reveal a white scar on his forearm. It was small, but it had been deep at one time. “From Captain Kay’s first mate.” He took the sack from her and put it over his shoulder. “That woman and her men are a menace.”

  Grace turned them toward Marcus’s home. It was nice to have Nathaniel walking beside her. He was welcome stability in the sea of insanity she currently found herself in. It was a shame she had ever thought to abuse his goodwill for information.

  “Kay will eventually calm down and leave Glenbard,” Grace said.

  “If she doesn’t, I’ll see she gets carted away.” He smiled at her in the fading light.

  She led them on, her eyes scanning all around them. Even if Ridley had kept Kay occupied, she couldn’t do it forever.

  “I’d like to apologize again,” she said suddenly. “For trying to trick you into giving up information.”

  Nathaniel shrugged. “You’re not the first pretty face Marcus sent my way, though you’re the only one to apologize. I know how things work on the Lane and in the Guild, and I know where your loyalties lie.”

  Grace stopped walking. She put her hands on her hips and tried to compose herself. It would do no good to scream in the middle of the street. “You take me for some thief? I’ve pledged no loyalty to the Guild! Nor have I ever picked a pocket, cut a purse, or stolen into someone’s house to pilfer and loot.”

  “I didn’t say you had, but you’re friends with Ridley and are in Marcus’s good graces. And you tried to question me; quite clumsily, I might add. Tell me, if not with your Guild friends, where do your loyalties lie?”

  “The Death Dealer,” she blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth.

  Nathaniel shifted her bag to his other shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. “The Death Dealer? How does a barmaid get close to such a man?”

  “He is close to Marcus, and I’ve met him a few times. Once or twice he’s approached me for information. He asked me to question you, wanted to know if you planned to hunt and kill Harris Atkins or if you really planned to bring him to king’s justice as you told me. I don’t spy for Marcus.” Grace bit the inside of her cheek at the lie, but she never broke eye contact. “And I know you have a meeting with him tonight.”

  Nathaniel started walking again and Grace moved up beside him, matching his slow gait. “And what game is the Dealer playing, or can’t I ask?”

  “He doesn’t want the Guild to murder Harris or the Guard to torture him, but beyond that I can’t say what he’s up to.” Grace hoped the lie stuck.

  Nathaniel nodded. “The Death Dealer,” he repeated. “You’re loyal to him?”

  “I’m loyal to the chivalrous ideals taught to knights such as my father, uncle, and cousin. I think the Death Dealer tries to live up to those ideals, even if he falters from time to time. If the Dealer wants to drag Harris Atkins into the magistrate’s court, then I will help. I think it is a wise idea for the two of you to meet.” Grace stopped them before Marcus’s house. “This is it.”

  Nathaniel went up the walk first. He knocked on the door, letting go of Grace’s hand only momentarily. Ginger wasn’t the one who answered, however; it was Thom. A surly looking Thom. His expression softened when he saw Grace standing behind the guard.

  “Miss Hilren?”

  “I’m having a few problems with Kay and I thought it’d be safer here.”

  Thom stepped away from the door, “Please come in, dear girl. Sergeant, you aren’t allowed over the threshold.” The thief waved Grace in but blocked the path for the guard.

  Grace dropped her bag on the floor of the kitchen. “I’d like a word with Sergeant Moore alone, Thom.”

  Thom eyed Nathaniel suspiciously, but walked away into the house to leave the two alone. Grace closed the door and stood before Nathaniel.

  “Thank you for walking me here.”

  “Thank you for the truth.”

  Grace felt a knot in her stomach. She wanted Nathaniel to believe she wasn’t a spy for Marcus, but she didn’t want to continually lie to him. Their goals concerning Harris matched too closely to be acting like enemies.

  “How long do you think you’ll have to stay here?” he asked as he looked up at Marcus’s house.

  Possibly forever, Grace thought. Aloud she said, “Until that woman calms herself.”

  Nathaniel scratched his chin and frowned. “I can’t really come and visit you here. Let’s hope she calms or leaves soon. I’d like another meal with you; ideally one that doesn’t end abysmally.”

  She gave Nathaniel the best smile she could muster. When he bent down and kissed her lips softly, heat rushed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. For the briefest of seconds, she forgot why she was hiding at Marcus’s house and why she had been so upset for days. Nathaniel pulled away and bowed; a genuine smile on his face. Grace watched him leave and head up the street toward the Rogue’s Lane guardhouse.

  Grace went into the house to find Thom waiting patiently for her. “Where is everyone?”

  “Ginger’s gone home, I thought Ridley was with you, and as you know, Marcus is out.” The kitchen had two stools and a little wooden table, upon which there was a lone earthenware bowl. Grace must have interrupted Thom’s evening meal. He sat on one of the stools and gestured for her to do the same. “Trouble, then?” She was grateful he didn’t mention the kiss on his front step.

  “I felt someone needed to shut Kay up. We had a bit of a tussle, and she won’t have trouble finding where I live these days. May I stay here until she leaves Glenbard or calms down?”

  “Of course. And since we’re alone, I thought we could revisit the—”

  “Stop. I said I’d do no more favors.” At least none for Thom. Going to the temple in the wee hours of the morning to meet the guard was another story and another favor. Grace toyed with the idea of telling Thom. “I think it best if I pack up my hood and bow out of service.” Thom wouldn’t ask her to help him in exchange for a safe house. He wasn’t like that, but in the back of her mind she thought of Marcus. He had to be in contact with Thom somehow. He was still King of the underworld, and he was the one who pulled the strings.

  “You gave it all up once before but you still came back to life.”

  She frowned. “I’m only stepping off the stage. I can’t help the Guild – not with this. When the Harris matter is settled, we can discuss my oath again.” She needed Jack to hurry back with more information on the slippery Harris. The whole nasty business needed to be resolved, and soon. “Though…” she bit her lip. She didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to have Marcus treat her as he had Adam. “The Guard requested my presence through Jack.” She decided to keep her lie to Nathaniel to herself.

  Thom frowned and stood up from the table. Grace looked out the window at Thom’s garden. His flowers glowed in the sunset. She couldn’t look Thom in the eye.

  “And?”

  “I made a promise, but—”

  He held up a hand. “You said you were bowing out of service until this blows over. Are you or aren’t you?” Thom was not a man who got angry, but his face flushed from the neck up now. Grace could only imagine what a mad Thom was like.

  Grace swallowed hard. She started to light the candles on the table so they weren’t stuck staring at each other in the dark. She set one down before Thom.

  “I want to hear what they have to say. I don’t have to say anything back, and I’d never endanger
the lives of your men.”

  “I can’t stop you, but I’m going with you.” There was finality in his voice. “I want to hear what they say, too. I’m going, and you can’t stop me any more than I can stop you.”

  “They can’t know you’re there.”

  Thom held out his hand. They shook. “Thank you for telling me, dear.” He kissed the top of her head. It was a friendly gesture she didn’t deserve.

  “I’d like to get some sleep.”

  “As you wish. I’ll put down a bedroll in Ridley’s room. You can stay as long as your need requires.” He excused himself from the table and went into the bedrooms to set things up for her.

  ~*~*~

  It wasn’t hard for Jack to find Kay; he just followed the sounds of angry curses to the inn she stayed in. The woman was pacing a groove into the floor of her room. Ridley was with her at the inn, doing a halfway decent job of containing the fury.

  “Leave us,” Jack instructed. Ridley was all too happy to comply.

  “I’ll gut the little wench, Jack!” Kay turned her rage to him. She had yet to let go of the knife she’d pulled earlier. He saw her lip had been bleeding; there was a dried blood trail from her lower lip to her chin. Grace hit harder than he expected. A bruise had already formed under the captain’s eye as well.

  “Serves you right, spreading rumors.” He was in no mood to play nice with Kay. Not this time. She could terrorize the seas, take cargo to sell on the black markets, smuggle goods into port, or beggar merchants, but in his city she acted like a silly, jealous woman. And right now, in here, she was one woman, without a crew, and in the wrong. “I should have let Grace beat on you some more.” Grace wouldn’t have held the advantage for long, but watching her pummel Kay had been pure enjoyment while it lasted.

  Kay spit, missing his boots by scant inches. “I won’t stand for that-”

  “Keep your mouth shut! You’re not going to do anything. In fact, you should wrap up the deals you’re making and get out of Glenbard as fast as you can.”

  “And who are you to tell me what to do?”

  Jack untied his coin purse and dropped it on the floor between them. It was opened just enough to show the shine of gold. Jack’s past in the royal courts of Cesernan had left him with a few gifts, which he put in this purse. Let the woman sell them and be gone.

  Kay’s eyes widened. She stared, transfixed on the gold. “Where does a rusher like you get such finery?” She bent down to examine the contents, sliding the knife back into its place on her belt.

  There was a gold ring set with sapphire, a silver bracelet, and a fine braided chain in addition to some coin. All were gifts from his mother, who despite his disgrace, still called him son when no one else did.

  “I know how and what to gamble. That should buy the people of the city peace from the likes of you.”

  Kay had far too much pride in herself, but she wasn’t wholly immune to a decent bribe. She was a businesswoman and knew fine goods when she saw them, and the contents of Jack’s purse would keep the Dawn stocked for a few months if she could sell them to the right person. And Kay always knew the right person. Merchants in the islands looking for signs of status would want the jewelry and pay handsomely. When her fury was set aside, Kay Lansa was no fool. Fools didn’t survive long in her chosen field.

  “Why do you waste so much effort on that sniveling little girl? She’s already replaced you and I could make better use of you on the Dawn. A strong arm like you is a useful ally.”

  “It is my own affair why I do as I do. If you take that bounty, you and I have a deal.” He didn’t offer it up as a choice.

  “And if I disagree?”

  When he first settled in Glenbard, people had dubbed him ‘Mad Dog Anders’. He was fierce, trained, and wholly devoid of friendship or emotion. His eyes narrowed on Kay so that she could see deeply within to the mad dog. Jack had never hurt a woman before, but everyone had a tipping point. Grace was his.

  “I’ve finished my deals in the city anyway. I was only staying on in the hopes I could convince you to join me. Obviously that won’t be happening. I’ll leave in the morning the day after tomorrow provided no other deals come my way, but I won’t hurt your precious flower while I linger,” she sneered.

  He held out his hand and she shook it; her hand warm and firm. “You and I used to be friends, Mad Dog.”

  “And you didn’t used to spread rumors about me.”

  Kay chuckled, mostly to herself. “You could have asked me, as your friend, to leave Grace alone. I still have some regard for you. Have no fear, though. Despite the insult you hurled at me, assuming money is my only motivator, Hilren is safe from my blade over this offense.” Kay turned her back on Jack to look out her little window.

  “I’ll leave you to nurse your wounded pride, Kay, and you may want to do something about that black eye.” Jack left before she could respond, but as he closed the door, he heard something crash against it. Kay would continue to rage for a while, but she wouldn’t attack Grace unless someone paid her more than Jack had to do it.

  ~*~*~

  Their meeting was a secret one. Thom came alone after the midnight hour was called to meet Marcus, who was dirty and surly. The thief King didn’t say where he was hiding, but Thom could tell it was a place he wouldn’t normally frequent. Thom could almost feel the anger in the air. All around them, tombstones sprouted out of the ground like stone shrubs. Their shadows loomed long in the moonlight and the air was thick with tension and uneasy spirits.

  “Harris eludes me at every step.” Marcus’s voice was a hate-filled whisper. “I might have caught him at the Emerald, but somehow the fool knew I was coming. I need the Death Dealer. That one moves like a cat stalking a mouse.”

  “She’s sworn it off until Harris is caught.”

  Marcus growled in the dark. “No she hasn’t. She and Jack Anders are having secret conferences. They’re up to something, and it’s not a lover’s rendezvous.” He tapped his foot anxiously in the dirt.

  Thom didn’t like the city’s graveyard. It was bad luck to be in them after midnight, and people said spirits didn’t like anyone to plan wrongdoings in their home. However because of those same superstitions, it was the safest place to meet.

  “I’m going to track her, Thom. I know she hasn’t given up on Harris. She wants to be the one to find him, but I don’t know why yet.”

  Grace did have a funny sense of chivalry. Chances were she would find some way to help Harris. It was odd to Thom. She was as aghast as anyone when he killed the constable, but when Marcus expressed the need to catch and punish him, she was quick to change her mind. She was a creature who felt the need to be guilty. Guilty about a man’s death, guilty about other’s fates, guilty about not having control over every situation she was in.

  Thom genuinely liked Grace, though. Marcus did too, but he had to put the Guild first. And right now, everyone was in trouble. Nathaniel Moore was actually gaining support among the guards. It was a murmur, easy to miss, but Thom heard it. He heard it even before Grace told him about the proposed meeting. The city was being thoroughly combed for Harris Atkins, even though the Guild was a longstanding institution that governed itself. If Sergeant Moore succeeded and brought Harris in first, the balance of power could shift. Marcus wasn’t about to let that happen, and as his right hand man, Thom couldn’t either.

  “Moore has already reached out to the Death Dealer through Jack,” Thom said.

  “I know. I saw Ericson and Moore’s conference with Jack. I take it she told you?”

  “Yes, and I’ll be hiding close by when she hears their terms. She wants to hear what they say. I’m curious myself.”

  “And is our little honorable lass aware you’ll be going?”

  Thom nodded. “Aye. I refused to take no for an answer. She’s aware my being there will be beneficial to the Guild, but she can’t stop me any more than I can stop her.”

  “What a strange girl. I suppose she told you because she’s a
fraid of me.” Thom saw Marcus rub his temples through the gloom. The older man clapped a hand on Thom’s shoulder when he finished.

  “Should she be afraid?”

  “I’ve made men disappear for lesser betrayal. I’d hate to have to do the same to her, but I won’t suffer anyone who is a threat. Not to me, and certainly not to my people on the Lane.”

  Thom had seen a number of men “disappear” over the years because they crossed Marcus. Hands, ears, teeth or feet sometimes resurfaced so families knew they were gone, but the bodies had a habit of staying gone. There once was a Guild spy positioned among the guards as a clerk. He grew a conscience one day after another hothead like Harris killed a guard, but before the spy had a chance to rally support, Marcus whisked him out of bed. It had been Thom’s unenviable job to bring a bag of teeth to the man’s widow. It wasn’t a job he wanted again. He didn’t want to ride into Arganis with a bag of Grace’s teeth, or worse, to present to her family.

  “How are we to handle this, then?” he asked.

  “Encourage Grace to occupy Sergeant Moore, but keep her in sight,” Marcus instructed. In the dark, Thom could make out his form leaning against a tombstone and he shuddered. “Men in love are sloppy.”

  “And what about women in love? How can you follow a woman who’s spending time with her beau?”

  Marcus scoffed. “I have faith her mind won’t be too muddled.” He sighed. “Though I am concerned about Jack. I told you to scare him off.”

  “She saw him at the Emerald. My threats were no good once she learned he was back.”

  “Poor girl. Nothing for it now, I suppose. Go on home and get some sleep, Thom. Report back to me once the meeting with the Guard is over. If I know our girl, it’ll be in Diggery’s Temple.” Thom nodded. “I’ll be skulking around Kamaria’s Temple, then. If it looks like the Death Dealer is about to make a deal with the Guard, do what you must.”

  “And Jack?”

  “He’ll make a fuss if anything happens. Make sure his mouth stays shut.”