Page 25 of If The Crown Fits
I didn’t have any choice but to follow him, though I did so while stomping my feet as loudly as I could manage, just to show how upset I was with this situation.
I got dressed behind the bush, the morning air forming goosebumps on my skin while my eyes stayed on Alcott, like a bird of prey, making sure he didn’t turn around. The clothes were mostly the same as theirs. A loose white shirt, some ridingbreeches and a pair of riding boots. I pulled the jacket over my shirt and brushed my fingers through my hair. The material hung a little loose, but most of it fitted well enough.
Alcott’s eyes widened a little as I reached him, but I ignored his foolish face and walked back to the rest of the group. I tossed the torn shift into the ashes of the fire before noticing everyone’s eyes were on me.
“What?” I looked down at my attire before realising most of them had probably never seen a woman prancing around in men’s clothes. Where I came from, we didn’t have the luxury of choosing what we wanted to wear. A lot of the women wore dresses, but sometimes we had to make do with what we had. Especially in my case. I could hardly rob someone and fight them off in a bunch of skirts. It would be illogical. Feeling more comfortable, I placed my hands on my hips and eyed the lot of them.
“You’ve never seen a lady in trousers before?” Raising an eyebrow, I took a moment to look each of them in the eye. The fact that I felt a little more like myself again gave me a reassuring confidence.
I heard someone clear their throat before they looked away and went about their business. Relaxing a little, I let my shoulders drop and made my way towards Alcott’s horse.
Not having to struggle with the likes of a skimpy sleeping gown, I swung myself up with little effort, meeting the questioning gaze of Alcott. At least I seriously doubted they would even believe me now if I told them I was a princess. So there would be little chance of them keeping me for ransom. Alcott got on behind me before taking the reins.
“Can you at least tell me where we’re going?” I asked a while into our ride. Although the clothes were more comfortable, I still had to share a horse with Alcott, which most certainly wasn’t.
“I’m afraid not,” he replied nonchalantly and I rolled my eyes.
“Well, I’m thirsty. When are we stopping for water?”
“Soon.”
I was annoyed with his vagueness and decided that maybe it would be easier to gain the trust of his men first. They seemed important to him. If all of them took a liking to me, perhaps they would simply let me go.
When the afternoon sun was at its peak, we stopped at a small town. I had never been in this part of Everness, but the people appeared to be a middle class of merchants and traders: not wealthy enough to be aristocratic, but not poor enough to be peasants. My stomach rumbled as we dismounted and Alcott’s men spread out.
“May I have a look around or would you like to bind me with ropes?” I asked Alcott, who was busy putting on a jacket.
“You may go anywhere you like.” My heart dared to leap for a moment. “As long as Brutus keeps an eye on you.” My shoulders sagged.
“Fine,” I replied, attempting not to show any emotion. “Where are you going?” He was already starting to walk away before he turned around to face me. Holding my hands behind my back, I swayed back and forth a little, smiling ever so charmingly.
“Don’t try anything.” He disappeared into the small cluster of people in the street.
“Well then.” I looked at Brutus, who didn’t appear all too eager to babysit me. “I guess it’s just you and me, big guy.” I slapped him on the shoulder before walking past, knowing he would be following behind. The village wasn’t that big and finding the market didn’t take me too long. I had an idea—the only problem was I didn’t have any money on me.
I started scanning the people who walked past. Their faces, clothes and any belongings they might carry with them. Poverty was easy to spot and therefore so was the lack of it. It took a while and every face I scanned earned anoin my mind. But then, my eyes fell on a middle-aged man, clearly a merchant or in business of some sort. His clothes were nice, his hands smooth and his face without a hint of hardship. And a lovely little sack of coins peeked out from his coat pocket.
I looked in front of me to avoid suspicion, though keeping him in my peripheral vision. Brutus continued behind me. When I reached the man, instead of walking around him, I bumped into his shoulder before sliding my hand into his coat pocket and pulling out the small bag of coins.
“Sorry, I’m so sorry.” I pretended to apologise, but he barely looked at me and I grinned devilishly. I crossed my arms while clutching the small bag between my fingers. We walked for a few more feet before I turned back to Brutus. “I need you to get me a cloak.” I gestured to my attire, which was in dire need of concealing. He hesitated. “People are looking at me suspiciously.” Which wasn’t even a lie, although Brutus didn’t look entirely convinced. I could hardly blame him.
“Please,” I begged. I simply needed a few minutes for him to walk to the horses and back. Brutus didn’t move. “Come on, what could I possibly do? I can’t run far enough without you being able to catch me, but I can start screaming and telling everyone that you kidnapped me.”
He swallowed and for a moment my conscience ticked at the thought of me manipulating him. But I pushed it back where all my guilty feelings lay lost and forgotten. Brutus gestured with his head, suggesting I follow him.
“Oh it’s all right,” I said with my most innocent voice. “I can wait here.” I stood with my hands behind my back until thecrowd swallowed him, before running back to one of the market stands we had passed.
The man behind the table looked friendly and, as could be expected, very eager for business. He proceeded to show me all the different kinds of daggers and pocketknives he had available. I settled on one with a slightly decorated hilt before paying the man with the coin I had stolen. I thanked the vendor and slid the dagger into my sleeve.
Brutus came back with a cloak, which I wrapped around myself, and we started making our way back.
Alcott and the others were waiting for us when we arrived. “I found a tavern where we could stay for the night,” he said. We followed him to a building around the corner with a sign swinging above the door:Pint Grove.As if that made any sense.
The chatter from inside the tavern was loud, with a fire in the corner warming up the place. I stood a few feet away as Alcott talked to the owner. “And another room for me and my wife.” My eyes widened in their direction. His wife? What exactly did this man think he was up to?
Alcott’s men each went in their own direction. Brutus and Alastor were already comfortable at the bar, with a drink or two, and Conner and Jack went outside, I assumed to stable the horses.
Alcott took me by the elbow and led me upstairs. I didn’t feel like starting a fight yet, so I followed without hassle. We walked down a small corridor and he opened one of the doors with the key given to him by the owner.
