| Forced to hide her identity when her parents are murdered, Eiry Savoy dons the hood of a thief as she seeks to accomplish two things--find her parents' killers and to empty every rich pocket passing through the Peake Forest bordering the Sherwood. Named Lady Thief by her fellow outlaws, she turns the tide of despair Prince John and his underlings have wrecked upon the peasants of Derbyshire. When her enemies come to close to taking away the family castle and her little sister, she realizes she needs a nobleman to deter the Sheriff of Derbyshire. Eiry writes to her godfather who suggests, unknowing her new line of employment, she hand Castle Sanctuary in guardianship to the Butcher of Acre. Lucian Martine returns from the Crusades a much changed man. Haunted by what he had done in the service of Richard the Lionheart, he and his company seek their fortune through the lists and mercenary work, finding only the meanest of nobles willing to hire their swords. When William Pembroke offers him a castle and a bag of gold to become guardian of an eight year old girl, he accepts, wishing to retire from war. What he doesn't expect is to find a child living in a rundown castle with a comely maid and a defiant stable boy. To his surprise, he finds the locals more than wiling to help him, especially Eiry to whom many look to for leadership. What would make the peasants and Eiry turn to the Butcher and flee from the Sheriff? Can Lucian find the strength to be the hero Eiry sees him to be? Will the Butcher have his heart stolen by Lady Thief or will he betray her to keep his honor? |
| Choking, Allen waved weakly at the antechamber. "Must go to her. Eiry...in danger," he croaked out through his bruised vocal cords, trying to get them to understand him. The door above the stairs scraped open admitting a dark cloaked man who practically flew down the stairs. Lucian glanced at Robin who frantically motioned his men not to shoot. Looking back at the man again, he recognized him as the one who saved Eiry earlier from Brasco's fist. "Robin, you don't have much time. She's in the hole!" the grizzled-looking man said nervously, looking over his shoulder. Lucian gently laid the exhausted Allen down when Robin's face paled considerably. "What's down there?" "Death." Robin ran after Lucian who charged down the tunnel. Looking around the small chamber, Lucian wildly searched about for Eiry. Choking back the terror, his eyes fixed on the water-filled hole. Grief assaulted him. Eiry could not be dead? Turning to look at Robin when he heard the thief shout. his gaze dropped to where he was frantically pointing at. Astonished when a slender hand rose from the dark waters, reaching unpward as if coming from the pits of Hell. Lucian dove, grabbing on, swearing to never let her go. * A warm hand of pure strength grabbed hold of her. In a dreamlike state, Eiry felt her frozen body being pulled from her watery grave. She could not move, except cling to whoever saved her. Blinking back several times fromt he harsh glare of the bright flames, she recognized it as torches. She felt weight pressing down on her chilled body, realizing it was a wool cloak. Tilting her head slightly back, her body shaking violently from the bitter cold, her blurred vision focused on Lucian's strained, handsome visage. Smiling, she clung to him as he held her in an almost painful embrace. Shaken by what she saw, Eiry gasped when fear clouded his dark eyes. Her hand trembling. she reached up to cup his rough cheek, trying to reassure him she was going to be fine. "I...knew you would...not abandon...me." "Never! To leave you would surely cause my black soul to wither and die," he rasped out. Lucian rested his cheek against her forehead, shaking, too. "I hate...it when...you say...you're evil!" Laughing softly, he kissed her cold lips. |
| LADY THIEF |
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| LADY THIEF has a home at New Concepts Publishing!!! March 3rd is the tentative release date and a new cover. Come on over and check it out! |