Clockwork Thief Box Set

by Katherine Bogle

  Her heart raced as her hand wrapped around the handle of her grappling hook. She pulled it from her belt, but kept it hidden inside her cloak. It was almost time.

  As if on cue, the wind picked up, tugging at Narra’s hood, and blowing the matted dresses of the princesses around their ankles.

  Narra smiled. Avalon.

  Elena and Raeleen were shoved forward by two Patrolmen. They dragged the princesses in front of the nooses, then walked to the back end of the stage to wait until they were called upon.

  Elena held her chin high, staring down at the crowd with her dark curls whipping around her face. She reminded Narra of Claudia—a deadly cat ready to pounce on the first person to step into her path. Raeleen wasn’t faring so well. Her shoulders drooped and large tears streamed down her cheeks. Her entire body shook so hard Narra was surprised she remained standing.

  The creepy song sung by the crowd rose in pitch, competing with the sudden howl of the wind. Narra glanced up to find the sky had darkened considerably, clouds rushing by to pull in dark rain clouds.

  Someone in the crowd yelped as a strong breeze pushed through, but the song kept up.

  Narra glanced around in search of Erik. She was sure he was ready, even if she’d prefer to have visual confirmation.

  As the song drew to a close, lightning cracked the sky and thunder boomed louder than any explosion she’d ever heard.

  Her heart raced and adrenaline pumped through her veins.

  A shadow moved at the edge of her vision, and she heard the tell tale snap of a grappling hook being shot.

  Narra ripped her own hook from inside of her cloak. She pushed a few paces forward before she shot off her own.

  Erik flew from the crowd suddenly. His boots hit the stage hard, and then he had Raeleen under his arm and was flying off the stage toward the high buildings at the back of the square.

  Gasps sounded all around her as Narra hit the release on her grappling hook, giving enough pressure to yank herself from the ground and onto the stage. She grabbed Elena around the waist as hard as she could, and slammed her thumb down on the release once more.

  The two Patrolmen at the back of the stage were rushing forward, but not fast enough. Narra met Marina’s startled gaze before she was torn from the stage by her grappling hook.

  Wind embraced her on all sides, and the sky boomed once more. Harsh wind threatened to push her off course, but Narra had flown in high winds before, and she quickly got her feet beneath her, just in time for her boots to slam against the steepled roof of a bookstore.

  Elena grumbled through her gag, but Narra hardly spared her a glance. The sky cracked with light, and then rain began to pour. Narra shot her hook out again. She’d take them west before they went south to meet in the Warehouse District. She wanted to be sure the Patrolmen and Palace Guards were searching for her and Erik in the entirely wrong direction before she went to the rendezvous point.

  Narra hit the release, and again she was torn from her feet. Elena’s muffled scream filled her ears as the princess did her best to cling to Narra. With her hands bound behind her back, all she could do was press her chin against Narra’s neck and hope.

  They landed on another building before flying off to the next. Each time Elena screamed, Narra winced. The sky continued to flash, and boom while it hailed down a sheet of rain.

  Every landing grew slicker until Narra was afraid they’d slip from the clay rooftops and fall to the street below. She’d hoped to stay in the air longer, but her arms were getting sore from hauling Elena along.

  On her next landing, she brought them right into a deserted alley.

  The second she released Elena, the princess reeled back against the wall. Muffled obscenities flew from her lips and her eyes were bright like fire .

  Narra’s fists clenched with irritation. “Shut up if you want to live!”

  Elena snapped back a step and her eyes flew wide. She regarded Narra with a skeptical look before she nodded slightly.

  Narra regarded the drenched princess. Her kohl eyeliner ran down her face in thick black lines, and her hair was stringy, clinging to her shoulders. Narra stepped up to her and placed her hands on either side of Elena’s gag.

  “I’m going to take this out, but I need you to be quiet.” Narra raised her eyebrows meaningfully. Though she doubted anyone in the apartments nearby would hear Elena scream over the boom of thunder, she wanted to be certain.

  Again, Elena nodded.

  Narra sighed, and took out the gag. Elena’s mouth opened wide and her chest heaved in a great breath of air to scream. Narra slapped her palm over Elena’s mouth.

  “What did I just say?” Narra growled.

  Elena’s eyes widened. She mumbled against Narra’s hand, her hot breath warming her skin.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” Narra said carefully. “If I wanted to hurt you, I’d have let your sister hang you.”

  Elena regarded her for a long moment before she mumbled something that sounded affirmative. Narra slowly removed her hand.

  “What in Srah’s name is happening?” Elena barked the second Narra’s hand dropped. “Who are you, and why did you save me?”

  Narra sighed. “I’ll explain later. We need to meet up with the others.”

  “Others?” Elena squeaked.

  “Yes.”

  “Will Rae be there?” Elena’s eyebrows furrowed, and for the first time Narra thought the princess might actually care about something. She was so used to seeing former Emperor Malek’s older daughters looking like vapid warmongers, that she’d dehumanized them in her mind.

  Narra nodded. “Your sister will be there.”

  Elena heaved a sigh of relief. “Where are we going? ”

  “Follow me.” Narra stepped back and walked to the end of the alley. She peered out into the sleet, narrowing her eyes to see through the thick drops. The street was empty.

  Elena followed after a long moment of hesitation. “Can you untie my wrists?”

  Narra looked back. Having Elena tied up would be the safest bet. She had no idea if the princess would try anything, or how far her combat skills could take her. But untying Elena could work to soften her to Narra. Maybe they could develop some sort of trust. At least that’d help Narra with the next part of her plan.

  “All right.” Narra pulled a dagger from inside her warm, dry cloak. Elena stiffened as Narra motioned for her to turn around. She had a feeling Elena still thought Narra might stab her in the back—literally—but what would be the point of that? Like Narra had said, she’d have let Elena die if that’s all she wanted.

  Narra took Elena’s wrists in hand, pulling them apart as much as she could. She snaked the edge of her blade beneath the rope and quickly sawed through it. The bonds dropped to the alley floor, and Elena heaved a sigh of relief. She turned back around to face the thief.

  “Thank you,” Elena said. She tilted her head in question. “What can I call you?”

  Narra shrugged. “Rheka.”

  Elena’s eyebrows furrowed. “I recognize that name.”

  Narra smiled as she turned away from the princess. She bet Elena did. As a royal, she’d see the city’s wanted posters plastered inside the castle. “I’m sure you do.”

  She walked out into the rain, glancing between the few windows that held warm light inside.

  “Wait,” Elena said as she raced to catch up. “You’re that thief aren’t you? The one who was saved from her hanging?”

  Narra glanced back at the princess. “That’s right.”

  “What does the Thieves Guild want with me and my sister?” Suspicion layered Elena’s voice, and her steps slowed as they entered an alley across the street .

  “The Thieves Guild doesn’t want anything from you,” Narra said. She had to raise her voice to speak over the pounding rain. “This is personal.”

  Elena didn’t say anything more, and Narra had a feeling the fact this was personal scared the princess far more than the Thieves Guild ever could.


  Narra pushed open the bar door to the old fish cannery. The stench of sea life flooded her nostrils and descended into her throat. She gagged and covered her mouth. Her eyes watered, and she suddenly regretted her decision to make this their meeting place. It had seemed like a good idea at the time—well out of the way, abandoned, and close to where they’d leave the princesses once they were all back together again.

  The door creaked as she stepped in. Elena coughed loudly, and they both covered their mouths and noses as Narra closed the door behind them.

  Darkness reigned in the large open space. A walk way ran up over the first floor to a row of offices on the far side. Most of the space was clear aside from some old barrels and tables. The metal had been stripped and scrapped long ago, leaving the center of the warehouse mostly barren.

  “What are we doing here?” Elena grumbled through her hand. “It smells disgusting.”

  Narra ignored Elena’s complaining. She’d already heard enough of it on the way across the city. It had taken them a couple of hours to make their way in a wide loop from the western edge of the city back southeast to the City Docks, which is where the warehouse sat beside.

  “Rheka?” Erik whispered from the back of the warehouse.

  “It’s me,” she said.

  She heard a heavy sigh of relief, and then the creak of a door. Erik’s footsteps were followed by the clack of heels as he met them at the center of the warehouse.

  “Rae!” Elena gasped. She flew by Narra and swept her younger sister up into her arms. “Thank Srah you’re all right!”

  Raeleen burst into tears, her sobs echoing in the hollow space.

  Narra and Erik let them have their reunion. They moved off to the side to give them some space, leaning on an old table a few feet away.

  “Did everything go according to plan?” Narra asked.

  Erik nodded. They both watched the princesses in case they made a move to run. “Yeah. She’s been a mess the entire time though. Thank Srah that Avalon was able to keep up the rain for so long.”

  Narra smiled. She’d really have to thank the pirate later for her assistance.

  “How long until she arrives do you think?” Erik asked.

  Narra shrugged. “Not long, I’m sure. She was going to stay in the square with the crowd until things died down. Then she’d slip away to meet us.”

  Erik dipped his chin in acknowledgement.

  The two princesses were still embracing, though Elena was looking over Raeleen’s shoulder now with a suspicious look in her eyes. She mumbled quietly to Raeleen, so quiet that even Narra couldn’t hear.

  Narra narrowed her eyes. She didn’t want the two princesses coming up with a plan to escape the two thieves. They still needed them yet.

  “What do you want?” Elena said suddenly. She pulled from Raeleen’s grip and pushed her sister behind her, keeping a protective stance even if she had no weapon.

  Narra inspected Elena’s fierce expression. Though she was rain-soaked and trembling like a leaf in a windstorm, she still had fire inside of her. Narra had to respect that.

  “We want your help,” Narra said.

  Elena raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “With what ?”

  Narra’s lips twitched into a smile. “We need your help to bring down your sister. ”

  Elena looked back to exchange a look with Raeleen. Then she turned back to face the Thieves. “Marina?”

  Narra nodded. “Yes.”

  Elena’s eyes darkened and her lips curved maliciously. “You should have said so sooner.”

  “ Y ou have something against your little sister?” Erik asked.

  Narra was surprised too. She’d only ever seen the trio in public once, and though Marina regarded Elena and Raeleen with disdain, the older siblings didn’t seem to share the same feelings toward Marina.

  “Yes,” Elena said. “She is trying to kill us after all.”

  Good point .

  “Why do you say that?” Narra asked. In the eyes of the people, Marina was just doing her job. The sisters had been found guilty of killing Emperor Malek, so they were to be hung. It was how their justice system worked. They’d received a fair trial, something Narra had never received before her execution.

  Elena scoffed. “Who else would plant evidence of our father’s demise on us?” She shook her head. “You’ve never been inside the castle, so you don’t know what she’s like. She’s a manipulative little brat, and always has been, even when our parents couldn’t see it.”

  Raeleen stepped forward and took her sister’s hand. She seemed to have gotten herself under control. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes were red, but she didn’t leak with tears anymore.

  “So you think she’s behind your father’s death?” Erik surmised .

  Elena and Raeleen nodded in unison.

  “Yes,” Elena said. “She’s always hungered after what’s ours. That’s why Raeleen and I have always shared a bedroom. We didn’t feel safe alone. Even as children, Marina stole our dolls and hoarded them for herself. As she’s grown up, she’s only gotten worse—taking all the best tutors and spiriting them away with her wiles. When that didn’t work, all she had to do was whine to Daddy and they’d be hers.” The princess rolled her eyes. “She was the first person I suspected of betraying us. I’m assuming the fact that you’ve saved us and have a vendetta against our sister means I’m right.”

  Narra tilted her head. This was a lot of new information. She wished she’d known all of this before she’d ever met Marina. Then maybe she’d have the guts to kill her. “You’re right,” she said.

  Erik glanced at her sharply. “Rheka,” he warned. This wasn’t part of the plan. They were supposed to wait to reveal everything until they were safe aboard Avalon’s ship.

  “Marina has wronged me, and I want revenge.” Narra slid off the edge of the table and took a few steps toward Elena. The princesses stiffened, and Elena held an arm out to protect her sister. “I know you didn’t kill your father because I was there when he died.”

  The princesses gasped. Erik shot forward to grab her arm, but she pulled from his grasp.

  “Now we just need to prove your innocence, and Marina will no longer be suitable for the throne,” Narra said.

  Elena raised an eyebrow. “So you want the proper line of succession to be restored?”

  Not exactly . But Narra didn’t say as much.

  “I want Marina to rot in prison for the things she’d done, or be hung in front of the entire city should a jury see fit to do so,” Narra said.

  Elena smiled. “Then we want the same things.”

  “But how do we prove our innocence?” Raeleen piped up.

  The door they’d entered from squealed, and Narra rounded to face it. A dagger was in her hand and pointed at the newcomer before they’d even stepped inside .

  “Whoa,” Avalon said. She flicked her hood back and held her hands up in surrender. “It’s just me.”

  Narra sighed in relief and lowered her knife. “Apologies.”

  Avalon shook her head. “It’s fine. Are you ready to go?” The pirate looked between the princesses and the Thieves, seeming unsure what to make of the tension filing the room.

  “Yes,” Narra said. “Let’s go.”

  “You want us to stay on this pirate ship ?” Elena’s voice rose high as they descended from the plank onto the ship’s deck.

  “Yes,” Narra said dryly. “You’ll be safe here.”

  Elena scoffed. “I hardly think so. Pirates are a bunch of ruffians!”

  Avalon’s crew shifted from their positions around the ship’s deck to peer at the princesses. While some leered at the princesses curvy forms, the others shrugged dismissively and went back to whatever it was they were doing.

  “I hardly think you’re in any position to refuse,” Avalon said. She placed a hand on her hip and glanced around the deck, giving a glare to whoever stared too long at the princesses.

  “But what about proving our innocence?” Rae
leen asked. With the rain slowing to a trickle, she seemed far more alive and much less terrified.

  “We’ll take care of that,” Narra said. “But for now, you need to stay with Avalon on her ship. You’ll be safe here.”

  “We have contacts in the city,” Elena insisted. “We can find somewhere far more suitable to stay.”

  “And what if these contacts rat you out to the Patrolmen?” Erik asked. “No harm will come to you here.”

  “You won’t be staying long, anyway,” Avalon said. She raised her eyebrows meaningfully at Narra.

  Narra pretended not to see. She had no idea how long they’d need to harbor the princesses. They had no real plan besides this, and getting Asher’s help to prove the sisters innocence. If they couldn’t, at least the stay of execution should cause some unrest within the city. With more and more things going wrong for Marina, the people were bound to revolt against her.

  Elena sighed dramatically. “Fine. If we must .”

  “You must,” Narra said, her voice monotone. “Why don’t we take them to your chambers, Avalon?”

  The pirate captain frowned, but relented, turning on her heels to lead them to the back hallway. “Follow me.”

  Narra ushered the princesses in first before following with Erik on her heels. They reached the captain’s quarters, and Narra couldn’t help but notice the absence of Caroline. Had Avalon’s younger sister gone home already?

  She shook her head as Elena gasped, and Raeleen squealed in surprise. Kaja prowled from the shadows, looking more miffed than usual to have so many people in her owner’s room. A growl rumbled in her throat, and the princesses went to retreat.

  “Hold on,” Narra said. “It’s only Avalon’s companion.”

  Avalon glanced up, seeming surprised by Narra’s use of the word companion. But Narra remembered their dinner not long ago. Avalon called Kaja her companion, not a pet, and the thief had made note of it.

  “It’s a tiger!” Elena snapped. “What is it doing here?”

  “As Rheka said, Kaja is my companion.” Avalon walked over to the tiger and rubbed behind her ears until Kaja’s growl became a purr. “She’s harmless as long as you don’t threaten me or mine.” Avalon shot the princesses a meaningful look that said they better behave while aboard her ship.