Lady Thief

by Wend Petzler

  "I best be getting to work. Have a good day.” Allen placed a kiss on each of his daughters’ heads and left through the back door.

  Eiry arched an eyebrow at Anne who nervously plucked at her cup. “Things are getting bad, aren't they?"

  Looking indecisive about how to answer Eiry's question, Anne gave a small nod. “We needs to talk. People are getting desperate. These bad times have gone on way to long. Friends are turning on friend. There's been talk of late about how your parents were killed. Some are suggesting it t'were done by someone we trust. Tongues might loosen with the right amount of ale and money. Yet still, they are afraid ter speak, in fear it could happen ter them. Watch your back, Eiry."

  "Has anyone spoken of whom they suspect killed my parents?” A small glimmer of hope welled inside Eiry.

  "A couple of the men think it might be one of our own,” Anne replied with real fear in her voice.

  A choking feeling squeezed the air out of Eiry's lungs. Shocked by the idea someone who rode with them had murdered her parents, Eiry needed some fresh air. Barely nodding to Anne, she slipped from the kitchen by way of the back door. Watching the sun rise in glorious shades of gold and pink, Eiry felt alone. Rubbing her arms from the chill of the morn and the cold foreboding, she knew she'd kill to protect her sister, even those who were like brothers. Unbidden, her thoughts turned to Lucian. Would he be able to keep them safe from the treachery of the horrible times surrounding them? Fear invaded her heart. For the first time since her parents’ deaths, Eiry knew naught who was friend and who her enemy was.

  Heading back inside, Eiry went upstairs to wake her sister, finding Lilia sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  "Eiry, what's wrong?” Lilia asked.

  Ignoring the question, Eiry urged her out of the bed. “Come on, we need to get you ready for the day.” Eiry grabbed a fresh gown from the small trunk beside the bed and slipped the garment over Lilia's head.

  "You are planning on robbing tonight, aren't you?” she demanded. “Why can't you just let Lucian handle the bad people? I know if you asked him, he would gladly hunt those who killed Mama and Da!” Lilia gushed out, desperate to persuade Eiry from her course of revenge.

  "Little one, you know this is my battle. We cannot ask Lucian to get involved. He is a knight of the English Realm and cannot commit to us on this matter. I am wanted by the law—he is required by the law to turn me in,” she grimly reminded her. Eiry took up a wooden comb and began brushing out the knots in her sister's hair, mindful not to pull to hard.

  "Have you asked him?” Lilia insisted.

  Anger welled inside Eiry. “Do you think I enjoy risking my life? I have no other choice. We have no older brother or relatives to avenge our parents. It's all up to me,” she snapped, hating the path her life was headed, beginning to feel the hangman's rope tightening around her neck. If they had a traitor in their midst, all the outlaws were in danger, especially the families hidden in the caves.

  "Please, Eiry, be careful. I can't lose you,” she whispered brokenly.

  Groaning at the way she was so brusque over her sister's fears, Eiry hugged her fiercely. She tried to comfort Lilia's fears, although she had her own demons to quell. “I know it's hard for you to understand, but what I'm doing is very important. Our parents were murdered by someone they knew, and I must find out who these traitors are if we are to remain safe at Sanctuary. Worry not, I promise to be careful. Come, let us go and eat breakfast."

  Grateful her sister did not argue, Eiry worried over their conversation. If she were ever caught and executed, Lilia would be all alone. Not really, she corrected herself as they walked down to the great hall. Lucian would raise the child as if she were his very own. It was a small consolation. Eiry could not help thinking, would Lucian miss her if she were gone? Silly, she thought, why would the Butcher miss a plain girl like her?

  * * * *

  Lucian stretched, searching for Eiry's lithe body, only to find an empty pillow beside him. Groggy from much needed sleep, he rolled from bed, holding his aching head. Sitting there for a moment to gather his wits, Lucian reflected on last night. Will Eiry run from him and hide, thinking he would pursue a liaison with her, seeking to sleep with her like she was a common wench?

  To be honest, making love with the beautiful girl was a pleasing thought, but he found he wished nothing more than to honor her. Eiry accomplished something no amount of drink had since his return from the Crusades—she helped him sleep without dreaming of the carnage reaped in the Holy Land. Unwittingly, she had become his savior. Guilt assaulted him. In the madness of his nightmare, he nearly killed her. Lucian vowed to never lay hand on Eiry ever again. She was in his care, and he almost killed her, whether intentional or not. He owed Eiry a personal debt, one he would spend a lifetime repaying for her kindness toward a beast such as himself.

  Dressing quickly, he decided to go and find her, and somehow try to apologize for hurting her. If it was the last thing he ever did, he would find out who murdered Eiry's parents and make them pay for their crimes.

  * * * *

  In the great hall people mulled around, waiting for breakfast to be served. Derrick stood by the fireplace, warming his backside when he noticed Lucian enter the melee of men and servants. Perplexed, Derrick noticed the fresh step in his long time friend. Was it possible? Could it be Lucian was able to finally sleep last night? There appeared to be a startling change in his usual dark, intensely brooding glower. Staring harder, he realized Lucian was almost smiling. What caused the drastic change in his haunted friend's demeanor? He followed Lucian's gaze to Eiry where she sat with Lilia and saw her blush. It hit him like a sledge hammer. Lucian's hard exterior was melting into a real human being rather than the fighting machine he was infamous for. The girl was the key!

  Meeting Lucian at the stairs, he grinned. “All right, tell all!"

  Feigning confusion, Lucian continued to his seat. “I know naught what you mean."

  "Lucian, you know damn well what I speak. What happened last night to give you sleep?” Derrick persisted.

  Glaring at Derrick, Lucian growled, “Leave it alone! Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I only found some rest last eve."

  Wanting to drill Lucian more, he decided to let it go—for now.

  The meal was set and quickly devoured. The occupants of Sanctuary dispersed, heading to their assign jobs. Lucian ordered his knights to go with the workers into the forest, to help chop down more trees. Lucian paused by the door, meeting Eiry's gaze before she went back to helping with the cleanup. Faintly making out the light bruising on her neck from where he nearly squeezed the life out of her, he pushed back the self loathing when she smiled hesitantly at him. Her forgiving nature had brought him back from the brink of madness, giving him the relief of sleep. Lucian felt rejuvenated and alive for the first time in years.

  Eiry turned away from Lucian's inquiring eyes and met the accusing ones of Louie. She was about to confront him when he stomped off, refusing to speak with her. What was wrong with him? Resigned, she got busy doing her chores, unable to shake off the chill in her heart at the strange way Louie was acting.

  When midmorning came, she and several ladies carried buckets of water and cups to the men working hard outside. Eiry stopped in her tracks when she saw Lucian without his tunic, sweat glistening on his bronzed skin as he took a swing with the double head axe, muscles straining as he chopped a large log in two. Oh God, he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen! With his long hair tied back, the tendrils clung wetly to his broad back. The bulging muscles rippled along his chest and shoulders with each movement. The sight of him made her mouth go dry as she remembered being in his arms. Tilting her head to the side, her eyes widened when Allen joked around with the Butcher, winning a ghost of a smile from the knight. Anne elbowed her, laughing at her for staring at Lucian.

  Sticking her tongue out at the amused woman, Eiry took a deep breath and made her way over to Lucian only to be beaten to him by a volup
tuous red-haired wench who was recently employed in the castle. Jealousy rose sharp and ugly in her. The woman giggled, pressing her large breasts against his bare arm. When Eiry headed in their direction, determined to rip the woman's hair from her head, a tap on her shoulder made her jump. Derrick.

  Laughter glowed in his dark eyes as he pointed to the cup in her hand. “May I have a drink?"

  "Oh!” Flustered, she filled the cup and handed it over. “My apologies. How goes the new wing?"

  "The main building is finished and the crossbeams for the roof are going up as we speak. We shall have the roof completed in two more days. Your friends are excellent craftsmen."

  A small smile curved her lips. “Yea, they are the best of what men should be."

  Derrick frowned, examining her throat. “Who did this to you?” he demanded as his fingers lightly traced the bruised flesh. “Who?” Her guilty glance shifted to Lucian before returning to him. “My God, what happened?"

  "Last night I heard Lucian cry out in his sleep. When I tried to rouse him from the nightmare, he grabbed me, thinking I was a Saracen. The whole thing is my fault. I should have gone and woke you."

  Calming his anger, Derrick laid a comforting hand on her slumped shoulder. “The nightmares haunt him so. Will you be well?"

  "Yea. Lucian regrets his actions, and I know he meant not to harm me. The matter is behind us."

  Turning a knowing eye at her, a half-smile made Derrick more an imp than a warrior. “If it is forgotten, why do you dally with me and not go over to him?"

  Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she growled, “I do not compete with whores."

  "You know as well as I, Lucien does not seek her attention but the other way around. Go and give the man some water. Let him know you bear no ill will toward him.” Eiry glared at him, knowing full well his game. Trying his best to keep the grin off his face, he bowed to her as she left him to do as he bid.

  Lucian watched Derrick talk with Eiry, ignoring the blatant antics of the wench by his side. Jealousy rose sharp and bitter when Derrick touched her tenderly, unlike when he had, hurting her. Grabbing the axe he was using, he strode pass the stunned red-head, heading over to Tom the Blacksmith and had the man sharpen the edges. Waiting for his axe, he noticed for the first time the smiles on the men's faces as they took a breather. The truth hit him of what his presence in Castle Sanctuary meant to the peasants. They felt safe. He looked at the larger stable which was in the final stages of completion by a second crew, built to house the horses coming with his company. A sense of accomplishment filled him as did everyone laboring beside him. When his eyes swept the small castle, pride swelled inside his chest. Growing aware he wasn't alone, he glanced down to see who was standing next to him. Eiry.

  "My lord,” she addressed him stiffly. “Do you have need of more water?"

  "Please.” His voice was warm and sexy. He accepted the cup she held out to him. When she tried to let go, his hand captured hers and brought the cup to his lips, drinking of the cool refreshment. Eyes, hot and poignant, held hers prisoner as he boldly took a drink. Breathless, she tried to escape, but her legs refused to move. In the back of her mind, she knew everyone was watching. For the life of her, she didn't care, trapped by the desire in his gaze for her and only her. His desire faded when he viewed the bruises. Tracing her throat with the tips of his fingers, she trembled at his light touch, shivering as waves of pleasure swept down to her toes. Helpless, she stared up at him, afraid of the spell he cast upon her senses.

  "Are you well?"

  Eiry offered him a cryptic smile and replied, “Worry not. I have taken a harsher beating in my life and lived to tell the tale."

  His nostrils flared, his hand dropped to his side, releasing her hand. “Who dared harm you?” Lucian saw only red, wishing to kill whoever harmed her. Her amused smile gave him pause.

  "Do not concern yourself. I meant it in the way life has dealt me some serious blows."

  Lucian fumbled, unsure how to respond to her casual words, despite the shadow of pain in her eyes. He dropped his gaze to look at the men working on the castle, his frown deepened. “Is it my imagination or did the number of men hired triple in the last hour?"

  Turning to see what he meant, her eyes widened at the site of many men working hard to bring hewn beams in position by using draft horses to pull the logs up by ropes. Those who were positioned on the walls shoved the beams into place and hammered them into slots in the reinforced walls. The half finished roof rose to a pitch, allowing the coming snow to slide to the ground. There were more in the forest, cutting down trees and skinning the bark. She saw a team of men drive a wagon, heavy with cut wood for the fires, pass through the front gate and pulled the snorting horses to a halt by the new stable. Another group of men and young boys hurried to unload it next to an already started stack of fresh cut wood. There had to be well over a hundred men and boys working hard.

  Lucian signaled to Allen to come over. “Thatcher, did we hire more men?"

  A guilty flush made his features redden under Lucian's steady perusal. “They came before breakfast, willing to work without pay, only seeking a warm meal. Forgive me, my lord, I thought it no harm in employing more men in finishing the job sooner.” Allen cast a nervous look at Eiry who was also alarmed at what Lucian might do.

  "No harm done. Just make sure they know their efforts are highly appreciated. Eiry, go and tell Anne to prepare more food to accommodate our new additions."

  "Yea, my lord."

  When she left, Lucian asked, “Allen, I must know the truth. Are times growing so desperate where men seek me instead of working for a more respectable lord?"

  Taken back by Lucian's question, Allen took a minute to answer. “My lord, if I may be so bold in saying, you are not evil. Trust me, I know what evil is, and you are by far nothing like it. The men who come to Sanctuary know you are just and will treat them fairly, unlike the mines where many die every day."

  Unsure how to respond to Allen's heartfelt words, he gruffly ordered, “Well, tell them they are welcome to stay here, if they can find a place to sleep. Spread the word to any who are in need of shelter. I will turn none away, no matter their ‘state'.” He stressed the word, not caring if the men who sought Sanctuary were wanted by the law or not. Later, he would deal with the sheriff, feeling many were innocent of the charges levied against them.

  With a relieved smile, Allen bowed his head. “I shall, my lord and ... thank you for your generosity.” Hurrying to do as Martine ordered, Allen now understood Eiry's fascination with the man. The Butcher was not at all like his reputation.

  Eiry parted from the shadow of the wall, stunned by what Lucian had done. A frown creased her brow as she left to do as he ordered. With her whole being, she wanted to trust him, but what they'd endured by the hands of the nobles, she held back. Self-preservation was her way of life, and she could not afford to make a mistake, not when it was her own heart at risk.

  The day passed and nightfall came much too quickly for Eiry's peace of mind. She had talked Lilia into going to bed early, giving the excuse to leave the dinner table earlier than usual.

  "Eiry, be careful,” Lilia whispered, wrapping her arms tightly about her neck.

  Hugging her back, Eiry drew back and smiled gently at Lilia. “I will, I promise. Sleep well. I'll let you know when I return."

  "God will protect your back!"

  Rising to her feet, Eiry winked at Lilia. “I know. I will return before you wake, little one.” Once Lilia was tucked in, she slipped into her room and locked the door behind her.

  Changing into the black dyed, leather tunic and hose, she thrust her feet into a pair of worn leather boots before reaching under the bed for her bow and quiver of arrows. Tossing a dark wool cloak over her shoulders, she waited.

  The faint splinter of lightening followed several minutes later by the boom of thunder gave her a start. A storm? It would make things more difficult, she worried. Leaning out the window, she searched the da
rk below for any signs of people walking about. Feeling it safe to leave, she slipped out of the window and shimmed down the drain pipe. Landing silently onto the ground, she crouched down in the shrubs and waited, growing accustomed to the familiar sounds interrupted on occasion by the approaching storm. When the bright lightening flashed it gave her ample light to find her way toward the secret door along the far side of the castle's protective wall. Glancing behind her, making sure she was not being followed, she opened the door and went through it. Shutting it securely, she crept along the orchards where Louie and several of their men waited with the saddled horses. Looping the bow over her shoulder, she held the tip steady in a gloved hand and leapt onto her nervous mare.

  "Ready?"

  "Aye, I've got my men picked to ride out to Derbyshire. How long do you need to accomplish our little raid?” They trotted past the orchards and onto the road toward Derbyshire.

  "It should take us at least an hour to walk through the underground passages and to the cave under the castle. We'll need another to wipe out Lord Robert's food supply and get out of there."

  Louie nodded. “We'll watch from a safe distance, in case another distraction is needed."

  A mile from Derbyshire, they abandoned the road a mile and urged their horses toward the dark silhouettes of rolling hills. They made their approach with eyes and ears open, nearing what appeared to be a slit in the rocky face of the hillside. Peveril Castle rose a mile from where Eiry and her men halted. Louie gave a shrill whistle. They waited until an answering whistle replied. Eiry swung off her horse and handed the reins over to a young boy who appeared out from behind the thick brush with a lit torch. The rain held off, but for how long? Smiling up at Louie when another group of mounted bowmen joined him, she waved at them.

  "Be safe!” The dark-clothed riders saluted her before urging their horses into a gallop. Except for Louie. He just stared down at her with an odd look on his freckled features before he gave chase after them.