Page 11 of The Orc's Thief
Chapter
Five
ARLON
Cold water drips from the edge of my hood, and I draw back under the awning of a shoemaker’s shop to escape the worst of the downpour. The light drizzle that’s been wetting the streets of Ultrup all day has turned into a nasty, persistent rain, and to say I’m regretting my choices right now would be an understatement.
I should’ve listened to Major Strahl and found another inn for the night. If I had, I could be sitting in a warm taproom right now, sipping from a mug of mulled wine and listening to whatever entertainment they brought in for the evening. Taprooms are always lively when the weather turns sour. Guests and locals alike crowd in to share the inviting warmth.
My oldest friend and mentor, Ozork, always said my impulsiveness would kill me someday. Tonight might not be lethal, exactly, but I’m not sure this much water and cold is beneficial to anyone. I fold my arms across my chest and swallow a groan as a trickle of icy rainwater flows from my cheek down into the collar of my tunic, sending a shiver through me.
Enough is enough. I don’t know what I was thinking, coming to the Ravens’ mansion, but that nagging feeling wouldn’t go away. The more I thought about it, the more certain I became that the thieves must have noticed me around here and followed me to my inn. They might even belong to Damen’s crew. If that’s true, Major Strahl might finally have the proof he needs to raid this place, but only if I catch the thieves and prove without a doubt that they’re the culprits.
So I made the rash decision to cancel dinner with my friends and come here instead. I walked in circles for an hour, ducking into alleyways and watching the rooftops. Finally, I was certain I wasn’t being followed, unless the thieves could turn themselves invisible. I’d been careless before, assuming they wouldn’t target me, but tonight was different. When I took my place in this entryway, hidden in the shadows, I settled in for a long wait.
The place has been buzzing with activity all evening. At first, I thought the Ravens were preparing for an event of their own, but the carriages that have drawn up to the front door tell me they’re leaving in numbers.
“Fucking unbelievable.”
I hunch my shoulders and pull deeper under the awning. I’ve wastedhourstonight watching this place, and they’re all leaving? I peer through the rain, trying to spot whichever one of Strahl’s people is on duty. They’ll likely follow the carriages to see what this is all about.
I want nothing more than to return to the inn, get a hot dinner, hang my cloak by the fire, and give myself a chance to dry off. But if I move now, someone will notice me, and all my stealthy maneuvers will be in vain. So I wait, resisting the urge to growl at them to hurry..
The first carriage pulls away from the front door, the horses nickering softly. They’re a fine pair—tall, glossy, well-fed—and despite my dislike of the gang, I have to commend their driverBoth animals wear leather rain covers, protecting them from the weather. The carriage wheels clatter over the cobblestones, and the hanging lanterns sway gently.
Just a little longer.
Two more carriages stand ready nearby. I shift my feet, impatient. The moment they turn the corner…
Something flickers at the edge of my vision. A shift in shadow. I would’ve missed it, if not for the tension coiling in my gut.
It could be a cat.
I dismiss the thought instantly. Not tonight. Every stray cat in Ultrup has found a dry place to sleep. It must be the thieves. My heart pounds faster. I scan the rooftops, searching for confirmation.
Earlier, when I circled the district to shake off potential pursuers, I’d studied the buildings—stone structures, three stories tall at least. No easy access. But one building stood out, a smaller annex at the row’s end, a barber’s shop frequented by the city’s wealthiest men. That’s where I’d climb, if I were trying to get to the rooftops.
Now that I suspect the thieves are working tonight, all thoughts of the warm taproom evaporate from my mind. I want these carriages to fucking move. I need to get to that shop, now, before I lose the only lead I’ve got.
This is my only opportunity. I know it deep in my bones. If I fuck up tonight, I might never get another chance.
The second carriage lurches into motion. Blood thrums in my ears in anticipation.
It’ll be dangerous, especially working alone. If the crew is skilled and used to moving as one, they’ll outmaneuver me. Worse, I’ll be at a disadvantage up there. I’m heavier than any human. Orsha, our trainer, had us climbing cliffs and trees in all weather, but those didn’t have slippery shingles and nohandholds. All it would take is one misstep. One shove from a terrified thief.
And it would be the last fall I ever take.
Backup. I need backup.
Strahl’s guard, whoever he assigned to watch the mansion, must be nearby. But before I can find him, the third carriage starts to roll. I press myself tighter into the shadows.
A moment later, a figure bursts from the alley across the street, a tall woman with a curly black hair rushing after the departing carriage. She sprints, boots splashing through puddles. Just before it turns the corner, she leaps, grabs the rear luggage rack, and hauls herself up.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
There goes my backup. Whoever that was, she must’ve concluded she could never follow the carriages on foot, not in this weather. I might have done the same if my mission aligned with hers. But I’m no longer part of the team.
There’s nothing else to do. I duck my head and run for the other side of the street, where I’ll be less visible to the thieves on the roof. Then I put on a burst of speed and dash to the barber’s shop, which has long since closed for the night. The scent of soap still lingers in the air as I round the building. It would’ve been better to take a running leap, like that guard did earlier, but there’s not enough room. I use the window ledge of the neighboring building to haul myself up instead.
