A Common Thief [H.S]

Chapter 2

Beatrice Miller

Today is the day I put my plan in motion. All night I was up thinking about numerous ways to take my kingdom back and it all starts with gaining the people's trust. I know I can't go into villages and start bad-mouthing the king, that will only make me look foolish and will get me killed.

How can I expect others to put their trust in me, while I can't do the same?

I'm currently stalking one of the king's carriages, I've been following them for nearly an hour. The number of knights guarding the carriage, confirms my suspicions of the precious gems they're carrying.

The king is a strategic thinker, he knows having too many soldiers guarding one carriage would draw too much attention. That is why there are five guards, four on their horses, while one is inside the carriage.

Perhaps to give off the illusion of an important person instead of the gems they're transporting.

As the sun begins to set, I know they're going to make camp soon. It is too dangerous to travel these forests during the night, there have been reports of wild animals attacking humans.

This is odd because for as long as I remember the forest was a peaceful place, any time of the day.

I watch the knights tie off their horses and set their essentials on the ground. I watch for hours, hidden behind trees and branches. I had tied off my horse a few feet away in case the soldiers were to hear him.

I watch as they have their dinner over a fire, I assume it was a rabbit, but I wouldn't put it past them to eat anything in sight. I do another head count as they start to fall asleep, the entire time I was watching them I had not been able to see knight number five.

I had just assumed that he was asleep in the carriage, but as the four knights slumber, a tall figure comes out from the carriage. My breathing stops as does my beating heart.

It was him, the man with the mask.

His tall frame towers over his sleeping comrades. He finally settles on the ground, guarding his weapon and his companions as takes overwatch. I can't help but watch him. He's oddly memorizing.

Although I can't see the bottom half of his face, I know it's just as gorgeous as the rest of him. Scanning him from head to toe, he is dressed in all black except for the kingdom's sigil. A dark piece of hair falls onto his forehead, he pushes it back and that's when his whole body freezes.

It's as though he can feel my stare, feel my presence and it puts him on edge.

Perfect.

He slowly pushes his body up and comes to a standing position, holding his long gun in both hands. He starts to walk around, keeping his gaze focused and guarding up. Surprisingly, he doesn't call out to wake his group. He must be confident.

He's prowling around the camp like a lion, ready to pounce. I pick up a rock and throw it in the opposite direction of the carriage, hoping it would work as a small distraction. Thankfully it works because as soon as the rock touched the ground, his head whipped in the direction of the noise and slowly made his way there, without making a sound.

Not one audible noise came from underneath his heavy boots, skillfully he makes his way in the opposite path of the carriage. Gives me enough time to be in and out in under thirty seconds.

Getting inside, I look everywhere for the gems. They're not out in the open as it would be too easy, they must be hidden somewhere.

Looking through the cushions and pillows, they're nowhere to be found. Not until my fingers skim the bottom of the seat to find a small latch at the back, behind all the cushioning. After tearing off all the small, decorative pillows, I open the latch.