Tales of a Thief Taker (Complete)

Chapter one

A new life

I was a noble’s son, a bastard. Oh, I got schooling and even some training in the martial skills. One thing I learned was that any offense with an edged weapon was cause for imprisonment. As soon as I was old enough I set out on my own. I headed towards the other side of the kingdom. The large port city of Tide was a major port and trade city as well as the capital for the kingdom.

For two weeks I moved through the shadows of the night. It was the dark of the moon and the four men I had been watching would be moving. I knew where they would enter the merchants manor, just as I knew were they would come out. I knew where they would take everything they stole, now it was just a waiting game. It was right after midnight when they moved and I waited and then moved to the shadows down the street from the side door.

It was only about an hour before the side door opened and they came out. They were carrying a lot of heavy stuff and moved slowly. I waited until they were passing me before stepping out. I was carrying two thick, engraved hard wood clubs. Each was two inches thick and thirty inches long.

I slam the right one into the side of the last man’s head and the left one into the back of the next man’s head. The other two men started turning to see what was happening but it was to late. I struck sideways with the right club as I continued to walk and it cracked into the forehead of one of the other men.

My left club came straight down on the top of the last man’s head and it was over. I quickly searched them for weapons and tied their hands behind their backs and gagged them. From the amount of blood on their clothes they had probably killed the merchant.

I slapped them awake and got them onto their feet. I loaded them up with the loot and led them away. When I pulled them into the city guard building there were only a few guards there. A commander stood, “What is the meaning of this!”

I nodded to the men as I began pulling the loot away from them, “These four just robbed a merchant and from the amount of blood on them, I would say they probably killed him.”

The guards looked at each other and the commander nodded to two guards, “Take them back to the cells.”

I looked around as I pulled out two parchments. One I held out to the commander and the other I set on a nearby table. The commander grunted as he took the parchment and slowly began reading. I sat and pulled out a small bottle of ink and a metal stylist. I started writing and the commander finally looked at me, “This says you are a licensed thief taker.”

I nodded, “Licensed by the king’s court and the first year’s taxes paid.”

The commander looked at the parchment I was writing on, “What are you writing?”

I glanced at him, “The king’s law requires I give an accounting of each thief I catch.”

I gave the commander the address to the merchant’s manor and went back to writing on the parchment. When I finished the guard the commander had sent to the merchant’s manor was back. Not only was the merchant dead but everyone else in the manor. I set all the weapons I had taken from the four men on the table and moved to the pile of loot.

I loaded everything up as they watched me and turned towards the commander, “I am staying at the White Lion tavern.”

I moved slowly because of the weight and a guard by the door opened it to let me out. When I checked with the guards a week later no one had come forwards to claim the merchant’s goods so they became mine. The first thing I did was buy a very old two story house on the edge of the city. It was built from cut stone and not brick. The bottom floor held a large kitchen, a dinning room, a parlor and a living room. The second floor had four bedrooms.

Chapter two

It was not about the Spices

I began moving around the city, mostly at night. It was three days later that I caught the two men robbing a young noble. I slipped out of the shadows and crossed to them as they clubbed him and then kicked him on the ground. My first strike was to the back of one’s head and then I used my other club to back hand a blow across the forehead of the other.

I secured both and took the purse they had taken from the noble. I helped him up and then pulled the two thieves up. I pushed and pulled the two while helping the young man. When I entered the guard building the commander looked up and opened his mouth before closing it. The men were taken away while I wrote up the account. I held the purse out to the young noble but he waved it away.

I shrugged, the king’s court would pay me two silvers for each man anyway but extra money was always nice. Three days later I woke to banging on my front door. When I opened it, it was to see the young noble with another older man that was plainly a noble and a man that was plainly an officer of the guard. I looked at them and the young noble gestured into the house, “may we come in?”

I opened the door wider as I stepped back and they came in. I closed the door and then led them to the parlor. I gestured to the old cushioned chairs by the fireplace and waited before sitting. The young man cleared his throat, “This is Baron Trindal. Someone broke into his warehouse and stole several crates of spice.”

I looked at the guard officer and he did not look happy. I sat back and looked at the nobles, “And what did you want me to do?”

The baron leaned forward, “The thieves killed one of my men, I want them caught. If you find the spices you can keep them.”

I looked at the guard officer, “Do I have your permission?”

He looked at the old noble before nodding. I looked at the old noble, “Tell me everything about it. When, where, how, who… everything you know.”

He hesitated and then started talking. I listened closely and knew right away someone inside the warehouse had been part of the theft. When he stopped talking I sat back, “First, this is going to cost more than the king’s court is going to pay. Second, what I find may be something you did not want to know. Third, I doubt the spices were what they were really after so I need information.”

The old man looked at me as the officer and the young noble looked at each other, “What do you want to know?”

I smiled, “As valuable as the spices are, that was something they used as an excuse to make you think that was what they were after. What else do you have that would make killing a worker worth what they were doing?”

He shook his head and shrugged, “Nothing. I have bolts of silk and other valuable cloth as well as rare spices but that is it.”

I looked at him and sat back to think. I finally stood, “I need to see where the worker was killed.”

As I walked through the warehouse several workers glared at me but remain quiet. As Baron Trindal gestured to the smeared blood stain I slowly started walking around the area. I knew what or I should say where the thieves had been from marks I saw. I ignored it and continued walking around the area.

When we walked back outside I nodded to the guard officer, “They will probably try again tonight. If you can have your guards continue their normal patrols I should be able to catch them.”

I looked at Baron Trindal, “They were not after anything in your warehouse my lord. They were in your office.”

He started and opened his mouth but I held my hand up, “I imagine you have a strong box. Do not do anything like removing your money. Do business like normal and I will catch those responsible.”

I turned and walked away before they could say anything. I made a stop on the way home for some stout cordage. I relaxed when I got home and closed my eyes, it was going to be a long night. When I opened my eyes the light from the window was just starting to dim so I knew the sun was going down. I quickly bathed and dressed before leaving the house.

I made a stop at a tavern I had started using. At first everyone quieted and then they started talking again. After eating I left and headed towards the shipping area of the city. I came to the back of Baron Trindal’s warehouse and looked around. Once I was sure no one was around I moved to a corner and started climbing up the stone drain pipe.

I was careful when I reached the roof and slowly made my way to the sky light I wanted. It only took a moment to open it and then I slipped inside and closed the sky light behind me. I moved along the beam until I reached a large stack of crates. I used the crates to climb down and silently moved to the gap between two where I could watch the back wall of the office.

I settled down to wait, I knew the thieves would wait until they thought everyone was asleep in the city. It was past the mid watch bell when I heard them enter. I watched as three men quietly walked to the wall and looked around before beginning to pull boards off. What surprised me was the young well dressed man whispering orders.

They finally disappeared into the office and I moved to the wall beside the hole they had made. Several minutes later a man crawled out and I struck. One of my night sticks struck the back of his head and I quickly pulled him to the side. A second pushed a large metal lock box through the hole and hissed, “Take it damn you!”

I reached out to pull it out of the way and waited for him to come out. Like with the first man I hit him and pulled his body clear before turning to the hole. The last man to come through was the well dressed man and he held what looked like a ledger. After I laid him out I tied the three men up and tucked the ledger into my shirt. I slapped the men awake and the first one to speak was the young well dressed lad.

He started off with arrogance and threats of beatings. I cuffed him and yanked the two other men up. I forced them to carry the heavy lock box and pushed them towards the door. The young man went from threats to offering me half and then more than half, he even told me where the crates of spices were.

I ignored everything as I pushed and chivied them down the street until we reached the guard building. That was when the young man began yelling for help and accusing me. I slapped him, “Shut the hell up!”

I turned to look at a sleepy guard captain and the Baron that had hired me. They were just coming in a side door. I nodded and looked at the two men carrying the lockbox. The merchant Baron’s face was white as was the young man’s. The guard Captain actually looked grim as he gestured to his guards, “Put them in a cell.”

The guards hesitated at the young man but Baron Trindal snarled, “him too!”

I took the heavy lockbox and set it on the table and then pulled out the ledger. That was when the Baron’s face turned red in anger. I set the ledger on the box before turning to sit and reach for a piece of parchment, “The two men had the box but the young sir had the ledger.”

The Baron almost whispered, “Did you look in the ledger?”

I glanced at him, “No, I do not need to know what they were stealing.”

I began writing the account of the theft and felt the baron looking over my shoulder. When I finished I blew on it and handed it to the guard captain. He read it and smiled, “You did good.”

He looked at the merchant and sighed, “I am sorry about your son sir.”

The baron snorted, “He is not my son.”

He pulled a purse from inside his shirt as I stood and tossed it to me, “Thank you thief taker.”

I bowed, “I only wish the culprits were not who they are.”

The baron nodded and I turned towards the door. Early the next day I arranged for a wagon and brought the crates of spices back to the baron’s warehouse. After I returned it I headed home for a nice meal and a long nap.

Chapter three

A pouch of false gold

I looked up from the large bread bowl of hunter’s stew. The two men walking towards my table did not belong here. One was a young noble dandy and the other looked like a rich merchant. I ignored them to blow on the hot stew and take a bite. I chewed and watched as they finally stopped across from me. I sighed after swallowing and sat back, “Yes?”

The old merchant cleared his throat, “Are you the thief taker?”

I smiled and nodded, “How can I help you?”

He tossed a heavy pouch on the table. I reached out to open it and saw a lot of gold coins. Something was not right though and I poured them onto the table. I used my finger to turn several over before looking at the merchant, “These are fake.”

He nodded, “That is how you can help me. Find the bastards that replaced the gold with these worthless pieces of lead.”

I took another bite of stew and chewed while thinking about it. The young noble leaned on the table pulling a fancy dagger. My other hand came over the table as he was reaching towards my face.

I grabbed his wrist, placing my thumb on the back of his hand as I twisted and yanked. He slammed into the table as my hand slipped the dagger out of his hand. I nodded to the merchant as I released the noble, “for ten percent of what I return.”

He puffed up, “that is robbery!”

I smiled and flipped the dagger before throwing it across the room to slam into the door frame, “then find another thief taker.”

He glared and spun away, the noble snarled as he rubbed his wrist, “this is not over.”

I ignored him to return to my stew. The rest of the room laughed though and he stomped after the merchant. When I finished eating I slipped the serving girl a few extra coppers before leaving. I headed into the slums of the city and slipped into the shadows. When the man I was waiting for limped past, I reached out and yanked him into the narrow alley.

He opened his mouth to yell and froze as one of my clubs jabbed him in the stomach, “Quiet.”

He nodded and looked around as I held up two pieces of silver, “who is buying lead?”

He grinned and looked from my face to the silver, “I will tell for a gold piece.”

I shook my head, “You already owe me for not taking you in for stealing.”

He swallowed and finally nodded, “It be a noble lad. He tries to hide what he is but we have eyes.”

I shook the silver coins, “Name?”

He shook his head, “We do not know his name. He is supposed to buy more lead tonight at the Black Owl.”

I put the silver coins away and he growled. I released him and flipped a single gold piece towards him as I walked away. The Black Owl was in a dark part of the city, they did not even bother to light the few street lamps on the streets and they sure did not bother filling them with oil. I slipped in the back door and smiled at the young lass that glanced my way.

I sat at a dark shadowed table and pushed a silver across the table. The serving girl swayed by and the silver vanished before she continued on her way. I had been here a few times and she knew me. Her next trip past my table a tall mug slid across. I knew I did not have to worry about being poisoned or drugged. I lifted the mug and sipped the cool cider with a sigh.

The ale here was a good way to kill yourself but the cider was pure nectar. I spotted the two lead mongers sitting at a lone table. I relaxed and sipped the cider as slowly time passed. I was almost ready to leave when the slim cloaked noble opened the door. His cloak hid his features but the richness told everyone what he was. I watched and waited as they spoke and he pushed a couple of gold pieces across the table.

He lifted the heavy bag they set on the table and his cloak opened to reveal a fancy dagger I recognized. I smiled and sipped the last of my cider before standing and quietly leaving through the back door. I was waiting across the dark street when the noble left the inn. I followed him easily as he walked through the dark streets not even looking back.

He went towards the part of the city that had stock pens and slaughter houses. He hesitated at the mouth of an alley and I slipped into a dark doorway. After looking back, he walked past the alley and opened the door to a tiny shop next to it. I waited and watched and a little later a short, thin man appeared.

He looked around carefully before going into the shop. I slipped out of the doorway and down the alley. From the back of the shop came the smell of smelting. I pulled my two clubs and kicked the back door open. As I walked in the noble spun from the small forge and the other man turned to run.

I threw one of the clubs to strike the running man in the back of the head before looking at the noble holding his fancy dagger as I moved closer. He lunged (which was stupid with a dagger) and I moved sideways before slamming my club into the side of his head. As he dropped to the floor like a stone, I went after the other man trying to get up.

A crack over the back of the head dropped him back to the floor and I bent to retrieve my thrown club. I quickly tied the two men and began looking around. I found the small gold bar they were going to coat the lead coins with as well as the mold for the coins. I also found a few fake coins. I slapped the short, thin man awake, “Where is the gold you stole?”

He sneered and I slammed a club into his ribs, “I will turn in your broken body if that is how you want it.”

His pale face gestured across the room, “half is under the floor next to the wall.”

I waited and poked him with the club when he did not say anything else. He gasped, “The kid took the rest!”

I nodded and moved to pry the floor up. I pulled a heavy chest out before going to slap the noble awake. He was white faced but the first thing he said was a threat, “My father will have your head…”

I slugged him in the face, breaking his nose and showering blood everywhere, “Where is the gold, thief?”

He sputtered and spit blood before glaring. I shrugged before leaning him forward and reaching behind him. He screamed as I broke one of his fingers and pushed him back to sob. I slapped him, “The gold boy?”

He shook his head and I leaned him forward again. This time he screamed, “Under the mattress in my room!”

I yanked him up and then the other man. I tied them together at the neck before lifting the heavy gold chest. I left the small gold bar and everything else and pushed them out the back door. When I shoved them into the guard building the young noble began screaming bloody murder until I knocked the wind out of him with a kick. I shoved him towards a guard and looked at the guard commander, “They were making false gold coins”

The noble youth tried to bluster and the guard slapped him and told him to shut the hell up. They were taken towards the cells as I sat to write out the report. I gave the commander the location of the shop and two guards were sent out on the double. The commander sat across from me as I wrote and waited patiently.

I pushed the first sheet across and he turned it before starting to read. When he finished, he looked up, “Are you sure, he is…”

I nodded, “I am sure. You can send someone to look under his mattress to confirm he had some of the gold. He was the one working the forge when I caught them.”

I blew on the second page and folded it before pulling the candle near and removing a small solid brass seal from inside my tunic. I dribbled wax on the edge and sealed the paper before siding it across to the commander, “The law requires I send a report to the king as well as provide the court one.”

He swallowed and nodded, “He will see it first thing in the morning.”

I glanced at the cell door, “The king will want them available to answer questions.”

The commander stood, “They will bloody well answer.”

I nodded and stood before heading towards the door with the chest. The next morning a messenger arrived with an elegant thank you letter from the king and a small purse of gold coins. I never heard from the rich merchant but found out he was fined heavily by the king for not reporting the false gold coins.

Chapter four

A band of sneak thieves for a Damsel

I had been watching the market place for a week now. The guard had several reports of sneak thieves stealing purses or items from merchants counter. I had already marked four young men and was watching two more. Currently I was laying unseen on a merchant’s roof peering down into the square. I finally sighed and moved back and down.

I used a drain to climb back to the alley and slipped up behind the lookout. I cracked him behind the ear and pulled him back into the alley. I fished the three stolen purses out of his shirt and the two silver candle sticks. I tied his hands and feet with a noose to his neck before moving back by where he had been standing.

When one of the other thieves returned to look for him I moved forward. I cracked him on the back of his skull and quickly pulled him into the alley with his friend. I stripped him of his stolen goods and tied him up. One after another I took the thieves. After I had the last man I got them up and had them carry the stolen purses and property.

They were a sullen lot that pushed into the guard building. As soon as the guards came to take them the oldest looking one blurted, “We have something to trade! We want the king’s pardon.”

The on duty commander sneered, “Your sneak thieves, what could you have?”

The other men looked at their apparent leader and he swallowed, “We know where the Countess MacTav was taken.”

I looked at them and absently waved one of the guards back, “Prove it.”

He shook his head, “After we are free.”

I laughed and walked to stand in front of him, “Prove it or I will break every bone in your body.”

I ignored the commander who would probable start breaking bones if he still refused to talk. The thief finally nodded, “There is an old tannery called Lion’s Hide. They dumped her belongings in the refuse pit.”

I looked at commander, “Do you want me to go look?”

He shook his head and gestured to one of the guards, “Take a messenger horse.”

He glanced around and gestured to some of the other guards, “Lock them up and one of you go get a magister.”

I pulled all the purses and property away from the men as they were led away. I sat and pulled a blank parchment close before starting to write the report. I was doing it almost absently as I thought of where the Countess’s belongings had been left. I sanded the parchment and slid it across to the commander who nodded absently, “Thanks.”

I sat back as he read it and a black robed magister followed a guard into the building. He glanced at me but sat beside the commander with a sigh, “So we have something on the Countess.”

The commander nodded, “Maybe.”

The commander handed my report to the magister and stood to talk to the guard that had been sent to look into the refuse pit. The guard handed him an arm full of clothes and the commander returned to the table. The magister looked them over, “Very well.”

I watched as the men were brought in and the leader cleared his throat, “After you let us go…”

I brought a stick down on the wrist of one man reaching for the stolen property. I looked at the leader, “Understand this thief, you are my catch. If the Magister wants to trade your freedom for the Countess MacTav it will be through me as the king’s law requires and not through the guards.”

I smiled slightly, “now, if you do not give me the information you do not go free and an extra charge of treason will be added since you know about this kidnaping. After you provide the information you will be escorted to the city gate. If you ever return you will be thrown into prison.”

The commander and the Magister were looking at me as the leader frowned, “After we are freed.”

I stood with my stick in hand, “Are you refusing to tell me where she is?”

He licked his lips, “After we are free.”

I nodded and gestured to a stone faced guard, “Take them back to their cells and prepare the gallows.”

Even as the guard grinned and reached for him he blurted, “WAIT!”

I gestured and he looked at the Magister and pleaded, “I will tell sir, after we…”

The guards grabbed the men and he screamed, “OKAY!”

The guards waited and he looked from the magister to the solemn face commander and finally to me, “Behind the Lion’s Hide is what looks like a ruin of a shack. She is being kept there.”

I nodded to the commander as I turned to head towards the door. He cleared his throat, “My guards…”

I smiled, “The king’s law allows the trading of information for a life but since they were captured by me that information is mine to act on first. If your guards just happen to wander by…”

He grinned, “I am sure several are in that area.”

I nodded to the magister before leaving and heading towards the old tannery. I was moving fast and the people on the street seemed to know something was happening. I slowed and walked the last hundred paces and pulled the two night sticks. That cleared the people from around me as I turned in and started around the old tannery. The two men that stepped out in front of me took one look and pulled daggers.

I did not even slow as I slammed one stick down on a wrist and moved sideways. The other man tried to strike but his partner was in the way. I struck sideways as the first man bent to grab his broken wrist and hit the second man in the temple. I brought my other stick down on the back of the first man’s head and continued around the building.

A glance back showed several guards following with their weighted night sticks in hand. When I reached the door to the shack I snapped my foot into it and it splintered as it crashed open. I walked in and swung one stick sideways to strike a man in the face that had been beside the door. I continued straight across the room where a man was hastily rising from the naked body of a woman.

I thrust the end of one stick into a rushing man’s stomach and slammed the other stick into the side of his head. The guards came through the door as I reached the man that had been raping the Countess. I snapped kicked into his groin as he sliced with a dagger and then started beating him with my sticks. I spun to hit a man slipping up behind me and then looked around before putting my sticks away and reaching out for a dirty blanket.

I knelt and covered the Countess before lifting her in my arms. I turned and kicked a man backing into us and started for the door. The guard commander was outside and hurried to my side with an older noble. I did not stop walking as they fell in beside me, “She needs a doctor.”

The commander looked at me as the noble frowned, “Why?”

I did not look at them, “I ask formally that the criminals your men assisted in capturing be held for the kidnaping and rape of Countess MacTav.”

The noble sucked in his breath but they both remained quiet. The commander spun and started back but the noble stayed with me until I kicked on a door to a small narrow house. The woman that answered was a large woman. She looked from the Countess to me and backed up, “Take her to the back room on the left.”

I nodded and turned to move past her before going down to the room. I put her in a bed and touched her hand, “You are safe now.”

I glanced at the noble and stepped out with Mother Kerine, “Help her if you can. Several men raped her so use something to prevent or stop her from having a child.”

She nodded and moved into the room. The noble stepped out and looked at me, “thank you.”

I shook my head and headed for the door, “do not thank me. It will be a long time if ever that she comes back from what they did.”

Chapter five

Walking through walls

The reports and gossip working its way through the city was about another theft. It was like all the other recent ones, the thief had entered a locked room and then left. There were no signs he had used doors, windows or other means to enter the rooms. All the thefts were in old noble manors or what had been old noble manors. Since it was noble manors I had no way to examine the sites.

It was a nice day and I was enjoying watching the women walk by. I was sitting at a small outside table on the edge of that part of the market that was mostly for women. I had a mug of warmed cider the waitress kept refilling. The richly dressed magister sat across from me and I glanced away from a pretty young maid. He smiled, “She is pretty.”

I grinned, “They are all pretty.”

He grinned and glanced into the marketplace before looking at me, “The king has asked that you look into the matter of these recent thefts.”

I sat back, “I would need to look at the rooms he broke into.”

He shook his head, “He did not break into them. It is like he walked through the walls.”

I smiled, “Still, I would need to see them.”

The magister nodded, “Done.”

I looked into the market place, “The items stolen have not been sold at any of the fences in the city.”

He looked at me and I grinned, “I have checked.”

He nodded, “Mostly it has been gold but also valuable family relics.”

I sipped my cider and then sighed and stood. I turned as the waitress approached and handed her a silver coin, “thank you.”

She grinned and kissed me before clutching the coin and rushing back into the small shop. I glanced at the magister who was smiling, “I will start with Duke Weist.”

He stood and gestured to a young page standing by a shop, “This is Samuel, my page. I would like it if he accompanied you.”

I glanced at him, “As long as he does not get in the way.”

I watched the magister walk away and glanced at the page, “Come along youngster.”

When I reached the large manor of the duke it took an hour before I was let in to see him. He barely glanced at me, “The king wants the thief found but I doubt we could hold him if he can walk through walls.”

I smiled, “May I see the room he took everything from?”

He gestured to a guard and I followed him through the old house. The room he unlocked had a guard beside the door. I walked into the room and stood in the center before slowly turning. I ignored the guards and the page and went to tap on the walls. I found what I was looking for beside the small fireplace. I began checking old fixtures and decorations.

A few minutes later I found the catch. There was a slight click and I used my fingers to open the hidden door. I glanced in and turned to pull a small lantern down. The duke appeared beside me as I started to enter, “I never knew this was here.”

I smiled as I moved into the passageway, “This is an old manor my lord and back then times were hard.”

He snorted and fell in behind me, the passageway turned and descended in steep stairs. We came to another wall and I reached for a small lever on the right. There was another click and I pushed the door open. We walked into the duke’s large kitchen where his servants backed away wide eyed.

I nodded and looked at the cook, “You had a helper that has not returned. What was his name and what did he look like?”

She looked at the duke, “Jessup lord.”

The duke snorted, “Figures. He is the bastard of Baron Tan.”

I shook my head, “I very much doubt that my lord. Baron Tan enjoys other… sport.”

The duke looked at me for a minute and then laughed, “I should have known.”

I looked at the cook, “describe this Jessup?”

She thought a moment, “medium height lord. Long brown hair and eyes with scars on his hands.”

I nodded and turned to the duke, “Well my lord I will take my leave.”

He nodded, “If you find him let me know.”

I bowed and gestured to the page, it was the same at the other manors. By that evening I had a good idea of what my thief looked like. I also knew there were only three other old manors. I made an inquiry at each and smiled when I found my target. I fed the young page and sat him down in the shadows of an alley. I watched the servants gate into the Earl Richards manor.

The page was sleeping soundly when the gate opened silently. I watched a young man slip out carrying a large heavy sack and started towards him. He looked around when I was a few steps away and his darkened face blanched as his eyes widened. I was ready for his actions when he pulled a dagger and slammed a night stick down on his wrist. My other stick swept across to slam into his face.

He dropped to the street and lay unmoving as I knelt and tied his hands. I grabbed his sack and lifted it as I yanked him to his feet. He was dead weight as I pinned him against the wall, “Keep playing and I will cut the tendons in your legs.”

He stood and glared at me and I nodded, “Take me to where you put everything you stole.”

He shook his head and I put away my sticks and pulled out a thin wire, “I will ask once more. If you refuse I will put this around your manhood and tighten it until it falls off.”

His face whitened and he nodded before turning to lead me. I glanced back at the page who had awakened, “Go tell the magister.”

He nodded and turned to run into the night. I was not surprised when the thief led me into the darkened alleys of the city. When the two men came out of the shadows and attacked, I kicked the thief’s feet out from under him. I slid sideways as I brought a night stick down on one man’s head. I kicked the thief over as he tried to get to his feet and slammed a stick down on the wrist of the other man still on his feet.

He screamed as the bones broke and then I hit him in the forehead. I grabbed the thief’s hair as he was again trying to get to his feet. I put my sticks away and pulled out a thin cord with a slip knot on a loop. I put in over his head and around his neck as he cursed. I pulled it tight and bent to search the two other men before getting them to their feet.

I looked into the surly thief’s face, “try something else and it will be the last thing you do.”

I pushed the two other men along as the thief led me another couple of blocks to an old abandoned manor. It took a candle mark to put all the loot back into sacks. I made the three men carry everything and pushed them through the streets. A guard held the door as I pushed them through. The magister was talking to the guard commander as I grabbed bags of stolen property and set them down.

I pushed the sullen men towards a guard and sat at the table before reaching for the ink and parchment. I glanced at the magister before starting to write my report. By the time I finished every noble that had been robbed was there. I received a small pouch of gold from the king the next morning and a private note thanking me. I also received rewards from each of the nobles.

Chapter six

The life of a maid

I watched the two men as they slipped into the money lenders shop before walking across the street. I moved to stand beside the door and heard them threatening him and the sound of someone being hit. They were trying to start a protection racked and the money lender was just their fourth stop and the first I had been able to confirm. I pulled my night sticks and stepped into the shop to see the money lender opening his lock box.

I struck the bully and strong arm man in the head as he turned and continued past him to the other man. He held a drawn dagger and turned to slice across at me. That was a mistake, I slammed a club down on the wrist and the other into his face. I struck him in the stomach and kicked into his groin.

I snatched him by the hair and yanked him up before I spun him and slammed him into the wall, “He is already under the king’s protection asshole.”

I put my night sticks away and swiftly tied them as the money lender watched wide eyed. I smiled as I pushed them towards the door, “thanks for sending the runner.”

He nodded and I started pushing the two men. When I pushed them into the guard building The commander turned with a magister beside him. I shoved the two men towards a guard, “assault and extortion. I have three merchants statements and witnessed them trying it with a fourth.”

The commander nodded as I sat and started writing my report. He cleared his throat a minute later, “We had a maid killed.”

I glanced at him and he looked at the magister, “She was one of the queen’s maids.”

I straightened, “In his keep?”

The commander shook his head, “On her way home.”

I looked at the magister before nodding, “I will ask around.”

I went back to writing but kept thinking about the maid. After the commander paid me, I left and headed toward the slums. The small tavern I entered went quiet as I closed the door. I smiled and crossed to a nervous looking man with a scar on his cheek. I bent over the table, “Someone killed a queen’s maid in the streets.”

He looked around, “we do not know…”

I slammed a stick down on the table, “It was after she left the king’s keep, which means it was night. I know you and your… people watch those streets. I want a name or I will turn you for the silver.”

He swallowed, “It was not one of ours. It was a soldier wearing a black cloak.”

I straightened, “who and what lord does he serve?”

He looked around and sighed, “Earl Descart and the man is the earl’s captain.”

I nodded, “You should have known the king would look into this, which means the city guards and me.”

I looked around and then dropped a couple of gold coins on the table, “Next time just send a runner.”

I left and started for the richer side of the city as I thought. If a noble had killed a simple maid there was a reason. I stopped outside the huge estate walls of earl Descart. I was in the shadows across from the servants gate and finally just shook my head and started across the street. A guard at the gate straightened as I approached, “No solicitors…”

I grabbed him by the throat and spun before shoving him against the wall, “I am here for the man that killed the queen’s maid. You get in my way and I will take you along for conspiring against the king.”

The guard had been reaching for his dagger and froze. I nodded and turned to walk through the gate. I crossed the grounds and walked in the servants entrance before turning to follow a hallway. I stopped in the doorway leading into the great hall. There were several men at one table including the earl.

Standing to one side beside and behind him was his guard captain. I started for them and the captain’s eyes flicked to me before he straightened. The group quieted as I approached and the earl snarled, “And who do you think you are!”

I smiled as I stopped, “I am here to take your captain for the murder of the queen’s maid.”

He leaned forward as the group shifted, “And how are you going to do that?”

I pulled my night sticks, “By taking any that interfere for treason.”

The earl fingered his dagger, “And when you die?”

I had enough and my sticks swung both ways to slam into the heads of two men. They crumpled and I smiled, “You answered my question lord.”

Everyone had pulled daggers and I blocked a lunge before striking the man in the face. I grabbed his sagging body to shove him into two others. I slammed a stick down on a wrist, breaking it and then jabbed the other stick into the man’s throat. I spun and blocked a stab from the captain and kicked him in the groin before bringing a stick down on his head.

I moved sideways and knocked a dagger from the earl’s hand before slashing out the other way and hitting the other man in the side of his head. I faced the earl as he moved sideways and licked his lips, “It was for Duke Noss.”

I fainted and then brought the other stick around to strike him. As he crumpled to the floor I looked around. Several servants were watching wide eyed and I put my sticks away before tying all the men up. I searched them before I yanked them to their feet and pulled them after me. The main door and gate guards moved to stop me and I growled, “Interfere and I will have you hung for treason.”

When I pushed them into the guard building the commander stood frowning. I shoved the other men towards a guard but held onto the earl and the captain, “These are to be charged with conspiring against the king.”

I nodded to the captain, “This one killed the maid.”

I yanked on the earl, “This one ordered it.”

I looked at the commander as he licked his lips, “The king…”

I shook my head, “It was done for another noble. Put these two in separate cells and after I have finished my report I will go talk to the other noble.”

He hesitated and then nodded to a couple of guards. The earl took a breath and opened his mouth. I slapped the back of his head, “You talk before a magister and no one else.”

He glared but the guard slapped him hard, “You heard the thief taker scum! Keep your trap shut!”

They were led away and I sat to write a report. The commander read it over my shoulder and gasped when I got to the earl’s declaration that the killing was for duke Noss. I ignored him and finished the report before sanding it and handing it to him, “I will be back.”

I walked out thinking about the duke, it was going to be different than earl Descart. Duke Noss was one of the king’s advisors. I headed towards the king’s court, it was after lunch time so I knew he would be sitting in judgement and his advisors would be attending him. I nodded to the four men standing guard at the gates and walked through.

I ignored the line of merchants and applicants and walked into the great hall. Two very large king’s guards stepping in front of me. I smiled, “I am here on king’s business. I am a licensed thief taker and have the men that killed the queen’s maid. I need to see the queen.”

They looked at each other and one turned to wave to a well dressed man. He was short and balding and hurried across the great room. I saw the king watching and bowed slightly before facing the new man, “chamberlain, I am a thief taker and have the men that killed the queen’s maid. I need to speak to the queen.”

He frowned and turned to look at the two large chairs with the king and queen, “take him to the queen’s parlor.”

He turned to walk towards the king and the guards gestured to another guard who led me out of the room. I was looking out the tall windows and turned when the door opened. I bowed as the queen and king walked in. They were followed by the king’s advisors but I ignored them. They stopped in front of me and the king opened his mouth to speak.

I held up my hand as I looked at the queen, “Why would duke Noss want your maid killed?”

She gasped and turned as the king spun to the white faced duke. He snarled, “How dare you!”

I looked at him calmly, “be quiet or I will gag you.”

He puffed up and I pulled a stick, “One word.”

He froze and licked his lips as I looked at the queen, “Why?”

She looked at the king, “Because she heard him say he was going to have me taken and made pregnant by King Andrew’s son to start a war.”

The king glared and reached for his dagger. I cleared my throat, “Excuse me your majesty but this is my business.”

He glared at me but I looked at the duke as he looked around for a way out and the other advisors moved away, “What deal did you make with earl Descart?”

He sneered, “You can not touch me peasant.”

I took two quick steps and swung my stick. The duke jerked back and then staggered as my other stick was suddenly slamming into the side of his head. I grabbed his shirt, “Listen well scum. I deal with your like every day. You will answer my questions or I will beat them out of you.”

I pulled his dagger and tossed it to a guard that was moving towards us. He was surprised and caught it and stopped. I shook the duke, “The deal!”

He stuttered, “He wanted Baron Pells patent!”

I nodded and spun him before putting my sticks away and tying his hands. I nodded to the queen, “Thank you majesty. I imagine he threatened to tell the king something he made up if you spoke.”

She hesitated and the duke turned his head and opened his mouth. I slugged him in the side of his head, “Shut the hell up traitor!”

I looked at the queen again and she smiled and nodded, “He made a story up that baron Pells and I had been lovers.”

I nodded and started for the door, “That’s dumb, baron Pells is impotent. That is why he adopted Stephen.”

I saw the king stiffen and then nod before the door was opened by a guard and I pushed the duke out. The trial for the duke and earl was quiet and then they were hung beside the guard captain that had killed the maid. A large pouch of gold was delivered to me with a elegant note from the queen and king.

Chapter seven

Finding an assassin

I was watching a marketplace when the young beggar stopped beside me, “Sir?”

I glanced at him, “Yes?”

He looked around, “I have something for you.”

I waited and he swallowed before looking at me, “An assassin was hired to kill Duke Justice.”

I looked around, “How reliable is this?”

He swallowed again, “It comes from the shadow house.”

I slipped a gold coin out and tossed it, “Stay safe.”

He disappeared quickly while I thought about what he had said. I turned and started walking towards the richer part of the city. It was a little while before I reached the manor I was looking for. I slipped into the shadow of a building and carefully looked around. I saw the other watcher a minute later and moved back and used a side alley behind a row manor estates.

I silently slipped up behind the watcher and was tempted to hit him with a stick. Instead I used it to tap his shoulder. He jumped and cursed as he spun around, “WHO!”

He swallowed and looked around, “I did not do anything.”

I smiled, “Yet.”

He backed away a couple of steps and I followed, “Who is the assassin?”

He shook his head and I sighed, “Tell me or I take you in and let the guards ask.”

He looked around, “He will kill me.”

I shook my head, “Not if I take him.”

He finally nodded, “Peter the knife.”

I gestured, “I do not want to see you for a couple of weeks.”

He turned and ran off and I started walking towards the front of the estate. The two guards at the wide gate looked alert and competent. I nodded to them and addressed the older one, “I am a thief taker and need to see Duke Justice.”

They looked at each other and the older guard grinned, “Duke Justice is the head of the Magister Court.”

I nodded, “I know that. He needs and requires information I have.”

He looked at me for a minute before nodding and gesturing to the other guard who turned to walk to the large front door of the manor. A few minutes later he returned and escorted me in, when I walked into the study the duke was behind his desk. A young looking servant was beside him pouring tea.

As I crossed to the desk something seemed to send a chill through me. The guard waited beside the door and the duke looked at me, “you wanted to speak with me…”

I pulled a stick and threw it in one motion before lunging. The stick hit the servant’s hand with the thin dagger. I grabbed the servant and twisted as I fell to the side. He went backwards and over me as I hit the floor. I kept rolling and grabbed a hand and twisted. I turned him until he was below me and I had his hand behind his back. I pulled it up hard, “give me the other hand!”

He snarled and tried to struggle as I spread myself and twisted his arm, “NOW!”

The guard reached me as I grabbed the servant’s other hand. He grabbed me and the duke barked an order for him to wait. I sat up as I held both wrists and then I shifted and pulled thin leather ties from a sleeve. I tied his hands before standing and pulling him up. I carefully searched him and glanced at the duke, “I am sorry your grace. I came to warn you but the assassin was already here.”

He looked at the young man as I moved to pick up my stick and the dropped dagger. I turned the man to face the duke, “You should keep your guards with you and take extra precautions until I find out who is behind it.”

He smiled, “Thank you, I will.”

I nodded and pushed the assassin towards the door. The assassin was silent all the way to the guard building. I shoved him towards a guard that had started walking towards us, “He tried to kill duke Justice. Strip him before you put him in a cell.”

The guard snatched the man and roughly started shoving him towards the door heading to the cells. I sat with the guard Sergeant, “No commander?”

He shook his head, “A small mob fight in one of the markets.”

I nodded and started writing out a report as I told the sergeant about someone hiring the assassin to kill the duke. I handed him the parchment when I finished and stood, “Do not let your men relax around that man.”

He nodded and I walked out and started walked towards the poor area called thieves quarter, the tavern I went to was in an alley. I slipped into the common room and everyone went quiet. I smiled and crossed to the only table with one man at it, “hello Gregor.”

He was frowning, “I sent you a message.”

I nodded and tossed him a gold coin, “Where did the information come from?”

He licked his lips and looked around. I glanced around, “How many of you have I caught and let go?”

They all mumbled and looked away. I nodded, “This is the time to pay me back. Duke Justice is not like the others, you all know that. He was the one to send the extra supplies down here and the food rations. He is also the one that makes sure the men sentenced to work farms are fed properly and have a bed to sleep on.”

They were all nodding and I looked at Gregor, “I need the man that paid for the assassin.”

He grinned, “It was not a man.”

I looked at him and then around the room. He laughed, “It was his mistress.”

I sighed, “He is not going to like this.”

Gregor looked around, “We heard a strange mercenary accepted her money too.”

I looked at him, “There were two assassins?”

He shrugged, “yeah.”

I turned and tossed another gold coin back, “Thanks.”

This time I did not walk, I jogged. When I reached the guards building I shouldered the door open and walked across the room as all the guards and the commander turned to look. I opened the back door and walked into the cell area. The naked assassin was bruised and battered as he glared at me. I stopped in front of his cell, “What is his name.”

He spit on the floor between us. I ignored the guard commander and the guards, “I will ask once more before I open the cell and rip your manhood off. What is his name?”

He looked around before looking at me, “David Kechem.”

I spun and pushed through the guards, “There is another assassin.”

After I left the building I headed back to the duke’s. When I stopped at the gate the guards looked at me and frowned. I nodded to them, “I need to see the duke again as well as your guard commander.”

They looked at each other, “he went to the courts a few minutes ago.”

I turned and ran toward the city courts building. It was less then a minute before I saw the duke ahead of me. His guards were looking around as they walked and the one in back turned to face me. He smiled as he pulled his dagger and turned to step closer to the duke. I was still to far but pulled out a weighted sap and threw it.

The assassin was moving between two other guards when the sap hit. He stumbled and they all turned towards me. I pulled my sticks and slowed to a walk as I pointed one at the assassin, “surrender and I will make sure you live.”

The other guards looked at him as I seemed to ignore them. The duke glanced from me to the assassin before backing away from him. The assassin looked around before reaching into his shirt and pulling a second dagger. The other guards moved away and I shifted as I stopped a pace away. He snarled as he moved sideways, “You should have stayed out of it.”

I watched him as I shifted and moved into his circling and into his path. He thrust one of the daggers towards my hand and shifted as I brought the stick up and out to knock it away. It had been a faint and he lunged with the other dagger. I snapped my other stick down hard and there was a crack as it hit the back of his hand, breaking bones.

He rocked back as he dropped his dagger but I followed him as I moved in. He stabbed out with his other dagger but I was expecting it and struck his wrist with the tip of my left stick. He cried out as the dagger spun away and I stepped in and jabbed into his gut with my right stick. He grunted and started to fold over as I brought the other stick around to hit him on the side of his head.

He twisted and fell to the ground and I quickly knelt. I yanked his arms behind his back as I pulled out leather binding cords. When I was done tying his hands, I yanked him up. I looked at the duke as he came forward, “It is almost over. Your mistress was the one that paid them.”

The duke stiffened, “She would not…”

I just looked at him as his face reddened and shook my head, “next time your grace, just marry the girl.”

I pulled the assassin to where my sap was and then I picked up the two daggers. I pushed the man in front of me as I started back to the guard headquarters. When I shoved him in, the commander turned to look and gestured for a guard to come take him. I set his daggers on the table before sitting and pulling a parchment to me, “He was the second assassin. As soon as I finish this I will go bring in baroness Maldive.”

The commander started, “baroness Maldive?”

I glanced at him but continued to write, “She was the one to pay the assassins.”

I finished and sanded the parchment before pushing it across the table. I stood and headed for the door and back to the nobles quarter. The two guards at the baroness’s gate blocked my way and I smiled sourly, “Your lady broke the king’s law. Move or I will move you.”

One smiled as he fingered his dagger and I sighed before shifting as I pulled both sticks. One lashed out and I slammed a stick into the smug guard’s head and the other slashed down to strike the other guard’s wrist as he pulled his dagger. I moved into him as his partner dropped to the ground and struck again, this time along side his head.

He collapsed and I started for the wide front doors. I walked into the elegant entry and slashed sideways to hit another guard across the face. He fell to the floor as I started towards the baroness across the room, “baroness Maldive, I am arresting you for the attempted murder of duke Justice.”

She was white faced as two more guards appeared. I did not slow or hesitate as they spread out. I moved to one side and fainted before bringing the other stick down on the guard’s wrist. I heard the bone break as I moved into him and jabbed the end on my stick into his gut. He folded as I grabbed him and shoved him towards the other guard.

I followed and slashed across to break knuckles of his hand clutching his dagger before moving closer to jab my other stick into his face. As he stumbled back I kept moving and broke his other hand before hitting him along side the head. I turned to the baroness, “either come quietly or I will tie you and put you over my shoulder.”

“That will not be necessary thief taker.”

I looked at the front door to see duke Justice as he walked in and sighed, “The law was broken your grace.”

He started across the room, “I know that but I will not press charges.”

I shook my head, “If you do not the two assassins will be freed.”

He stopped in front of his mistress, “I know that too.”

I smiled, “I am glad you have decided to honor your mistress your grace but she has broken the king’s law.”

He sighed and glanced at me, “and you always bring in those that break the king’s law?”

I smiled, “You know I do not but this is not stealing food or clothing.”

The duke nodded as he looked at the baroness, “This I know.”

I walked to them and the baroness turned to face me.