A Flight of Ravens by John Conroe (thriller books to read TXT) 📗

“I am trained with knife, short sword, stick, staff, and short spear.  Battlemaster Jella has also spent time training me in her unarmed techniques.  And Soshi allows that I am passable with a crossbow,” Rose said, still staring straight ahead.

“Words of praise from one of our deadliest snipers,” Brona said.  “Okay, let’s have a seat, shall we.  I wanted to get a look at you just as you are, but let’s all relax.  Savid, Marda left me a pot of caffe… Would you pour?”  She took a seat in one of the chairs near the fire, directing Rose to the one across from her with a wave.

“Of course, Your Highness,” I said.

“Enough with the formality.  He’s only being like that because he doesn’t want you to get bad habits already.”

“I wouldn’t, Your Highness,” Rose said, sitting stiffly.

“I don’t believe you would, Rose.  But let’s just talk.  Savid says you are good with math?”

“Yes, Highness.  When I was little, I hung around the money man for my den.  I learned numbers from him, and he put me to work adding up the daily take.  He said I have a gift for rapid addition and subtraction.”

From a side table by her chair, Brona picked up a piece of paper and handed it to Rose.  “Does this look accurate to you?”

“No, Highness, it’s off by one,” the girl said instantly.  I could see the paper as I brought three cups of caffe over, and on it was a column of about twenty numbers with a total.

“One too many or too little?”

“One short, Your Highness.”

Brona nodded and handed her another paper.  This one was a ledger, but with numerous written entries next to each number.  Standard reporting method for a farm or estate.  The comments explained each number to the reader.

“What do you think of this report?”

Rose read it, her brow beginning to furrow after a moment.  “It doesn’t make sense to me, Highness.  The words say the crop yields are up, slightly, month over month, but the numbers are in different units of measure.  The yield actually went down if this is right, once you convert the measures.”

“Excellent,” Brona said.  “Tell me, do you speak any other languages?”

“I know a little Lachian, Highness.  The money man was Lachian and he taught me so he could make comments that the crew chiefs wouldn’t understand.  Trell has been speaking it with me to bring it back and improve my vocabulary.”

“Better and better,” the princess said, leaning back, her eyes studying Rose but her mind far away.  After a moment, Rose finally glanced my way, then back to the princess.  Brona smiled.

“Rose, do you have a last name?”

“Not that I remember, but Soshi said I can use hers,” the girl said. “Leighton.”

“Do you understand what that means?” Brona asked.

“That she’s adopted me, Highness.  That my behavior and actions reflect upon her name,” Rose said, sitting up a tiny bit straighter as she did.

“True.  So, Rose Leighton, I find myself in need of a personal assistant, particularly with regards to business.  The candidate must be good with numbers, with strong reading and writing skills, and able to listen and observe carefully.  Most important, the candidate must share everything she learns with me, be absolutely loyal, and guard my privacy as well as my person.  Does that sound like a job you could handle?”

“Yes, Highness.  I will tell you everything.  But this candidate will also be ready should you need her blade,” Rose said.

“We will test your abilities with the blade, or I should say, my bodyguard Salis will.  Does that scare you?”

“I would love a chance to practice with a Wenkroy warrior, Highness.”

Brona turned to me.  “You were right.  She could be a definite asset,” she said.  Then she turned back to Rose.  “Forget you heard me tell him he was right.  It goes to his head and he becomes insufferable… more insufferable.”

“Your Highness, I have no idea what you mean?  I never heard you say anything about him being right,” Rose said.

“Ah, perfect.  You’ll do.  Rose, let’s have you get back into boy disguise so you can leave with Savid.  Go home and pack your things.  Return tomorrow morning at nine and present yourself to Marda out front.  Wear a dress. You’ll be living here in the castle, near my suite.  Clothing, meals, and expenses will be provided, as well as a living wage.  Oh, and bring that messenger outfit with you, but pack it away.  It may be useful while you can still pass for a lad, although I doubt that will be an option for too much longer.”

“What about Brent?” I asked.

“He presented himself to Cal this morning,” she replied, referring to her father’s seneschal.

“Do you know Brent, Rose?”

“Yes, Your Highness.  We train… trained and schooled together.”

“Very good, but I want you to pretend you don’t know each other.  He is known to be associated with Savid.  Kiven will definitely recognize his nephew’s nephew.  But I want you to be unknown.  Leighton is a relatively common surname.  You, my dear, are from a family in Rattle.  Your father is a factor at one of my apple orchards there.  You learned from helping him and showed promise.  I recently visited there, so I will say you caught my attention and I had you brought here.  Marda will go over the rest of your backstory tomorrow morning.  Bring writing supplies; you’ll be hitting the ground at a dead run.  Got it?”

“Yes, Highness,” Rose said. She had just put her cap back on and now she stood so straight, she could have passed for a soldier.

“Hmm, we need to relax that military demeanor that Savid always seems to drill into anyone he spends more than two hours with.  Also, bring only your personal knives and always keep them very well hidden.  A small belt knife for sharpening your pens can be visible, but your deadlier claws need to be well hidden.”

“Yes, Highness.  As hidden as they currently are?” Rose asked.  It was almost a challenge.