The Death Dealer - The Complete Series

by Katie Roman

  “You are too kind, mistress.” Marcus got up from his seat to kneel beside Glenda. “I will make sure the Guild never bothers you again.”

  Glenda smiled. “I just hope you folks really can help Glenbard. The people are starving and are being beaten down. They need help.”

  “We are going to help make Glenbard free again,” said Grace. “I promise.”

  Sixteen

  The day dawned cold and wet. Even with the fire, Grace woke up with freezing toes and fingers. She could only imagine what would have happened if they hadn't come to sit with Glenda and Roger. The sky was a pale pink when the city guards opened the gates and those camped outside queued up. Glenda, with her wagon full of fabric, pushed to the front of the line.

  As promised, Glenda helped them into the city. And as she had said, the guards paid no attention to the people in her party; they only cared about Glenda. Once inside, Glenda made for her shop in Merchant's Way. Kay and Charlotte went with her while Marcus and Grace loitered by the gate to wait for Donald. They set up a rendezvous with their party for noon at Diggery's Temple.

  Grace and Marcus kept their hoods up and sat at the opening of an alleyway, pretending to beg. They sat back to back to keep an eye out for Donald.

  “Do you suppose he found them?” asked Grace, referring to Thom, Jack, and Ridley. She felt Marcus shift and wanted to turn around, but she kept scanning the street. It was mostly deserted. At this hour people should have been up, milling around and buying supplies for their shops, heading to their jobs, or just walking around. But most everyone she saw was either a guard or a soldier.

  “Where is everyone?” Marcus asked, ignoring her query.

  “I was just thinking the same thing. Glenbard is never this quiet.”

  They continued to sit in silence. As the morning dragged on, a few more people came out, but they never stayed out for long. No one even spared a glance at the two “beggars” sitting by the alley. Eventually, a sallow-skinned boy came up to them.

  “It will be a whipping in the market,” he said.

  “What?” Grace looked up at the boy. He couldn't have been much older than seven. His face was dirty and his clothes hung off his body, like he was dressed in a sack.

  “Vagrants and beggars and anyone caught out without permission gets the lash.”

  “Permission?” Grace felt Marcus shift again. “No one has ever needed permission to be out before,” he said in a clipped tone.

  “You must have just gotten in, then. His Grace don't like folks out loiterin’, not since the riots started.”

  “What riots?” Marcus asked.

  The boy smacked his hand against his forehead. “You stupid or something?”

  “Assume we are,” Marcus growled.

  “The duke let some guards kill a woman who was just protestin'. Beat her to death, they did, and then the duke raided the temple district, arrestin’ anyone they could under conspiracy to disrupt the peace. Look, I'm just tryin' to warn ya. You best move off if you don't want the lash.”

  “We're waiting for someone,” Grace said.

  “You're not likely to find him if you’re tied to a pole in the market.”

  From the corner of her eye Grace saw a flash of gold. “This is yours,” Marcus said, “if you go to the Angel and talk to Jim Little for me.”

  “Talk to 'im about what? The fine winter weather we're havin'?”

  “No sass or I'll knock that smirk off your face, young man. Tell him to send our friend to the Temple of Diggery at noon.”

  “And who are you?”

  “The king.” Grace caught a hint of laughter in Marcus's voice.

  She watched the boy's expression. If he guessed Marcus meant “King of Thieves”, not “King Frederick”, he made no indication. He took the offered coin and moved off.

  “We best be off, too,” Grace said. “We can make for Golden Road and wait for everyone there.”

  Marcus pushed up off the ground and then helped Grace to her feet. They hooked arms and made for the temple in the Golden Road district.

  The further they moved into the city, the more people they saw. It was mostly shop owners, those who had movable carts they were taking to the market, and guards. Guards and soldiers were everywhere. Marcus had to pull Grace along as they walked. Two guards with the Serenity Place hare insignia hassled a man who pulled his cart of oddments toward the market.

  “We have to do something,” Grace hissed, trying to break free of Marcus's grasp.

  The guards knocked over the cart and laughed. One bent over, poking through the carter's wares, while the other guard held the carter with his arms behind his back.

  “Stop!” Marcus whispered angrily in her ear. He pulled her closer and held her fast around the waist. “Not now!”

  Grace dug her heels into the ground. This is why Diggery wanted me here, to stop this, Grace thought. She kept her feet planted in the dirt, but Marcus pulled her away from the scene. She watched as the bent over guard smashed some of the carter's wares.

  “Let. Me. Go,” she snarled.

  Marcus used his free hand to pinch her upper arm. “Soon. Don't give yourself away just yet. You won’t do anyone any good fighting those fools now when you are weaponless and at a disadvantage.”

  Grace looked back at the poor carter as he was thrown into the dirt. The guard who held him kicked him in the ribs. Grace turned and let Marcus lead her away.

  They made it to Diggery's Temple with no more issues, but Grace felt like a stone had settled on her chest. Marcus opened the door and held it for Grace. She took in a deep breath, enjoying the calming peace and quiet of the temple.

  There were a few people kneeling in the pews before the great wolf statue of Diggery. Marcus took a seat in the back of the temple, but Grace sauntered up the center aisle and knelt before the statue. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the cool stone of the statue's base.

  What happens now? she thought to the statue, hoping Diggery could hear her. Glenbard is a mess.

  When Grace opened her eyes, she saw that she was alone in the temple. The great wolf statue had come alive, and Diggery herself lounged on the pedestal. Her tail thumped against the stone and she rested her head on her front paws. She blinked lazily.

  “What do I do now?” Grace asked aloud.

  Stand and fight. Diggery's silver eyes shone in the candlelight. Know that I am with you. Diggery stretched out, leaned down from her pedestal, and licked Grace's forehead with her sandpaper tongue.

  Grace closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, the temple was as it had been. Marcus sat in the back, his head bowed and his hands clasped in front of him. Grace got to her feet and stretched her back, feeling it crack. She ambled back to Marcus and slid into the pew next to him.

  Marcus cracked an eye and looked sidelong at her. “Feeling better? Have a nice chat with Diggery?”

  “Don't make fun,” she said, but still smiled at him.

  “I mean no disrespect, but you always come back with such clarity when you go to the temple.” He put an arm around her shoulder.

  “Glenbard is her city, you know.” Grace waved a hand towards Diggery's statue.

  Marcus nodded. “I was just asking for her help in the days ahead.” He removed his arm from around her shoulder.

  They sat in silence for the rest of the morning. Eventually the temple emptied and they were the only two left to pray in silence.

  At noon, Kay and Charlotte arrived with Glenda and Roger, who carried a large sack over his shoulder. It appeared Glenda had outfitted Kay and Charlotte with new clothes. Kay wore a brown linen dress with an apron over it. Charlotte was dressed similarly, though she wore a scarf over her head to cover her shaved head.

  “This is an odd place to meet,” Glenda whispered, climbing into the pew behind Marcus and Grace.

  “Diggery is Grace's patron,” Marcus explained. “Master Roger, what is in that sack and how did you manage not to get hassled by the guards?”

&
nbsp; “My aunt thought you should have these, and we kept to the alleys coming here. We saw enough folk getting bothered on our way to the shop this morning.” Roger put the sack down in the aisle. “We had to guess at your sizes.”

  “Our clothes are fine,” Marcus said. “You do not have to do this, Glenda. You offering to spread the word about His Highness is more than enough help to us.”

  Grace wanted to agree with Marcus, but she was also sick of wearing Kay's clothes. She wanted to put on something that came close to fitting her. She eyed the sack and bit her lip.

  “Your compatriot seems to disagree,” Glenda answered, laughing. “Go on, it is my gift to you.”

  “Don't argue.” Kay reached into the bag and pulled out a long coat for Marcus. Grace noticed extra pockets and sheaths to hide knives. She tossed it to Marcus, who slipped it on.

  “I suppose I could use a warmer coat. This cloak doesn't do much for me.” He draped the cloak over the pew.

  “And this is for Grace.” Kay pulled out a pair of black trousers and a black shirt.

  Grace took the offered clothes and held them to her chest. She mouthed “thank you” to Kay, who just smiled.

  “I thought you would want a dress, too,” Glenda said, shrugging. “But Captain Kay said you would like that instead. I had to call in favors from some tailors for these clothes. We also have some for your friend who was supposed to meet you at the gate, but looking around, he appears to still be missing.” Glenda looked around.

  “A little urchin told us it was a whipping in the market if we loitered,” Grace explained. “We sent word to the inn he's supposed to be at.”

  “Well, Roger and I must be off. We have orders to work on. Our work doesn’t stop just because we are allied with ‘royalty’ now,” she said with a wink.

  “I am going with them,” Charlotte said. “They have a gem merchant who is traveling south past Egona. We explained our plan with Drake and they agreed to get me safely to Henry's home, but they are leaving in the morning. Will you join us at Glenda's for dinner? I am sure you have things to do this afternoon when you meet up with Donald.”

  “We will be there just before sunset,” promised Marcus, and then Glenda, Roger, and Charlotte bid them farewell.

  “I nicked a piece of black fabric from the tailor,” Kay said when the others were gone. “I cut some holes in it for you and stuffed it in the pant leg so Glenda wouldn't see.”

  Grace hugged the black clothing even closer. “I never thought I would be doing that again. I figured I would be going into all this as Grace.”

  “I think it would be a good idea to bring the Dealer back,” Marcus stated. “The people of the Lane put great faith in the alliance between the King of Thieves and the Death Dealer.”

  Grace thought back to the days when she patrolled the city at night, looking for those who worked against Marcus's rule. She scared ruffians away and helped Marcus hold his power steady. When she fled Glenbard she had left on bad terms, and she thought the days of teaming up with Marcus under the guise of the Dealer were over. She felt tears sting her eyes, so she buried her face in the soft linen of the clothes Glenda brought.

  The door to the temple opened. “Sorry I'm late.”

  Grace lowered the clothes and smiled to see Donald coming into the temple. She rushed forward and gave him a big hug.

  “I hope you didn't run into any trouble,” Marcus said as he walked up. Kay fell in step behind him.

  “I went to the Angel and found the new queen. She is a nasty one, according to Jim and Jeremiah. She has slit the throats of a few guards, and even had her men beat Nathaniel Moore to near death. He was rescued by some of his guards and some of Marcus's supporters, or so Jim believes. But she did order Moore's death. The duke just lets her run wild. Apparently Moore started a rumor she was in league with him, and the duke’s actions toward her just reinforce the belief.”

  “And Thom? Ridley? Jack?” Grace clutched Donald's arm. She had to know.

  “Ridley was seeking sanctuary here until the raid, but no one has seen her since, and no one has seen Thom since before Marcus's arrest. Jack was sent to Redbank prison and no one has heard from him.”

  Grace sucked in a breath through her teeth and looked to Marcus. He tried to keep his face blank, but she saw that his eyes were shiny with unshed tears. When he noticed she was staring, he looked away and wiped his eyes. Her mind raced as she thought about what danger Ridley, Jack, and Thom faced, or if they even still lived.

  “The queen stays at the Angel. Jim gave me the key to her room and made me promise to visit her again.”

  “Well,” Marcus said. “I suppose we have an after dinner engagement, then.”

  Seventeen

  Grace felt her pulse pounding in her ears as she crouched down in the familiar stables of the Angel. A cold sweat broke out down her spine and her hands shook slightly. She shoved herself into the far corner of the stable, behind the last stall. There were no animals stabled there tonight. Before departing from the city with Charlotte, Donald had helped Jim find a different stable for the few that had been there. They anticipated trouble. Even though the area was devoid of any animals, the place still smelled of hay and horseflesh. One lantern hung by the door that led into the common room of the Angel. The flickering of the lantern’s candle made shadows jump and dance along the walls. Knowing she couldn’t rely on her eyes, Grace listened for anything unnatural.

  She pushed the hood Kay had made for her out of her face to wipe sweat from her forehead. The mask only covered the top part of her head and her face down to her nose. She retied the mask around her face when she deemed her forehead dry enough. She also sat down and stretched, touching her toes and cracking her back.

  She’d been hiding in the stables since after the midnight hour was called. Marcus had climbed onto the roof and Kay went into the common room. She was to warn Jim and Jeremiah to flee the premises, and when the false queen turned in for the night, she would signal Grace and Marcus.

  Grace imagined Kay carousing with the thieves who were loyal to this queen. She would laugh and dance, maybe flirt, all the while surveying the room. When she called for aid, Marcus would use the secret entrance he had installed on the roof and Grace would come charging through the stable doors into the common room. They planned to force the new queen to concede her power to Marcus or run her out of the city. Grace pleaded over dinner to not kill her if it could be avoided. Kay rolled her eyes, but agreed when Marcus agreed. Glenbard would likely see plenty of bloodshed in the coming months; Grace didn’t want to add to it.

  Any moment now, she thought as she settled back into a crouch. She wanted to be ready to jump into action.

  After what felt like hours, three quick knocks came from the stable door. Grace counted to five and heard a fourth and fifth one. She got to her feet quickly and rushed for the door with her sword drawn. She opened it a crack to investigate.

  “Everyone’s asleep or gone home,” Kay whispered through the door.

  Grace stepped into the common room and found it devoid of life. A few torches were lit around the stairs and a fire burned low in the fireplace, but the candles on the chandelier above the center of the room were extinguished, as were the torches and candles Jim Little usually kept by his counter.

  “I ‘left’ about two hours ago,” Kay explained. “I was waiting for Jim to leave to give me the all clear. The wench is asleep upstairs, went up shortly after I arrived. Marcus is getting ready to assail her.”

  “And her thieves? Did she leave any guards posted?”

  “Either she is a fool or truly believes she has nothing to fear. She left a few men to guard the stairs so no one went up, but I plowed them with ale.” Kay had her sword out and pointed to two immobile heaps near the stairs. “I did the courtesy of tying them together.”

  “Just two men? Even Marcus kept men stationed all around his house for protection.”

  “Oh, I am sure some are lurking around outside, but Jim said she di
dn’t have a lot of followers. And he said people are terrified of her mere presence.”

  “Is she a giant or something?”

  Kay shrugged.

  Above them they heard a thud, followed by a woman’s scream. Kay stood near the entrance to the Angel and Grace concealed herself in the shadows waiting for any of the queen’s men to enter. The queen upstairs screamed again, but it wasn’t out of terror or fear, she was angry. She issued a deep throated roar. Feet shuffled across the floor, and then someone leapt and landed hard.

  From the entrance to the inn, a man barreled through holding a club aloft. As he barged in, Kay stuck out her foot, tripping him along with the man who charged in behind him. A third man jumped over his companions, aiming his blade for Kay’s chest. She deflected his blow and stepped back, taking on a defensive stance.

  The second man through the door climbed off his friend and hefted a woodman’s ax. Grace moved from her hiding spot to block him just as he tried to circle around and attack Kay from behind.

  “Protect the queen!” the ax-man cried to the club-man struggling to his feet.

  As the club-man got to his feet, Grace kicked him in the shoulder, knocking him down. She stepped on his wrist and continued to block the ax-man’s blows. The club-man cried in pain and rolled onto his back. The noise was enough to rouse the stair guards from their drunken stupor, who panicked and screamed as they fought the restraints Kay had put on them.

  Grace felt sweat drip into her eyes, but she dared not wipe it away. She let the ax-man attack again and again, wearing himself down while she blocked and side-stepped his blows, while behind her she heard Kay dueling the man with the sword. Both men screamed at their fallen friend to get up and fight. Above them, the fight between the queen and Marcus continued.

  The ax-man charged Grace suddenly, the ax held high over his head. As he bore down on her, she drove the hilt of her sword into his stomach, just below his ribs. The ax clattered on the floor behind him and he fought to catch his breath. Taking advantage of the situation, Grace grabbed one of his arms and twisted it behind his back. Like Kay, she kept a length of rope around her waist and she used it to tie his hands together. She left him face down on the floor, gasping for air.