Justify the Thrill
Chapter 6
Exempt From Sanity

Despite the bed being softer than any he'd slept in for years Spot was up at first light the next morning. He moved around the room and dressed in the noble's clothes quietly, leaving Racetrack asleep in his bed. He knew there would be little comfortable sleep for the next several weeks so there was no need to rouse him so early. There was a guard waiting for him outside the door, and he followed the heavily-armed man down a maze of stairways to the stable. They stood by the door for what seemed to be only a few moments before two figures appeared through the early morning mist. They followed Spot inside and returned to his room.

It was barely a surprise for Race to be awakened by a splash of ice-cold water on his face. Mouse stood over him with a grin for a moment longer before Spot replaced her. "Get up and get ready," He hissed, "I have to wake the others."

He moved along the rooms not caring if he bothered anyone. He threw open the doors to Blink's rooms and woke him in a similar manner. H ordered his friend dressed and ready within the half hour.

He was less than surprised to find Hotshot not yet awake when he reached her room. He pulled the blanket off of her. The action woke her but she refused to even open her eyes. She curled into a ball and rolled over. "You need to be ready in half an hour," Spot warned her.

"Yes, Spot, I know. Now will you kindly get out of my face!"

It seemed that Dutchy had woken the nobles as they were all assembled at the gates when Spot and the thieves arrived. Each thief was decked out in the same fancy clothing as their enemies of sorts. Guards soon arrived at the gate; several surrounded the king and others walked their mounts.

Nearly a dozen of the best palace horses as well as two stockier ponies pulling a cart were provided for their trip. A packhorse was tied to the back of the cart, loaded down with supplies. All of the animals, even the packhorse which was honestly plain and rather dirty looked majestic compared to the mountain ponies and odd horses that most of the city's occupants owned. Their gear was new, but looked as though it had been common made.

Spot took a rather large package from Specs and slipped it onto the cart without being noticed. What he had brought would most definitely be needed before the day was through. He moved back into position and looked toward the king.

"I want to thank you and your friends for doing this, Mr. Conlon." King Adonis said, "Most thieves would rather spend their lives in jail than do me a favor. You are truly a good man."

Spot nodded, "Thank you sir." He didn't necessarily agree with the king but he didn't see any need to be rude either. He stepped forward and faced his friends. They all looked considerably more awake and alert than they had when he'd woken them not thirty minutes before.

He spoke directly to them, "If any of you back down now I'll understand. I'm sorry I had to drop all this on you so fast, and I didn't really give you time to think about it. Now that you really understand what we're doing I won't be mad if you want to back out."

All of the thieves exchanged glances. Of course Spot would be mad; in fact he would be furious. It would be the understatement of the century to say that any of them were exactly eager to go but they weren't about to let Spot get stuck with four noble-born brats for more than a year by himself. They also weren't about to march back to Blue or give up the chance to do something like this. Adventure and risk were what they lived for.

Race seemed to redeem himself for his actions the past day by speaking up for all of them, "What? And let you have all the fun!"

Spot tried to smile and failed, "This isn't going to be fun."

"Yeah, yeah, we know; it's going to be lots of hard work." Race interrupted him, "but I believe we can handle it."

"That goes for all of you as well," King Adonis continued. His gaze was directed toward the nobles and his son. "Personally, I believe all of you are too young to be doing this. If I could I would send more experienced knights, and not squires. If you want to stay here, now is the time to speak up."

Wolfgang looked to Jack who stood in his place, unmoving. The other boys also looked to the Prince. Not one of them so much flinched, or looked anywhere near doubtful. It was almost inhuman to show so little emotion and personal struggle over such a big decision. Jack had to go, and the others would return to their families, disgraced, if they did not obey the wishes of their king. None of the thieves could determine if their reason to go was in allegiance to Jack or their families' honor.

"Very well then," King Adonis nodded solemnly. "I wish you all luck. Get to Odessa, collect the information we need as safely as possible, and return home, and do not get caught. I only hope you have enough sense to listen to each other."

The group dispersed to find their mounts. The cart had been reserved for Mouse. In the nobles' eyes, she was a woman, but the thieves knew her to be talented in her control of carts, wagons, and horses in general.

As they walked to find their mounts King Adonis stopped Spot with his long cane, knowing the thieves would keep a strong horse for their leader.

Spot looked up at the tall king. Being short was the only disadvantage he remembered having to face, but on the other hand, King Adonis towered over everyone, including many of his knights, "Can I help you, Sire?" He asked.

"Master Conlon," The king began, "I know you do not think highly of my son and nobility in general."

Spot shrugged, "They don't show any respect for those lower than themselves. I figure that's reason enough not to show it back. Respect must be earned. That's the first thing my friends and I learned in this city."

"That's an important lesson to learn," King Adonis agreed, "It's also something that my son and his friends may not have a firm grasp upon. You and your friends have done all sorts of things, dangerous things, am I quite correct."

"Yes sir." Spot agreed.

"In their knightly training they are taught to fight well. Their talent will surprise you, just as I'm sure yours will surprise them. The only thing is they are the sons of nobility so they believe no harm can come to them, and no one should want such strong enemies as their families. These boys believe that they know adventure and danger. They haven't faced any real danger, and if they did there was always someone older and more experienced there to help them. They don't know how to think on their feet and get out of sticky situations like you and your friends. Also, they aren't as experienced as you are with traveling, especially not without protection."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Majesty?"

"I am saying that I want you to take care of them and make sure to keep them out of trouble. Teach them a bit so they'll be able to take care of themselves in the future. Who knows, maybe you'll even learn something from them."

"I doubt that." Spot shook his head, "but I will try my best." With that he bowed quickly to the king and hurried over the gelding to which Specs held the reigns. He walked to the front of the line and took his position next to Jack.

He didn't turn once to look back at the city as they left in a rather extravagant procession. The sooner he could put space between himself and Tralee the better, especially for now. The escort of guards completely surrounded the group in a rather smothering manner. Spot vaguely remembered seeing the royal family on parade under such guard and wondered if the king or Jack felt similar about the atmosphere. He quickly shook the thought away as they left the guard at the forest's edge.

Jack on the other hand glanced back many times at the party of guards whom were quickly ushering his father inside. His father had not even stayed outside long enough to watch them leave. There had been no farewell words to him, no advice for the king's son, but it seemed he had spoken at great length with Spot.

As they reached the first turn in the path and left sight of the guards Jack urged his horse into a run. Upon suddenly being away from the restraints of the palace he liked the feeling of freedom and suddenly wanted to be far away from his father. Spot urged his horse to match Jack's pace and the others easily kept the pace.

Perhaps the running horses and clink of metal from both weapons and tack were reason enough that no one noticed. Perhaps the guards were too lazy or just did not care enough. Whatever the reason no one noticed when a strange figure rode near the path still in the brush, following a good distance behind the young riders.

1

Race kept an eye on their surroundings. He knew these woods and the road well. His friends and he had often traveled it, selling the items they had stolen from the palace. He knew they would not reach another village before nightfall. That was what the nobles wanted and thought, but he knew better. Even the fastest horses in all of Rosslare could not make it that far in one day. But he was not about to ruin their fun and tell anyone else that.

After the first half candle's run Jack had slowed their pace. Spot let him set the pace, because he was not concerned with how long the trip took, in fact, the longer the better. The longer it took the more the king was willing to pay them. Yes, after so many years together Race knew Spot's mind quite well. Jack's sudden speed as they entered the woods had startled Spot a bit. The only part that Race did not know was that Spot had chanced a look at the young prince's face and seen anger etched across the young noble's features.

This boy has everything he could ever want Spot thought to himself what does he have to be angry about. He decided it would be better not to question him and just go along with it. It had been so long since he had last ridden that he certainly did not mind the feel of the breeze on his face.

They rounded a sharp corner close to midday. The corner itself was nothing special. They had passed several almost identical to it along the road already. This corner was different though. Spot knew this corner very well, which was why he brought his horse to a very abrupt stop. The other thieves followed suit very quickly. Mouse stopped the cart so quickly that had she been unprepared she would have been sent tumbling out of the cart. The nobles had to force their horses to the side in order to avoid collisions. Jack turned his horse from several lengths down the path and returned to the group.

"What's wrong?" He asked Spot, "It's barely midday, far too early to stop."

Spot said nothing but made a quick motion with his hands. The thieves all dismounted and gave their reins to whichever noble they were nearest to. Blink threw several small, tightly packed sacks which had been hidden in the cart. The nobles only sat speechless as the six thieves dispersed into the woods.

"What the hell are they doing?" Wolfgang spat. He turned to Jack, "For all we know this could be a trap."

Dutchy proceeded to call out the names of several of the thieves in hopes that they would return quickly. They reappeared one by one over the course of several minutes.

David's jaw dropped at the sight of them. "What do you think you're…" he trailed off, nearly speechless.

Jack was the first to speak what everyone was thinking, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He directed the question at Spot.

He asked with good reason. Every single one of the thieves was now wearing what she or he had been when they had first met the nobles. Their clothes were those of common people. The boys' shirts and breeches were made of course fabrics and the girls wore their old clothes. Mouse wore her dress proudly, and Hotshot her leggings and blouse. Their clothes were all stained or worn looking.

"You and your men need to change," Spot said. He caught the sack that Specs threw at him and heaved it at Jack. The noble caught it deftly.

He pulled out a set of worn clothes and looked at them in disgust. "What do you think you're trying to pull?"

Spot sighed and opened his mouth to speak.

"I wouldn't wear these rags if you paid me."

Spot went red with anger at Jack's poor choice in words. "Listen here you stuck up, arrogant, little snob, "He practically spat, "I don't care what the hell you think at the moment, or what you have to say. It's time you close your mouth and listen to me. If we stay dressed in those fancy clothes you're so fond of we're going to be robbed and most likely killed before we even reach Brindisi. If you want me to put it simply, the shirt you are wearing, or the leggings, or the cloak are all worth more than all ten of our lives to the common thieves that live around here.

"If we dress like commoners and thieves and hide our weapons for the most part they will just assume we are commoners or thieves selling our wares from town to town. They could still attack us, but the chances of that happening slim to none."

Jack just stared.

"Maybe we should just change then," Dutchy suggested. He was immediately shushed by Wolfgang and David.

"What's it gonna be, Jack?"

The prince was outrages at the way this common-bred boy addressed him so informally, as though they were equals. This was an insult and a joke. He threw the clothing to the ground at Spot's feet, "Forget it. I'm not dressing like some common criminal just so you can get a laugh."

Wolfgang loudly agreed from behind him.

Spot had to fight to control his temper. He took a deep breath and clenched his fists as he retrieved the clothing form the ground. He spoke calmly, and evenly, "You are going to regret that."

The two of them sat there for several minutes, just staring at each other. Neither was willing to turn away first and show defeat. Their trip would be a show of will all the way to Odessa and back.

As if some cue had been dropped an arrow soared through the air. It caught Wolfgang's fancy feathered hat, pulling it from his head and connecting it to a nearby tree. A second caught Jack's cloak, pining it to a tree which was, luckily, close enough to allow him to remain mounted on his horse.

Jack managed to pull the arrow out of the tree and climb down from his mount. He approached Spot and stood with less than an elbows length from him holding the feathered arrow between them. "This was your doing; you're setting us up." He accused.

Spot's face remained deathly calm. He didn't even wince as Jack screamed in his face. Very slowly a smirk crossed his features. His eyes sparkled with dark delight. "Maybe it was Jackie-boy, but then again, maybe it wasn't. How do you know for sure? Are you really willing to risk it all over something so trivial?"

Jack stared long and hard into Spot's eyes, trying to find some hint to the answer. Finally he let out a cry of injustice and snatched the clothes from Spot. "Come on," he called toward his friends stalking toward the woods.

"But Jack-" David began to protest.

"Now." He commanded. Each of the nobles climbed immediately down from their horses and followed him into the woods.

1

Close to two hundred feet from the roadside an archer sat contently in his perch, a tall oak tree. He twirled a third arrow idly in his fingers. Then he quickly notched and released it, sending it into the ground mere inches from Spot's feet. As soon as he saw Spot pick it up he began his decent. He'd lost a complete day of business by doing this, but it was worth it to see the looks on those spoiled brats' faces and besides Spot and his friends were his best customers. If they died so would his business.

1

Spot picked up the arrow and uncurled the parchment that was tied to it. He pitched the arrow into the woods where the nobles were sure not to find it, and then looked at the scroll

-Spot,
Hopefully that was enough to convince them. Watch your back and get home in one piece. Good luck. By the way, you owe me.
-Blue

Spot smirked and waved in the direction from which the arrow had come. He noticed a small patch of blue among the green of the leaves that surrounded them. He slid the note into his pocket and turned to his friends. They all grinned as the nobles came out from the woods dressed in the course, unfinished attire of a peasant.

1

1

A/N: I almost miss the rain now that it is scorching hot outside. Anyway, only two more chapters until SaL and I have to start getting together and writing again. However, it is summer, so that shouldn't be much of an issue.

And Because I have nothing to do, shout outs:

Time is a waste of life: the dialogue is far too much fun to write. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Faro: The nobles and the thieves make quite an interesting bunch. We're not exactly sure where to go with all of them yet.

Dreamer: It is more fun that usually possible to reasses the characters for the time period. I think I may have made Spot a tad too moody, what d'you think?

DigitalAngel4U: We decided to take the story in a completely different direction after writing the first nine chapters. We had more characters in the last one, too many in my opinion, and the writing has improved quite a bit. There aren't too many major changes though. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Leave us some reviews,

Exempt From Sanity