A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2) Page 3

  “So...” Lyneah's eyes narrowed at his lewdness. “A drink?”

  “Oh, aye.” The man shrugged his meaty shoulders in defeat. “I'll have an ale then, I spose.”

  “Do you...” Lyneah started to ask a question, then hesitated. She wasn't sure she wanted to spend another second in the company of such a shady man.

  “What is it, love? You can ask old Gibbons anythin.”

  “Do you... know where I can find a man named Rory McCray?”

  “I've heard of him,” the disgusting man told her. “But I dunno where to find 'im.”

  “Oh... well... thanks anyway.” When Lyneah turned around and headed back to the bar, she felt Gibbons' hand brush against her bum. She wanted to say something to him, to confront him about it, but she bit her tongue and continued forward.

  Tobias noticed her sour expression, so he asked, “Are you alright? You look a bit disgusted.”

  “It's fine, Tobey. I can handle a lecherous patron or two,” Lyneah claimed. “It's nothing to worry about. Now... can you pour me an ale for that man over there?”

  “Of course.” Tobias grabbed a mug and approached the tap. As he filled it with ale, he asked, “Are you sure you're alright, Kitt? You've been acting a little strange. Maybe it was too soon for you to return to work?”

  “I'm alright.”

  “I-I-I shouldn't have insisted,” Tobias said. “I should have left you alone for a day or two. You'd just gotten home, after all. M-M-Maybe you needed more time to yourself?”

  “I'm fine.” Her answer was tinged with rudeness, but she was tired of him fussing over her. As soon as he finished pouring the ale, Lyneah grabbed it out of his hand and returned to the waiting customer.

  Gibbons licked his lips as he watched her throw it down on the table. “Oi, love,” he spoke to her again. “Are you sure you don't want to sit on me lap for a bit? It's nice and comfy. I can make you feel nice and special, I can.”

  “Go to hell,” she whispered under her breath.

  “I been told I'm a good lover.” Suddenly, he reached out and tweaked her left breast. “For you, I could be a really, reaaaally good lover. I'd be all about your pleasure, love.”

  Lyneah's gun was out of its holster in a flash. When she pressed it against his neck, Gibbons whimpered.

  “Don't you dare touch me again,” she threatened him. “Don't you dare touch any young woman who hasn't given you permission to do so!”

  He nodded weakly. “I understand, love! It's alright, love! I din't mean nothin by it!”

  “You didn't mean anything by it?” Lyneah repeated his words with a chuckle. “What a laugh. You offend me. You disgust me! You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “I'm a horrid man!” Gibbons wailed. “I know I am and I'm sorry!”

  “If I hear about you touching anyone again...” Lyneah held her pistol tightly as she leaned closer to his ear. “I will shoot off your fingers. Do you understand?”

  He winced and nodded. “Aye.”

  “I mean it,” Lyneah finally lifted her pistol and took a step away from him. “I don't make empty threats.”

  Not far away, the man with the ice blue eyes was clapping his hands. “Well done. Bravo!” he said as he clapped for her. “It's not every day I get to see a young lady put a lech in his place!”

  Lyneah holstered her gun and approached his table. “I can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic.”

  “Oh, I'm very serious!” the man assured her. “I was very impressed.”

  A tendril of hair had drifted into her face during the fracas, so Lyneah blew it aside and asked the man, “Did you need something? Another shot of whiskey?”

  “Actually...” The blue-eyed man kicked the chair across from him, pushing it toward her, encouraging her to sit with him. “I heard you asking about Rory McCray. Would you be interested in information?”

  Lyneah dared to glance in the direction of the bar, where a slack-jawed Tobias was watching her as he dried a mug. Since he looked stunned, she assumed she was acting very differently from his dear friend Kitt. Turning away from Tobias, she leaned closer to the curious customer and said, “Yes, I have been asking about Rory. Can you help me? Do you know where I can find him?”

  “Aye. I'm Kieran.” The blue-eyed man offered a hand to Lyneah, but when she didn't accept it, he chuckled and continued. “And I do know where Rory McCray is. In fact, I can take you to him right now... assuming you can pay.”

  4

  At Kitt's request, Miles and Roderick joined her in the drawing room for a game of cards. In truth, her friends were an invaluable distraction. For the last two days, she had been trying to liberate her mind from all thoughts of Francis Doon. He was such a disappointment to her, she wanted to pretend as if he no longer existed.

  Besides, it was the last day Roderick was free to join her. He was still recovering from the injuries he sustained during the attack on the castle. Despite that fact, he had been asked to return to work tomorrow. If his knightly duties were going to make his free time scarce, Kitt wanted to enjoy his company as long as she could.

  “How are your wounds, Roderick?” Kitt asked him as she shuffled the cards. “Are you still in a lot of pain?”

  “Not a lot,” he was happy to report. “If not for Miles' skills with a needle, I imagine I would be in much more pain right now.”

  “You give me too much credit, sir!” Miles exclaimed.

  But Roderick disagreed. “Not at all. I think you saved my life that night! If not for you, there's a very good chance I would have bled out on the ground!”

  Miles tipped his tiny top hat to Roderick. “I'm happy to help, Sir Roderick. I am always happy to help.”

  Kitt smiled as she listened to their polite exchange. Not long ago, Roderick was reluctant to trust Miles. Now they were so chummy, it was as if they had known each other for ages.

  “So...” Kitt began as she dealt the cards. “I've been told that Prince Malik and his father have temporarily left the castle?”

  “Indeed,” Roderick confirmed. “They had a bit of a falling out, or so I've been told. I think they wanted to disappear from the public eye for while.”

  “I wish he would have said goodbye,” Kitt said as she raised her cards, carefully checking them. “I never really cared for Malik, but it would have been nice to see him before he left. I never really had a chance to thank him for standing up for Ryas.” When she saw the confused expression on Miles' face, Kitt explained, “Ryas is Prince Malik's whipping boy.”

  “Oh... Prince Malik will be back, I'm sure.” Roderick sounded disgusted, which wasn't a surprise. He was probably the last person who wanted to see Princess Lyneah's fiance again. “Life would be too easy if he was actually gone for good.”

  As he studied his cards, Roderick watched Miles pour himself a cup of tea. Smoke swirled from the teapot as amber liquid trickled from the spout. When Miles caught Roderick staring, he asked, “Would you like a cup, young man? There's plenty more tea in the pot.”

  Roderick shook his head. “Not really. If I was watching you, it's because I find it fascinating that you're playing poker while drinking tea. Most people would prefer something a little more... hard.”

  “I detest the taste of alcohol and I value my sobriety far too much,” Miles explained. “Tea suits me just fine.”

  “A pirate who doesn't drink liquor?” Roderick said with a chuckle. “Now I think I've seen it all.”

  “But I'm not a pirate anymore, Sir Roderick!” Miles exclaimed as he tossed a chip on the table. “I work for Her Highness now.” Miles caught Kitt's gaze, and he added with a wink, “Of course, I'm talking about her Highness Lady Kitt, not Her Highness Princess Lyneah.”

  “I still can't believe you left the airship for me,” Kitt said. “Although... I'm sure he would take you back if you asked him.”

  He. She referred to the captain as he and him. She had such an aversion to Doon that she couldn't even bring herself to speak his name.

  “
I'm sure you're correct, but I'm perfectly content where I am,” Miles told her. “Francis Doon is like a son to me, in a way, but I haven't been happy with many of his decisions. If I return to him one day, he'll have to prove he's still the same young man for whom I would happily lay down my life.”

  “If the captain's lost your loyalty, Miles, that says a lot. You were always so quick to defend him.”

  “And I would defend him still, my lady, if it came down to it.”

  Roderick won the first game, likely because he was the least distracted by conversation. Disappointed by her loss, Kitt decided to indulge in a biscuit. Sure enough, as soon as she started nibbling on the corner, Barnabus was whining at her feet. And because she had no resistance to his pitiful brown eyes, she slipped at least half of her butter cookie under the table.

  “You spoil that dog too much, young lady,” Miles cautioned her. “He'll take advantage of you one day!”

  “I think he already does!” Kitt exclaimed. As she watched the dog devour her treat, she shook her head and sighed.

  After a brief period of silence, during which Miles dealt the cards, Roderick decided to change the subject. “They say the king's health is rapidly declining.”

  “So I've heard,” Kitt said. “Is it really very bad?”

  “It's been bad for awhile. Now, apparently, his days are definitely numbered.” Roderick tapped his cards against the table as he divulged the news. “And if he does die, things could get... intense.”

  “What do you mean?” Kitt asked. She exchanged glances with Miles, whose worried expression did little to ease her concerns.

  “For one, Queen Loreina will force the princess' marriage to Prince Malik as soon as possible,” Roderick told her. “Additionally, more and more people are joining McCray's rebel army each day. The king's death could very well give them the push they need. Not only do they want to overthrow the queen... they aim to remove the entire royal family as well.”

  “Including Lyneah,” Kitt added with a sigh.

  “Of course. If you recall, they made an attempt on your life on the princess' birthday. That tells us everything we need to know about the goal of these rebels. Even though Princess Lyneah has done nothing wrong, they aren't planning to spare her life. Lyneah has only ever been rational and fair, but they don't care to hear that. They just want her gone.”

  “You still care about her... don't you, Roderick?” Kitt's statement sounded more like an accusation than an innocent question. If Roderick ever cared about her, it was because she bore a striking resemblance to the woman he loved. Kitt had to keep reminding herself of that fact.

  “I'll always care about her... but I care about you too, Miss Lake,” Roderick planted his cards on the table and reached for Kit's hand. When Miles saw their fingers intertwine, his eyes were alight with curiosity.

  “Thank you, Roderick.” Kitt doubted his affection for her was even half as deep as anything he felt for Lyneah, she appreciated him as an ally and a friend. “That means a lot.”

  “I would protect you, you know,” Roderick assured her. “No matter what happens... I'll protect you. I would lay down my life for you.” His thumb lightly stroked her knuckles as he made his vow. “I promise.”

  5

  Lyneah sank into the chair across from Kieran, the man who claimed to know the whereabouts of Rory McCray. She plucked a money bag from her pocket and dropped it on the table, but not before drawing her gun. If he tried to steal from her, she wasn't going to make it easy on him.

  “Alright then... talk.” Lyneah wagged her gun as she encouraged him to speak. “Where is Rory?”

  “What do I get for telling you, love?” Kieran asked. “I'm not going to say anything until you make it worth my while.”

  Lyneah extracted a few gold coins from her bag and slid them across the table. Her blue-eyed informant kept his eyes on her gun as he pocketed the coins. But he didn't look intimidated—in fact, he was grinning. Either he was no stranger to being held at gunpoint, or he didn't think Lyneah was an actual threat. “Rory McCray's in Dovyr right now. He hasn't been in Lundun for at least two weeks,” he told her.

  “And are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Until recently, I was in Dovyr myself. Rory took over the abandoned castle there, and that's where he's playing revolutionary. He's charismatic as hell, and people are fools, so they listened to him.”

  “You don't like Rory?” Lyneah asked.

  “I think he's a bastard and a twisted little shit, but my opinion is irrelevant.” Kieran's broad shoulders hopped into an indolent shrug. “There are plenty of others who are dumb enough to follow him.”

  “Do you know him personally?” Lyneah's interrogation continued.

  “You could say that.”

  “And yet you think he's an unworthy leader?”

  “He's as good as any of the pampered royals, I suppose... but that still doesn't make him a good leader.” Kieran folded his hands on the table and leaned forward. “Now... if you want to ask me any more questions, you're going to have to pay up.”

  When Tobias wandered over to their table, his eyes swelled when he saw the gun in Lyneah's hand. “K-K-K-K-Kitt!” he stuttered horribly. “W-what are you doing?”

  “Oh... this?” Lyneah lifted the gun and chuckled nervously. “Don't look so alarmed, Tobey! I'm only protecting myself!”

  “Is this man giving you trouble?” Tobias glared at Kieran, but if he was trying to look threatening, he wasn't succeeding. Compared to the broad man sitting across from her, Tobias was tall but slight.

  “Hmm...” Lyneah tilted her head as she considered Tobias' question. “I think it's more like I'm giving him trouble.” When she looked to Kieran for confirmation, he slowly nodded.

  “Wh-wh-what is going on?” Tobias was shaking his head with disbelief as he dropped into the chair beside her. “I thought you hated guns!”

  “Well... apparently I don't.”

  “I didn't even think you knew how to use a gun!” Tobias exclaimed.

  With a weary sigh, Lyneah answered, “Of course I do! Now... please be quiet for a moment, Tobias. I'm in the middle of a very important discussion with Mr. Kieran.”

  “Mister Kieran!” The rogue roared with laughter as he repeated the very proper-sounding name. “You know, I don't believe I've ever met a more intriguing barmaid in all my life.”

  “But I'm not a barmaid.” Lyneah slowly turned to Tobias, and with a collapsing smile, she confessed, “I'm sorry, Tobey... but I'm not your missing friend.”

  “What?” Squinting, Tobias leaned closer to her face. “What sort of strange joke are you trying to tell me, Kitt?”

  “I'm not her!” she repeated. “I'm not Kitt. If you don't believe me, tug on my hair! If your friend has shorter hair, how could this possibly be growing out of my own scalp?”

  Tobias scooted his chair closer to hers and did as she asked. He browsed through her hair like a monkey browsing for bugs. “Y-y-you're right...” His eyes filled with tears at the realization. “You're not wearing a wig.”

  “See?” Lyneah's frown intensified when she saw his tearful eyes. “I'm very sorry I deceived you, Tobey. You've only been kind to me, and I shouldn't have done so.”

  “S-so... this means she's still missing?” Tobias' gaze dropped to his lap, where his thumbs were nervously twiddling. To himself, he whispered, “Damn, Kitt, where are you?”

  Tired of their conversation, Kieran leaned across the table and jabbed Lyneah's money bag with his finger. “If you have something else to ask, get to asking. I don't have time to waste on nonsense.”

  “Very well, Mister Kieran... am I to understand you were recently in Dovyr?” When he didn't answer straightaway, she extracted another coin from her pouch and tossed it.

  As soon as he had the coin in hand, he said, “Aye.”

  “And you definitely know McCray is there?” she asked. “You have no doubt in your mind?”

  “I have no doubt in my mind.” Kieran licked his t
humb and wiped the smudges from Lyneah's coin. Nothing gave him more pleasure than a bright, shining coin. “I'm so confident you'll find him there, I'd pay you double if I was wrong.”

  “From what I can understand...” Lyneah began, “there is a vast desert between Lundun and Dovyr.”

  Kieran slipped the coin into his pocket and nodded. “Kint Desert, aye.”

  “Is it traversable on foot?” she asked.

  Her question was so ridiculous, he had to laugh. “Unless you fancy a seventy mile trek through a barren wasteland, then... no. It's not a journey you'd want to make on foot.”

  “Well, then how did you get here from Dovyr?” Apparently, the hunt for Rory McCray wasn't getting any easier anytime soon. Without warning, Lyneah pilfered one of Kieran's whiskey shots and threw it down her throat. Thankfully, he didn't protest.

  “I own a hovercraft, love. Are you impressed?”

  “A hovercraft...” Lyneah whispered the word. She had never personally ridden in one, but from what she understood, it was step below an airship in terms of functionality. While it couldn't quite get airborne, it would certainly be preferable to walking. “How did you come to own such a vessel, Mr. Kieran?”

  “I'm a mercenary,” he told her. “And I'm a damn good mercenary at that. People even ask for me by name.”

  “Ha!” Lyneah rolled her eyes. “If you have to resort to boasting, there's usually nothing to boast about! But I probably shouldn't poke fun at you, because I was wondering if I could--”

  Tobias, who had been sulking in silence for several minutes, suddenly spoke up. “If you aren't Kitt, then what's your name?”

  Lyneah's gaze shifted from Kieran to Tobias, and back again. Ever since she left the castle, she hadn't trusted anyone with her identity. Keeping it a secret was probably the wiser choice. Tobias seemed innocent enough, but Kieran didn't have a trustworthy face. Even when he smiled, he didn't look trustworthy. He had a wicked smile, the smile of a rogue—although she liked the lines that appeared around his eyes when he grinned. She wondered how old he was. Thirty-five? Forty? It was impossible to say, but she had always preferred the company of older men. In Lyneah's experience, they were better protectors than their younger counterparts. And if Kieran was truly a mercenary, he could prove to be a decent bodyguard.