Knight of Thieves

Chapter 9

When Emberly arrived at Bandello’s, James, Will, and Arran were already there. Emberly raced over to where they were sitting in the back of the tavern. She fiddled with her hair absentmindedly, ensuring her long strands were folded back to make it look short, like other squires. She, now back in Kyler’s clothing, certainly looked like the other squires, as though there was nothing interesting about her.

Will was looking at her curiously, glancing between her and his watch, as though he were mocking her for being late. She supposed she deserved that. She was adamant that everyone arrive on time to the tavern. And now, she looked like a hypocrite because of James Heczah.

“Sorry,” she said when she reached them. “There were unforeseen obstacles to my arriving on time.” James opened his mouth to say something obnoxious, as Emberly was certain, when a deep voice from behind her interrupted the conversation.

“‘Unforeseen obstacles’? How very cryptic of you, Dern.” Emberly swiveled around and, in one fluid motion, enveloped Benedick Torpe in an embrace. He held her tightly and she felt something inside of her disappear, as though the unknown weight of missing him vanished. “Welcome home, Emberly Dern,” he whispered in her ear so that only she could hear.

She stepped back, looking at him fully. His eyes were still the same clear, mischievous blue she had known for a year now. She had once thought his eyes were the color of the sea, with green speckles splashed into the blue. Now, she thought his eyes were more like the sky, clouds of mischief enveloping them every now and then. His hair was nothing compared to the wonder she believed his eyes to be. It was a mundane, everyday shade of brown. Ben had a habit of forgetting to brush his hair, choosing instead to run his fingers through his hair. Consequently, it was askew and longer than most men’s too.

Benedick was only five years older than herself, but he seemed infinitely older than that. He was the Prince of Thieves, but Emberly knew there were things about his past he had never told her, things he would never tell her if given the choice. He was a mystery, but he was a good friend to Emberly. He was an honorable criminal and Emberly truly admired him.

“Will you join us?” Emberly asked him.

“Suppose I should,” Benedick returned. He took a seat at their table. “What are you kids up to these days?”

“Training, training, training,” said Arran. “I’ve been waiting for this weekend all week.”

Benedick chuckled. “This is why I decided never to join the war. Entirely too much effort,” Ben joked, a smirk on his face.

“So, you have an older brother?” asked James. “Because—“

“Heczah, I tolerate you and your lawful friends. Bandello’s is my territory, the law has no business here.” Emberly said nothing about how little sense his statement made. Benedick lived by his own rules. And if the future king of the land did not care, then who was there to defy him?

Heczah looked annoyed.

“Don’t mind James,” interjected Emberly, “he didn’t get his afternoon nap.”

“Ah, the rich. It’s okay, Heczah,” said Ben in false sympathy. “I once heard Princess Rosaline had the same problem when she was six.” Arran, Will, and Emberly burst into laughter while James looked like he was preparing for a fight. Emberly glanced from James’ red face to Ben, wanting him to know she appreciated the humor. Instead of finding him ready to share in the joke, Benedick was glancing around the room like he expected something to happen. When she finally caught his gaze, Emberly raised a questioning eyebrow. Ben just shook his head.

“C’mon, James,” coaxed Will as he stood up. “Let’s play poker.” James grumbled a little before standing up and following Will to the round tables in the back where a group of men started the gambling game. Arran leapt to his feet.

“Are you coming, Kyler?” he asked.

“You go ahead. I’ll come in a moment.” Arran nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

Emberly scrutinized his friend. Ben looked tired, exhausted to the core. She could see the desire to sit with her in his eyes, but the yawn that escaped from his lips and the deep circles under his eyes told her he needed his rest desperately.

“Did you have a good summer?” His eyes flicked across the room once more.

“Northem is lovely in the summer,” Emberly said, dropping the forced deep voice to her words. She liked being able to speak normally around Ben. "It was a good summer.”

“How’s that brother of yours?”

“Up to no good,” Emberly said. “He’s fallen in love with Olivia Heczah. I actually just came from the Heczahs' home.”

“And you? How are you?”

“I’m glad to be back in Central with all of my friends.” He smirked. Emberly was not certain Ben ever truly smiled, he smirked like he was holding onto a secret.

“Will was here a lot while you were gone,” muttered Benedick. Emberly bit her lip and nodded.

“So, he said.”

“I’m glad you can trust him. You can rely on someone other than Kyra. Speaking of whom, where is that girl?”

“Flirting with a boy who won’t look at her twice.” Benedick was silent for a moment. He was saved from saying anything by the appearance of Nerissa at their table.

Emberly did not know Nerissa very well, but she had spent he woman multiple times over the year in which she had known Ben. She was a part of the Court of Thieves and Ben’s right-hand woman. Beyond this, Emberly knew little of Nerissa.

If Emberly had to guess, she would have supposed that Nerissa was around seventeen years old, like Emberly, possibly a year old. She had long dark hair she braided to the side of her neck, flowing past her shoulders. A small scar was plastered to the left side of her face, a scar given to her, as it appeared, by someone who had tried to brand her. Lastly, her eyes, her chocolate brown eyes, were always hard, as though she had a deep disdain for everything she saw. She never smiled or showed emotion. She was a hard woman, who did not approve of Benedick’s association with squires.

When she reached Benedick, she glanced at Emberly, wordlessly indicating the squire should not be a part of this news. Benedick did not bat an eye. “What news?”

“He’s been found,” Nerissa stated. Emberly raised a questioning eyebrow, an action which was ignored.

“He’s here?”

“Big Balinger has him.”

“Take him downstairs,” Ben ordered. “I’ll be down soon.” Nerissa nodded and turned away from their table, disappearing to do as she was directed. Emberly rounded on Ben.

“Who’ve they found?” Ben sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was beginning to look more like a mop than actual hair. He leaned close to Emberly, dropping his voice as he spoke to her. He quickly looked around, ensuring no one was listening to their conversation.

“After what happened last spring to Will, I started making some inquiries. Turns out someone in the Court of Thieves has been working for the Cyrans.”

“And that’s a problem for thieves?”

“Yes,” said Benedick, a very serious expression cascaded across his face. “The Court lives by a code. Believe it or not, we want Etrusca to win the war. It is against our honor to sell weapons to our enemies.”

“So, you’ve found who’s responsible?”

“One of them. I’m going to ask him questions later. I have a feeling this goes far beyond the i***t Nerissa has located. We have to keep him quiet, not letting anyone know we are onto them.”

“What will you do to them?”

“The Court of Thieves exists to protect one another. We stay out of the monarch’s way, and they stay out of ours. Few people are paid enough to live for themselves, let alone an entire family. We provide a community for one another. We protect each other. Without us, Emberly, it would all fall into chaos, many lives would be destroyed. The Court is essential to survival here.” He glanced around once more. “There’s been unrest. You and your friends must be very careful. It’s not safe, not as it once was. I-I might not be able to protect you.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said firmly, somewhat annoyed he would suggest otherwise.

“That’s not your job,” he refuted. “Your job is to take care of him.” He pointed at Will across the room. “And that’s a lot harder, trust me. I’m worried for you.”

“It’ll be fine, I know it.”

But Emberly Dern was so very wrong on this point.