Chapter 15: Thief Taker School

I glanced back from the half built manor and the weekly ladies party to see the king. He was sitting on the low wall and holding court while his wife drank tea in the much larger set of gauze tents. I shook my head, the king had not hung my brother but he had stripped him of rank and privilege as well as whipped and castrated him.

He had been put into chains and taken away on a ship to be sold in a foreign port. My father had receive a warning and left the court running in fear of being castrated. I glanced at duke Justice and the king as they walked up and bowed, “tired of waiting for the ladies?”

The king grinned, “actually no. We came to ask you to accept a position.”

I waited and the duke cleared his throat, “the guard needs to do more. We would ask that you start a thief taker school to teach them.”

I looked at the king, “the commanders...”

He shook his head, “will do as I say. The guards need to learn.”

I looked at Maria as she smiled and moved around and spoke with the other noble ladies. I sighed and nodded, “no more than six at a time, to many and someone does not learn.”

The duke nodded, “we will start with one commander, two captains and three lieutenants.”

I blinked and the king grinned, “if they learn first they can not complain.”

I smiled, “you do not know men if you think they will not complain.”

He laughed, “well they will complain less.”

I nodded and straightened, “have them meet me at nightfall in the guard building. Tell them to wear dark clothing and bring two night sticks each.”

The rest of the day went quickly and I kissed Maria after dinner. I was right they were not happy but I shrugged, “my orders come from the king and duke. I was not thrilled with the idea.”

I gestured for them to follow and led them out. I started talking and explaining as we walked and I met a few of my ... contacts. It was two hours before one gave me anything. I listened and watched the interest spark in the other mens eyes. I slipped a couple of silvers to the man before we left.

I glanced at the men, “always pay for any information. If it is bad you can always collect a few lumps later.”

They chuckled and I moved to the side of the street we were on, “when we get to the merchant’s house stay in the shadows and watch for a minute. House breakers always have a lookout and we want him.”

It was awhile before we saw something in the shadows across from the house. I moved back and started around with them following. We came out of the darker ally shadows and I pulled a stick. When I reached the slim man looking at the house I reached out to touch him with the stick, “make a sound and you will not like what happens.”

He hissed, “I am not doing...”

I poked him, “you are a look out and I am a thief taker.”

He swallowed, “I have information.”

I tilted my head as the others gathered around, “about?”

The man swallowed, “the three girls that were killed by the docks.”

The commander hissed but I ignored him, “and how do I know it will be good information?”

He looked around, “do you know the Black Sea Serpent?”

I nodded, “yes.”

“The new owner is running paid women and the three refused to work for him.”

I touched his shoulder with a stick, “proof.”

He stammered, “he cut off their hair and has it in a case behind the bar.”

I nodded, “if I catch you again...”

He shook his head and I gestured, “fade but do not even dream of going to the Black Sea Serpent.”

He backed away before spinning and running. I glanced at the men, “so as soon as we take these we go see if the whore monger killed the girls.”

They nodded and seemed more into what we were doing. It was not as simple as I hoped, when the three men came out one had blood on his hands and front. The commander slapped one that tried to run in the side of the head as the others jabbed into the mens guts. I tied their hands and then pushed the three back into the house.

The others growled when they saw the dead man but I was looking for the women that were missing. An hour later we were finally able to leave the guard building and headed to the docks and the Black Sea Serpent. It was almost empty when we walked in and the large man by the bar straightened.