Chapter 6: The Life of a Maid

I watched the two men as they slipped into the money lenders shop before walking across the street. I moved to stand beside the door and heard them threatening him and the sound of someone being hit. They were trying to start a protection racked and the money lender was just their fourth stop and the first I had been able to confirm. I pulled my night sticks and stepped into the shop to see the money lender opening his lock box.

I struck the bully and strong arm man in the head as he turned and continued past him to the other man. He held a drawn dagger and turned to slice across at me. That was a mistake, I slammed a club down on the wrist and the other into his face. I struck him in the stomach and kicked into his groin.

I snatched him by the hair and yanked him up before I spun him and slammed him into the wall, “He is already under the king’s protection asshole.”

I put my night sticks away and swiftly tied them as the money lender watched wide eyed. I smiled as I pushed them towards the door, “thanks for sending the runner.”

He nodded and I started pushing the two men. When I pushed them into the guard building The commander turned with a magister beside him. I shoved the two men towards a guard, “assault and extortion. I have three merchants statements and witnessed them trying it with a fourth.”

The commander nodded as I sat and started writing my report. He cleared his throat a minute later, “We had a maid killed.”

I glanced at him and he looked at the magister, “She was one of the queen’s maids.”

I straightened, “In his keep?”

The commander shook his head, “On her way home.”

I looked at the magister before nodding, “I will ask around.”

I went back to writing but kept thinking about the maid. After the commander paid me, I left and headed toward the slums. The small tavern I entered went quiet as I closed the door. I smiled and crossed to a nervous looking man with a scar on his cheek. I bent over the table, “Someone killed a queen’s maid in the streets.”

He looked around, “we do not know...”

I slammed a stick down on the table, “It was after she left the king’s keep, which means it was night. I know you and your ... people watch those streets. I want a name or I will turn you for the silver.”

He swallowed, “It was not one of ours. It was a soldier wearing a black cloak.”

I straightened, “who and what lord does he serve?”

He looked around and sighed, “Earl Descart and the man is the earl’s captain.”

I nodded, “You should have known the king would look into this, which means the city guards and me.”

I looked around and then dropped a couple of gold coins on the table, “Next time just send a runner.”

I left and started for the richer side of the city as I thought. If a noble had killed a simple maid there was a reason. I stopped outside the huge estate walls of earl Descart. I was in the shadows across from the servants gate and finally just shook my head and started across the street. A guard at the gate straightened as I approached, “No solicitors...”

I grabbed him by the throat and spun before shoving him against the wall, “I am here for the man that killed the queen’s maid. You get in my way and I will take you along for conspiring against the king.”

The guard had been reaching for his dagger and froze. I nodded and turned to walk through the gate. I crossed the grounds and walked in the servants entrance before turning to follow a hallway. I stopped in the doorway leading into the great hall. There were several men at one table including the earl.

Standing to one side beside and behind him was his guard captain. I started for them and the captain’s eyes flicked to me before he straightened. The group quieted as I approached and the earl snarled, “And who do you think you are!”

I smiled as I stopped, “I am here to take your captain for the murder of the queen’s maid.”

He leaned forward as the group shifted, “And how are you going to do that?”

I pulled my night sticks, “By taking any that interfere for treason.”

The earl fingered his dagger, “And when you die?”

I had enough and my sticks swung both ways to slam into the heads of two men. They crumpled and I smiled, “You answered my question lord.”

Everyone had pulled daggers and I blocked a lunge before striking the man in the face. I grabbed his sagging body to shove him into two others. I slammed a stick down on a wrist, breaking it and then jabbed the other stick into the man’s throat. I spun and blocked a stab from the captain and kicked him in the groin before bringing a stick down on his head.

I moved sideways and knocked a dagger from the earl’s hand before slashing out the other way and hitting the other man in the side of his head. I faced the earl as he moved sideways and licked his lips, “It was for Duke Noss.”

I fainted and then brought the other stick around to strike him. As he crumpled to the floor I looked around. Several servants were watching wide eyed and I put my sticks away before tying all the men up. I searched them before I yanked them to their feet and pulled them after me. The main door and gate guards moved to stop me and I growled, “Interfere and I will have you hung for treason.”