Madelaine: 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWi7PBbhI1
“He won.” I whispered.
Tomas looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, it seems he knew some clever tricks.”
His small court wondered back to the castle, many of the ladies talking in hushed, giggling voices. Tomas held my hand as we walked, as though he wanted to make sure I would not join the gaggle of women.
He looked at me and then brushed his left shoulder with a hand. His honour guard was a moment of activity. The ten men stepped up and included us. One quickly took off Tomas’ cloak and another replaced it with one of theirs. They placed the lord’s cloak on one of the soldiers as he pulled off his helmet and passed it to Tomas. I felt my eyes widen as the similarities between them. His hair had been cut similarly, under his cloak he had similar clothing to Tomas – if not as high quality.
“Come with me.” Tomas murmured, slapping the helmet on his head and pulling me to the side. He motioned to his honour guard and they stepped in front of us, continuing to the castle.
“What is going on – surely this won’t work!” I muttered as he drew me away.
“With you on my arm – not as likely.” He agreed, “but you wanted to see the prisoner…”
I grinned up at him, “give me a moment.” We walked around the corner and I slipped behind the rose bushes lining the path. He frowned but allowed me to go past him. Sarah was already there, a short knife in her hand. In moments she had slashed through the ties holding my dress together, allowing me to shimmy it off as I pulled on a billowy shirt. I pulled on the pants just as she dropped to the grass and help me put on the boots. I draped her cloak around my shoulders, pulling the hood over my head and smiled at her, nodding my thanks. She slipped three bottles into my pockets, quickly stepping away. Within five minutes I had stepped over the dress pooled around my feet and walked back to Tomas.
“How…?” He frowned, “isn’t… there…”
“Lead the way.” I said, ignoring his confusion.
He went to take my hand, frowned again, looked at me and shrugged. I suppressed a giggle, enjoying his confusion. He eyed me slowly and then confidently led the way to the guard house, “of course.”
270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHjlCDj2Jn
Westfield:270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBYSwhCMwa
The prisoner sat cross legged in the stinking cell, a smile creeping along her lips. She reminded me of a black cat, intensified by the way her black attire hugged her body like a pelt. The dim light did little to hide the curves of her hips, the dip of her breasts, her long legs. I would be a fool to say she was not alluring, her eyes raking over me the way all men enjoyed. The guards faced outwards by the cell door; their eyes fixed to the stone wall opposite them. I suppose that had been a direct order from Will, an impeccable man with a great sense of humour. After a few drinks.
I nodded at the guards and they moved to the sides of the cell, their backs still facing the prisoner.
“So,” I drawled, running a finger across the bars, “how are you enjoying your stay?”
The creature inside the cell uncurled herself off the rusting bunk, her long mane running unhindered down her back as she stalked up to the bars.
“Why hello,” she said, “how –” she ran her eyes down my body again, “nice of you to visit. I don’t get many upper guards down here. Apart from Sir William – what a sunned god he is.”
“I’m glad your stay has been entertaining for you.”
She smiled, her eyes reaching mine. Just as she did, she threw back her head and laughed, a cackle that thundered through the room.
“I had guessed – but oh your eyes!” She laughed, “You can play dress up as much as you wish – but your eyes Lord Tomas. They are both your asset and your strength. Famous throughout these lands. You know the rumours yes? Meet the eyes of Lord Tomas and you’ll find yourself pledged to his banner before the night is out!”
The guards looked surprised and then jolted to attention, eyeing me from their posts. I pulled off the helmet, shaking my head as my hair fell around my face. As I did so I caught Madelaine squatting over an apparent floor brush, her hood pulled over her face. I had been so intent on the spy I had missed her. That was exactly what she had wanted I had no doubt, as dangerous a woman as the one in the cage. Her body bowed inwards, as though she had been scrubbing floors her whole life. She played the role of servant boy almost to perfection.
“Well spotted.” I smiled, turning my eyes back to my prisoner.
The spy shrugged, turning to sit cross legged on the bed, “what do you wish of me?” she asked sweetly, “I am so very busy.”
“Information.” I said, “why here? Surely attacking WestFeild’s wedding guests as they travel would be more effective picking than squatting where I will be forced to root you out.”
The woman picked at her nails, trying to clean the grime from under them. “Why do bandits do anything? They’re hungry beggars waiting for handouts.”
“Your pack is anything but beggars,” I snorted, “they’re well known throughout the land, taking from nobles and enjoying the coin.”
She made an amused sound, “who else could we take from oh lofty Lord? The people have nothing. You are all wealthy beasts squatting on the country’s riches. So why would we choose to squat when we would rather eat?”
“You’ve been paid off.” I said aloud, seeing Dagger shrug, “but by whom?”
She grinned, “arrange my release and I will tell you.”
“Release a known criminal and possible murderer?”
“I am a thief Lord Tomas, but not of lives. Of pretty things. I am called dagger because I can cut away your valuables before you remembered you brought them with you. Murder is messy. Murder is not pretty. But I can trade you information for freedom, that I can give.”
I frowned, “how can we trust each other? You could give me false information, or I could have you killed in a moment.”
I looked down at the lady still cleaning, mute to my looks. I sighed, walking towards the door.
“I may have a way,” Madelaine said, rising from her position on the floor. She flipped back her hood, revealing her face. Dagger stepped back from the lady’s face, narrowing her eyes. “I…. know you – we attacked your camp.” I watched from the door, curious and watchful. Madelaine glanced at me, smiled, and then returned her gaze on Dagger.
“Yes, I know.” Madelaine said dryly, coming closer to the cell. “I have questions about that night – but for now, let’s sort out this little problem.” She turned to look at me, gesturing at the guards.
“Could they give me a little privacy please.”
The guards looked at me and I nodded, glad that I was privy to more of Madelaine’s secrets. A split-second concern of being murdered crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. There had been many opportunities for that.
Madelaine walked up to the bars, moving so her back was to me. Dagger watched the lady with curious eyes, coming forward to see what the lady wanted. Madelaine looked Dagger in the eyes, and then dipped the trousers waistline forwards of her hip. I couldn’t see what she showed the thief, only that Dagger stepped back shaking. Her face paled, ducking her head to the lady.
“I’m sorry my Lady, I had no idea. We would never…” Dagger dropped to the ground, pressing her head to the dirt.
“I will pardon it,” Madelaine said slowly, “you had no idea – and that is how it should be. But now, tell us what we want to know.”
I itched to tear at Madelaine’s clothes, to see what she had shown the thief. I realised there had been more than one reason for her disguise. It never occurred to me the access men’s clothing gave.
“Of course, mistress, I am at your service.” Dagger said, all sense of bravado gone from her words. “We were given a large amount of money from a nobleman north of the castle. More to come. We were ordered to squat and cause you trouble for the time leading up to the marriage. He said if we can also find out the number of men posted, military intel, that kind of thing – he would reward us.”
Rage built up inside my skull, though I shook it loose to ask, “what is this nobleman’s name? Is he a lord of a province, or a smaller noble?”
Dagger looked uncomfortable, but looked at Madelaine and breathed out through her nose, “His name… is Lord Mickal of the Kragle districts.”
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