Shadow - Cover

Shadow

Copyright© 2025 by Ka Hmnd

Chapter 3

Action/Adventure Sex Story: Chapter 3 - William, an illegitimate son of the king, returns home after being away for a while, and finds the kingdom in turmoil. He becomes a thief that helps the poor.

Caution: This Action/Adventure Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa   Consensual   High Fantasy  

I sat up and grumped, and the old scribe snickered, “Stay in one night, and you might get some rest.”

I looked at her, and she just stood and began dressing. I stripped and changed into soft grey clothing before heading out. Someone had already started the two stoves, and I grabbed two men. I pulled out a single gold piece. “We need some hams and fresh eggs for breakfast. Also, try to get a half side of beef for tonight.”

They grinned, and the one with a freshly scraped face nodded. I turned to watch as people woke and started moving around. I caught the old man that had started on the walls around the top of the office. “After you finish with the girls’ loft, come see me. I think we are going to build a second floor with walls where everyone can sleep.”

He turned to look around thoughtfully. “That is a big job.”

I grinned. “We can do it together.”

He looked at me and grinned before nodding. I caught an older boy and fished out a silver piece. “As much tea as this will buy.”

He nodded and ran out as I went outside. I stretched and headed to help water and feed the animals. By the time I got back to the warehouse, there were a few guards there, and everyone was talking about the robbery of Countess Tresliss. Breakfast was a feast with not just ham and eggs but someone had found porridge. One of the women had asked the guards if they were safe from this thief, and the guard had snorted.

The day was spent sending runners out looking for work, talking to farmers coming into the city, and men leaving with carts or wagons. By the end of the day, we were showing a healthy profit. We had also brought in beams and thick posts bought from farmers quietly to start building another floor. I listened to every rumor, and one bothered me.

It hinted at the homeless doing all the robbing. A lot more guards came by than normal, and I stopped one of the guards that was warming his hands beside the fire pit. “Has anyone gone through the gates at night?”

He looked at me. “I would not know.”

I looked around, “Well, if the thief lives outside the city walls, he has to go through the gates, doesn’t he?”

The guard seemed surprised but nodded, “Yeah.”

He seemed to think about it and finally left. I went to bed early and woke to a guard poking his head in the door. I looked at him, and he closed the door. I dressed and went out to find a couple of men awake and talking to two guards. It seemed the guards and army had been doubled again, and they had been walking around. I went back to bed and woke to a young boy prodding me awake. I looked at him, and he smiled, “Momma said to wake you.”

When I came out, it was to the smell of tea. The women were toasting bread and cheese with leftover ham from yesterday. I spilled most of the gold from my purse into the small box being used for the warehouse funds. We worked on the second floor as runners came and went. When someone yelled for a cart or wagon, a man always jumped to go.

The rumors going around were about a Baron caught in the streets last night. The guards and militia were so angry they had beaten him. Several more homeless families appeared and were accepted into our group. The second floor seemed to fly together. We had it half done before it was dinner time. This time, a farmer had come to us to sell a couple of butchered sheep.

As the sheep was being cooked, several guards came by, and the talk turned to another wealthy merchant that was starting to point fingers at us. The guards shook their heads, “That stupid ass just wants the king to seize everything you have so he can move in and take over.”

Everyone was angry, but the guards snorted, “The guard commander pointed out to the king that everyone here stays outside the walls, so it could not be your group.”

I moved away to think and decided to pay the merchant a visit. It was late when I lifted my head and looked across the dark office. I slipped out of the bedroll and turned to fix it so anyone looking in would think I was still there. I had prepared for this; the office window had been oiled earlier and opened quietly. I slipped out and moved to the wall before heading towards the gate in the shadows.

I found a spot I could use and started climbing the rough stones of the wall. I hesitated at the top and listened before slipping over. I crossed the guard walk on top of the wall and went over the side. The climb down was much slower as I felt for foot holds in the dark. I moved away from the dark shadows of the wall and silently made my way through the city.

When I entered the gatehouse, I could tell no one had been in it since I left. I went up to the archers’ perch and filled my purse with silver before leaving. I knew the merchant was probably planning something, so instead of his home, I went to his shop. Merchant Dillon was a silver smith and had a huge shop. I used an alley and climbed the shop wall next to his.

I knew he had apprentices that normally slept above the shop. I went over the roof of his neighbor and down through the attic vent into his shop. I moved slowly and quietly to the ceiling hatch and opened it. A careful glance showed no one around, and I silently dropped to the second-floor hall. I moved to the stairs and crept down. There was a bell over the door that would ring if anyone opened the door, but that was it.

I walked through the shop and into the back work area where several forges were. I turned to walk to the single office and looked around before pulling a thin-bladed knife. I wedged it between the door and the jam and slid it down to the locking latch. I wiggled the blade and shifted it down more as the latch moved into the door. Finally, there was a click, and I slowly pulled on the door.

It opened silently, and I put the knife away as I moved into the office. Along the back wall were bars of silver and what looked like a lockbox. I did not think the lockbox had been here long since it blocked anyone from getting at the silver easily. It was not hard to force the lock on the box. I opened it and grinned at the gold coins inside.

I looked around and grabbed a large bag lined with velvet. It was probably used to carry new silver items to their owners. I filled it with all the gold and then took my pack off. I carefully put the silver bars and the gold-filled bag in the pack and left. I closed and locked the office behind me and went back through the front. Upstairs, I glanced up at the open hatch and sighed before stripping off my pack and setting it down.

I unwound a cord from my waist and tied one end to the pack and grasped the other end. I jumped and caught the edge of the hatch before pulling myself up and in. I turned and braced myself before pulling the pack up. I untied and rewound the rope before closing the ceiling hatch and carrying the pack to the vent.

It was slower going as I retraced my steps over the roofs. Back in the alley, I headed to a section of the wall I only dimly remembered. This was the real reason I had come tonight. I had to wait some time before crossing a street. When I reached the large inn I was looking for, my childhood memories returned. I was very careful moving into the inn stable yard.

I slipped into the stable and silently walked down the wide aisle between horse stalls. At the very end was the old grain room. I checked the hinges and pulled out a small bulb of oil. I squirted the oil on the hinges and put it away before slowly opening the door. It opened quietly, and I closed it after I went in. I crossed the dark room, feeling along one wall.

Along the back wall, I found the old, thick door that blended into the wall. It was only because of the rusty lock that I found it. I fumbled in my shirt for the small skeleton key I had carried for the last ten years. The lock clicked open, and I smiled before pushing against the door. This had been an old postern gate. Long ago, this inn had been built here, and the stable built against the city wall. They had never even thought to brick up the small door.

I had to stop to oil the old hinges a couple of times before I got the door open enough to squeeze through. I turned and closed the door before feeling my way across the other pitch-dark room. I stumbled several times before I found the door and opened it. The building built against the wall on this side was an old tannery that had gone out of business.

It took a little while to make my way out a side door. I silently moved along in the shadows of the wall. Several times, guards walked by just paces away. When it was clear, I moved to the open office window. I lowered the pack through the window before climbing in. I tucked the pack in the corner and stripped before relaxing under my blanket.

I woke at just the hint of movement. I rolled and sprang for the window, and the man halfway through it. He was just stepping down to the floor when I slammed into him. He yelled and tried to turn as I stepped back and kicked into the back of his knee. It buckled, and I spun him as he fell. The scribe was screaming as I moved towards the man. He came to his feet with a dagger in his hand, and I shifted back.

The office door burst open, and two guards and a small crowd of men started to enter. The man turned, and I kicked him between the legs. As he folded and dropped to the floor, the two guards came forward to grab him. I looked around at all the people. “QUIET!”

Everyone shut up, and I nodded to the man struggling in the guard’s hands. “He was climbing in my window.”

I turned and moved to my bedroll and some clothes. “Let me get dressed.”

The guards pulled him out of the room, and the crowd followed them. I dressed quickly and followed to find everyone out front crowded around several guards. A lantern was brought as I moved to the guards, and one yanked the man’s head up. I shook my head, “I do not believe it.”

The man tried to stand, “I was just trying to...”

A guard slammed a short nightstick against his head, “We do not care what you were trying, scum.”

Two of them bent to grab his feet, and they started dragging him away. I turned around, “Alright, it is over. Everyone back to bed.”

I pushed my way through and headed towards the fire pit. A little later, a few men walked up dressed and sat beside me as I coaxed the dead fire back to life. I shook my head and sighed, “I knew Merchant Dillon was trouble, but...”

 
There is more of this chapter...
The source of this story is Storiesonline

To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account (Why register?)

Get No-Registration Temporary Access*

* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.

 

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT...

Storiesonline is for adult entertainment only. By accessing this site you declare that you are of legal age and that you agree with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


Log In