by Isabo Kelly
“They’re not turning me over. But I’ve got to stay deep under for a while.”
She bit her bottom lip—a habit he found incredibly sexy—and looked down to where his hands covered hers.
“I won’t be able to…to work for you anymore. At least for a few weeks.”
“Of course.” He was surprised by the unease in her voice. “I’ll find someone else.”
She looked up, her eyes wide. “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad, Victoria?”
“The money.”
“The money doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned, the information you brought me already was worth the fee. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Her answering smile was tremulous, not filled with the usual cocky glint.
“Are you all right? Is your arm hurting?”
“No. I’m all right. Thanks again for last night.” With a crooked grin, she added, “And thanks for the new shirt and cloak. I’ll repay you—”
“You will not. Those were a gift.”
“Well…thanks.”
He ran a hand over her cheek and tugged gently at one of the loose tendrils. “Have I mentioned yet that you look very beautiful in that dress?”
“No.”
“Well, you do. Absolutely stunning.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I mean it.”
“It was convenient, that’s all. I needed to tell you what was going on.”
“Nonetheless, you look devastating. You should find convenient reasons to wear dresses more often.” He grinned. “But I can’t help wondering where you hide your daggers in that.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
She answered playfully, some of her usual cocky self-assurance returning.
“Well, now that you mention it…” he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. When she bit her bottom lip again, his muscles tensed as a fresh wave of desire pounded through his blood and tightened his groin. He leaned in close, wanting to feel her in his arms again, to taste her lips.
Abruptly, she pulled away. “So, the Baron and Baroness Fordin are here for the entire festival?” she asked.
He frowned, desire still clenching his gut, but he answered, “Yes. Queen Sara requested their company. She wanted to see her granddaughter.”
“Have you known them long… Lord and Lady Fordin?”
“I’ve known Kevin for years. Since he first joined the King’s Own. Tiya, I met a little over two years ago when I was visiting Fordin with Kevin.”
“Does the Lady get one of your flowers?”
The comment startled him. “What makes you say that?”
“I saw the way you looked at her.”
“Tiya and I have always been just friends.”
“Yeah, well, she may think that,” she said, her gaze roving restlessly around the room.
“Victoria, Tiya was in love with Kevin long before I met either of them, and he was in love with her.”
When Vic met his gaze, she looked into Jacob’s soul. “Doesn’t mean you didn’t fall in love with her, too.”
This time, he was forced to drop his gaze, knowing she saw more than he wanted anyone to see. “That was a long time ago, Victoria. She married my best friend. And I’ve wanted nothing but the best for them both.”
“You don’t have to explain it, Marin. Nothing to do with me.”
Her tone was casual, detached, and it made something inside Jacob hurt. “So it’s Marin again. Last night, you were calling me Jacob.”
“I was bleeding.” She shrugged.
He laughed against his will. “You’re really something, little thief.”
“Goes with the job.” She grinned crookedly. “I’d better go now. I need to find a very deep hole to disappear into for a little while.”
“You’re not going to stay at the Winnow?”
She shook her head. “The boss echoed your feeling that maybe someone in the Hole gave me away to Big Charlie. If that’s true, it won’t be long before they know about our dealings and pay the Winnow a visit.”
“At least for tonight, stay there. It’ll take them days to track down that room.” Jacob’s hands clenched hers more tightly, suddenly afraid that he’d never see her again—a completely unacceptable situation.
“I’ve got other places to go, Marin. Why do you want me at the Winnow?”
“I know you’ll be safe there.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. Besides, you might need that room this week.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he snapped, more harshly than he’d intended. Her innuendo hit an open wound.
Vic stood, jerking her hands from his. “Nothing. Forget it. See ya around, General.”
“Victoria.” Jacob stood, but she was already out the door. With a groan, he dropped back on the settee and buried his face in his hands. You fool. You handled that brilliantly.
Jacob had spent the last two years trying to deny his feelings for Tiya. The fact that Victoria saw through him so quickly left him feeling defensive and raw. With absolute certainty, however, he also knew that what he felt for Victoria was more than just a passing fancy. The little thief was quickly overshadowing Tiya in his heart, a fact with which he was quite happy.
And then, in a matter of minutes, he’d managed to send her running away.
“You all right, old man?”
He looked up to see Kevin leaning on the doorframe, looking somewhere between amused and concerned. “Yeah,” Jacob said, motioning his friend into the room. “Just…”
“You and Victoria have a fight?” Kevin sat next to him.
“What makes you say that?”
“I bumped into her on my way back here. Literally. She looked upset. And you look like a horse that’s just lost its apple. So, did you argue?”
“Not exactly. I just stuck my foot in my mouth.” Jacob snorted and shook his head. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me.”
“Maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in your life, a woman hasn’t fallen at your feet the minute you’ve shown her the slightest interest.”
Jacob looked closely at Kevin for several heartbeats before saying, “Second time.”
Kevin stared back for a long moment then nodded. It was a topic they never discussed, but both understood.
Jacob straightened and took a deep breath. “Anyway, why did you come looking for me, boy?” He needed to change the subject.
“I wanted to ask about the guard along the road through Karasnian Forest.”
“Between us?”
“Just us.”
“Goblins have been seen throughout the forest for the last few weeks. They haven’t made any aggressive moves, but we aren’t taking chances.”
Kevin frowned. “I was going to discuss this with the king later today. We’ve had goblin sightings in Fordin Forest, as well. There’s been nothing in the Hidden Forest, though. And they haven’t come near the villages. All of the sightings were accidents.”
“Very strange. We’ve been waiting for a message from Baroness Georna, but I suspect something may be driving them down out of Bthak.”
“That would explain why we haven’t seen aggression.”
Jacob looked thoughtfully at his friend. “Maybe. Maybe not. Come on.” He stood. “Let’s go talk to King John.”
“Pfreal?”
Vic stepped out of the shadows at the sound of Ren’s voice using the Depnie word for flash. “Hey, Ren.” She smiled at the boy and removed the black scarf wrapped around her head and face, tying it snugly around her waist. They met behind the Goddess’s shrine, a large stone pyramid near the top of Dareelia.
“Hey, Pfreal.” Ren grinned. “Good to see you standing.”
“Always, little man. What’s the word?”
“Big Charlie’s still steaming. But, so far, Gip’s been able to put him off a war.”
“Does he know who may have sold me out?” Vic leaned against the stone walls of the shrine, h
er black attire leaving all but her face invisible. A cold wind sang through the air, but the walls provided shelter from most of its sting.
Ren pushed his sandy blond hair behind his ears. “He’s not saying if he knows.”
“Yeah, well, I can pretty much guess,” she snarled.
“You honestly think Brad Ruf would risk a war between the Hole and Big Charlie just to spite you?”
He looked around anxiously then moved into the shadows next to her. He was also dressed from neck to toe in black, but his hair practically glowed in the faint light from the nearby monastery.
“I don’t think Ruf counted on me getting away from Charlie’s men. Knowing Brad, he probably figured they’d take me to Charlie, who’d either beat the light out of me or turn me into a toy, and he’d get away with a healthy bribe. Killing one of Charlie’s men is what’s pushed this whole stupid mess this far.”
Ren looked closely at her, the worry plain on his young face. The boy wasn’t quite thirteen, but already she had to look up to meet his eyes.
“You don’t think Charlie will really go through with it, do you?”
His voice suddenly sounded very young. “War? Doubt it. He may be a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. Fact is, the Hole is bigger, and the people are better. He’d lose. He’s just beating smoke trying to get his way.” She patted the boy’s shoulder, hoping her words were enough to reassure him. “Any other news?”
“Seems the Ambassador’s return to Browan has something to do with internal stuff at one of the temples. Nothing serious, apparently.”
“They wouldn’t have called him back if it wasn’t serious. Anything else?”
“Kritta says the Guild doesn’t know about this sorcerer. At least, no one’s talking about it. She hasn’t found out about the prophecy thing either. And…”
At his hesitation, Vic raised a brow, urging him on.
“Well… Gip didn’t tell me to tell you this, but I think you should know…”
“What?”
“Goblins have been seen in the city.”
“What?!”
“Yeah. Only they’re wearing human clothing and hiding behind heavy cowls. But Barnabas saw them just yesterday afternoon, during the opening ceremony for Autumn’s End. Said they were right at the back of the crowd. Three of them.
“He said they looked different from the descriptions. They were taller than he thought they were supposed to be, but he said there was no disguising those faces if anyone had bothered to look. As soon as the king and queen went back into the palace, they all moved away. He tried following, but they disappeared.”
“Disappeared?”
“He says they were there and then they weren’t.”
“That’s not good, Ren.” Vic frowned and nibbled at her bottom lip. “Any word about Tracker and Malkiney? Anyone been able to get near that building?”
“We haven’t been able to get a block yet. And no one’s seen Malkiney or the others for the last three days.”
“Damn,” Vic breathed. “They’re connected, Ren. I can feel it. The goblins and this smuggled sorcerer. Someone needs to get into that building to find out what they’re up to.”
“Don’t even think it, Pfreal. You need to stay out of sight. And sneaking into the middle of Tracker’s lair without a ward against detection would be suicide. Let Gip take care of it.”
She smiled reluctantly at the panic in Ren’s hazel eyes. “Not to worry, Ren. I may like a challenge, but I’m not suicidal.” I’ll wait ‘til I have a ward. “Thanks for the word, little man. I’d better move.”
“See ya soon, Pfreal. Stay standing.”
Vic smiled and winked at the boy as she vanished into the dark.
Chapter Eight
The palace was alight with lamps and candles as the Autumn’s End feasting reached a frenzied pitch. Nobles and dignitaries shuffled drunkenly in and out of the banquet hall and reception rooms. Along the city streets, the festivities mirrored the palace. Winter was close at hand. The harvest had been good. The time had come to celebrate.
Vic slipped along the dark castle walls, avoiding the pooled light from the balconies above her head. She’d left her cape behind to allow easier movement and the cold air bit cruelly at her face and uncovered hands. When she’d gone in to see Jacob two days before, she’d memorized as much of the castle’s layout as she could. Now, she skulked back to his rooms from the outside.
The balcony to his bedroom was only one story above her head. She blew on her fingertips to warm up her hands. Then, with a skill born of much practice, she scaled the stone walls and slipped soundlessly over the balcony railing. The sitting room looked completely dark, but through a crack in the curtains of his bedroom, she saw the faint flickering of a fire.
Doubt froze her to the balcony. What if he was in there with someone? After seeing him with Lady Tiya two days before, Vic had bundled her fantasies of Jacob Marin and buried them deep inside. Realizing that his heart was already taken by a stunningly beautiful sorceress hurt more than she’d thought possible. Obviously, Vic was nothing more than a way to work off physical needs. And she couldn’t accept that from him, from any man. She was nobody’s whore. But it came as a shock to realize just how carried away her hopes had been, how much she’d wanted to be more to him.
When they’d talked in his sitting room, she’d tried to hide her hurt feelings behind her street mask of cockiness, but she knew she couldn’t keep the hurt out of her gaze. Until she’d heard about the goblins from Ren, she’d resolutely decided not to see Jacob again, an easier option than facing him and keeping her feelings hidden. But the news of goblins disappearing from under Barnabas’s nose disturbed her. A lot. Barnabas was the best tracker in Thieves’ Hole. For the goblins to have evaded him, they had to have used magic. And that brought Malkiney’s smuggled sorcerer to mind.
Fear for her home overrode her own turbulent emotions. Jacob was the only person she knew in a position to do something about the strange happenings. He had to be told.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for the worst, determined to take whatever she found with at least an outward show of grace. She edged to the balcony doors and twisted the handle. Locked, of course. Pulling out her thinnest dagger, she silently slid it into the narrow space between the double doors. With a faint click, the handle turned and she slipped into Jacob’s bedroom.
He sat slouched in an oversized chair, staring into a low burning fire. On the table beside him, a half empty decanter of wine went unnoticed.
Vic couldn’t help grinning. Though she tried to convince herself she was grateful to avoid the embarrassment of finding him in bed with someone, she knew that wasn’t the real reason she was glad to find him alone.
Standing silently, she took in her surroundings. Against the wall to her right sat a large four-poster oak bed. Beside the bed, a small table held a single unlit night candle. Other than the two large chairs before the fire to her left, the room’s only other piece of furniture was a huge oak wardrobe set against the wall opposite the balcony. Two doors exited the room. One, near the fireplace, led into the sitting room. She couldn’t tell where the second, near the wardrobe, went.
Her gaze moved back to Jacob. She was just considering how to attract his attention without startling him when he turned to face her.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” he said, his voice low.
She was so startled by his reaction, she didn’t answer for several moments. At last, she mumbled, “I have some news. Something you should know.”
He rose and crossed the room to stand in front of her. “First, I want to apologize for snapping the other day. It was uncalled-for. I’m sorry.”
She was still too stunned to react as blithely as she wanted to. “Apology accepted.”
Looking over her shoulder at the door, he grinned. “You came through that lock rather easily. I think I’ll have to talk to the locksmith.”
The comment helped Vic regain her composure, and sh
e was grateful. “Wouldn’t do you any good, General.”
“Hmmm. You make a mockery of my castle security, little thief. I should hire you to train my guard to deal with people like you.”
She grinned. “Now, that would take all the fun out of it.” His chuckle made her stomach dance, and all at once, Vic was irritated. Too damned sexy for his own damned good, she thought miserably.
“Would you like a drink, Victoria? The wine is the same we had at the Winnow.”
“No, thanks. Listen, I can’t stay long—”
“Why not? Charlie won’t find you here.”
She bit the inside of her lip and stalked around him to the fire. He was making this a lot more difficult than it had to be. Just being in the same room with him made her edgy and uncomfortable. Couldn’t he see that? “This is serious, Marin. I just got word tonight that one of the Hole’s best trackers spotted three goblins in the city yesterday. At the festival’s opening ceremony.”
“Goblins inside the city?” All his friendly banter fell away.
“Yeah. And when our tracker tried to follow them, they disappeared. This man is our best. Best tracker in the city not working for the king. And they vanished right out from under him. Now, I don’t know what that means to you, but it smells like magic to me, and that brings to mind a certain smuggler’s goods.”
Jacob began pacing the room, his brow furrowed.
Vic watched in silence. The contained power in his strides started her body trembling despite the heat from the fire. She turned her gaze to the orange flames, annoyed by her inability to be around him without getting goose bumps.
After several more minutes of pacing, Jacob went to the door in his sitting room. Vic listened from the bedroom as he talked quietly with someone in the hall. When he returned, he still looked worried.
“I’ve doubled the castle guard and sent an alert to the city guard,” he said, stepping close. “We may know more by tomorrow morning.”
He raised her chin with the side of his hand, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Thank you for bringing me this, Victoria,” he whispered.
