by Devyn Jayse
The boys had looked at each other as if assessing whether they should continue their pursuit of the girl or not. I saw them decide half a moment before they dashed at me. My face must have given something away when I thought of Tobin, making them think I was weak.
I ducked away from the first boy's dagger thrust. They hadn't noticed my hand behind my back, distracted by my unusual appearance. I used the dagger to slash at his shirt. One more tear didn't make a difference in it. He jumped back, as fast as a cat. His eyes watched me with calculation.
His two companions had run off, abandoning him. That one stayed behind, clearly having determined the rewards outweighed the risk. I could see that in his eyes and decided to strike at him before he made his move, but before I could advance, a shadow fell across me. The boy looked behind me in alarm and scrambled away, running away as fast as the wind. With a deep sense of foreboding, I whirled around, ready to face my new opponent, but the man deftly bypassed me, stepping around me and reaching the girl in mere moments. He grabbed her in his arms.
"Get away from her!" I yelled. I braced myself and threw my full weight into giving him a hard shove.
I grunted as I crashed into his back. He was as immovable as a mountain.
He turned toward me slowly, and I realized belatedly that the girl had raised her arms to embrace him. He was tall and bulky. He had midnight-black hair that looked like silk and long enough to tie. Honey-colored eyes traveled the length of my body, from head to toe, not missing a single detail. I flushed under his gaze as I wondered again what I must look like. I had to find a looking glass as soon as possible to check.
He raised an eyebrow. "Did you hurt yourself?"
I scowled at his comment, bending down to retrieve my fallen dagger. I looked around for my valise and saw with relief that the boys hadn't had time to snatch it as they ran off. I put away my weapon.
"She saved me, Vin!" The girl said from behind him.
His displeasure turned to her. "And why were you in a position that required saving?"
The girl turned her gaze to the ground.
"Well? Are you going to tell me why you were in an alley by yourself? Why did you leave school before Finn could escort you back home? The men have been searching all over for you."
"I'm sorry, Vin. I don't like being followed all the time. The men have better things to do than walk me back and forth."
I bristled at her words. It wasn't her fault she had been attacked. I grew angrier the more he continued to berate her.
"Leave her alone! She's already had a scare," I snapped at him. "She was doing well for herself before I showed up."
After a surprised silence, they looked at each other.
"No, I wasn't. Thank you for offering me your help." The girl moved around him to stand by his side. "My name is Penelope, but you can call me Penny."
"I'm Dare." I replied after a brief hesitation.
From the look in the man's eyes, he had picked up on it. I didn't like the curiosity that I saw in them. I didn't want questions.
"Dare? That's an interesting name!" Penny's eyes lit up. She pulled at the man's arm. "This is my brother, Vincent. He's thankful you were here, too."
His dark eyes looked at me. The way his eyes traveled over me, I could imagine he knew everything about me from that single glance, as if he had seen into my soul. Something in his look resonated with me, almost as though I knew him already.
"I owe you my gratitude. What would you demand of me?" His deep voice reverberated in my bones.
His sister looked up at me with adoration that was making me uncomfortable.
"Nothing. It's fine, really. I didn't do anything anyone else wouldn't have done."
"But nobody did," he countered.
"I'm sure they would have stepped in eventually," I said weakly. I didn't say anything about the women who had hurried past the alley.
"After it was too late," he said harshly.
His sister winced at the words.
My stomach chose that time to growl loudly. My face flushed as it kept going. A smile broke out across Penny's face, and she raised her hand over her mouth to hide it.
Vincent looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. He gave me a crooked smile that made my stomach do a flip unrelated to hunger.
"How about we thank you with a meal?" he suggested firmly. "It's not too far away. They serve a hearty meal there."
I shook my head weakly. "No, really, it's fine." I picked up my valise and slowly inched away.
"Nonsense."
He grabbed my valise from my hand, and we did a little tug-of-war until I finally released it into his keeping.
Penny and Vincent walked out of the alley, and I had no choice but to follow them or lose my belongings. They led the way back toward the street and retraced my steps toward the tavern I had vacated earlier. The beggar by the door gave me a small smile.
Well. This will be interesting.
12
Vincent pulled open the door and let me in ahead of him.
The tavern keeper, Horace, scowled as he saw me enter. "What are you doing back here? I thought I told you to leave."
His jaw shut with a snap when he saw my companions enter behind me. He straightened and hurried toward us, to bow deferentially to the two beside me. He pretended I wasn't there.
"We'll have the usual table in the back, Horace." Vincent nodded toward a table in the corner. "Bring three of your best dishes as quickly as possible."
"Delighted, I'm sure," Horace said in an oily tone.
Sniveling rat. I bristled in outrage.
"I can see from your reaction that you've dealt with Horace before." Vincent said as we moved toward the table in the corner.
"I was in here earlier, and he asked me to leave," I said stiffly. The tavern occupants watched me with renewed interest but not as overtly as the first time I had stepped inside. Thamir gave me a wide grin, looking delighted at my return. Being in Vincent's company had changed my status from stranger to, well, I didn't know what.
Penny took her seat. Vincent put down my valise and pulled out a seat for me. I sat down, and he went to his chair. Vincent and I flanked Penny, sitting across from each other. Both Vincent and Penny had their backs to walls and could view anyone who approached us. I was at a disadvantage, sitting there at an angle, but I couldn't switch seats.
Vincent studied me for some time, then he turned to the people to my side. I followed his gaze and watched with some amusement as they all looked away from him. He turned to me again, picking up the conversation where we had left it.
"You're not a regular. You're not the type of person who would walk in here. Horace would rather lose some coin than risk trouble in his establishment."
"But I'm not trouble when I'm with you?"
"No," he said simply.
My stomach growled again. I squirmed in my chair. Penny patted my hand. "Look, the food is almost here."
A serving girl put bowls of steaming stew in front of us and mugs of some liquid. I tried to eat slowly, but I was famished, and I ate faster than I should have. The food was not the best I'd had, but it was full of flavor.
Vincent watched me while he had small spoonfuls of his stew. Penny ate enthusiastically, seemingly recovered from her earlier experience.
After I had slowed down sufficiently, Vincent asked me bluntly, "What are you doing here?"
"Eating," I replied, brandishing my spoon as proof.
His eyes flashed. Clearly, he was not amused.
"You're not from the Blights. Are you planning on staying here for some time?" Penny's eyes were bright with interest.
"I'm in search of lodging," I admitted.
"Are you good with a sword? Or do you just carry it around to ward off potential threats?" Vincent asked.
"I'm all right for someone without formal training."
His eyebrows knit together.
I realized how silly that sounded. I doubted anyone here had formal training.
"
I need someone to accompany Penny every third day. You'll do. You'll be her guard. There may be others following at a distance but you can be her escort."
"You expect me to work for you?"
"Yes," he said, biting into a piece of bread.
"I'd rather not, thank you."
From the expression on his face, he wasn't accustomed to people turning him down.
"Why not?" Penny asked. "Do you have something else to do?"
"No, but I'm not looking for responsibilities to tie me down."
"Well, can't you do it until you need to leave? I'd enjoy your company, and it would take care of your lodging situation."
"How would it do that?"
"Vincent will take care of it," she said simply.
I helplessly looked up at Vincent. He had a half smile on his face. Clearly, Penny had convinced others before me to do things they didn't want to do.
"You'll be her guard," he said. "You would be keeping her safe."
So he had picked up on the fact that I liked Penny and was using it to get his way.
"You won't be required often but enough to make a statement to whoever is trying to hurt Penny that I have her protected. I'll provide meals and a room in exchange. You can choose to eat at this tavern or at the inn. I'll let the owners know."
I thought through the proposal quickly. If he provided meals and a place to stay, that would solve my immediate problem of food and lodging. I still had no idea what to do with the rest of my life, but this bodyguard job was a start.
I looked at him straight in the eye. "Deal."
"Oh, and you'll need a haircut. Your hair is far too long."
My jaw dropped. That was the shortest it had ever been!
He laughed at the expression on my face, the sound of it low and throaty. My stomach did somersaults. I wondered if the food was the reason.
I frowned at him.
"Well, are you ready to see where you'll be lodging?" Vincent stood up from his seat and picked up my valise.
I got to my feet. Despite my dislike of the tavern keeper, I had to admit the food was filling. As we left the tavern, a couple of men followed us out the door.
Penny kept up a steady chatter as we walked through the dodgy streets of the Blights. The sky darkened as we made our way to my new lodgings. Here and there, light spilled out of windows to illuminate the streets. The people we passed glanced at our party once and looked away quickly. I was glad of the company. I wouldn't have liked to walk around in the dark streets without an escort.
Finally, Penny came to a stop, and my lips twisted into a smile as I saw the sign hanging over the door. It was The Rebel Hare.
We walked in. Vincent talked to the owner, instructing him that I was to lodge under his patronage. I looked around and saw that, while the inn wasn't up to the town's standards, the place still looked clean and well looked after. It wasn't the worst place to be.
"You have the next two days to yourself. Penny will be here on the third day, and you can start your duties. Keep out of trouble until then."
That was certainly easier said than done.
13
Somewhere in the distance, a rooster crowed. I woke up disoriented, taking a while to remember where I was. I looked around me and found the room much as it had been the night before. It was sparse and threadbare but clean--a bed in a corner, a dresser to store my items in, a rocking chair, and a small window overlooking the street.
I hauled myself to my feet and made my way to the water chamber to get washed. I dressed in the same outfit I had worn the day before. Being able to dress so quickly was liberating. I would have to find a place to get an extra set of clothes.
Looking around the room, I searched for a place to hide my money pouch. I found a loose floorboard situated near the corner of the room. Lifting it up, I found a space within where I didn't run the risk of losing my treasures. I put all of them inside then moved the rocking chair to the corner over the floorboard.
I made my way down the stairs to break my fast.
The dining room contained five people. Four of them were couples sitting together, and the fifth sat by herself in a corner. After giving me a curious glance, she didn't look at me again. I sat opposite her, close to the two couples chattering away. The servingwoman came and introduced herself as Kate. She placed hot plates of food in front of me. I guess I didn't have a choice about what I ate. I took small bites of each dish. The food tasted fresh and well seasoned.
"Do you know any place where I can find a job?" I asked Kate when she came back to clear my empty plates.
She looked at me doubtfully. "You do know most of the jobs in the Blights are criminal in nature?"
"There must be something honest people do, like you serving here."
"You're a dear." Her face split open in a smile. She thought for some time. "I can't say that I know any. Your best bet would be the town or if you can get work up in the castle. That's where the real work and opportunities lie."
"Those aren't options for me."
Kate watched me carefully. "Well, I won't ask who you're hiding from. We all have our troubles, or we wouldn't be here, would we? You can try the inns around these parts, but most of them have the help they need. Same goes for the bakery and small stores. Keep in mind, dear, most people around these parts don't trust new faces. And dressing like a man and that hair isn't going to help you any."
I put a hand to my hair self-consciously.
"You've got a pretty face, but hair that short makes you come across as a man at first sight. That may be confusing to some people. You could probably get work as a guard if you're handy with that thing by your side. Maybe try The Fortune? I've heard he sells weapons. Haven't been there myself, but you may have luck."
"Thanks."
I finished the rest of my meal in peace. Reflecting on the events of the former day, I realized how fortunate I had been in coming across Penny and getting a job. I realized that, for once in my life, I was free to do what I wished, and nobody could tell me any differently, which was a little daunting.
I was thrilled.
I was also absolutely terrified.
I had always been so sure of my place in the world that not having one anymore was disorienting.
Back outside, I circled the inn and found a small stable in the back. A few dwellings were situated around the inn. One housed a leather maker, a blacksmith, and a cobbler.
I spent the rest of the morning exploring the Blights. I had to make the most of the daytime, figuring out my new surroundings while making sure I didn't wander too far. Still aware that the whole area was considered the most dangerous area in the kingdom, I wasn't going to be careless and put myself in a bad situation.
I managed to find a place to get two extra sets of clothing. It felt strange to buy men's clothing for myself but the woman who sold them to me didn't give me a second glance.
After some time, I decided to retrace my steps back to the first location I had been to, The Honest Tavern. I didn't care that the owner, Horace, disliked me. If I was going to be taking my meals there, I needed to get used to him.
"Back again are you?" Horace asked in lieu of a greeting.
He stood behind the bar, towel in hand, drying cups. The same man he had argued with the previous day, Thamir, sat in a stool across from him, drinking out of a mug. He gave me a bleary look before his face broke out in a sloppy grin. Clearly, that wasn't his first drink of the day.
"Yes. I'd like a meal."
"Table near the back is free for Blaze's people. Hazel will bring you your meal." He made a sign at the girl, who stood at the opposite end of the room. She disappeared through a door that must have led to the kitchen.
"Thanks." I wondered who Blaze was. "Do you need help here?"
Horace gave me a suspicious look. "What for?"
"Serving. Bookkeeping. Anything?" I would have offered to cook except I didn't know how.
"You know someone who's looking?"
"Yes, me."<
br />
"Ha!" His belly shook as he laughed.
I waited for him to finish. "I could use the extra coin."
"If you need extra coin, you talk to Blaze. He runs the Blights. He'll see fit you do the work he wants you to."
"I'm free to do with my time what I will."
Horace shook his head. "I want no part of this. If you need work, you raise it up with Blaze."
"Where can I find him?"
"He'll find you." Horace muttered darkly, clearly not a fan of this Blaze.
Thamir spoke up. "You could ask Miss Ruby for a job. She's always looking for girls."
Horace gave Thamir a warning glance. "You shut your mouth, you drunk.
"Don't tell me what to do. She says she wants a job--I'm telling her where to get one."
"Blaze won't be pleased." Horace grumbled.
"He likes Miss Ruby well enough."
"I think you've had enough drink for today." Horace took away Thamir's mug against his protests. He muttered to himself, "Telling people to go work for Miss Ruby. Like I need more trouble at my place."
I looked between the two of them, but that conversation was clearly over. Thamir was arguing with Horace to return his drink, threatening him with bodily violence.
I walked over to the table. It was close to the one I had sat at the day before. A bowl full of hot stew waited for me. I ate slowly as I mulled over my options. I needed another job to earn enough coin so that I wouldn't be dependent on Vincent and his sister for a living.
The serving girl came by to take away my finished bowl. I hadn't seen her the day before. "Do you know of any jobs around here?"
"What kind are you looking for?"
"Jobs that pay."
She gave me an assessing look. "You could probably get work as a guard if you know what you're doing with that sword. But be careful you don't run afoul of Blaze and his men, or there will be trouble."
"Who's Blaze?"
She gaped at me. "Who's Blaze? He only runs the Blights."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There isn't nothing that goes on in the Blights that Blaze doesn't know about. He's the most powerful man 'round these parts. All the businesses pay him tithe, and he protects his own. He has men everywhere." She looked around, but only she and I were there in the corner. Then something occurred to her. "Hang on, you're sitting in his section of the tavern. Are you having me on, pretending not to know who he is?"
