Page 30 of A Thief to Die For

‘Soren,’ I repeat, as I walk past him, memorising the name. I hope we don’t have the pleasure of meeting again. ‘Thanks for the chat.’

People stare as I make my way through the compound to the Commander’s High Command. It’s mostly one big barn-like room that’s divided into sections. Now that it’s approaching suppertime, the dining area is filled with people who’ve grabbed food from the outdoor kitchen. But it’s eerie; everyone is so quiet.

Beyond the tables is some sort of training area with a fighting ring made of hay. But the back wall is filled with doors of rooms, three floors of them – who lives there?

The guard is all business when he opens the door to the High Command and shouts my arrival. Even salutes as I walk in.

‘Ryland,’ the Commander calls, his mouth full of food when I appear out of the hallway. He waves me over to the candlelit table behind his oversized chair.

I glance around, disappointed that he’s alone aside from a man standing in the corner, pulling an alarming amount of ribbon from his mouth. The entertainment, I assume? He waves. I nod back. But was this not a dinner party? Where are his daughters?

I take in the scratched and carved-up armrests of the chairs as I pass; they look like a teething dog was unleashed on them. A single plate of roasted meat and potatoes sits in front of him, and most of it is gone already. Nice.

‘Sit,’ he says. ‘Enjoy Silas, my magician. Sadly, he’s not a good one. Not a real one. Just an ill-usss-sion …’ He struggles with the word, then gives up. ‘But – bleeding skies – how I love magic! You know, I saw it once. As a boy. Seven years old.’ He sways, and I realise he’s drunk. ‘A man appeared to me after I ran away from my father. Read my mind. Told me everything about my life and that I could have immense power, if I’d only look for magic and learn to harness it.’ He lifts his hand, staring at it as if he’s stuck in the memory. Or maybe he forgot he was talking. ‘Anyway, I’ve become a collector of magical things ever since. Like this ring’ – he holds up his pinky, but the ring is on his index finger – ‘It’s supposed to reveal people’s true motivations.’

Yeah, I’m sure. I take the seat diagonally across from him.

‘Guard!’ he yells at the far door. ‘We need another plate!’

The door bursts open and a woman with a red nose and an inability to pretend she wants to be here, drops a plate in front of me. Something tells me Notting dinner parties aren’t common. The Commander stabs a chunk of meat with his fork and devours it.

‘Go on. Eat,’ he urges me with a full mouth. ‘Guard!’ he yells again. ‘We need more wine. And get my daughters. Tell them I’ll starve them for a week if they don’t hurry up.’

My body tenses.

No – relax, he’s just drunk.

The woman returns with the wine, and the Commander gestures for me to pour it. Building bridges, I remind myself as I tip it to his cup.

‘Entering now, Captain Marian and Agatha.’

There’s a thump in my chest as I look up the moment Marian appears out of the hallway. Her dark hair is down in a mix of curls and waves that trails behind her as she strides in. Her bow and a quiver of arrows are draped over a jaw-dropping red dress – a dress that has a slit up the side, flashing her leg with every step.

It takes me too long to notice the wine is overflowing on to my hand. I jerk the bottle upright. Stand in greeting. Try to remember how to work my tongue.

‘Marian,’ the Commander yells, slurring. ‘Give me a kiss.’

Her steps slow, shoulders stiffening. Her face is always so carefully controlled, but in her big brown eyes, I see her reluctance. Maybe even revulsion. She leans in and quickly pecks him on the forehead before stepping out of range.

The Commander smiles dreamily. ‘Isn’t she stunning?’

Since I’m struggling to pull my gaze from her, I can’t disagree. But there’s something about how he’s treating her that’s rubbing me the wrong way.

‘She’s wearing my mistress’s dress,’ he brags. ‘I had her do Marian’s hair, too. It’s silly that my daughter won’t go anywhere without her weapons, but …’ His head tilts. ‘Doesn’t she look like a beautiful huntress … here to slay your heart?’

For the first time, Marian boldly meets my gaze, and an electric current shoots down my spine to every nerve ending. There’s a challenge in her eyes. Go on. Speak your mind. She wants to see how I’ll play his game.

Is she here to slay my heart? No. I’d venture she doesn’t even want to be here.

It hits me then, how much he’s controlling her.

Well, not completely.

But to answer his question, is Marian an absolute vision tonight? ‘Yes,’ I confess, ‘you look beautiful.’

Her mask cracks at my sincerity, as if she expected mockery. She swallows and glances away.

‘More food!’ the Commander yells abruptly.