Chapter 4: A Band of Sneak Thieves for a Damsel

I had been watching the market place for a week now. The guard had several reports of sneak thieves stealing purses or items from merchants counter. I had already marked four young men and was watching two more. Currently I was laying unseen on a merchant’s roof peering down into the square. I finally sighed and moved back and down.

I used a drain to climb back to the alley and slipped up behind the lookout. I cracked him behind the ear and pulled him back into the alley. I fished the three stolen purses out of his shirt and the two silver candle sticks. I tied his hands and feet with a noose to his neck before moving back by where he had been standing.

When one of the other thieves returned to look for him I moved forward. I cracked him on the back of his skull and quickly pulled him into the alley with his friend. I stripped him of his stolen goods and tied him up. One after another I took the thieves. After I had the last man I got them up and had them carry the stolen purses and property.

They were a sullen lot that pushed into the guard building. As soon as the guards came to take them the oldest looking one blurted, “We have something to trade! We want the king’s pardon.”

The on duty commander sneered, “Your sneak thieves, what could you have?”

The other men looked at their apparent leader and he swallowed, “We know where the Countess MacTav was taken.”

I looked at them and absently waved one of the guards back, “Prove it.”

He shook his head, “After we are free.”

I laughed and walked to stand in front of him, “Prove it or I will break every bone in your body.”

I ignored the commander who would probable start breaking bones if he still refused to talk. The thief finally nodded, “There is an old tannery called Lion’s Hide. They dumped her belongings in the refuse pit.”

I looked at commander, “Do you want me to go look?”

He shook his head and gestured to one of the guards, “Take a messenger horse.”

He glanced around and gestured to some of the other guards, “Lock them up and one of you go get a magister.”

I pulled all the purses and property away from the men as they were led away. I sat and pulled a blank parchment close before starting to write the report. I was doing it almost absently as I thought of where the Countess’s belongings had been left. I sanded the parchment and slid it across to the commander who nodded absently, “Thanks.”

I sat back as he read it and a black robed magister followed a guard into the building. He glanced at me but sat beside the commander with a sigh, “So we have something on the Countess.”

The commander nodded, “Maybe.”

The commander handed my report to the magister and stood to talk to the guard that had been sent to look into the refuse pit. The guard handed him an arm full of clothes and the commander returned to the table. The magister looked them over, “Very well.”

I watched as the men were brought in and the leader cleared his throat, “After you let us go...”

I brought a stick down on the wrist of one man reaching for the stolen property. I looked at the leader, “Understand this thief, you are my catch. If the Magister wants to trade your freedom for the Countess MacTav it will be through me as the king’s law requires and not through the guards.”

I smiled slightly, “now, if you do not give me the information you do not go free and an extra charge of treason will be added since you know about this kidnaping. After you provide the information you will be escorted to the city gate. If you ever return you will be thrown into prison.”

The commander and the Magister were looking at me as the leader frowned, “After we are freed.”

I stood with my stick in hand, “Are you refusing to tell me where she is?”

He licked his lips, “After we are free.”