Queen of Thieves Box Set

by Andy Peloquin

  The Duke's jaw dropped. "Deal?"

  "She came to me again the night after our first encounter in the palace. We spoke and came to an agreement." The King’s eyebrows rose. "I assumed she told you, Brother."

  Ilanna shrugged. "I fully intended to, my King, but I had a suspicion he would not believe it unless he heard it directly from your mouth."

  The Duke turned to his brother, eyes narrowed. "What have you done, Brother?"

  The King rolled his eyes. "Elodon, we may be in private, but that doesn't mean I enjoy being talked down to. I know of no other Duke who speaks to his King with such disrespect."

  "I know of no other King who would bargain with cutthroats and criminals!" the Duke spat.

  The King sighed. "Brother, every King is forced to bargain with cutthroats and criminals. Some may wear fancy clothes and call themselves 'lord' but, in the end, it all comes down to the same thing. As Father taught both of us, the needs of the kingdom come before all."

  "Which is why you cannot strike a deal with this thief!" Duke Phonnis' voice rose to a shout. "If you pardon her—if you pardon any of her comrades—you would do irreparable damage. The people need to believe in the infallibility of the Crown. To stay your hand from executing the Night Guild after judgement has been passed would be foolishness."

  "I believe the truth of the Night Guild's origin would cause significantly more harm to the stability of Praamis," Ilanna interjected. "If the nobles ever discovered that the House of Keadanis founded the Night Guild and wielded it as a tool to control them, there's no telling what they'd do."

  The Duke's hand went to his sword, but Ilanna shook her head. "You know what will happen if I do not leave the palace unharmed."

  The Duke half-drew the blade.

  "Easy, Brother." King Ohilmos held up a hand. "You will walk out of here unharmed, Ilanna of the Night Guild. You have been declared innocent, as agreed. Now turn over that paper."

  Ilanna shook her head. "Not quite yet."

  Both the King and Duke seemed shocked by her response.

  "My innocence was proven before the Royal Council. Thus, our deal is void. If you want the paper as promised, we must come to a new arrangement."

  The King’s eyes narrowed. "Careful, girl. I agreed to your offer the first time, but you do not command me."

  Ilanna folded her arms. "I know what I have, my King. The damage it can do to you—both of you—makes it worth far more than a few lives."

  "A few?" The Duke's eyes flew wide. "There are close to two hundred people out there awaiting execution. All lawfully convicted of crimes—"

  "Committed by the Night Guild, of course." Ilanna's snarl echoed in the Throne Room. "But can you bring accusations against specific members of the Night Guild for crimes they committed? To condemn them all to death would be like executing all blacksmiths because one murders or steals from their client."

  Both men regarded her with dangerous expressions. A part of Ilanna's mind warned her to be careful. Either of them could order her execution. She couldn't push too far, else she would lose everything.

  "The lives of a few dozen men, women, and children"—she emphasized the last word—"versus chaos and revolts tearing the city of Praamis apart. The noblemen of Praamis are a proud lot; surely you can predict how they will react if they discovered the truth of the Night Guild's origin. In exchange for the Night Guild's freedom, your secret remains safe."

  The King stroked his angular, scarred chin. "Even if I were to consider your request, what of the people? Will they simply stand by while convicted thugs, thieves, and murderers—the same ones who have brutalized them for decades—walk free?"

  Ilanna opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She'd taken everything else into account, yet she'd failed to think about the populace. A few inflammatory words had riled them up. What would they do if they saw the King releasing the Night Guild?

  "Ah, and thus you see the conundrum." The King inclined his head. "I made the agreement with you because I know the value of the Night Guild. It offers control over the crime in this city, and maintains order in a way the Praamian Guards never could. You are a tool the House of Keadanis has wielded for centuries, a very useful tool, indeed." He held his palms up, as if balancing a scale. "But as every workman knows, a tool must be discarded once it has served its purpose. My brother believes the Night Guild has outlived its usefulness."

  The Duke's sneer emphasized the belief.

  "And you, King Ohilmos?" Ilanna met the King’s gaze. "Do you believe the Night Guild is no longer useful? After we have driven the nobles of Praamis into your arms, and protected the city of Praamis from the threat of the Bloody Hand?"

  The King cast a questioning glance at the Duke. "I am given to understand that a few Voramians remain alive."

  The Duke scowled. "The slippery bastards must have accomplices in the city. How else can they continue to evade my men?" He shook his head. "But no matter. I will have them soon enough. They cannot escape the full might of the Praamian Guard."

  Ilanna snorted. "I've evaded the Praamian Guard for days, ever since I broke out of your accursed Black Spire."

  The King’s eyebrows rose.

  "Oh, yes, did your brother not tell you?" Ilanna spat the word like a curse. "He imprisoned me at the top of his tower, where I would never escape."

  "You told me she was dead." King Ohilmos spoke in a flat voice, his face hard as flint.

  "I-I did it to protect you, Brother." Shame mixed with embarrassment on Duke Phonnis' face. "I knew she would try to turn you." Anger sparkled in his eyes. "As she clearly has done."

  "You're fortunate I escaped, Duke Phonnis." She sneered at the Duke. "Had I not, the last of the Bloody Hand would have left Praamis unnoticed and returned to Voramis with information that would allow them to return in full force and infiltrate Praamis under the Praamian Guards' very noses."

  "Impossible!" the Duke spat. "My men at the gates would never allow them in."

  "But your men have no idea the extent of the tunnels running beneath Praamis. The tunnels that belong to the Night Guild."

  Her words struck the Duke like a blow. His mouth worked without a sound.

  "Why else do you think the Bloody Hand invaded the tunnels?" She'd worked out the Voramians' logic. "They wanted to quash resistance, but they needed to learn the ways of the underground passages for when they invaded the city in force. With that information, they'd have taken over the city long before you knew they were even here."

  "You say 'would have'." The King gave her a curious expression.

  Ilanna crossed her arms. "Thanks to me and my crew, the last of the Bloody Hand lie dead." She pointed to her clothing. "These stains are all that remain of Rhynd, the leader of the Voramians."

  "Indeed?" The King sat back in his throne. "Intriguing."

  The Duke's eyes went wide, and he rounded on his brother. "You can't seriously be considering this!"

  The King waggled his head. "Her offer holds merit. The Night Guild would maintain order in the city, and the nobles would never find out about the Night Guild's true origins. I'd say that's worth sparing a few lives."

  "No!" The Duke's voice rose to a shout. "I do not! For far too long, I've held my peace as these thieves and murderers ran rampant in Praamis. You've kept me leashed for years, when all I wanted to do was erase their stain upon our city, upon our honor! And now that we are finally about to be free of them once and for all, you would pardon them?"

  "That is where you and I differ, Brother." Steel echoed in the King’s rasping voice. "The Night Guild is no stain upon our honor. They are our tool, to use as we need. Why else do you think Master Gold has always been a member of the royal family?"

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Ilanna started. "What?"

  Duke Phonnis scowled. "Never the royal family, Brother."

  King Ohilmos gave a dismissive wave. "Not directly, no. Every generation has produced a royal bastard or two."

  The revelation shook
Ilanna to the core. "Master Gold was…?"

  The King’s expression turned musing. "The current Master Gold—or, judging by your expression, the former Master Gold—was the product of my uncle's philandering. Good man, Uncle Rainer, but never able to master his desires."

  The Duke shot his brother a strange look. There was something hidden in his expression that Ilanna didn't understand.

  Her mind struggled to digest the information of Master Gold. "A-And he knew?"

  The King shrugged. "At the proper time, he was informed of his parentage." He steepled his fingers. "The knowledge came with certain…perquisites that enabled him to gain control of the Night Guild. Gold, primarily. Information to use when convincing his fellows to see things the way he wanted. Truth be told, he was one of the best Guild Masters produced in the last hundred years. The tributes he delivered to the Crown were significantly higher than in decades past."

  Ilanna's jaw dropped. She could find no words.

  King Ohilmos shook his head. "Sadly, my generation has produced no unwanted offspring."

  The Duke gave the King another odd look.

  "With no one to groom as the next Master Gold, we have feared losing control over the Night Guild." The King leaned forward, his eyes piercing her.

  Ilanna's gut tightened. "Why are you telling me this?" The King wanted something, but what?

  King Ohilmos pursed his lips. "Because you need to understand what you're asking. The Night Guild was created as a tool to maintain control over crime in Praamis. Yet with the death of Master Gold, our grip on the Night Guild is broken."

  A good thing, Ilanna wanted to say, but held her tongue.

  "A dagger cuts friend and foe alike. Without a way to curb or moderate your actions, the Guild could turn to unbridled lawlessness. That is something we cannot permit."

  Ilanna narrowed her eyes. "What do you suggest?"

  King Ohilmos shook his head. "You demand the lives of your comrades. It is in the interests of Praamis to restore the Night Guild."

  "My King--!" the Duke began.

  The King shook his head. "You prize your honor too highly, Brother. I am willing to bear the stain upon our line for the sake of the city."

  The Duke's face tightened. "You cannot allow these thieves and cutthroats to roam our streets."

  "You would prefer crime to go unchecked? Gangs terrorizing the citizens of Praamis, thieves stealing without restraint, murders on every corner?" Ilanna spoke with a voice of confidence. "We offer control." She turned back to the King. "You desire to be the hand that holds the reins of the Night Guild."

  King Ohilmos inclined his head. "That is, after all, the reason the Crown has tolerated your existence all this time."

  "Then you have nothing to fear. Your brother already holds a dagger to our throats."

  The King’s curious expression matched the Duke's.

  "He knows the location of our tunnels. His Praamian Guards and Arbitors have already looted the place for everything of value." Angry heat surged in Ilanna's chest at the memory of the chaotic scene in House Hawk. The Duke's men had torn the place apart. "If the Night Guild steps out of line, he will be able to find and punish us."

  "A fair point." King Ohilmos fingered the band of scars on his cheek.

  A dangerous light glinted in Duke Phonnis' eyes. Ilanna clenched her fists. She could almost read his thoughts: he'd invade and wipe them out the first chance he got. As Chief Justiciar of Praamis, he would have no trouble finding a reason to get rid of the Night Guild.

  "But for our arrangement to be of any value to the Crown, we must be able to go about our business unmolested by the Duke's men."

  The Duke's face flushed. "If you think for a moment—"

  "She speaks the truth, Brother." King Ohilmos’ expression grew pensive. "The Night Guild must be able to operate as usual, lest they suspect the truth. They must continue to believe they are operating independently of our control. The marionettes must never see the strings that make them dance."

  Ilanna nodded. "And, in return, I will ensure the next Master Gold knows the truth. They will all owe their lives to me." Never mind the fact her actions had led to their arrests. "Whoever they choose as the next Guild Master will be made to understand that their continued existence depends on their obedience to the Crown."

  King Ohilmos cocked his head. "You say 'their'."

  Ilanna's face hardened. "The Night Guild has taken my past from me—I will not give them my future as well."

  "Indeed?" A sly smile spread the King’s lips. "Perhaps you'd consider becoming my Royal Thief. I could use someone with clever fingers and a sharp mind."

  The Duke's sharp intake of breath made his thoughts on the matter clear.

  "No." Iron edged Ilanna's voice. "I am done with the life of a thief."

  The Duke snorted. "A likely story." His lip curled upward. "Once a criminal, always a criminal."

  Ilanna held his gaze without flinching. She had nothing to fear from the Duke. He couldn't arrest her; the King had declared her innocent. Much as he wanted to see her hang, the Duke would never go against his brother's words. He'd no doubt send his Arbitors and Praamian Guards to find her, but she had no desire to remain in Praamis. The moment she walked out of the palace, her days of looking over her shoulder would end. She would be free.

  To go where and do what, she knew not. She had only the money stored in the chest beneath the ruins of her home. It would be enough to leave Praamis forever. Perhaps she'd go to Malandria, or one of the cities farther north. All that mattered was that she would leave the Night Guild and her old life far, far behind.

  The King’s rasping voice broke the momentary silence. "If I release your comrades, you will do as promised and turn over the document?"

  Ilanna nodded.

  "And you will deliver the next Guild Master to me?"

  "He will understand that our very lives depend on it." She turned to the Duke. "But first, he must swear not to invade the Night Guild without royal consent."

  "You'll get no such oath from me, girl!" The Duke's face flushed.

  "I would expect no less from the man who broke his oath once." She bared her teeth.

  "But you will swear to me, Brother." The King’s rasping voice had a commanding edge to it. "As she said, the Guild must be allowed to operate freely in this city for them to serve any use."

  The Duke opened his mouth to reply, but the King drove on. "You are free to arrest any you catch in the act of committing a crime. As Chief Justiciar, it is your duty to uphold law in this city. But I will have your oath that you will act only as your office of Chief Justiciar permits. No more."

  A deep purple suffused the Duke's face. Fire and hatred burned in the gaze he turned on Ilanna. His silence dragged on for long heartbeats. When he finally spoke, his words came out in a low growl. "You have my word."

  The King’s mouth pressed into a line. "Swear by the Watcher, Brother."

  The Duke's expression darkened, and his mouth twisted into an angry snarl. "I swear, in the name of the Watcher, who weighs the souls of men and punishes all oathbreakers, that I will act only as my office of Chief Justiciar permits. And that I will allow this filth to continue ruining our city until such a time as you grant me permission to wipe every one of the Keeper-accursed scum from the face of Einan."

  The King sighed and lifted his eyes heavenward. "Brother, no one will ever accuse you of being flexible. Too righteous and rigid by far." He turned to Ilanna, shaking his head. "That is as good as you can expect from him."

  "It is enough." Ilanna gave the Duke a saccharine smile.

  "Which still leaves you with the problem of explaining to the crowd why you are letting hundreds of murderers and thieves walk free," Duke Phonnis interjected. "Criminals who were rightfully tried and condemned to die."

  "Indeed." The King frowned. "The nobles will be none too happy about it either."

  Ilanna toyed with her clothes. Rhynd's blood had dried to a hard crust that chafed on her s
kin. She shifted her tunic to a less uncomfortable position, and an idea struck her. Bloody hell, that's brilliant!

  "The Bloody Hand."

  Both the King’s and Duke's eyes snapped to her.

  "Use the Bloody Hand to convince the crowd."

  King Ohilmos’ right eyebrow danced upward. "You said the last of the Bloody Hand are dead."

  "And they are. Thanks to the Night Guild." Ilanna stepped forward. "Everyone knows what the Bloody Hand did to Voramis, how they've all but destroyed the city since they assumed control. Use that fear to sway the crowd."

  "Intriguing." The King stroked his scarred chin with slim fingers.

  "The Night Guild has been tried for crimes they committed. But Praamian law grants the King power to offer a pardon."

  "To hundreds of criminals?" The Duke shook his head. "Not bloody likely."

  "Once you regale the crowd with how the Night Guild was instrumental in repelling the brutal Voramians from the city, they would be far less likely to take umbrage at the pardon."

  "Paint them as heroes of Praamis?" The King chuckled. "You've got a pair on you, girl, I'll give you that much."

  "It would also paint you as a King as merciful as you are just. Men, women, and children of Praamis stood against the tide of violence that threatened to sweep the city. In return, they are given their lives."

  A smile tugged at the corners of the King’s lips.

  "Add to that the announcement of reduced taxes, and—"

  "What?" the Duke roared. "We cannot afford to lessen taxation. If anything, we should be increasing it."

  Ilanna's grin matched the King’s. "Thanks to Grand Reckoner Edmynd, the Crown won't have to worry about money for now."

  Shock stained the Duke's face. "What did you have to promise that fat bastard to get him to part with his gold?"

  "His life." The King chuckled. "The Grand Reckoner and I had a pleasant chat yesterday. When I informed him I knew about his dealings with the Bloody Hand, he was more than happy to offer the Crown a loan at a drastically reduced rate. And, of course, to turn over every copper bit deposited by the Voramians."