Page 25 of The Orc's Thief
It’s tempting to let him in. To admit I stole part of the ledger. To ask for help decoding it, because I haven’t even looked at it yet, but I know Damen. If I were the leader of the largest gang in Ultrup, I’d protect my business by more than just a safe. Chances are, the entire thing is written in code.
“What will you report to the duke’s people about tonight?” I ask, sidestepping his question.
He hesitates. “I’ll tell my superior the truth. That another thief, unconnected to the gang, broke in and stole…whatever it is you stole. The major is a good man. He could help you. You could come in with me and…”
I push to my feet. “Ah, no, thank you. What do you think the city watch would do to someone who admitted to breaking into that house and stealing?” I smirk, though there’s nothing humorous about this situation. “If you think Damen doesn’t have people in the watch on his payroll, you’re a fool. He’d know I was there within the hour, and then he’d kill me.”
“The major could protect you if you had significant information,” he insists, sitting up straight. “You’d get a fair trial?—”
“A trial?” The laugh that escapes me is harsh. “How often do peoplesurvivetrials where you’re from?”
He pulls back, dark eyebrows furrowing. “Most of the time, actually. King Gorvor is generous and just. He wouldn’t?—”
“Hewouldn’t be the one passing judgment on me, would he?” I snap. “And ‘most of the time’ isn’t good enough for me. I’ll take my chances, thank you.”
I’ve tarried here too long. I should’ve left the stranger the moment I bashed him over the head. But I did learn something useful from him, so perhaps this wasn’t a complete waste of time. His honor and loyalty to the letter of the law are entirely misplaced, though.
“Don’t leave,” he says, as if reading my thoughts. “I can help you.”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “No, you can’t. You’re the type who’d do the right thing over doing what’s necessary, and when it comes down to it, you’ll report me to your superiors because you think what I’m doing is wrong.”
He scowls. “You know nothing about me, thief.”
“See, there you go, calling me that.” I cock my hip, putting up a front to mask how much his words sting. “You don’t know anything about me either, and yet here we are.”
His body is tense as a bowstring, the muscles in his shoulders bunching under his damp cloak. “Are you saying you didn’t steal from me? Or the Ravens?”
I shrug, already backing toward the other exit. “Oh, I did. Doesn’t mean you get to judge.”
He exhales through his nose, then calls, “Take the salve.”
That stops me. “What?”
“You already stole my soap,” he says, that crooked grin resurfacing. “Take the salve as well. You should use it until your skin heals.”
A moment ago, he was definitely angry, and now he’s offering help again? I can’t figure him out, which makes him dangerous. He’s in control of his emotions and skilled at hiding his true thoughts.
That doesn’t mean I won’t take him up on his offer. I rush forward, snag the pot from the floor, and retreat again. He doesn’t move to stop me, just watches, his dark gaze tracking my every step.
“I’m sorry for hitting you in the head,” I call as I duck through the opening and shut the door behind me.
A grunt sounds through the wood, so I lift a board I’d found earlier and wedge it in, barring the door. Given how big he is—and how easily he hauled me to the roof—I know it won’t hold him for long. But I only need a minute to disappear.
A strange sort of regret washes over me as I slip through the back door, scramble onto the slanted roof of what must’ve been a pigpen, and haul myself up to a second-story window in the neighboring building. It’s a solid escape route. Challenging enough to deter most, with a far more obvious path leading down to the courtyard that any normal person would choose.
I glance over my shoulder one last time, half expecting him to already be on my trail, but he isn’t following. I smother any emotions I might have about tonight’s events and duck out of sight. He helped me tonight, which was unexpected, but our conversation betrayed his agenda, to get me back to the city watch.
I’ll have to leave Ultrup in the morning. The gates open at sixth bell, and I’ll be ready. I only need to read the pages from Damen’s ledger to decide my next step. I’ll follow Lindie wherever she went, whether she went willingly or not.
Chapter
Ten
ARLON
“Godsdamnit.”
I pull at the rope tying my wrists behind my back, and the damp coils dig into my skin. If my head wasn’t ringing from the blow the thief dealt me, I’d tear them apart. But she did a good job trussing me up, which is unsurprising, given her profession.
