Unfortunately, his large head fit his large body quite perfectly, but I wouldn’t admit that to him.
He smirked. “Well, a large head means a large?—”
“What do you want with me?” I cut him off, keeping my gaze level with his, using all my willpower to not let my eyes drop below the waistline of his trousers, which was no doubt exactly what he wanted.
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
He nodded toward a clearing in the distance. “We have a little further to go. If you could keep up, we’d already be there, and maybe you’d have your answers.”
I. Hated. Him.
He turned and walked to the little clearing, where bright green grass filled the space. He stopped in the middle, waiting for me as I joined him. When I entered the area, my breath caught in my chest.
Planks criss-crossed overhead between the trees, and ropes dangled in the air, some with knots, some without. Huts were built into the treetops with little roofs and windows. I’d never seen anything like it. It was like a small village built into the trees. Tree stumps dotted the outside of the circular area. A sitting place, I assumed.
“What is this?” I asked, unable to keep the awe from my voice.
“This is the Academy of Thieves,” Penn said.
The Academy of... I’d never heard of such a thing. It certainly didn’t sound legal. A training school for thieves? That was detestable. People shouldn’t be learning how to steal.
“Well, that sounds like something that needs to be shut down immediately,” I said.
“Huh.” Penn lifted the satchel over his head and lay it at his feet. “It’s too bad you feel that way.”
I rolled my eyes. “And why is that?”
“Because you’re our newest member.”
Chapter Six
The ground rocked under my feet. “Excuse me?” I sputtered.
“You wanted to know what I want with you.” Penn spread his arms wide. “This is it. You’re joining my academy.” He raised two fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle.
This was absurd. I was a princess. Surely he must understand how inappropriate this would be. I couldn’t be queen, rule Elwen, if I’d stolen from people, trained with actual thieves—the king of thieves, arguably the most wanted man on the continent of Arathia. For the last two years, my people had seen nothing but evil and depravity from their queen. They needed a good leader, someone who wouldn’t compromise their morals, but if they found out I’d been in league with these thieves, what might they think of me?
And why would he want me to be a thief, anyway? What could I possibly do for him?
People emerged from the little huts above, walking onto the planks, then hopping to the ropes and shimmying down. They each took a seat on one of the stumps, all of their eyes on me.
“Meet your classmates.” Penn nodded to the others, four in total. Then Wayfinder, Shadow, and Charming emerged from the trees and sat. Seven, now. Seven thieves.
One of the men grunted, glaring at me under from his bushy red eyebrows and thick lashes, and I realized he was missing an arm, his right tunic sleeve hanging down empty. “She’s from Elwen, a princess, and you brought her here, to our domain?” He spit on the ground.
“Lighten up, Hammer,” Shadow said from next to him.
I turned to Penn. “Why do you want me?”
“That’s what I want to know.” Hammer’s eyebrows drew together.
“He’s right. I am a princess. I can’t be a thief.” I turned to the stocky man, surveying his long red beard that hung in a braid down his chest. “And what kind of name is Hammer? Shadow? Wayfinder?” Everyone stilled. “What?” I paused. “It’s just a question.”
Wayfinder scratched the back of his neck. “We all have nicknames in the academy.” He pointed to himself. “Good with maps.”
“So I’m actually supposed to call him Hammer?” I asked the group.
“If you know what’s good for you,” Hammer said, smiling to reveal a few missing teeth. “It took me a long time to earn that name.”
