Villain's Assistant

by Carley Hibbert

  “Wha-?” Benjamin’s little black book tumbled to the table. The blood drained from his head and into his burning stomach. The room grew dim. Outrage bubbled up from deep in his chest. What? “Wait!”

  Denny looked at Rebecca. Benjamin tried to stand but fell back into his chair, his legs failing him. He gripped the table and rubbed his thumb against its gouged surface. Benjamin glanced between Rebecca and Denny. They must be lying. But he only saw earnest pleading in their eyes.

  “So…so…I’ve been…working…for the king?” Benjamin raised a hand as if to fend off her information. “Villains don’t work for the king.” Especially, he thought as raw outrage surged within, a king who had banished all villains and crooks to this wolf-forsaken plain.

  Rebecca dipped her head. Denny flexed his jaw and nodded as well. His muscled arms tightened across his chest. Where is Odie? Benjamin didn’t see him in the shack. Is he outside making sure I don’t run? Rebecca watched him expectantly. What is she waiting for? Indignation sizzled through Benjamin’s veins. He slammed his fist on the table.

  “Give me a moment to absorb!” He blinked at his crumpled notebook next to his empty bowl. “Lies! All the lies! I thought ‘the good guys’ were into truth and honesty. This is worse than finals at the academy.” Benjamin reached out and scooped up his book, the only thing that seemed real in the room. Good guys? My left hand! “At least with villains, you know you’re being lied to and that they’re planning to stab you in the back. By the Great Wolves!”

  Benjamin stared into the fireplace, squeezing his notebook, feeling the leather bend in his hands. The king was spying? Was that really a surprise? The real question was what else was King Aldo up to? Benjamin’s dreams of the World’s Greatest Villain’s Assistant title had turned to ash and now rested in that very grate. How had this happened? This was the opposite of everything that he’d been working for his whole life. What did that leave him with? He averted his gaze from the fireplace. It was too close a representation of his life. He put his notebook back in his pocket.

  Then, for the first time, he thought he saw Rebecca look contrite, if only for a moment. Something clicked inside him. That might make the whole crazy caper worth it, he decided. Maybe I can find a way to make this work for me.

  Benjamin stared at the ash-filled hearth again as he let the new information trickle into his brain. No wonder Denny and Odie reacted so severely last night. Benjamin shook his head. How had he missed this? He reviewed his conversations with the Lieutenant. The old man was probably the best liar he’d ever met. He simply omitted the most important detail: he wasn’t a villain. Benjamin could learn a few things from him yet.

  Denny ran his fingers through his hair, flashing worried glances at Rebecca. His arms tightened with tension. She ignored him and kept her eyes fixed on Benjamin. Benjamin wasn’t quite able to look directly at her.

  What would be more villainous than turning against the biggest archvillain of the day? Benjamin smiled. Taking down two? Never mind that destroying Shreb and Mouthrot might save his life as well.

  “I’ll need to know how many men are behind those walls. Schedules and movements.” There was no reason he shouldn’t benefit from this situation.

  Denny, noticeably relaxed, now wrapped an arm around Rebecca. She breathed a sigh of relief and slid into a chair. They needed his help. He could solve this puzzle.

  “They’re preparing to defend against a big army, but not a needle prick.” Benjamin Black’s name will be known across the plain yet, he thought as cool blood rushed through his veins. “How long would it take for a message to get to the king and for him to respond? Because that’s how much time we have to rescue the Lieutenant and prepare to defeat this massing army of thieves.” He smiled wider.

  I will find my way, he challenged fate, one way or another.

  TWELVE

  Denny rested his hand on the back of Rebecca’s chair, scraping his thumbnail into the wood before he answered. “Listen, the king isn’t going to send an army into the depths of the Thieves’ Plain. His father, King Zavier, created it to be a safe haven for villains, so the rest of Lam could heal without their filth clogging up his good works. He promised to leave them alone if they left Lam alone. If Aldo brings an army here, he’d risk starting a war that might never end. He’d send Lam back to where it was before his father forced a bloody peace on the nobility.”

  “Yes, yes.” Benjamin swiped his hair out of his face, dropping his smile. “He couldn’t send a small force of some sort? Unofficially, of course?”

  Rebecca paced around the table, wringing her fingers. “He’d need undeniable proof that either Shreb or Mouthrot was massing an army to overthrow the throne.”

  They all stared silently at the gnarled leg of the kitchen table when Benjamin’s eyes popped. A stream of light entered his brain. He strode around the room, almost running into Rebecca. He stopped a few times and drew lines in the air to connect his rambling thoughts. He knew what would happen; it was obvious if you were a villain with a past. Finally he looked at them. “But that’s exactly what’s going on here: two villains planning to overthrow King Aldo.” Benjamin smiled appreciatively. “Shreb the First ruled all of the Thieves’ Plain, so his son would want to surpass his father’s ambition.” That’s what I would do. “Mouthrot’s ambitions were very nearly stamped out by the king, right? By tradition, he would feel obligated to go after the king himself, to seek revenge for his defeat and pick up where he left off.”

  Rebecca slumped in her seat, silently twisting a knot in her skirt. Denny stared at the floor, his hair disheveled.

  “That’s exactly why he’s working for the ‘Mighty’ Shreb. He’s hiding under Shreb’s cape until he can strike against the king. The Lieutenant said Mouthrot liked to be thought of as a ghost.” Benjamin began pacing again. “Except the Lieutenant ruined that by spotting him.”

  Rebecca looked up, her face like marble. Both Denny and Benjamin looked at her. She knows something, Benjamin surmised.

  There was a fear in her eyes that came from knowing an awful truth. She tugged at a braid. “He wants to be king. He’s already removed all the direct lines of inheritance,” she said, covering her face with her hands.

  “Oh!” Denny leaned forward, clutching a chair. “Prince Evan and his wife died in a fire. I think they had a child as well. Everyone thought it was a freak accident.”

  “And a few cousins? Lord Amsby and Lady Remba, as well,” Rebecca said through her hands. “Amsby died of some strange withering illness. Poor Lady Remba went slowly mad before throwing herself out a window.”

  When she removed her hands, Rebecca was a sick pallor.

  “I can’t imagine how he can go further than that. How do you know he was involved?” Benjamin sat down facing Rebecca.

  “That was why the Lieutenant hunted him down.” She twisted a yellow braid around her finger. “He saw him at the prince’s castle as it burned.”

  Benjamin rubbed his face. “So who else would be in danger besides the king? Who’s next in the line of succession?”

  “The king was to name Prince Evan’s child as his successor, but no one seems to know if the child survived or not.” Denny shrugged. “Plus, I heard the king was thinking of remarrying. Not a lot of royal news out here.”

  Rebecca shifted in her seat but remained silent, and that was perfect as far as Benjamin was concerned. “Well, there’s only one thing to do now. Do you have paper and ink? I think we need to compose a letter to the king.” He stood. “Then the rescue.”

  “Who’s going to deliver it, eh?” Denny asked.

  “What’s Odie up to? Any plans he could break?” Benjamin smiled to himself, thinking that a quiet night’s sleep was nearly within his grasp.

  THIRTEEN

  Rebecca dried her hands on her skirt and heaved a big sigh, hoping to release the tightness building in her chest. She had set things in motion. She hoped the Lieutenant would be proud of her. It was a risk to spill most of their cover to
Benjamin. She glanced at him and wondered how he could be comfortable bent over the table like that. Benjamin fidgeted at the table, fussing over the folding of the letter. Rebecca had repeatedly assured Benjamin it was fine. He wanted another opinion and held it up for Denny and Odie’s approval as they passed through.

  Denny dug out the sealing wax and stamp hidden under a floorboard in the pantry. He set it down for Benjamin and helped Odie scavenge food for his trip.

  “Farmer Demsey delivers his wool across the border this time of year. He usually waits for Odie to deliver it, even if he has to wait a month.”

  Odie chewed on a piece of dried meat as he stuffed food into his pack.

  “In fact, he usually lets Odie take it alone.” Denny looked at his brother, who adjusted his cap. Odie put another piece of meat into his mouth and gave a firm nod. “It might take longer, but no one would think to question Odie.”

  Odie shoved more food and an extra waterskin into his pack. He slipped a few daggers under his belt and hid them under a ragged cloak. Benjamin set the letter delicately in his large hand. Odie slipped the letter into his vest, avoiding direct eye contact with everyone but Denny. In a few minutes, he was down the road and out of sight.

  Rebecca plunged a rag into the scalding dishwater as Denny cleared off the table. She started to scrub at the table, but Denny waved her off. He grabbed a piece of charcoal from the fireplace to sketch a rough outline of Shreb’s fortress on the table, marking the entrances and watchtowers. Denny pointed out things he had observed from the outside. Rebecca pushed in between Benjamin and Denny so that she could study the map as well. Heat rushed up her neck as Denny rested his hand on her back as he made room for her.

  “Since Shreb Jr. showed up, men have been making their way here from all over.” Denny twirled the charcoal in his slender fingers. “Like someone finally got the word out that something big was about to happen. There are guards all over the place, around the clock. Mouthrot knows how to keep his men disciplined. One fight and that was it. Rumor has it that he made sure all the men involved were left with a visible mark, as a warning to others.”

  Goose bumps prickled down Rebecca’s arms, and she cinched her wrap tightly around her shoulders, fighting off the images of scarred and branded men. Denny hesitated, his azure eyes asking if she was okay. She smiled and he continued.

  “The place is a meandering mess. You’re more likely to get lost than find anything you’re looking for.” Denny rubbed his chin, leaving a black smudge just under his lips. “I can talk to Baldo. He’s been there long enough to know the ins and outs of the place.”

  Benjamin nodded. “A more detailed map would be nice, something that will get us to the Lieutenant and out again. Any extra information Baldo could supply would be helpful.”

  Rebecca traced the rough charcoaled lines with her eyes and imagined herself in Shreb’s fortress. Mouthrot had already seen Benjamin with the Lieutenant. Denny had been in the fortress to visit Baldo in the kitchens; the staff might recognize him. She was the only one who hadn’t been seen by any of Shreb’s men. It would make sense for her to go, though the Lieutenant would not be happy about it. He had always gone out of his way to keep her from anything that smelled of danger, even while preparing her to fight herself out of it, but she knew she could do this.

  Denny smudged his chin again. “I agree. I’ll talk with him, but I won’t put Baldo into any danger. He’s only twelve, and I should never have let him go there in the first place. Maybe we can get him home now.”

  “Absolutely.” Rebecca wiped Denny’s chin with the edge of her wrap, surprised to feel stubble.

  Denny dropped his charcoal into the ashes and grabbed for a pack. “I might as well leave now. You two will need to hide out. I don’t want to have to explain why I’ve got two extras at home. Got it?” He stuffed some apples, dried meat, and a blanket into the small pack.

  “Sure.” Benjamin eyed the bedrooms behind Denny.

  Denny found some scraps of paper and another piece of charcoal and added them to his bag. What was she supposed to do, sweep and mop? Rebecca found two waterskins and a pack in the pantry.

  “I’m coming with you. Benjamin has been seen, not me.” She stared Denny down. “A second pair of eyes is always a good idea,” she added in a tone that reminded her of the Lieutenant.

  Denny flinched. “Yes, but the Lieutenant would come back from the dead and kill me if anything happened to you!”

  She waved off the distasteful idea. “Nothing will happen. We’re just going to visit your brother. I can be your girlfriend. People would believe that.”

  She stuffed her pack with food from the pantry, poking her head out to confirm with Benjamin. “Right?”

  Benjamin smiled as he glanced at Denny, who looked away. “Right! Anything that guarantees me some sleep.”

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  The smile slid off Benjamin’s face. “Have you ever slept with a goat?”

  She relented and sighed. “Sleep in my room. It’s the one on the left.”

  Denny’s head whipped around at this. “Are you sure we can leave him on his own? Can we trust him?”

  Benjamin pushed past them toward Rebecca’s bed. “You can trust me to sleep. Rebecca will be fine.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. “She’s probably better trained than you are anyway.”

  Denny chewed on his bottom lip, studying Benjamin.

  Rebecca didn’t see how this was his choice. She had already decided. “See? C’mon, let’s go!” She flung the door open and stepped out into the blinding sun, not knowing if Denny was following until she heard the door close and his steps on the wooden porch. “I didn’t realize that you were so slow!” Rebecca called over her shoulder. “We need to get there with the other merchants and farmers.”

  “So exactly how long have you been my girlfriend?” Denny grinned and wagged his eyebrows.

  “It's just part of the cover.” She laughed. “I don’t know, a couple of months, at least.”

  “Okay. Do you think we have a future together?”

  “Oh, please.”

  “I’m going over our cover. Someone might want to know.”

  She shoved him, but he didn’t even falter, instead, he just wrapped an arm around her and drew her closer. The hard lines of his body pressed against her, and she became aware of all his masculine features as his blue eyes bore into hers. A lock fell over one eye, and she smiled lamely.

  “Someone might be watching,” he said and winked.

  “I think couples can walk side by side like normal people.” She pulled herself loose so she could breathe and then giggled as she felt heat glowing in her cheeks.

  “How about we hold hands?”

  She rolled her eyes. She was sure that the Lieutenant wouldn’t have approved of walking into the wolf’s den like this, but this flirtation could easily get her locked away behind castle walls in no time. Why had she suggested this as a cover? At the time, it had seemed the safest choice, but now she wasn’t so sure.

  She glanced sideways at Denny, who not-so-casually checked out the scenery around them. She fiddled with her braid and kept her eyes on the road ahead. A breeze rolled across the plain, bending the long-dead grass over the road.

  Rebecca cleared her throat and asked, “What does Baldo do for Shreb anyway?” Rebecca thought it was best to change the subject.

  “Kitchen boy. It’s way beneath him, but he insisted that he wanted to help the Lieutenant too. I don’t like him being surrounded by such filth. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have liked it.”

  Denny frowned. None of the brothers had really recovered from their parents’ deaths. Not that anyone really does. A dark well opened in Rebecca's heart, but she quickly covered it. She wanted to put her hand on his shoulder but had thought about it a little too long. “Did the Lieutenant know?”

  “No. Baldo didn’t ask for permission—he just went.” Denny shrugged. “He’s always been independent. And when he makes up his mind—”
r />   She nodded. She understood perfectly.

  “Well, it’s turned out to be very helpful.” She scanned the main road as they joined it. The Sunrise Mountains stood in the distance, marking part of the boundary between the Thieves’ Plain and the rest of Lam. Aldo’s castle lay just on the other side, pressed into the Sunset side of the mountain range.

  She could see a few carts on the road ahead of them. A heavy square structure rose up from the faded plain. A ravine butted against the back. It was a strange place to build a fortress, but no one could attack from the back. But then, it offered little in the way of escape as well.

  Rebecca and Denny passed through the front gates along with a wagon full of protesting chickens. Peddlers wearing heavy packs strapped to their backs pushed through as well. Rebecca stayed close to Denny and shyly peeked around at the guards. When one winked at her, she grabbed Denny’s arm and feigned embarrassment. Denny pulled her in a little closer as he glared at the guard.

  As they made their way to the kitchens, she made note of where the merchants flowed and where Shreb’s soldiers stalked. They weren’t the usual scoundrels. They actually had uniforms, of a sort. They each wore an armband with two trumpeting black swans on it. The men moved with some purpose en route to various designated areas. It was clear that they were not just slouching around. A sinking feeling hit her when she quickly surmised that this wasn’t quite the chaotic operation of halfwits she had anticipated.

  A large woman nodded at Denny as they entered the kitchen. She pointed them in Baldo’s general direction with a large wooden spoon. She returned to her pot and wiped her hands on a filthy apron.

  “He’s probably peeling potatoes in the back,” Denny murmured in Rebecca’s ear, his lips grazing her ear. A butterfly fluttered in her chest. She stepped back to follow Denny, and he grabbed her hand.

  She walked wide-eyed with a gaping mouth, playing the part of a country girl. She had a feeling that Denny enjoyed it. He made a point of placing his hand at the small of her back to guide her through the maze of people. He was a natural at playing the boyfriend. Lack of proximity was probably the only thing keeping the girls away. His duties with the Lieutenant didn’t usually involve girls.