Princess of Thieves

by Bella Beaumont

  The man reached for his hood and picked it up off the ground. He put it over his shoulders, holding it in place due to the clasp being cut, and then limped off in the opposite direction, down the alley, favoring his uninjured leg.

  Stecker left the alley a moment later and headed toward the poor district of the city, to the inn that would take him underground.

  He had so much on his mind, that he completely missed the approaching man an hour later, when he was just feet from entering the inn.

  “Sir Stecker?” a high voice called out.

  Flexing and flinching, Stecker’s hand went to his dagger once more. It had already been bloodied once that day—

  What difference would it make to make it twice?

  Standing before him was a woman wearing a white apron. Over the apron was a heavy fur cloak completely covering everything except for the front of her body.

  Stecker frowned at the short woman, who looked like a common worker. “I’m no ‘sir,’ to anyone, lady. What is it?” He made a show of glancing down at his dagger-hand, so she’d get the picture that he wasn’t in the mood for dallying.

  The pretty girl smiled. “You are to my Eminence, sir.”

  “And who is that?”

  Without responding, the woman reached into her cloak, hand disappearing. Stecker flinched and had his dagger halfway out of its scabbard, but then the woman’s hand reappeared holding a note.

  She handed the note to Stecker, then turned and left as quickly as she’d arrived.

  Stecker frowned, sighed, and put his dagger away.

  Too much action today . . . by far.

  He opened the note. The writing was elegant and looping—definitely the work of a nobleperson.

  Stecker’s eyes widened as he read it, and he’d rushed into the inn before he’d finished reading the last scribbling.

  Catera is in danger. Your hideaway is compromised. Leave at once!

  -P.O.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Stecker was in a terrible dilemma. He knew he needed to warn the Siblinghood about this newfound knowledge. So far, everyone was in the dark—they had no idea how his meeting with King Cartherus had played out. But he was also worried about what the Geread soldier had proven to him.

  Alberus Solver, his boss and father figure, was in cahoots with the Geread Kingdom, in some fashion. The Sefyr’s sworn enemies. The kingdom that the citizens and soldiers of his homeland were even now warring against.

  What did it mean? What was Alb’s plan? A dark inkling at the back of Stecker’s mind kept nagging at him, but he didn’t want to answer that nag. Not now. Not with Princess Catera in such danger.

  Then again, who was he fooling? It wasn’t Catera who was currently in danger of being discovered by Cartherus’ people—it was Stecker’s own brothers and sisters. Catera would simply be returned to her castle if she was found—and yes, she would face punishment . . . but nothing as severe as what awaited the Solver Siblinghood. They would be strung up and hanged, but not before they were tortured and debased.

  Stecker didn’t yet know how to act on the news about Alberus and the Gereads, so he backtracked to his meeting with the king.

  King Cartherus was no fool, Stecker knew. Letting him leave the castle alive, without being followed . . . it was all part of Cartherus’ larger game plan.

  Why follow a man when you already know where he’s going?

  I’m an idiot not to have seen it.

  He entered the inn and swept past the scowling old lady, Reesnala, at the counter. He went into her personal room behind her and heard her say aloud, “Don’t be searchin’ for my under-drawers, young man! I know you’re all perverts!”

  Stecker had to stop and laugh.

  Who wears under-drawers these days?

  He went through the hole in the ground, descended the ladder, and was in the underground tunnels. He walked through the dizzying labyrinth with purpose, turning left and right and watching for notches on the wall to tell him where to go.

  Within an hour, he had made it to the dingy pathway leading to Alberus’ hidden room.

  He stopped for a moment, gathering himself, taking a deep breath. Then he continued on. His eyes searched the dry spot of ground where he’d seen Sala breastfeeding and masturbating Filtray shortly before his departure. He grimaced at the memory.

  He walked into the door-like hole in the wall, eyes searching. Everyone was present. Fitray and Sala were sleeping near each other on their sides in one section of the room, their skin blackened by filth. Dered and Nemya were talking in hushed tones, standing in another corner. The princess was sitting next to Alberus near the center table, while the large leader of the Siblinghood paced in the room.

  “By the gods, you’re safe!” Alberus called out as Stecker stood in the entryway. His arms flew up high, a crooked smile on his face, hidden beneath his gray mustache.

  “Only just,” Stecker said, sighing. He couldn’t look Alberus in the eyes, not quite yet, so he stared down at Princess Catera, who had her knees drawn up to her chest.

  Her head whipped up when she heard Stecker’s voice, and a light sparkled on her dreary, beautiful face. It hurt Stecker’s heart to see that she cared so much about him, after such a short time of knowing him.

  She had no idea of the man he was. She didn’t know how he fraternized with people like Captain Journigan, salty seadogs without a care in the world. She didn’t know of his skill with a dagger, that he’d just stabbed a man not two hours past, and that man could’ve very well been dead right now . . . if Stecker had been telling the truth about opening a vein in his thigh.

  He hadn’t been telling the truth. The man was probably fine.

  Princess Catera didn’t know that Stecker was a liar at heart.

  She saw him as some kind of rescuer. A champion for her cause, whatever it may be.

  There was so little she knew about the real man.

  She doesn’t even know my real name!

  “Do you have anything to say, Steck, or are you going to stand there in the doorway and gawk at the princess all night?” Dered asked, tilting his head.

  Nemya chuckled.

  Stecker scowled at the duo. Those two seem to be getting along better than when I’d left . . . for Nemya to be laughing at his goading words.

  Stecker wanted to blurt out: “We’re all in danger! We must quit this place immediately!”

  But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not until he learned more about Alberus’ clandestine rendezvous. Not until he got to the truth of it all.

  “The meeting with King Cartherus went as well as one could expect,” he said, stepping over the lip of the entryway, into the room.

  “Oh?” Alberus said. “Tell us about it, if you please.”

  “He yelled at me, cursed at me, threatened to execute me.”

  “Sounds like my stepfather,” Catera drawled.

  “That’s all well and dandy, but what about the ransom? What did he say about the ransom?” Alb asked, stepping forward from the table. There was a glittering in his eyes that unnerved Stecker. It smelled of . . . desperation.

  “He denied our ransom of sixty thousand, Alb, and countered with thirty.”

  Alberus frowned. “Hmph.” That was all he said for a long moment, staring down at the ground.

  “And were you followed back here?” Dered asked.

  “No, Dered, I was not.”

  “How do you know—”

  “That’s not going to cut it,” Alberus blurted out. He was shaking his head. “No, thirty thousand is not enough for all we’ve worked for.”

  We?! You’ve done nothing but point fingers and delegate duties, Alb! Don’t insult us with that shit.

  And listen to me . . . I’m already turning against him. The man who gave me everything!

  “When does the king expect the exchange?” Alberus asked.

  “I tried for a week. He gave me two days.”

  “Unfortunate.”

  “Why?”

>   “Because I need time to think. I’ll be back.”

  And with that, Alberus stormed past Stecker, nearly shouldering him out of the way, and left the room. Before making a complete exit, he turned around and said, “Oh, and don’t blame yourself for this failure, Steck. You did all you could.”

  Stecker sported an incredulous look, but Alberus didn’t see it. His feet were already thudding down the tunnel pathways.

  My failure? I did exactly as you asked, you old fool.

  Unless you knew the outcome would be something like this?

  Is this all . . . rehearsed?

  He shook his head and growled to himself, suddenly angry.

  “What’s that for, Steck? What’s gotten into you?” Nemya asked.

  “Nothing. It’s nothing.” He eyed the princess once, then said, “Princess, if I might speak with you a moment, in private.”

  Dered snorted. “What, you have things to tell her that you can’t tell us?” He began to stand.

  Stecker fixed him with dark, angry eyes. “Yes.”

  Nemya stifled a gasp. “The Siblinghood never keeps secrets from one another, Stecker. What is the meaning of this?”

  “Tell that to Alberus,” Stecker blurted out, and immediately regretted it. At that, Nemya could not contain her gasp any longer.

  Stecker simply sighed and left the room, uncaring if the princess followed him or not.

  But she did. Within a minute, she was outside by him, and they walked in the opposite direction that Alberus had taken.

  “Any idea where he’s going? Mister Alberus, I mean?” Catera asked, fidgeting ceaselessly.

  Stecker shook his head, put his hands on top of hers to calm her. Without a word, he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. She accepted it—a bit startled—and parted her mouth to embrace the kiss.

  “W-What was that for?” she asked once they’d pushed back.

  “I missed you.”

  She smiled. “I missed you too. More than I thought I would.” She gave out a light, airy chuckle. It was strewn with anxiety, and her nerves were on edge, just as Stecker’s were.

  “That makes me happy,” Stecker said. “. . . more than I thought it would.”

  He matched her smile.

  After the dreamy moment dissipated, Catera said, “What is it you wanted to tell me? I’m assuming you don’t mean to keep secrets from your friends . . . but have something to tell me about my own family . . . that I might not like getting out.”

  “You’re a clever one, Princess. And quick. I met your sister. Well, briefly. She was in the throne room when I spoke with the king, as was Queen Yira.”

  Catera’s eyes glistened, close to tears. Her hands clasped together in front of her, under her chin. “Oh, dear Ocena. W-What was she doing? Is she okay?”

  Stecker nodded. “Your younger sister might just be as smart as you, Catera. She saved my life. Convinced the king not to execute me, saying that he couldn’t afford your death due to the war with Geread and the civil infighting it would bring.”

  Catera’s nostrils flared, her face becoming animated. “Yes, she was always a clever one. I think that’s where I get it from.”

  “I’m sure she’d say the same about you, Princess. Your sister loves you very much.”

  “She told you that?”

  “I could see it in her.” Stecker blinked, pausing, waiting to see how Catera responded, but her face was blank.

  So, he continued on, despite the urges telling him not to. He didn’t want to hurt the beautiful woman in front of her, but thought she needed to know his mind. “She was glowing when I met her, Catera. I’ve seen that look before.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Stecker guided her by the hand and together they took a seat against the wall. Their shoulders rubbed together, both of them staring ahead at the dirty stone wall opposite them.

  “I think I know why your stepfather is doing . . . terrible things to Ocena. In fact, I’m nearly positive.”

  “Oh, you mean other than being a self-righteous, egomaniacal tyrant?” she spat, then quickly paused, her head bowing. “S-Sorry. I mean . . . why?”

  Stecker cleared his throat. “According to the laws of this land, a male heir trumps a female heir in almost every way. Despite the female being the elder, if a male is present, his claim to the throne is clear. No matter when he is born.”

  “Yes, I know this, Stecker,” Catera said impatiently. “I don’t need a history lesson.”

  The man scratched the back of his head. He felt as if Catera was being purposefully dense, as if she couldn’t see what was right in front of her face this entire time . . . pounding through her walls at night.

  “If the queen is too old to birth again, Catera . . . it would make sense that King Sefyr wishes to have the heir of his throne come from his own bloodline. Don’t you see?”

  The puzzle was starting to connect for Catera, and it all dropped on her like a boulder. Her shoulders deflated and she let out a little helpless sound in her throat. Her hand went to her opened mouth.

  “King Sefyr rapes your sister because he wishes to get her pregnant with his spawn, Catera. He wishes for a male heir to continue his horrible legacy, and it’s my belief that she is already pregnant—”

  Tears were flowing down the woman’s cheeks now, but Stecker could not be stopped.

  “—and, if we look at things a step further, then once he has his wish—a male heir, then Ocena is . . . redundant.”

  “As am I . . .”

  Stecker nodded. He put his arm around Catera and brought her close, and she rested her head against his chest. “I’m sorry, Princess. I wish I was wrong, but . . .”

  “You don’t think you are.”

  He shook his head. “Cartherus can’t kill you outright, because that’ll araise suspicion, and probably a citizens’ revolt. Same with Queen Yira and Princess Ocena. But once he has his male heir . . .”

  “He plans to murder us all. The entire Contrus bloodline . . . dead . . . in one fell swoop.”

  “It’s what I fear, Princess, yes.”

  Stecker sighed deeply, exhaling in a slow, ragged way.

  Catera didn’t argue with him or try to deny his words—it was clear that this was something she’d dwelled on many times before, and was just starting to reach the same inevitable conclusion that Stecker had.

  Stecker stood and offered his hand to the princess, who took it and gingerly lifted herself to her feet. “Come,” he said, “let’s walk again.”

  Catera’s first step was wobbly, as if she was on newborn legs, but she managed to compose herself and continue down the tunnels before too long, holding Stecker’s hand the entire time.

  Stecker looked over both shoulders, then leaned in conspiratorially. “That’s not all.”

  She faced him.

  “I received this letter through one of Princess Ocena’s agents, Catera.” He reached into his tunic and produced it. “We’re all in grave danger of being caught down here—and we must leave this instant.”

  “What?!”

  Stecker nodded, trying to keep his cool. “She’s trying to warn you, to keep you safe. To keep us safe.”

  “B-But, we must warn the Siblinghood right away!”

  “Hold,” Stecker said, pulling her arm back toward him. He was rougher than he would’ve liked, but it made her stop in her tracks. “I will leave this note on the table . . . but we must escape first. I have to keep you safe, Princess. I’ve . . . I’ve made it my sworn duty.”

  “You . . . alone?” Her face was confused and tear-ridden, and now she sniffled and wiped at her nose with a forearm.

  He nodded sadly. “That brings up the last issue, my dear. It concerns Alberus.”

  “What of it?”

  “He’s planning something . . . untoward. I just know it—please don’t ask me how, we haven’t the time.”

  “That’s r-ridiculous, Stecker! He’s like your father, you said!”

  Stecker put a finger
over his mouth to hush her, before she grew hysterical. Leaning in close, he snarled in a harsh whisper, “He plans to sell you to the Geread Kingdom, Catera. That’s why he was not disturbed by my news just now! He has a contingency plan in place already!”

  Catera’s eyes bulged as fear struck her to the bone.

  “You see now? The Siblinghood doesn’t have your best interests at heart, Princess—”

  “But you do . . .” she spoke with venom on her tongue.

  Stecker was hurt, his head lurching back. “Have I wronged you yet?”

  “N-No . . .”

  “Alberus will sell you to the highest bidder, Catera. I know it. He will get that sixty thousand whether it’s from Cartherus or someone else—and at this moment, what better people to hand you off to than the Geread Kingdom? And if you are there . . . then there really is nothing I can do to help you.”

  She frowned and nodded, her mind whirling. After a quick pause, she came to a decision. A decision that, she knew, could alter the path of her life.

  “No, you’re right. It makes sense. The Gereads could use me for all sorts of malicious, evil things. I could be the catalyst that brings the Sefyr Kingdom to its knees!” The thought horrified her. “What’s our plan, then?” she asked.

  “We go—”

  “Ah, always conniving, aren’t you, Steck?”

  A voice from behind them—somehow it had crept up without a sound.

  They both spun around, looking upward—

  But Stecker’s eyes fell. He’d been expecting Alberus to be stalking these tunnels.

  Not Filtray Naggan.

  The young man had his hands clasped behind his back, like a field marshal ready to give his men a speech.

  “Fil?! What are you doing here?”

  “Never mind that. I wanted to take a walk—clear my mind.”

  “How much did you hear?” Stecker asked, his voice on the fringes of losing all control.

  The young dandy shrugged nonchalantly. “Enough.”

  “Please, Filtray, I’m begging you . . .” Stecker trailed off. “If not for the princess, then for me . . . don’t do what your mind is telling you to do.”

  “What should I do instead, oh wise one?” Fil asked mockingly.