“Will you focus?” Jarvik said, recapturing her attention.
“I am.” After all, the squire was the one oblivious to the fact that there was a criminal sitting twenty feet from them. Jarvik was so wrapped up in scouting out the place for her meeting tomorrow with the assassin that he was missing what was going on right in front of him.
Picking the spoon back up, the squire said, “The upper rooms are going to be a problem.” He nodded to the second floor, which overlooked the tavern. There were approximately sixteen rooms up there. “I can see why he picked this location.” He took a bite of his stew.
The man in the corner stood and headed to another table, where he sat down and spoke with the two men sitting there. From under his cape, he removed a small, black bag the size of his palm. He slid it across the table to the men, who in turn handed over several coins. Then he stood and headed to the exit. She recalled hearing about a supply cart that had been robbed a couple weeks ago. Among the items stolen were jewelry and expensive, rare spices.
“Let’s go,” Allyssa said, standing and putting a few coppers on the table to pay for their food and drinks.
“I’m not ready,” Jarvik responded. “I have a few more things I want to see.”
They had already checked the place out—there was nothing else to do. Shaking her head, Allyssa headed after the thief, not wanting to lose him. Jarvik cursed before joining her.
“What are you doing?” he hissed. She just smiled at him. They were in her domain, and this was what she lived for.
Outside in the brisk air, she saw the man head down a nearby alley. Allyssa ran to catch up with him. Jarvik and a couple of his men were close behind her. When she reached the corner of the building, she peered around the edge. The man was about fifteen feet away. Taking a big breath, she unsheathed her daggers.
The squire grabbed her wrists. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“That man is a thief,” she replied. “I’m going to capture him. Then I’ll deliver him to someone so he can be properly arrested.”
“I can’t let you do that,” he said. “It’s too dangerous.”
Allyssa chuckled. “What do you think I do every night when I come out here?”
Jarvik’s eyebrows pulled together. “You’ve been going after criminals?” he asked in disbelief.
She didn’t have time to stand there arguing with him. The thief was getting too far away. Slipping out of Jarvik’s grasp, she headed after the man, rolling her shoulders and loosening up so she could fight. Allyssa whistled, garnering his attention.
The thief spun around to face her. “Who are you?” he demanded, pulling out a knife.
“Who am I?” she asked, feigning shock. The man stepped back, away from her. “I’m here to retrieve what you stole.”
He turned and started running away. Allyssa aimed her dagger and threw. As planned, the hilt hit him on his back and he stumbled, turning around to face her again. Stalking toward him, she asked, “Where are you going?” The man’s knife shook in his hand. Good, that means he’s nervous. “I told you I’m here to collect the goods you stole.”
He reached up with his free hand and unlatched his cape, throwing it to the ground. “Come on,” he taunted her. “You seem a bit small and scrawny. You sure you want to fight me?”
“I’d enjoy nothing more,” she replied, sheathing her remaining dagger. The thief’s stance was all wrong. She’d be able to take him down in less than a minute without any weapons.
Sparing a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw Jarvik and two of his men at the end of the street, making no attempt to help or stop her. Focusing on the thief again, she smiled up at him. Rushing to her, he punched toward her face. She ducked.
“Oops,” Allyssa said. “You missed.”
He swung again, aiming for her side. She twisted. “Missed again. I thought you said something about fighting me. I’m not sure what you call this, but clearly, we’re not fighting. It’s more like dancing if you ask me.”
“Harlot,” he growled, the word echoing between the buildings in the alley.
“That is not a very nice word to use,” she said. “Now you’ve made me mad.” Clutching her hand into a fist, she drew her arm back and punched the thief in the stomach. He grunted and leaned forward. Allyssa swung her knee up, hitting him again. He tried reaching for her. Fool. She grabbed his arm, twisted around, placed her back to his front, and flipped him over her shoulder. He landed on the ground with a loud umph.
“Now that, thief, is how it’s done.” She stepped on his wrist, pinning his arm to the ground.