by K. T. Davies
“We have a problem you and I,” I said to the woman. Roused by the light, the kinchin coves scrambled from their blankets and into their mother’s arms. “A useful man died for you. I’ve lied for you. The scales are out of balance.”
“Please, you don’t understand.”
“No. I don’t care.”
“What do you want?” Her voice was thinned by fear.
I pointed to the boy. “Him.”
“No, I beg you take me,” she said. “They ain’t done nothing wrong.”
What? They’re a pair of thieves and he is the better of the two. I lost a good man, so I’ll take your boy, and you two can fuck off out of Appleton. So, what say you? Bearing in mind, your choices are limited.”
The wench was shaking and forming the word ‘no’ when her son interjected.
“I’ll go with you,” he declared and fought free of his mother’s arms.
“I thought you might,” I smiled at the boy. “Now come here, girl,” I said, which convinced the mother to wrap her arms more tightly around the child. “You know, if I’d wanted to hurt her, I would have done it already.”
The girl uncoiled her mother’s arm from around her neck. She was a fragile-looking thing, pale to the point of translucent and thin as a ghost, but she approached me more boldly than many twice her size.
“Give me your hand,” I said. She cast a glance at her mother. I took the child’s tiny hand in my own. The few rubies I’d stolen filled her palm. She gasped as I closed her fingers around the gems. “That’s payment for my apprentice with some to spare for silence.” I looked at the woman. “You’d do well to never mention a word of this to anyone.” She nodded, mute with fear, confused by my act of mercy almost as much as I was.
“Please don’t take my boy, he’s just a child.”
“How old are you boy?”
“Six,” he said with pride like each year was a battle honor.
“Six?” I chuckled. “I was earning my keep by the time I was six. Come, boy. There’s a dame who’ll teach you all you need to know to keep your ma and sister in comfort for the rest of their naturals.” I held out my hand, saw the mother’s face twist in disgust at the sight of my claws and scales. The boy kissed his mother’s cheek and scrambled into his worn-out breeches and shirt with the eagerness of one about to embark on an adventure.
“Please…” the woman begged.
“I’ll leave word about his progress here with the innkeep in six months from this day,” I said to the wench. “I give you leave to return to collect it and leave a missive of your own. In time you’ll be able to see each other again if he don’t get caught and sent to the mines for being a scallywag.” I winked at the boy before returning my attention to his mother. “You understand?”
“Why are you doing this? She begged as her daughter nestled beside her clutching the precious stones tight against her chest.
“Because I’m a generous fool. Now say your farewells and for fuck’s sake stop sniffling. You’re setting a poor example for your kids.”
That night, after I’d settled Mattie with her new apprentice, I drank alone in The Mouse’s Nest. Sensing my ill-humor, my brothers and sisters of the blade kept their distance. I was glad of their consideration as all I wanted to do was get quietly and comprehensively drunk without having to explain one more word of a lie. I was out of pocket and waiting to be burdened with a task that would be hard to fulfill on account of Mother being in a foul mood over the loss of her drugs and an old, honey-hearted enforcer. Bleary-eyed, I raised my mug to the empty space across the table. “Here’s to you, Snapper. Hell’s gained another idiot.”
* * *
You have finished this prequel story! Breed’s problems are only going to get worse. You can discover how in The Chronicles of Breed.
Dangerous to Know will be available from Amazon on the 4th April 2018.
Author’s Note
Hi. Thank you very much for reading A Fistful of Rubies. I am really pleased that you decided enter Breed’s world.
I hope you enjoyed it all and you will be joining me for Breed’s later, remarkable exploits in Dangerous to Know, book one of The Chronicles of Breed.
* * *
Thanks
K.T.
About the Author
When I’m not writing books, I work the day job, wrangle my kids, four dogs, and a grouchy, old cat. I play computer games, ride horses, practice medieval martial arts, grow vegetables, throw axes, and read, not at the same time, that could get messy.
I have a website here http://kdavies.net
And a Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/KTScribbles where we can hang out, have a couple of brewskis, and talk about the good old days.
You can also find me on Twitter @KTScribbles Once again, thank you so much for going on a ride with me and Breed. I hope I see you again soon.
All the best,
K.T.
kdavies.net