Chapter 15

THE GANG OF ROGUES

 

“Where have you been, my lady?” Belial offered a waxy smile. “I have been worried about you.”

“I was walking in the city and I lost track of time,” Alexia said. “I am sorry, Belial. It won’t happen again.”

Alexia was still breathless from her climb. She’d climbed into a higher window and raced to the throne room. Her mind spun as she thought about the tapestry in her father’s chamber. Why would Father hold a sword to Mother’s neck? And who was the man on the ground?

Belial waved a hand. “I am not angry, my Alexia. I merely wanted to be sure you were all right. I look forward to our times together.”

Alexia sat down on a padded chair opposite Belial. They were sitting on the balcony of the throne room, gazing at the city. She schooled her face and tried to steady her breathing.

“What is it?” Belial patted the sweat on his brow. “I can see you have something on your mind. What troubles you?”

Alexia thought a moment and was surprised to find she was actually starting to like Belial. He had only been kind to her since she’d arrived in the city. Even the sickly smell emanating from him didn’t seem quite so bad today.

“I did explore the city, and it is wonderful; truly it is.” Alexia took a deep breath. “But when I was out, I saw something I didn’t understand.”

“What is it, my lady? What did you see?”

“It looked like an arena, and—” Alexia halted at the cold look in Belial’s eyes.

“The coliseum is off limits.” He dabbed at the bead of sweat dangling from his chin. “You were not meant to see it yet.”

“I didn’t know it was off limits or I never would have gone,” Alexia lied. “But I did go, and when I was there, I saw something …” She hesitated.

“It is all right; I am not angry with you. I just didn’t want you to see the coliseum for a few more days yet. I had planned to take you there myself. It was meant to be a surprise.” Belial smiled. “Tell me what you saw and I will see if I can explain it to you.”

A surprise for me? Alexia kept waiting for Belial to act like the Assassin she’d heard so much about. She expected horns to grow out of his head and fire to explode from his eyes, but he was always kind, and she rarely saw fire in his eyes anymore.

Alexia swallowed hard before continuing. “I saw a boy dressed in rags running from a Shadule and four Oriax. His name is Josiah and he was my friend when I lived in Belfast.” For a moment Belial’s eyes did become caverns of fire, but they shifted back to an icy blue so quickly Alexia wondered if she’d imagined it.

“The Shadule took him prisoner and took him back into the coliseum,” Alexia said hastily. “I don’t know what they want with him, but I know he’s not bad. He does steal sometimes, but that’s only because he doesn’t have anything and his parents are gone. But he is good, I promise you!”

Belial stood, grimacing as he turned away from Alexia, and spoke in a careful tone. “And what would you have me do with this boy?”

“The thing is, you said I could ask anything I wanted and you would give it to me,” Alexia said. “I want you to release him! I ask that you set Josiah free and let him come stay with me.” Her voice quavered.

Belial turned, and Alexia was shocked to see tears in his eyes. He dropped to his knees and took her hands. It was the first time she didn’t feel the need to shiver when he touched her. It was the first time she didn’t notice his frigid, sweaty fingers or the putrid smell.

“My darling Alexia, my sweet, sweet lady, you could ask me anything, up to half my kingdom, and it would be yours—riches beyond your imagination, fame and power that would make kings quake in fear. Ask any of these things and I will gladly give them to you! But I cannot do this.”

Alexia opened her mouth, ready to protest, but before she could speak, Belial continued. “My darling, it is not that I don’t want to do this thing. It is that I cannot. Your friend Josiah now calls himself one of the Awakened. If he truly wants to be free, all he needs do is embrace me as king and you as the High Princess of Thaltorose. If he would bend his knee and bow before us, I would release him immediately. But the boy refuses!”

Belial stood, and this time he didn’t try to hide the cavernous fire in his eyes. “Do you remember when I told you why they named me Assassin?”

Alexia nodded fearfully.

“I killed a poet because he tried to overthrow my kingdom. These creatures who call themselves Awakened have the same goal. All I have built here, all I am, they wish to destroy. My dear lady, how can I be expected to free someone who would destroy me if he had the chance? How could you ask me to do such a thing?”

Alexia shook her head, wiping tears from her eyes. Nothing made sense anymore. “I know he wouldn’t try to hurt you if you let him go,” she said. “I’m sure of it!”

“Your father follows me,” Belial said. “Is that not enough? It was the Awakened who killed your mother; it was the Awakened who stole your father from you for all those years. I am the one who returned him to you. My dear lady, I will give you more power than you could possibly imagine. Together, we will rule this world! How could you ask me to free those who would stand in the way of what you want?”

“It’s not that, Belial. I promise, I didn’t mean that,” Alexia said. “But let me talk to Josiah! I know I could change his mind if you give me the chance.”

Belial sighed gratefully. “Of course you may see him! My darling, you are the High Princess of Thaltorose. You can do anything your heart desires! And if you can convince this boy to kneel before us and reject our enemies, I will embrace him with open arms. But if you cannot change his mind, then you must allow me to do with him as I wish. You must trust me wholly in this. Will you give me your word?”

“Of course!” Alexia threw her arms around Belial and hugged him fiercely. He tensed and patted her back stiffly as if she were a dog. “Enough of this for now,” he said awkwardly. “I will have a servant take you to him. But first I must show you something. It will only take a few minutes.” This time the smile did reach his eyes.

Six years earlier

Alexia allowed herself a small smile. She’d picked the roof at Fibber McGees because it gave her the best view of Belfast’s market district. It was midday and the market was full to bursting.

The market didn’t have a roof, only a wooden framework of beams dividing the merchant stalls. Thick vines and crawling plants wound up wooden posts and sprawled across the beams, offering shade to the shoppers below.

You could buy absolutely anything in the market, from horses to honey, from pastry to pots and pans. The market covered two acres and was never empty.

Perfect, Alexia thought as she hopped from the roof onto the beams that crisscrossed the market. Her crimson cloak spread out behind her as she ran, making her feel like she was flying. Alexia moved quickly, easily keeping her balance. At the very center of the market, the wooden framework fell away. A thick post stood impressively tall, and the sprawling vines rose upward, forming a canopy, like a large tent.

Alexia carefully stepped from her beam and tested the vines. They felt solid enough, so she put her full weight on them and climbed upward. As she reached the top of the canopy, she pushed the vines aside and wriggled her body through so she was hanging upside down.

Hundreds of men, women, and children shopped just a few spans below without ever noticing the girl hanging above them. She giggled, then scanned the crowd and spotted Josiah near one of the bakers’ stalls. He was perfectly positioned.

A short distance away, Juno stood close to an older woman who was buying a pendant at one of the jewelers’ shops. Juno wore a fancy dress she’d stolen the day before so she wouldn’t look like an urchin. She’d even combed her hair and taken a bath for the occasion. The shopkeeper would probably think her the daughter of one of his customers.

Benaiah was a master at concealing himself. It took Alexia a minute before she spotted him hunched in the shadows of the butcher’s shop. Summer was stationed near the fruit stall, and Adeline lurked next to the blanket seller. All of Alexia’s Gang of Rogues stood ready, awaiting her signal.

Alexia smiled. Even if Korah and his Gang of Terror were trying to capture her, she hadn’t been this happy in years. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a friend.

It’s time! She dropped her arms to let them dangle. “Help!” Alexia shrieked. “Please help me!” she cried.

Men and women looked up and began pointing and shouting. Alexia unhooked one of her legs and dropped a bit more, catching the vines above with her ankle and twisting her foot so she wouldn’t fall. “Please help me!” she screamed.

Men ran beneath, cradling arms as if to catch her. Women shrieked, “Someone help that poor girl!” As she hung upside down, Alexia turned slowly, scanning the market. Every member of her gang was working. Juno was stuffing necklaces into her satchel, and Josiah was already retreating with a bag filled to bursting with bread. Benaiah was leading three goats through the crowd, and Summer’s and Addie’s arms were filled to overflowing. All of the shopkeepers were focused on the girl hanging above them.

Alexia yanked a vine free and straightened her leg. She dropped like a stone, savoring every gasp from the crowd below. As the vine went taut and swung her into the pole, the crowd gasped again. Alexia quickly shimmied back to the top and began to laugh. The gasps turned to confused cries as the watchers realized something was amiss.

“It’s the girl from the posters!” a woman shouted.

“It’s the one they’re offering the reward for!” a young man yelled.

“Get her!” another man screamed.

Just that quickly, the crowd of concerned bystanders transformed into an angry mob. Alexia wriggled through the vines and ran down the canopy.

“I’ve been robbed!” the jeweler shouted.

“Me too!” screamed the baker.

Alexia was so frantic that she placed a foot wrong and fell through the vines, catching herself at the waist. Her legs dangled within reach of her pursuers, but she quickly pulled herself up and leaped for the wooden beams.

She sprinted toward the rooftop of Fibber McGees. But the people below had seen where she was headed, and a few of the men were climbing the wooden structure to try to block her.

Alexia ran even faster, leaping over the head of a man who appeared beneath. She landed on the roof of the large pub and darted up its steep peak, not slowing for a second. And as she raced back to her hideout to meet her friends, Alexia’s heart tried to beat out of her chest. That was too close!

When Alexia arrived, the others were already there. Her jaw dropped as she reviewed their impressive pile of loot. The heist was a success! Juno had fifteen pendants, four bracelets, and a number of earrings. Josiah upended a bag of bread, while Benaiah grinned as he showed Alexia the three goats and two chickens he’d managed to steal. Adeline unfurled six thick blankets as Summer offered Alexia an apple from her basket of fruit.

Alexia laughed as the children whooped and hollered, dancing about like wild banshees.