The Thief's Gamble

by Juliet E. McKenna

  'If you're good enough to find this,' the boss picked up my tankard again, 'you're good enough to take the time and care to not get caught.'

  He laced his fingers and cracked his knuckles with a satisfied air which gave me one more reason to dislike him. 'In any case, I don't think you're in any position to argue the point, are you?'

  Sadly, I had to agree. We could spend all day trading clever remarks, with Lanky playing friendly house-dog to the boss's nasty street-cur but I was not going to get out of here before they agreed to let me go, whatever wild ideas keeping me in here gave the innkeeper. I could give them a flat refusal but I did not like the idea of being handed over to the Watch. I could probably sob my way to a flogging or the pillory but what if the Commander decided to hang on to me until Turd-breath the would-be rapist got home? I kept my gambling face nailed on but I was cursing myself: that's where revenge gets you, you dozy bitch.

  'All right,' I said slowly. I took the wine, drained the goblet and refilled it. That made me feel better. 'So what's your business? You're not just buying and selling with a wizard and a scholar in tow. What's so important that you have to hire a wall-crawler?'

  'You need not worry about that. My name is Darni and my companions are Geris and Shivvalan.'

  'Shiv, please,' Lanky smiled. 'Your name?'

  'Terilla, I told you.' That was my aunt who had married a baker and grown as round as one of his loaves.

  Shiv shook his head apologetically. 'You're lying again.'

  That could get tiresome; I decided to think very carefully before volunteering any information about myself. Still, they had to call me something. Why not the real thing?

  'I'm Livak.' I raised my goblet in an ironic toast and Shiv returned it.

  Darni snorted. 'Right, we'll get you a room here. We're moving on tomorrow; in the meantime, keep yourself to yourself.'

  I shook my head. 'Sorry, I'm staying at an inn back up the high road. I'll see you in the morning.'

  Darni looked at me contemptuously. 'Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I'm stupid.'

  'I've got luggage there and a bill to pay,' I snapped back.

  'I'll go with her to collect it,' Shiv volunteered and Darni's angry colour subsided.

  'While I'm out, you can decide on a proper deal for my services. I'll owe you for not ringing the Watch bell on me over the tankard but don't push it. I want half the value of everything I lift, for a start.'

  Darni evidently didn't like that idea.

  'Be back before dusk,' he said curtly.

  Shiv unbolted the door - normally this time - and waved me through with a courtly gesture.

  'So what were your plans?' Shiv sat on his solid black cob like a sack of grain as we headed out along the high road. I noted the worn gear and the droop of the tired horse's head. My hired horse on the other hand was fresh and keen; I pictured the road ahead in my mind and thought about a good spot where I could kick into a gallop and lose him. I'd wager my abilities at getting lost against his tracking skills, whatever they might be. They were welcome to my luggage at the inn; they would find no clues about me in it.

  We waited for a heavily laden wagon to negotiate a rutted wallow.

  'I hope we haven't inconvenienced you too much, Livak.'

  That nearly did it; he was setting himself up as a handy target for my frustration.

  'Were you travelling to Col for the Fair? Wouldn't thieving there risk falling foul of the local talent?'

  I ignored him. A donkey began making a fuss about something behind us and, as Shiv turned, I dug my heels into my job-horse's flanks. Fresh from days in the stable, he stretched out eagerly for a gallop and I lay down on his neck to avoid the branches.

  Suddenly he came to a crashing halt and I hit the ground hard; I've never managed that'relax as you fall' trick horse traders tell you about. For one awful moment I thought the horse must have put a foot in a rabbit hole; I did not want the poor beast's death on my conscience. After a moment he scrambled to his feet; I did the same. Nothing broken, thank Halcarion, but I'd be black and blue.

  'Sorry about that, but I don't think Darni would be too pleased if I lost you.'

  I looked up to see Shiv sitting alert on his big black steed with green light glowing round his hands.

  'You bastard, I could have been killed.' I spat leaf mould.

  'No, I made sure of that.' The concern in his voice sounded almost genuine. 'I don't blame you for trying, Livak,' he assured me.

  'Easy for you to say.' I swore as the horse shifted and had me dancing on one foot, the other in the stirrup iron.

  'Here.' Shiv caught the reins. 'Just give me your word that you won't try that again.'

  'Thanks,' I said stiffly. 'All right, I'll swear.' I rattled off the standard vow to Misaen.

  'I can appreciate you being annoyed at Darni dragging you into all this.' The wizard persisted in trying to be friendly. I was having none of it.

  'Oh, can you really? Has he threatened you to get your co-operation? Have you had your plans completely ripped up? Are your friends going to worry themselves sick when you don't turn up as expected?'

  He looked uncomfortable. 'We really do need your help.'

  'Can't get rich enough? I thought wizards were supposed to keep honest with their magic. Isn't that what stops us ordinary folk from stoning you all as a flaming menace?'

  'This is not about money. We're buying up special pieces for the Archmage.'

  I could smell the scorching as those hot coals got closer.

  'I don't want to know,' I snapped. 'I'll do a couple of jobs for your boss to even the scales, but if you come sniffing after me, you'll find trouble.'

  He dropped his gaze in the face of my challenging stare. 'Fair enough. By the way, Darni is not my boss. I can overrule him if he tries to take unfair advantage.'

  That could be interesting to see, a wizard's idea of unfair.

  'What about the boy? Does he get a say?' Let him think he was winning me over, see what else he'd tell me.

  'Geris?' Shiv laughed. 'He wouldn't dare.'

  'Is he a mage or what? Is he your apprentice?'

  'No, he's what you guessed, a scholar. He's from the University at Vanam, an expert on Tormalin art.'

  The world can be a very small place at times; I'm from Vanam originally and I know the grim facade of the University. It's one of those places that only looks good in soft light or snow. I have no idea what the inside is like; it's strictly for the wealthy who can afford to send surplus sons and daughters off to learn Saedrin knows what useless stuff. I decided to cosy up to Geris if I got the chance and see what I could get out of him. I did not figure he would take much unpeeling.

  'What about Darni, then? Is he a mage?'

  'No, not really.'

  'What's that supposed to mean? I thought you got born a wizard.'

  'We do in so far as elemental affinity is innate, but it's not as simple as that.'

  'I beg your pardon?'

  Shiv had the grace to look abashed. 'Sorry. A wizard's power comes from the elements; the ability to affect an element is what makes you a wizard and that's something you're born with. It comes from within; we're still trying to establish how, and it varies in strength. Really powerful mages are quite rare in fact, and since most people only have one affinity, that limits them in any case.'

  'So what about Darni?' I persisted.

  'He has a double affinity which is unusual, but it's very weak. His parents live in Hadrumal; his mother cooks for one of the Halls and his father's a baker. If he'd lived anywhere else, no one would have noticed his talent. He'd just have been a chap with a knack for starting fires in difficult conditions and a better-than-usual weather sense.'

  I'd never really thought about Hadrumal, fabled city of the Archmage, having cooks and bakers. It rather undermined all the tales told in lofty ballads; I wondered who did the cleaning!

  'Once it was clear his talents were going nowhere, he started working for the Archmage's agents,'
Shiv went on. 'This is his first mission on his own, so he's looking to prove himself on several levels.'

  'What are Archmage's agents?' I exclaimed.

  Shiv gave me a sideways look. 'Planir doesn't sit in a lofty tower in Hadrumal staring into a scrying bowl to get his information.'

  Well, that was a cheery thought. One of the few good things about wizards is that the really dangerous ones stay safely out of the way on their lost island.

  'So where do you fit in?' I eyed Shiv suspiciously.

  'I am a wizard of the Seaward Hall, an adept of water with the air as my secondary focus. I am a member of the Advisory Circle to the Great Council.'

  Well, that was all so much goose-grease as far as I was concerned. 'Which means?'

  'It means most wizards around here will bow and scrape and do their best to find out just how close to Planir I really am. Back in Hadrumal, I'm a middling fish in a busy pond.'

  The inn where all this nonsense had started came into view.

  'You wait outside and I'll settle up and pack.'

  Shiv shook his head. 'I'll come in. We'll eat before we head back.'

  I glared at him, irritated; when I give my word, I keep it. Who knows, Misaen might really exist and I don't fancy fiery dogs chasing me through the Otherworld when I'm dead. I'm going to have to do enough fast talking to Saedrin as it is. I had wanted to see if Halice had managed to get a letter through and to leave message for her in turn.

  'You're going to have to trust me sometime,' I snapped.

  'I'm hungry,' Shiv said mildly.

  I stalked ahead, feeling a little foolish. The tousled blonde wench behind the bar counter smiled at Shiv, who smirked back and trotted out some line calculated to appeal to that type. I left them to it and found the innkeeper tapping a cask in the cellar.

  'I need to move on, so I'll pay my reckoning now. Can I leave the horse at the Running Hound?'

  'Fair enough. Three Marks will cover it.'

  I opened my belt-pouch and paid the man. This inn was not cheap but the landlord's determined lack of curiosity meant Halice and I had used it more than once before. Look on the bright side, I told myself, if you had got away earlier, you'd have had to leave a bad debt here which would have fouled the nest for the future.

  'Have there been any messages for me?'

  He shook his head.

  'Saedrin's stones!' What had happened to Halice? Apart from anything else, I wanted someone I trusted to know what had happened to me.

  'Can I leave a letter, and some money?' We had done this before and I knew the man could be trusted.

  'Sure.'

  I went to my room and packed swiftly. If it were not for the nagging worry about Halice, I would have been running my mind over all the possibilities in this unexpected turn of events. I wrote Halice a short note full of gambler's slang and private allusions and sealed an Empire Crown into the wax. It was the best I could do but I was still not happy.

  'Writing to someone?' Shiv entered without knocking.

  'Do I need your permission? Do you want to read it?' Being startled made me shrill.

  'That's not necessary.' He flushed and turned on his heel. Interesting, I had managed to shake that irritating self-possession and I had not even been trying.

  We ate in silence and rode out, Shiv kicking the cob into a trot.

  'The letter was to my partner. We were supposed to meet up at that inn.' If I was stuck with this trio for the present, what with Darni's attitude and the lad's meekness, I figured I would rather have Shiv's friendly face back.

  His back relaxed and he reined in until I drew level.

  'Partner? Lover?' He raised an eyebrow.

  I laughed. 'Strictly business. Her name's Halice.'

  'So, does she… er…' he fumbled for words,'dispose of your… um… acquisitions?'

  About to take offence, I realised his error. 'No, I'm not a window-cracker except in special circumstances. We play the runes.'

  'I'll give you a game sometime.'

  'Play with someone who can see right through the bones? Not likely!' I spoke before I could stop myself but Shiv did not take umbrage.

  'If you make a living playing the runes and you work with a friend, I don't suppose the bones always fall without a little help,' he observed. 'You won't use your skills, I won't use mine. Deal?'

  'Deal.' Actually the prospect was an interesting one.

  'So when's your friend due?'

  'Overdue already, I'm afraid. That's why I lifted that cursed cup; I was running short with the delay.'

  Shiv reined to a halt. 'Would you like to know what has happened to your mate?'

  I gaped at him. 'What do you mean?'

  'If you've got something belonging to her, or something she's handled regularly, I should be able to find her.' I was relieved to see his smile again. 'It's part of the trail-dog act.'

  'Sure.' This I had to see. I dug in my saddlebags and found Halice's preferred set of bones. 'These any good?'

  'Fine.' Shiv caught the pouch as I tossed them over and turned his horse off the road.

  I followed, consumed with curiosity as he dismounted next to a large puddle. He rummaged in a pocket and uncorked a small bottle of blue liquid. He squatted down and poured a few drops on to the surface of the water. I knelt beside him, wide-eyed as the puddle began to glow with a green light.

  Shiv closed his eyes and grasped the runes tight; the same eerie radiance gathered round his fist and I shivered involuntarily. Magelight is what distinguishes the real from the fake and I had only seen it a few times before. I've seen a fair few more claim to be mages and it's remarkable what reasons they come up with to explain why they must suppress the outward signs of their magic. Shiv breathed deeply and the glow of the magic round his hand reached out to the pool.

  'Look in the water,' he commanded, opening his eyes.

  I obeyed and could not restrain an exclamation. 'That's her, that's Halice.' I stared at the image; it was like looking through thick glass, but she was clearly recognisable. I bit my lip; she was in a bed, eyes closed and hair tangled over her sweaty face. Her right leg was splinted and bandaged from hip to foot; this did not look good. Blood stained the dressings; that leg was a mess and no mistake.

  'She's hurt,' Shiv observed unnecessarily. 'Can you tell where she is?'

  I peered intently at the blurred image, searching for any clue, but could find none. 'It's an inn of some sort but I can't tell you where.'

  Shiv drew some lines in the water, and the reflection shifted and moved. Have you ever been on a wagon looking backward when it's going at the gallop? You know the way everything gets smaller? That's as best as I can describe the way the picture changed. In a few seconds, we were looking at the outside of the inn. I breathed a sigh of relief.

  'It's the Green Frog in Middle Reckin, I'd know that buttercross anywhere.' It was a good enough inn and more importantly, the small town had a reliable apothecary. Our associates, the brothers Sorgrad and Sorgren, had introduced us to him when a rather complex enterprise had left me with a gashed arm.

  Shiv's brow wrinkled. 'That's on the Selerima road, isn't it? Just past Three Bridges?'

  I nodded. 'Why?'

  'I know someone who lives just beyond. I can ask him to make sure your friend's taken care of.'

  Halice would hardly thank me for handing her over to a wizard but equally I did not think she would be too keen on dying of wound-rot or a fever.

  'Could he take her some money and make sure the apothecary treats her? I'm good for it if he'll wait a while.'

  Shiv nodded. 'Of course. He has some healing skills himself as well.'

  I took a deep breath; this trust had to go both ways after all. I'd seen people crippled for life by breaks like that.

  'Can you write to him? A carrier should be heading for Selerima today or tomorrow and could take the letter.'

  'No need.' Shiv smiled and raised his arms above his head. Faint blue-green light hovered round his head and fol
lowed the breeze off down the road. His eyes were open but vacant; I waved a hand in front of them but he did not even blink, his mind leagues away. This was trust with a vengeance; I could have stuck a knife in his ribs as he stood there. Well, I could have tried, I thought; surely any wizard with a penny weight of sense would have some defence against that kind of thing. At very least, I could be mounted and lost in the trees in an instant. Let him try tracking me then.

  There are times when I wish I had done just that. My mother always said curiosity would get me hanged one day. But I was intrigued by this whole set-up now, I wanted to know what was bringing together valuable antiquities, Archmage's agents and scholars from the University. I was not just a gambler; we had friends like Charoleia whose role as 'Lady Alaric the dispossessed noblewoman' had netted us handsome profits in various places. Information and especially advance knowledge of significant happenings could make me rich, and the' Archmage's involvement had to be significant, didn't it? Halice wasn't going to be going anywhere for a good while and I make a rotten nurse, so I didn't see any profit to be made from sitting and holding her hand while her leg knitted. Maybe this gamble would turn a profit after all.

  The Old Tun Tavern, the Hanchet Road

  East of Oakmont,

  13th of For-Autumn

  Casuel looked round the small room and sniffed. Adequate, he supposed, it would suffice. He stripped the soft, worn linen sheets from the bed and dumped them heedlessly in a corner. There was no sign of vermin, he was pleased to see, but it never hurt to take precautions. Examining the horsehair mattress carefully before remaking it with his own crisp linen, he sprinkled vinegar-water liberally around the bedstead.

  He heard a knock and a muffled question through the door.

  'I'm sorry, could you repeat that?' Casual opened up, striving to keep his voice light and to hide his disdain for the grizzled peasant bowing and scraping before him. There was no point in aggravating the fellow, after all. One has to be courteous to the lower classes, he reminded himself.

  The innkeeper made a rapid comment in incomprehensible dialect to the lad holding the jug of hot water and they both stifled a grin. 'I said,' the old man went on with heavy emphasis, 'will your honour be dining in the common room tonight or do you want to hire the parlour?' There was a lascivious hint in his smile.