Page 38 of A Song of Thieves

“Roan,” the captain interjects. I pause, my gaze meeting his own. “You can call me Roan. There’s no need for formality out here,” he says. My skin prickles again, but a quick check shows I haven’t touched him since the last time.

I call him captain not because I’m uncomfortable using his name, but to remind myself to keep my distance. To remind me of what he represents. And to hell if I’m going to cozy up to the likes of him or anyone close to him. I try to scoot away, leaving some distance between me and him, but end up bumping into both Aiden and Otto. No matter where I move I will be touching someone I swore to hate for my entire lifetime.

The captain notes my movement, but says nothing.

How did I wind up sandwiched between three men? Not only three men, but three guardsmen at that? I release a deep exhale, rubbing at my eyes to try and clear away my irritation and obvious lack of judgment. I may have agreed to come along of my own free will, but I didn’t agree to become bosom friends.

“Once Captain Montgomery gave the description of the princess and Aldren,” I continue, trying to take away any friendliness from my voice, “Silas immediately clammed up. He went from willing to personally escort us on our journey to Fort Lowsan and home again with our supposed father, to ready to slit our throats in mere moments.”

“He recognized the description,” the captain adds, not even flinching at my refusal to use his preferred name. “He knew we were looking for Princess Adalena.”

“You think he was involved?” Aiden asks.

“If not directly, he at least knows something. That outpost was made to house only three or four people. The keeper and some stable hands, along with a few horses. Those men were out of place, hiding and keeping off the road during daylight.” The captain looks distressed as he speaks, his voice low and gutteral. His vision goes distant as if trying to fit all the pieces together that seem odd-shaped and askew.

“We may not have solid proof that the princess came this way, but I’d say it’s a decent breadcrumb that we’re heading in the right direction. It’s too strange and coincidental to ignore,” I state.

Otto nods at my speculation. “Aye. I agree. Roan, would you conclude the same?”

The captain is expressionless, his voice dry as he says, “Yes. I would agree.”

No one says anything for a few moments, all of us silently contemplating. Why would so many need to participate in order to take one young girl? There’s more to it than just kidnapping a princess. There’s more to their plan. Whoever they are, do they want to invade Turin? Overthrow Cassus Chattan, and put another in his place?

I wouldn’t care much if they did. Although, I’m sure many lives would be lost. And most of those lives, along with the suffering inflicted from such a move, would be paid for by those with the least amount of power to change even their own circumstances.

The captain clenches his jaw, the muscles there tightening, his hands toggling between balled fists and openly flexed, distracting me from my reflections.

“We should have stayed and fought,” he whispers, although everyone hears.

“We were outnumbered,” I respond.

His eyes are cold, their brilliant blue muted to the navy darkness building within. “With Aiden and Otto, we could have handled it. We could have grabbed Silas and questioned him to our heart’s content, gotten details of Lena and where they’re headed. Instead, we are following some obscure path we simplyhopethey’re on,” he replies.

It feels as though he’s talking to himself rather than to our group. But his dejected voice seems to bring us all to wonder if we could have, or should have, done more—won a dozen against four, and gotten more concrete evidence to guide us. Perhaps earning us the knowledge of the path and direction to follow that would definitively stop with Lena at the end of it.

Our conversation dies off, leaving nothing to do but stare at the clouds and their deluge wreaking through this part of the land. The water has cooled away the steamy afternoon, leaving a bit of chill through the air, sending a shiver up my spine.

“There’s no use in arguing the shoulds or shouldn’ts of the past. It doesn’t get us anywhere but more frustrated, and expending the energy needed to solve our current problems,” Otto states, his bold tone directed at us all. “I say for now, we follow the West Passageway to Fort Lowsan. We can meet up with the Santanas, and—”

“No. We cannot involve the Santanas,” the captain interjects, cutting Otto off from his next words. The history and High Houses of Felshan families are not my strength. The name Santana doesn’t jog any memories, but I’m not surprised. I had no use for such things outside of Turin. Why spend my time learning the names and history of the wealthy, those who literally have everything, when my time could be put to much better use supporting those not born to privilege?

“The Santanas have always been friendly to the Crown. If the princess or Aldren went through Fort Lowsan, they would be able to provide that information. I’ve heard they run that city like a prison yard. We might be able to receive something vital to our quest,” Aiden responds.

“They do run their city like a prison yard. If they knew we were in Fort Lowsan and our purpose for being in their city, we would be swallowed into the cell of Lord Santana’shospitalityuntil all trace of Lena or Aldren disappears,” Captain Montgomery tells us.

“But I thought you were friends with Lord Santana’s children? Weren’t Tess and Liam close with the prince?” Otto asks.

The captain stiffens, and a long pause accompanies Otto’s question. “They were,” he finally replies. “But in case you’ve forgotten, the prince has been dead for seven years. Lots of friendships waiver during such a long period of absence.” The captain’s eyes are hard, but not because Otto questioned him. No. There’s something deeper there that I can’t quite point to.

“Maybe it’s time you remind them of their affection for Evander, and their fealty to the Crown,” Otto counters. Something passes between the master and his old student, silent words passing to and fro, neither one breaking eye-contact.

“We go into Fort Lowsan without making our presence known. The Santanas are not to be told of Princess Adalena. If anything changes, I will let you know.” And with that the captain lays down in our cramped space, signaling the end of our discussion. I’ve never heard of Tess or Liam Santana, and keeping to myself has always been my way, so steering clear of their family is no great disappointment.

Otto turns away, clearly not agreeing with his captain’s assessment. He swallows his defeat rather quickly, patting Aiden on the shoulder and offering a warm smile as he joins the captain on his overlapping bedroll. “Best get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day, especially if this rain keeps up,” Otto says.

I don’t realize until my three companions are nestled on the ground that I somehow got wedged next to the captain. Maneuvering my way to the corner, I attempt to evade the stream of water seeping through the edge of the tent. A quick tug on my bedroll brings further misfortune as I realize it’s tucked underneath Captain Montgomery. Do I risk letting him know that I’d rather sleep in the pouring rain than curl up beside him? Or do I sleep in the muck?

A quick manipulation of my position lends me a clean space for my head, curling my legs up against my chest to keep them as dry as possible. Only my boots and the bottom part of my pants sink into the wet dirt. It’s not the worst place I’ve ever slept.

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