The Way of Thieves

by K.N. Lee

  It was always the same motive. Anger.

  Cassius found it quite amusing. The emotion that kept him fed, kept him going on missions, and kept coins going into his pocket, was anger. Sure, sometimes there was greed as well, but most assassinations came from the same motivation. Yet, as an assassin, anger was the one emotion they couldn’t have. If an assassin held onto it, he made a mistake. Cassius knew this all too well. He’d seen many men and women rise and fall in the rankings of the Assassins Guild, all because they let their emotions grasp a hold of them.

  “Good evening, mister Cassius. I’m sorry we have to meet like this, but I cannot be seen with a member of the Assassins Guild in public,” a soft, feminine voice said.

  Cassius scowled. “Too good for us, are you?”

  “Nothing of the sort,” she said, and appeared out of the shadows.

  His eyes widened as he beheld the beauty who stood before him.

  Long blonde hair hung to her mid back with two braids on each side of her face. Her skin was tanned, pink on the cheeks, and flawless. Two black jeweled earrings hung above her shoulders to match her skin-tight leather clothes.

  With a thin upper body, with the exception of her ample bosom, and thick thighs that made Cassius sheath his knife before he accidental cut himself, she was a true vision. His throat went dry as she crossed the room to sit across from him. Once she was in the chair, she folded her delicate hands over her lap.

  Cassius adjusted himself, still staring at the leather that clung to her thighs. His fingernails dug into his palm as he attempted to compose himself. Cassius paused, biting the inside of his bottom lip. He recognized her.

  “Mirabelle?”

  “In the flesh.”

  He’d never met Mirabelle of course, but her profile was well known, at least, in the darker circles. She was known to be the face of the Thieves Guild. At least, for the last ten years she had been. Rumors of her beauty and cunning spread all through the Assassins Guild, as well as her willingness to work with the Assassins Guild. A trait that was not shared by the previous leader of the Thieves Guild.

  “I had a feeling this was deep, but I didn’t realize how deep,” he said.

  “You do understand, of course, that I was never here.” She said, her gaze meeting his pointedly.

  “Undoubtedly.”

  “Good,” she said with a nod, and crossed her legs as she leaned back in her chair.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there is a wedding today.”

  “I have heard. The duke’s daughter Quinn and the baron’s son Zebedel, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Good. I need you to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

  Interesting.

  He ran his knuckles across his chin. “Who’s the target?”

  Mirabella shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Though, the duke’s daughter will be harder to eliminate. We’re working on removing her protections.”

  “Consider it done.”

  She stood, tossed him a small purse of coins, then began to walk away.

  Cassius inspected the bag of coins, and was impressed with the amount of gold tucked inside for what seemed like a simple assassination.

  As she began to leave, Cassius admired her backside, wishing he had a girl like that—at least for a night. He knew he could never have a relationship, not like the nobles had with marriage. An assassin’s life was dangerous, and emotional attachments were always forbidden.

  That was was Cassius’ problem. Every time he started a relationship, he always grew emotionally attached. It was his weakness, and it was why he chose to stay alone the last few years.

  She turned around, bit her bottom lip, and her eyes glinted in the firelight. “I will be calling for you again, very soon.”

  He raised an eyebrow with intrigue pulsing through him. “What exactly are you planning?”

  Normally, he didn’t ask questions, assassins were trained not to, but he could feel something in the air. Something was changing, and he had a feeling he would have many more missions to come soon.

  Very soon.

  Mirabelle grinned. “It is finally time for the nobles to fall.”

  4

  Brenden opened the last drawer in the dresser.

  Socks. Carefully, he moved them, feeling each individual one.

  Nothing.

  He grabbed the parchment from his sash to look at once more. The drawing was well done. It showed a necklace with a thin chain, and a beautiful dragon pendent at its bottom.

  The dragon’s mouth was open with a forked tongue sticking out, and one red eye. The pendent was supposedly made from gold, and the eye ruby. Being gold, it could hold magic inside of it, as could the ruby, providing it was real. Brenden assumed that was why it was requested. He imagined the pendant was enchanted with some kind of magic, and someone wanted it. It did not matter to him.

  This was a job, and it paid well. However, it would pay nothing if he couldn’t find the bloody thing. He’d danced with the soon-to-be duchess and hadn’t seen a necklace around her neck. The duke definitely didn’t wear a necklace, and Brenden had even checked. Nothing hung around the old man’s neck. It had to be in the room somewhere.

  He closed the drawer and checked the wardrobe again. Nothing but immaculate pants and shirts covered in embroidery. He growled, shuffling over to the bed. He opened the covers, inspecting between the blankets and sheets, and even the pillows. It was all empty. Nothing was hidden under the bed and the two mattresses.

  Where was the bloody pendant?

  He searched all the walls and drawers for hidden compartments, but there was nothing. The doorknob clicked. Brenden turned to see the door crack. He ran his hand across the mattress to straighten the blanket, then slid under the bed to hide at its the center. He hoped he left everything in order. Brenden didn’t want to harm anyone; he was a thief, not an assassin.

  Someone stepped inside the room to sit on the bed.

  Brenden took a few deep breaths, trying to steady his heart. It beat fast, thudding through his chest. He willed it to slow, and his mind to calm.

  Sniffles came from the bed.

  Was the duke crying? Now was not the time for the duke to have a mental breakdown. Brenden needed the man to leave so he could finishing search the room. Why was he here? His daughter was supposed to be getting married. No father should leave their daughter during a wedding, though having a father was nothing Brenden knew anything about. However, unlike his parents, he planned to be there for his children, provided he had any.

  A knock came from the door, startling Brenden. Who’d be visiting the duke now? Brenden hoped it was someone looking for him. Perhaps his daughter had called for him.

  The duke stood. He coughed, then blew his nose with a handkerchief. His footsteps slowly approached the door. He took a deep breath before he opened it.

  “Katlyn?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

  “You didn’t look well. I wanted to check on you, Favian. Do you mind I call you by your name?”

  Brenden recognized his sister’s voice.

  “How did you get past the guards?”

  She laughed. “I have my ways. Can I come in, please?”

  “I don’t know if that’s best.”

  “Please.”

  He sighed.

  Brenden held his breath and two sets of footsteps approached the bed. He quietly scooted to the edge of the bed to peer at the two of them. Duke Favian faced away from him, but Keira saw him. She glanced at him for less than a second, but Brenden knew she saw. Keira excelled at showing no emotion.

  He looked at her and shook his head, letting her know he hadn’t found the pendent.

  Keira touched the duke’s arm. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. It’s just hard.” He sat on the bed.

  “What is hard?” she asked as she sat on the opposite side of him. She was on the edge, so he looked to his left at her and away from Brenden
.

  “I miss her.”

  She put her hand on his, but he jerked his right hand away. It was balled in a fist.

  “I’m sorry,” Keira said.

  “It is all right. I’m just not used to talking about it. You see, I’m the duke. I need to remain strong at all times. Or at least appear to be so.”

  “Talking doesn’t make you weak,” Keira said.

  He unclenched his hand, opening his palm. Something glittered in the torchlight.

  “I often wonder if she’d had this around her neck that day if she’d still be alive.”

  Brenden’s eyes widened as he stared up from the floor.

  “What is that?” Keira asked, feigning innocence.

  “Oh, nothing. It’s just a necklace my mother gave her. She said it would keep her safe—that it would protect her.”

  “Why wasn’t she wearing it?” Keira asked, licking her lips as she eyed the intricately designed necklace.

  “I had it cleaned for her that day.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Keira placed her hands on his.

  “I’m not so sure.”

  Keira stood, and reached down to lift his chin. A sly grin came across her face as she peered into his eyes.

  He seemed to hold his breath, locking in her gaze, as she sat on his lap, facing him.

  “It was not your fault,” she repeated, softening her voice. As she said those words, she truly felt them. This was a man in pain, and somehow she had the desire to soothe his sorrows.

  Such a thing was dangerous. He was a target.

  Nonetheless, he opened his mouth to respond, and she leaned down to kiss him. Their mouths entwined as each of them grew more passionate. Her nails clawed at his back, digging in deep and locking her in place.

  Brenden cringed as he slid further under the bed, not wanting to see his sister kissing an old man.

  The duke groaned as his clothes hit the floor. Brenden’s face twisted. Keira moaned as her clothes fell on top of the duke’s.

  Brenden shuttered, his tongue sticking out as he tried not to gag. He closed his eyes and covered his ears, trying not to imagine what was happening above him as the bed squeaked.

  A light metal clang against the floor.

  Brenden opened his eyes and saw the pendent glittering in the center of the pair’s discarded clothes. He carefully crawled forward using his forearms. The glitter sparkled in his eyes and a smile came across his face. He ignored the sounds from the bed as he reached it. The pendant rested on a pair of pink, lace undergarment bottoms.

  Brenden’s neck clenched as he stuck out his tongue in disgust to his side. He reached his thumb and index finger forward to delicately grab the pendant from his sister’s underwear.

  A grin fell across his face as he looked at the dragon necklace. It was exactly like the drawing. He shoved it into his sash, glanced at the bed to see his sister on top of the duke, occupying him, and blocking his view. Brenden shook his head to try and forget what he just observed with his eyes, then he crawled the rest of the way to the door.

  He stood, put his hand on the handle, then wondered how he would exit without making a sound. The door had squeaked when he entered. His sister began to moan loudly. He shuddered as he opened the door and scurried off into the darkness.

  Digested, yet thankful at her timing.

  5

  The duke’s snores filled the room as Keira gathered her clothes as she sat up on the bed.

  She looked at him one last time while he slept, and slipped back into her dress. Keira almost felt bad for stealing the pendant from him.

  Almost.

  The poor man had gone through a lot. She checked the floor one last time to make sure her brother hadn’t forgotten the pendant. He hadn’t. He was careful. Probably too careful.

  She slipped through the door and into the hall.

  “You took your time,” a voice whispered behind her.

  Keira turned around in a flash, her dagger unsheathed and her teeth clenched. Brenden stood behind her, his hands raised with a smile across his face.

  She raised her eyebrows, sheathing her dagger once more. “Do you have the pendant?”

  He pulled it out of his sash. “You know, you didn’t have to sleep with him. You could have just knocked him out.”

  She smiled. “I know. I thought about it, but I felt bad for him.”

  “Felt bad? Keira, we’ve thieves.”

  “Yes, but how could you listen to that story of his and not feel bad? His wife just died, and that pendant may be his last memory of her.”

  “Not a good memory. From the sound of it, he holds onto it because he believes it was his fault for having it cleaned instead of secured around his wife’s neck. He’ll be better off without it.”

  “Do you think there’s any truth to what he said?” Keira asked.

  “What?”

  “That the pendant would have protected her.”

  Brenden scoffed. “Not likely.”

  She bit her lip.

  “Come on, you can dwell on that later. We need to get this back to the guild.”

  A scream echoed through the hall.

  “What was that?” Keira asked.

  “I don’t know. We need to leave.”

  Keira followed Brenden down the hall and straight into a crowd of people. He stopped, his body jerking straight.

  “Where was our exit?” Keira whispered into Brenden’s ear.

  “In that room.”

  A dozen people stood outside of a room, staring into it with horror-stricken faces.

  “What’s going on here?” the Captain of the guard asked as he approached.

  “It’s Zebedel. He’s dead,” one of the men in the crowd said.

  “Isn’t he the groom who’s supposed to marry the duke’s daughter?” the captain asked.

  “Yes,” someone answered.

  “Look, the ventilation shafts have been opened recently.”

  Brenden started to back away. “We need to leave.”

  “Murder,” the captain of the guard said as he fully entered the room.

  Brenden and Keira shuffled past the crowd and continued down the hall.

  The captain appeared behind them. “Halt. No one is to leave here.”

  Brenden and Keira continued walking.

  “Stop them!” the captain called.

  Four guards approached them. They unsheathed their swords.

  “What now?” Keira asked.

  “We cannot be caught.” Brenden removed a short sword from the inside of his vest.

  The guards ran toward them. Keira grabbed a vial of bubbly red liquid from her bosom. The container held a fire dragon elixir made from ground up dragon scales. Neither she nor Brenden had magic, but the dragon potion gave them abilities temporarily. They each had a few vials, but they were to be used for emergencies only. The vials were expensive, and the power didn’t last forever. They also had a recovery time for the body, which was why it was best left as a last resort. However, they were now trapped, and it left Keira little choice.

  She shook the dragon elixir once before taking a deep breath and drinking the contents. Keira could feel the dragon magic run through her veins. She wrapped a scarf around her face, hoping to not be remembered. Brenden’s face was already hidden under his hooded cloak, but her face was laid bare.

  Swords clanged, echoing through the hallway. Brenden was fast, and he was good. His blade glittered between three attackers, intercepting each of their strikes. The fourth paused, surprise on his face, and that’s when Keira made her move.

  She stepped forward, raising her hand. Fire surrounded it. The heat traveled through her, and she tensed for an instant, her eyes rolling in the back of her head, feeling the ecstasy of it. The dragon potion was like a drug, one that you wanted over and over again once you began using it. Keira fought against the urge and focused her thoughts. She glanced back to the terrified guard, and smiled. Keira released the energy. It smashed into the guard, knocking
him backward and into the wall. He screamed as his body consumed in fire.

  She turned around to see four more guards approach. Keira really began to wish she wasn’t in a dress. She could feel her cleavage trying to burst out at the top. Reaching a hand down to her bosom, she pulled her dress up in the front, then repositioned herself to aim her hands toward the guards. The froze, eyes widened, hands quivering.

  Keira smiled. She released three more fireballs, one after the other all in succession. Two of the guards ran, the third raised his blade in defiance. It blocked the fire, dissipating it.

  “Enchanted blades,” Keira cursed.

  The guard rushed toward her. She grabbed her dagger and blocked the incoming sword just in time. Her dagger was no match for the sword, but it was still better than nothing. She moved her dagger to her right, then left, blocking the swift strikes of the guard.

  Keira cringed as the guard’s blade grazed her arm. She dropped to the ground, spreading her legs wide into splits. Thrusting down, she slammed the dagger into the guard’s foot. He howled as he dropped his sword. Keira grinned as she lifted her hands and blasted him with fire.

  Her dagger was gone, but so were the guards. She turned around to find Brenden defeating his last opponent.

  “Come on, let’s go,” Brenden said.

  He began sprinting down the hall. Something fell from a slit in his sash and clang on the ground. Keira skidded to a halt as she picked it up. She glanced to her hand and the pendant that shone back at her. Her eyes widened. She clutched it as she followed her brother through the halls.

  They were stopped by three more guards, and a sorcerer. Keira shivered as she prepared her magic. The dragonscale potion would only last another few minutes. She was ill equipped to face a true sorcerer. Keira clenched her fists, preparing herself to fight. She realized the pendant was still in her hand. Keira had nowhere to stash the prized possession. She bit her lip as she draped the necklace over her neck to let it hang over her chest. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hands, prepared to attack.