Read Online By Grace Alone (The Death Dealer Book 2) by Katie Roman - Free Book Online Page A

down his knife to turn and stare at Grace. “I understand your evening with him ended shorter than expected.”
    Grace rolled her eyes and blew out a frustrated sigh. “And how many people know about that?”
    Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders. “Enough, I suppose. But Thom and Ridley wouldn’t let a bad word be said of you in the Angel for it. By my reckoning, no one should care who courts you. You aren’t a Lane girl and aren’t bred to fear and hate the city Guard.” He shrugged again, grabbed another apple from the basket next to him, and set to slicing it.
    Grace continued her meal without another word and then filled a mug of ale to wash it down. She’d have to wait to get water from the well since Jim and Moore blocked her path through the stable at the moment. “Thanks for the apple, Jeremiah.”
    He waved his knife hand without looking up. Grace returned to the next room needing attention and her nose was assaulted with a stale smell as soon as she entered. The room was closed up tight and nearly as dark as night. If memory served her correctly, this room hadn’t been touched since winter. She crossed the room to the shutters and opened them. Light poured in, but unfortunately so did the smell from the privies. Small wonder this room was barely touched. Grace did her best to work through the stench by tying a cloth around her mouth.
    While sweeping, she heard raised voices outside, so she stopped her cleaning to listen.
    “I know you’re hiding Marcus.” She dropped into a crouch to get closer to the window, recognizing the first voice as belonging to Sergeant Moore.
    “I’ve told you, Marcus is visiting his ailing mother,” Thom responded.
    “Ridley Hunewn has been heard saying otherwise. I believe Marcus’s dear, sweet ma is dead.” Thom said something in response, but Grace couldn’t make it out because Jim chose the same moment to laugh his boisterous laugh down in the common room.
    “May I remind you of what your precious little Thieves’ Guild has done?”
    “The Atkins boys don’t represent the Guild any more than you represent the Goddess Kamaria.”
    “Don’t insult me, Thom. I know Marcus is in hiding while he looks for Harris Atkins. He’s also responsible for Adam’s ‘disappearance’, and the Guard doesn’t look favorably on that sort of behavior.”
    Thom laughed. “You’d threaten the King of Thieves? Everyone knows you’re very keen on your duties, but come now, do you really think you’ll be able to throw Marcus in the lockup? Your Guard captain would have him released and you stripped of your rank within an hour.”
    There was a long silence, and Grace wished she could see what was happening. Sergeant Moore’s face must have been a contorted mass of anger. The poor man was only doing what he felt he needed to, and Thom shouldn’t have been mocking him.
    “I’m looking to see that Harris faces the King’s justice for his crime.”
    “He’d never survive that long. I’ve seen a guard or two slain in my day, and the murderers go into the lockup fit men, only to come out mangled, broken corpses. No one deserves that much punishment.”
    The response was so soft it reached Grace’s ears as a series of mumbles. Another few moments of silence passed before she heard Thom say, “Good day, Sergeant Moore.” Grace heard their footsteps lead away from the privies.
    ~*~*~
    Grace left the Angel before the sun completely disappeared in the sky. She had cleaned all day and helped Jim get dinner served up for everyone. Her body ached. She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was flop face down on her bed, but outside the Angel she caught sight of Sergeant Moore hanging around. The hope of going straight to bed washed away in a wave of disappointment.
    “Miss Hilren.” He came up alongside her.
    “You said you would leave me be if I had dinner with you. And yet here you are.”
    “Only to apologize. It was wrong to bring you into the King’s Beard as a novelty for