Page 2 of Ladybird

One of the guards opened the pouch and scooped out a few of the pieces of jewelry. “Aye, this is his wife’s necklace,” said the guard with a nod of his head. “It’s his all right. That is the thief we’ve been searching for.”

“Aye, you’ve caught our man, Thief-taker,” said the other. “Good job.”

Hunter handed Guimart over to the guards. One of them removed a small pouch of coins that was dangling from his belt and tossed it to Hunter.

“Here’s your fee,Thief-taker. Lord Bohun will be pleased with your work.” The guard was not able to look Hunter in the eye when he spoke. The second guard busied himself with the thief rather than paying any attention to Hunter. Odd indeed.

Hunter took a minute to open the payment pouch and quickly glance inside. Then he jostled the small leather bag up and down in his palm weighing it. “I might be overtired and hungrier than a bear at the moment, but I assure you that I am not the fool that you must think I am. It seems to me there are a few coins missing here, boys.”

Luke walked over to join him, having sheathed his sword. The boy stopped at Hunter’s side, picking up the thief’s knife from the floor and sticking it through his waist belt. Next, his eyes focused on the pouch in Hunter’s hand.

“That is your agreed upon fee. Lord Bohun gave it to us to give to you once you completed the task,” the guard said with a shrug. Everyone in the tavern became silent, waiting for another fight to break out.

“I see.” Hunter stared a hole through the first man and then the other, watching them become even more nervous under his perusal. Fine then,” said Hunter calmly and with a quick nod. The guards seemed to relax until they heard the rest of what Hunter had to say. “You know boys, I think I’ll travel back to Sheffield with you after all.”

“What? Why?” asked the guard who had given him the money. He fidgeted, not able to stand still or even look at Hunter.

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Hunter. “Just to make certain the fugitive gets there safely, I guess. And, of course, to thank Lord Bohun personally for my bounty as well.” He jostled the pouch, making the coins clink together.

The guards exchanged worried glances with each other, seeming more than concerned now.

“Then again,” said Hunter, scratching the stubble on his chin and looking toward the door. “I happened to notice that you have an extra horse with you. My nephew could use a horse of his own since we only have the one between us.”

“We couldn’t do that,” grumbled the first guard.

“That’s right. It is for transporting the prisoner,” spat the guard holding on to Guimart.

“A true shame, isn’t it?” Hunter shook his head. “Because, now I guess you’ll have to ride double back to Sheffield, won’t you?”

“Ride double? Nay, we won’t do that,” snapped the same guard.

“Oh, I’m afraid you will,” Hunter answered with conviction. “Unless you want Lord Bohun to discover that you not only tried to cheat me by stealing part of my fee, but that in doing so, you have deceived him as well.”

“They’ll end up in the dungeon with the thief if Lord Bohun finds out,” said Luke.

“Yes, they will,” answered Hunter. “But only if they’re lucky enough to escape the noose.” Hunter shrugged and smiled again. “What will it be, boys?”

“Here,” spat the guard who had given him the bag, handing Hunter a few coins that he had pilfered for himself from Hunter’s pay and that he had kept hidden in his hand.

“That’s a start,” said Hunter, adding the coins to his money pouch and closing it up before tying the strings to his belt. “Luke, go ready your new mare. I’ll meet you outside in a minute and then we’ll leave.”

“I’m getting my own horse? Really? Yes!” said Luke, slapping his hands together in excitement and turning and running for the door.

“Nay!” protested the guard. “I gave you back your coins, now leave the damned horse alone.”

“Too late for that,” said Hunter, following Luke. He stopped at the door and turned back around. “Oh, and don’t even think of pilfering any of the goods I retrieved for Lord Sheffield because I looked inside the pouch and know exactly what is in there. I will be contacting Bohun in a few days’ time to thank him for the job. Therefore, you’d better make damned sure the prisoner gets to him along with all the stolen goods and in a timely manner.”

“What if the prisoner escapes us?” asked the guard holding the man.

“Aye,” said the other, catching on. “He’s a thief. He might just steal the lord’s jewels again and escape as well.”

“None of my concern if he does because I will be contacting Lord Bohun either way,” Hunter assured them. “And I warn you it’ll only work against you if Bohun discovers you lost the thief and his jewels, so I wouldn’t even consider trying it, boys.”

“It wouldn’t bode well for you either,” snapped the guard.

“Is that what you think?” Hunter chuckled. “If the thief does escape, Lord Bohun will just hire me again to track him down, and my coffers will be filled a second time, so it doesn’t matter to me. You see, I win either way. Now excuse me, because I need to help my nephew get situated with his new steed before we leave.”

Hunter walked out to find Luke already atop the horse and waiting for him.