Noble Thief

by M. Lynn

  It wasn’t the queen who led these people down this path, but the people sworn to serve her.

  He thought back on a time soon after the battle with Dracon when they seized the Leroy estate. It was true it had been the law that a traitor’s lands were forfeit, but that hadn’t made it right.

  And Simon had stood by his side, allowing him to work through every internal difficulty. He’d been a friend that day.

  Tyson narrowed his eyes and leaned forward to face Arthur. He hated himself for what he had to do, but it was for Simon.

  Arthur darted his eyes away, fixing them on a serving girl ambling their way.

  “What can I get you?” She didn’t meet their eyes as she twirled a curl around her finger.

  Edmund was the one who spoke. “Three ciders, bread, and some of whatever you have on the spit.”

  She walked away without another word.

  “Arthur,” Tyson began. “You’d like to fill your belly, wouldn’t you?”

  Arthur nodded vigorously.

  “You can have whatever you want, boy… as long as I get the information I seek.”

  Arthur bit the inside of his cheek and fixed his eyes on the table. “I know nothing, sir. I swear it.”

  “Nothing about what?”

  “I heard you was looking for the Hood. Everyone in town knows that. Just like that man before.”

  Tyson drummed his fingers against the table, ignoring the man before comment. “Why are people here protecting a criminal?”

  Arthur finally lifted his eyes, fire blazing in their depths. “The Hood ain’t no criminal. You come here and feed me for a day expecting me to betray the one who feeds me all my other days.”

  Tyson pursed his lips as the serving girl returned, practically throwing four wooden plates onto the table. A foul-smelling meat sat in front of them, turning Tyson’s stomach.

  Arthur, however, eyed the food like the starving boy he was. Tyson slid the plate out of his reach.

  “You speak of betraying the Hood, but that man betrays the kingdom with every action.”

  A hand landed on Tyson’s shoulder. “Don’t answer him, Arthur.” A man slid into the long booth and pushed a plate toward the boy. Arthur didn’t hesitate in availing himself of the offered meat.

  “What are you doing here, Tuck?” Tyson growled. He hadn’t seen his friend in two years.

  “You know this guy?” Edmund asked. “He was at the palace.”

  “I used to.”

  “Used to?” Tuck laughed, his large frame shaking. “I married the bastard to Lady Amalie. Tell me, Ty, how did you instill such venom in one so small?”

  Tyson ignored the comment because he’d wondered the same thing many times. “I didn’t know you’d come to these parts.” He flicked his eyes to Arthur who’d practically licked his plate clean. “And you’ve obviously been here a while.”

  Tuck shrugged. “I came about a year ago and realized this village needed me more than I needed to maintain my traveling ways. Amalie needed me.”

  Tyson bristled at that. “Well, as you can see we’re busy so our reunion will have to wait.”

  Tuck slid an arm over Arthur’s shoulders. “The problem, Prince, is that I can’t let you question Arthur here. The boy deserves better than the traitor stamp he’ll receive if he tells you what you seek.”

  “He’s already a traitor for protecting a man wanted by the crown.”

  Humor sparked in Tuck’s eyes. “Yes, we can’t have anyone protecting wanted… men.” He scratched his chin. “I’ll tell you what… release the boy and I’ll tell you what you want to know. But only you.” He looked to Edmund. “You must send your body guard back to the estate.”

  “I don’t need body guards,” Tyson grumbled.

  “Right.” Tuck waved his fingers through the air. “Because you have powers.”

  Tyson scowled. “Fine. Edmund, go back to the estate. I’ll be okay with Tuck.”

  “You sure you can trust this guy?” Edmund narrowed his eyes.

  “Yes.” Tyson’s shoulders sagged. He’d known the moment he met Tuck in that broken village he was a good man. When he’d convinced his family to open rooms at their inn to two travelers who refused to divulge their names at first, he’d become a friend.

  And then when he tied them together, he’d become a part of their lives, forever cemented into their memories. As Edmund led Arthur away, Tyson studied his old friend. Sitting across from him brought all the memories he’d tried to keep buried to the forefront of his mind.

  The harsh lines of Tuck’s face relaxed. “It’s good to see you, Ty.”

  Emotion thickened in Tyson’s throat and he cleared it away. “It really is.”

  “I was sorry to miss you at the palace a few weeks ago, but Amalie needed me.”

  Tyson didn’t show his surprise that Tuck had been there. “I’m sorry about her friend.” And he was. Even if John Little had been an agent of the Hood’s, he’d meant something to Amalie and he’d be forever sorry for any pain she felt.

  Now that Tuck sat in front of him, he couldn’t focus on the mission he’d been set on. “How is she, Tuck?”

  Tuck smiled in sympathy. “Good. I think. Amalie isn’t one to allow any of us to see into her mind. After… everything between you two happened, I came here with her and haven’t left her side.”

  “I’m glad she has people around who care about her.” He’d been worried about that since the day she forced him to leave. Amalie no longer had any family.

  Tuck dipped his head to meet Tyson’s gaze, something unspoken in his eyes. “We’re taking care of her.”

  Tyson laughed. “She’d say she doesn’t need to be taken care of.”

  “And she’d be right.” He tilted his head. “She never told me why you left… or why you didn’t come back.”

  The mystery of what happened had haunted Tyson every minute of every day for the last two years. One minute, he’d been inescapably in love and the next, he was in mourning for what he’d lost. Something died that day and at times, he wished it had been him.

  Tyson coughed and reached for his untouched cider. Taking a sip, he closed his eyes for the briefest of moments.

  Tuck, maybe sensing he wasn’t going to get the story, asked a question that was more like a statement. “You still love her?”

  Tyson set his cup down. “Amalie… yes. I never stopped. She’s the most infuriating person I’ve ever known, but for the last two years, she’s stolen my every thought.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t going to come back here again. I was going to try moving on with my life. But the man who is missing… he’s a friend. I’ll do anything to get him back, even if it means stirring up old feelings better left buried.”

  Tuck considered his words for a moment before nodding. “You aren’t going to find what you’re searching for in the village. They all owe the Hood too much. Frankly, I do too, but I don’t want you harassing innocent boys like Arthur.”

  Tyson only heard part of what he’d said because his mind stuck on only a few of the words. “You know who the Hood is.”

  “If I say yes, are you going to arrest me?” He slid out of the booth. “Come with me.”

  They walked across the tavern and stepped out into the chilly air. Finally, Tyson could breathe again.

  Tuck started walking. “I’m not going to give up the Hood, but I do want to show you something.”

  Tyson cursed. “Why is everyone protecting a thief?”

  “That’s what I wanted to show you. This village has long felt abandoned by the crown. Then the Hood came and showed them someone still cared, someone saw their plight.”

  “You’re trying to tell me that a man who attacks caravans and traders is noble?”

  “I’m only going to show you why this village needs help and let you come to your own conclusions.”

  Tyson didn’t say another word until they’d reached the market district. Empty shops showed no signs of use. Cracked stone roads and crumblin
g buildings surrounded the square.

  Tuck walked through the center. “Three years ago, Duke Leroy let his guard descend on the town to force all able-bodied men to join him in his rebellion against the crown. They had no choice but were painted as traitors, anyway. Traders avoided the village, taking their goods on roads just outside of town. The crown ceased providing extra food stores.” He turned into an alleyway that led down a road between two hills. A large tree sat atop one, its branches reaching toward the sky.

  Tuck pointed to it. “That’s where Lord Leroy’s men hung anyone suspected of magic.”

  Tyson had heard the story from Etta. She’d traveled to the Leroy estate to protect the magic folk, arresting the Duke and delivering him to the palace. Standing where it happened had a sobering effect, but it didn’t change his mission.

  Find the Hood. Save Simon. Bring the Hood to the queen. Return home to Bela where he could once again try to forget the girl who’d made him leave her behind.

  Nothing in that plan left any room to feel sympathy for a man who was nothing more than a criminal. He turned away from the tree on the hill.

  Tuck sighed. “They needed hope, Tyson. Surely you can see that after everything your people went through.”

  His people. The magic folk. The ones who weren’t welcome on this side of the border.

  He clenched his jaw. “Tuck, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I am a prince. My first loyalty is to my mother. You say the Hood is some noble man, but he has abducted the noblest man I know.” He took a step back down the alley and paused. “I’m sorry. I have a job to do.”

  Tuck didn’t follow him back across the abandoned market square. Exhaustion weighed on Tyson’s mind as he tried to put the pieces into place. He couldn’t count the number of people he’d questioned, and he was no closer to finding this man who was supposedly a figure of hope.

  This village had suffered. That much was clear. It hurt to see any part of the kingdom he’d once called his own fall on such hard times, but it wasn’t his problem. After he found the Hood, he’d once again leave Gaule behind.

  At least he told himself those things.

  In truth, he wished there was more he could do.

  He entered the darkened space between two buildings, just wanting to get back to the Estate house and sink into his bed.

  A noise behind him made him freeze. The scuff of boots running toward him. He didn’t even have time to yell before a sack was thrown over his head and his head hit something hard, sending his already dark world into blackness.

  Chapter Twelve

  Amalie sat on a wooden bench in the courtyard watching a few of her men train with swords. The clang of metal swirled in the air and she soaked in the sounds. She’d always loved the feel of an estate at work. As a girl, she’d made a habit of escaping her tutors to watch her father’s men battle each other. She’d only picked up a sword a few times growing up, and it wasn’t until she’d reclaimed her father’s estate that John trained her with a bow.

  Thinking of that time sent a stab of pain through her chest. She’d lied to Tyson. Her life had changed so drastically in the past years, but moving on from him had proven impossible.

  She didn’t know why she treated him so poorly. In his presence, her anger gained the best of her.

  Someone dropped onto the seat beside her, and she peered at Maiya out of the corner of her eye.

  “I’ve heard talk,” Maiya began. “Tyson and Edmund have been questioning the villagers. After Anders and his men tore through town, they don’t look kindly on another inquisition.”

  Amalie glanced around to make sure they were not overheard. The guards she hired were part of her hidden life, but most of the servants were unaware of how their mistress spent her nights. On top of that, having houseguests made her nervous.

  Tyson had come in search of Simon. What would he do if he found the queen’s man in her home?

  Amalie pursed her lips as she took in the girl’s muddy boots before reaching out to pull a leaf from her unkempt ebony curls. She raised an eyebrow. “You were in the woods today?”

  Maiya only shrugged in answer. She had a habit of seeking solitude wherever she could find it, but the woods behind the estate weren’t her usual place of contemplation. For travelers, they were dangerous. Some of the Merry Men wanted by the crown had set up a homestead among the trees.

  Amalie nodded in understanding. She’d lived most of her life in grand houses or the palace, but this girl had spent her years among simple village folk in the peace of her father’s healing shop.

  “Have any of the villagers been harassing the prince?” She didn’t want the queen’s guard to be called to protect Tyson. That wouldn’t end well for her people.

  Maiya shook her head. “They’ve been trying to keep their distance, but he’s persistent. John doesn’t think he’ll ever give up.”

  Amalie turned to her. “You saw John?” Her friend had been a constant weight on her mind. She’d been unable to see him since Maiya healed his wound, but Tuck had kept her apprised of his situation. He’d joined some of her other men in their forest dwellings.

  Maiya lowered her gaze. “That’s why I went to the woods. I wanted to check on him. When I healed him… there was a moment I thought I was too late.”

  Amalie reached for Maiya’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you for saving him.”

  She still didn’t raise her eyes. “He sent me with a message for you. Stop sending Tuck to him with supplies. He worries with the prince at the estate, someone will connect you to him.”

  Amalie had considered the same thing, but she’d refused to leave John to his own devices. “What else?”

  “A few of the men have returned from a village nearer to the palace. They speak of raids. The royal guard has been harassing villagers in search of the Hood and her associates. It won’t be long before they reach our village.”

  Amalie sucked in a breath. She knew it would be a possibility as soon as they arrested John. Soon, single arrests wouldn’t be enough for Catrine.

  Amalie had waited for more units of the royal guard to come, but Catrine only sent Anders’ men and Tyson. Why?

  “Did John say how long we have?”

  Maiya shook her head. “No, but he knows how to get the information.”

  She didn’t like where this was headed. “Just say it, Maiya.”

  “They’re going to extract it from the prince.” She said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. As if the words didn’t send a chill down Amalie’s spine.

  Her people would do anything for her, and that was what scared her the most. She needed to get to Tyson.

  “Fetch my horse,” she said, jumping to her feet, fear making her pulse leap in her throat.

  “Amalie.” Maiya held her back. “What can you do? We both know John doesn’t operate like the rest of the men. He won’t listen to you.”

  “I can’t let him…” A quiver ran through her. “It’s Tyson.” And John. She loved her friend, but if anything happened to Ty, she’d never forgive herself. She’d never admitted it to anyone, but he was the reason she accepted the missions of the Hood. Tyson was pure, good. She’d never deserved him as the daughter of a traitor. But in trying to do the right thing, trying to clear the darkness from her soul, she’d lost him, anyway.

  Maiya sighed and took off toward the stables.

  It wasn’t Maiya who returned leading two horses, but Tuck. He took one look at her and gestured to the beast.

  “Maiya told me everything. We need to get to the village.” He shook his head. “I was only with Tyson a few hours ago. I shouldn’t have left him on his own.”

  “It’s not your fault, Tuck.” Amalie had never been more grateful for her friend. He’d once been a friend of Tyson’s as well. Tuck was the one person who knew what Ty had really meant to her. He’d been there on the best day of her life performing the ceremony.

  Amalie ordered a guard to open the gates. As soon as a wide enough gap a
ppeared, she nudged her horse’s flanks and took off into the village. There was only one place they’d take Tyson.

  Two men lingered outside the blacksmith’s shop so Amalie and Tuck turned down an alleyway away from prying eyes and jumped down, leaving their horses tied to a post before slipping through a back door.

  The sharp trill of a hammer on steel provided a steady beat in time with the pounding of her heart. She wished she could believe John wouldn’t hurt Ty, but she knew better. When it came to protecting everything they stood for, John would hold nothing back. He had even less regard for royalty than she did.

  Dim light greeted them, a candle burning low, but the room was empty. Panic threatened to swallow her whole. When Tuck grabbed her arm, she jumped.

  “John wouldn’t do anything he can’t take back.”

  She turned to face him. “We both know the falseness in your words, Tuck. John and some of the others don’t have the same morality as you and I. If there is a raid planned, Tyson isn’t safe.”

  She put her hands on her head. “This is my fault. I should never have let him stay. He doesn’t belong in this. Tyson has always been too good for the world of criminals and thieves.”

  She tried to remember John as he once was, kind and calm before the world beat him down. She loved him like family, but it didn’t mean she was blind to the darkness in his eyes. It had been there since she was first reunited with him as prisoners.

  And now, as a wanted man, he had nothing left to lose.

  Her heart clenched painfully. “We need to find them.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Three Years Ago

  Amalie was no longer a prisoner, but she couldn’t rid herself of John’s words. He’d sat in that cell as if none of it bothered him. Simon left, taking most of the queen’s guard with him. Only a few guards remained. They allowed Amalie Leroy to live in the house once belonging to her family, but it was no longer hers. That much was clear.