Page 35 of A Thief to Die For

His chest swells with a relieved breath. Then he smiles, showing off a hint of dimples.

My stomach tumbles. Damnation, what’s happening to me? I turn my head to leave.

‘Wait – one more thing,’ he adds, then winces, struggling with how to start. ‘I can see why the Commander is shrewd with me; I’m a stranger. But you and Agatha, it’s like he stabs you just to watch you bleed. That’s unacceptable. Spineless. And … I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve made some assumptions that I shouldn’t have … about you and how things work around here.’

For a second, his words are gratifying in a way I can’t explain – until I’m reminded it’s to his benefit to weaponise every scrap of information he collects on me.

Give me a reason not to turn you in.

‘Listen, as happy as I am that you’re figuring out the Commander has the charm of an unmedicated amputation, you threatened me.’ Technically, I also threatened him, but that’s beside the point.

His face falters.

‘I’m also still unconvinced you’re not planning a raid on Notting.’

That’s a lie. After everything that happened in the High Command this evening, something’s changed between us. Call it intuition, I don’t know. But I believe him. Or maybe I’m finally open to the facts: why request miner’s safety lamps in the mine if his settlement is going to raid and take over? Why compromise with Atlas, refusing to bend to his every whim, if Ryland were going to kill us all?

It doesn’t change what has to happen, though. I step closer, leaning into him, and lower my voice to a whisper. ‘But for a moment, forget my concerns about you and listen to me. If you care about your settlement, run.’

He swallows, taking his time before responding. ‘I can’t do that.’

‘You would if you understood the stakes. The Commander is … very manipulative.’

Ryland angles even closer to me. He’s a head taller, but now we’re only inches apart. His scent of leather with a hint of wood smoke envelops me. An unfamiliar nervous energy vibrates through my body.

‘Are you saying there’s no coal to be had?’ he asks quietly.

‘There’s coal,’ I say softly. ‘But it will come at a terrible price. Atlas sees your well-made clothes and weapons and wants your wealth.’ I bite my lip. Have I said enough? No. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened because I wasn’t absolutely clear. ‘He will raid your settlement if he finds out where it is.’

Ryland’s head lifts, his eyes hardening. ‘I’m not worried.’

‘Then your arrogance will be your downfall. Because you should be.’

‘He doesn’t …’ Ryland stops himself from speaking at normal volume, again inclining his head. His lips are so close his breath tickles my ear. ‘He doesn’t know the name or location of our settlement. And our army – it’s formidable. He’d be foolish to attempt anything. Plenty have tried before him, and every one of them failed.’

My chest rises and falls shallowly. It’s dizzying having him so close. Almost as much as staring into his eyes. ‘The Commander is biding his time. Stalling to gather information. Even if you reach a deal, he’ll follow you home. Nothing good will come of this.’

‘Still not a problem.’

I balk.

‘We’ll confront them or outrun them,’ he continues. ‘Divide up the coal among our traders and lead them astray. We’ll do whatever we have to do, even bring an army. But finding us is only the first step. We’re not letting them in.’

This man is unbelievable. I stare dumbfounded before letting my eyes drift lower. He must have collected his weapons when he left the compound, because there’s a large knife strapped to his strong thigh. His bow and quiver are slung across his chest, pulling his shirt snug against the defined planes of his upper body. My heart flutters with awareness, and I look away, ignoring it.

‘We need this deal,’ he says. ‘And so does the Commander. I just need time to convince him of that and why it’s better to keep us as friends.’

His confidence both confounds and exhausts me. I can’t help him if he won’t help himself. I take a step away, and it feels like stepping out of a tent that’s been baking in the sun. ‘I expect you to keep this in confidence,’ I say in parting. ‘You repeat anything I’ve said, and I’ll deny it. Now … I’m tired. I’m going to bed.’

His lips tighten. ‘And what about the water purifying tablets? Are we not testing them?’

‘No,’ I say, walking away. Water pills are the least of my concerns, and he’s distracted me long enough. I need to move on to the people who actually want my help.

‘Is that because you’re starting to trust me?’ he calls. There’s something hopeful and teasing in his voice.

My treacherous mouth cracks a grin. The smallest. I don’t look back as I climb the makeshift ladder to my second-floor bedroom window. ‘Don’t you wish.’

Ithought Marian rushed off because she was up to something tonight. And bloody hellfire, I wasn’t wrong. She stops swinging her axe to scan the forest, and I duck lower from my elevated position. Her gaze shifts to study the sky again, as if checking the position of the setting sun. I suspect she’s waiting for someone, likely on a schedule. Another one of her father’s trading wagons perhaps?