The Riyria Chronicles, book 2: The Rose and the Thorn
Michael J. Sullivan2013

A dear friend is brutally beaten. Two thieves want answers. Riyria is born.

One year earlier, two thieves were saved from certain death by the compassion of a stranger. Unable to forget the woman who saved their lives, Royce and Hadrian now return to Gwen DeLancy and are shocked when she refuses to speak to them. Baffled, the two thieves discover Gwen has been brutally beaten by a powerful noble--beaten so badly she can't face them. But Gwen doesn't know about Royce's past, doesn't understand how much he cares for her, and doesn't realize what he is capable of--but she's about to find out.