Night Study (27 page)

“You always take me to the fanciest places, Yelena. You really spoil me.”

“Anyone who can use
ne’er-do-well
in a sentence deserves every comfort.”

Janco grunted, but I wasn’t sure if it was over the joke or because of the magic. He stopped, turned to his right, held up his hands and walked through a brick wall, disappearing. I followed, bracing for impact even though I knew it was illusion.

We entered an alcove. Remembering the series of knocks Leif had used during our previous visit, I rapped on the door. If they’d changed the pattern, we might be in trouble.

A small peephole opened. “Kinda early for a visit,” a young girl said.

“It’s never too early to lend a helping hand,” I replied.

The peephole shut with a bang.

“Talk about paranoid,” Janco whispered.

Nothing happened. I resisted the urge to pound on the door with the sides of my fists. Then a metallic snap sounded and the door swung wide.

A girl no older than thirteen gestured us into a foyer. “Lovely Yelena, you honor us with your visit.” She tucked her long brown hair behind her ears. “Master Fisk has been expecting you.”

And probably wondering why we didn’t come sooner. I scanned the three rooms that branched off the foyer. On the right, the rows of bunk beds for the helpers were empty, and so was the classroom on the left. The enticing aroma of sweet cakes floated from the kitchen located straight ahead.

“Is Fisk in his office?”

“No. This is our busiest time of day and everyone is at the market helping shoppers. However, I sent Cricket to fetch him. Come and have breakfast while you wait. Amberle’s making sweet cakes.”

Another delay. I clasped my hands together to keep from shouting at the girl that we didn’t have time to eat. With my fingernails biting into my skin, I said, “We have another person outside with our horses.”

“Then I will direct him to the stable.”

Interesting that she already knew his gender.

“You have a stable in here?” Janco asked, glancing around with a sharp gaze. Probably marking all the exits.

“Not exactly. It’s on the other side of our building and is part of the White Rose Inn. However, we have an...arrangement with the proprietor of the White Rose, and there’s a convenient door into our headquarters from the stable.”

“I’d better go instead. Ari’s not gonna trust you.” Janco asked for directions.

“Tell the stable boy Hilly sent you.”

Janco nodded and left. I followed Hilly to the kitchen. It opened up into an expansive kitchen with rows of long wooden tables to the left of the hearth. Amberle waved hello with her spatula.

Hilly gestured to a table, grabbed a plate, filled it from the stack of sweet cakes next to Amberle and set it front of me. The nausea caused by the odors in the alley transformed into ravenous hunger. I thanked her and dug in as if I hadn’t seen food in days. Somewhat true. Cold road rations didn’t count as real food, and my appetite had been nonexistent between my worry for Leif and the morning sickness the medic had warned me about.

Once I stopped shoveling sweet cakes and took a breath, I realized that in spite of my concern for my brother, I must ensure the baby remained healthy by eating regularly and getting enough sleep.

By the time I’d finished my meal, Janco and Ari arrived in the kitchen from another direction.

“This place is huge.” Janco straddled a bench opposite me.

Ari sat next to me. The wood bowed under his weight and I tipped toward him.

“The horses?” I asked Ari.

“Fine.”

Hilly served them and sat down next to Janco. While they ate, I asked her why only a few remained in the building.

“Oh, there are others,” she said. Her brown eyes sparkled. “Headquarters is never empty. I’m told it’s like a hive with bees flying in and out all day.”

Janco paused. “And if you upset the hive, will you get stung?”

She grinned, showing her teeth. “Oh, yes. Many times.”

“Nice.” He scratched his ear. “But not many people can find this place. There’s magic all around the outside, but thank fate the inside is clean.”

“These are...uncertain times, Master Janco.”

He preened. “
Master
Janco. Did you hear that, Ari?”

Ari and I ignored him. Instead, I studied the girl. Hilly knew his name, and she was here instead of working the busy market.

“You’re one of Fisk’s information collectors. Aren’t you?” I asked.

Hilly smoothed her skirt. “I just answer the door.”

“Ha.” Janco stabbed a forkful of sweet cakes at her. “Don’t try the innocent act, kitty cat. I invented that act ages ago.”

“Too bad you never could pull it off,” Ari mumbled.

“Zip it, Ari.” And then to Hilly, “I spotted you hiding in the shadows the night we were arrested and again when we left the Citadel a few nights ago.”

She gazed at him. “You’re lying.”

“Navy blue tunic and pants, scuffed black boots and the handle of your dagger is patterned with stars.”

Her mouth gaped for a second, before she pressed her lips together in annoyance—a typical reaction after dealing with Janco.

“Don’t worry about it, kitty cat. You’re good—not as good as me, but no one’s perfect.” He flourished the fork before sticking it in his mouth.

“That ego is going to get you killed someday,” Ari chided.

“Pish.” Janco faced Hilly. “After we were hauled away by the Citadel’s guards, did you return to Fisk or did you wait to see if anyone else watched the spectacle?”

“What would you have done?” she asked.

“Patience isn’t my thing, but a smart spy would stick around and see who the other curious cats are.”

Ah, clever. He phrased it in a way to prod her ego into giving us information.

“I may have seen another...cat slinking away,” she said.

“Oh? Do you know who this cat belongs to?”

“It depends.”

Janco leaned forward. “Depends on what?”

“On how many coins you’re going to give me for the intel.”

“Gotcha,” Ari said.

I laughed at Janco’s sour expression. “How about two silvers for the name?” I asked.

“Six, and I’ll tell you who also watched you leave to find your brother.”

“Three.”

“Five.”

“Four.”

“Deal.” She held out her hand.

I placed four silver coins in her palm.

“The cat returned to a well-dressed man wearing a necklace with a large red jewel. The man was staying in the Council’s guest quarters. He stepped from the back entrance to talk to the cat.”

“Can you describe him?”

“It would be better for you to see him. I can tell you where to find him.”

“For a few more coins?” Janco asked.

“Of course. Feeding everyone in the guild isn’t cheap,” she snapped.

“Well, if it wasn’t for Yelena, you wouldn’t even have a guild,” he shot back.

I held up my hands. “I’m happy to pay. That’s the whole point—to provide services in exchange for payment.” I gestured, indicating the room. “So those without homes and families have food and shelter.” Smiling, I added, “I’d no idea it would expand into a guild, and, for that, you have Fisk to thank.” I handed her two more silvers.

Hilly said, “The man sits in on most of the public Council sessions and he’s staying in number three-oh-six.”

“Do we want to have a look?” Janco asked.

Tempting, but rescuing Leif was my priority. “Let’s talk to Fisk first.”

“What about the person who took an interest in us when we left the Citadel?” Ari asked Hilly.

“It’s the same cat.”

I mulled over her comments. Could the cat be The Mosquito, reporting to Bruns Jewelrose? Then why didn’t the assassin try to kill me when I was locked in a cell? Probably because his prior attempt in the Fulgor jail hadn’t worked. And all he needed was patience. No doubt another opportunity to target me would arise.

Ari touched my sleeve. Concern creased his face. “That cat may have followed us here from the east gate.” Ari had chased the same logic as me.

“Unfortunately, Master Ari is correct,” Fisk said, entering the kitchen. “A man—or should I say your cat—is keeping an eye on the White Rose’s stables right now.”

I stood. “I’m so sorry, Fisk!”

“No need to apologize, Lovely Yelena. The man has been sniffing around here for the last three weeks. Seems he assumed that when you returned to the Citadel, you’d pay me a visit
before
being arrested.” A gleam of amusement touched Fisk’s light brown eyes. “Kudos to you for doing the...unexpected. It may have saved your life.”

“How?” Janco asked.

“Think about it,” Ari said.

Janco tapped his fork on the edge of the plate for a minute. “Oh. If we came straight here, he would have surprised us, but now we know his exact location, but he
doesn’t
know we know.”

“Not bad, Master Janco. I’d hire you if you were available. You could train under Hilly.”

The girl smirked at Janco and handed the six silver coins to Fisk. She curtsied to us. “Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance.” Then she left.

Fisk pocketed the coins. “Always wonderful to see you, Lovely Yelena, but I fear you bring us bad news?”

“Let’s talk in your office,” I said.

We trailed him down a long hallway that ended with a door. Fisk unlocked it and ushered us inside. The large two-story room also housed a living area and a loft above his office.

Janco sat in one of the two nubby red armchairs and Ari took the other. I perched on the edge of the black-and-white couch. A glass sculpture of two hands spread out like wings sat on the table between the two chairs. It was one of Opal’s magic detectors. Nothing flashed within its core, which meant no magic was in use. Plus Janco appeared to be relaxed.

Fisk remained standing, making him seem taller than his normal six feet. “What happened?”

No way to break this news gently. “Leif’s been taken.”

He gripped the back of the couch. “When? Where?”

I told him about the ambush.

“Oh, no.” Fisk sank to the couch. “I’d thought he’d be safe.”

“Why?” Ari asked.

“He has that...smell thing.”

“Doesn’t matter if they used null shields,” I said. They had their uses, but were a big problem when abused. A strange thought popped into my head. What if the Cartel did gain power over all the magicians? They’d be able to regulate those shields, but would they use them for the good of Sitia or for their own plans?

I shook my head. It didn’t matter, because we’d stop them. We had to. “Do you have any information about the disappearances?”

Fisk hesitated.

“I’ll pay you, of course.”

“No. It’s not that at all. Leif has aided me so much over the years, and I will do everything I can to help you rescue him.”

“Then what it is?”

He took a breath and met my gaze. “Not all the magicians are missing. A few of them are in hiding.”

20

VALEK

A
storm brewed over the Sunset Ocean, and Valek had a day and a half to prepare. His theory about the Storm Thieves being the crew of the
Starfish
, which was reported lost at sea, meant they’d use this incoming storm to cover their approach to land. But many questions still remained. Which town did they plan to target? Would they use a dock or send a skiff to a beach? And then there was a good chance they wouldn’t arrive at all. It’d been three weeks since their last break-in.

Valek returned to the apartment on Cannery Road after supper. Endre snored in the bedroom and Annika worked at the inn. Valek reviewed the information gathered and the list of stolen items. Ignoring the jewelry and money, he concentrated on the others. He considered the basics—food, water, shelter.

Endre had said living on a boat would be difficult. If he assumed they’d found a place to live—a cove hidden in the cliffs, perhaps—then the Storm Thieves had enough supplies to build a couple structures. That covered shelter.

Fresh water was too essential to steal, so Valek figured their location had access to a stream or river that flowed toward the ocean. He checked the map of the coast and discovered that all of the rivers that emptied into the ocean had towns built around them. Which made sense for shipping supplies up the river to cities inland.

He considered the cliffs in MD-1. Would fresh water run under the cliffs and not be marked on the map? Possible. And no one would notice a settlement that was inaccessible by land. However, during the fishing season, they’d be visible to the fleet. Unless they used camouflage. And that would explain the fifty gallons of gray and green paint stolen from Krillow. The hidden cove moved to the top of Valek’s suspected location list.

As for food, the Storm Thieves had stolen basics like grain, rice, corn, flour, sugar, but they also took seeds and gardening supplies, which meant they planned to plant crops. No way a cove could sustain plants, unless it was huge. A sandy-rocky soil covered most of the coast, and farmable land started about ten miles inland. So much for the cove idea.

Valek tapped the map with a finger. He chased a memory of a conversation with one of the Stormdancers. Something about islands out in the Jade Sea... They were too small for a settlement because of the unpredictable storms. What if the Storm Thieves built their base on an island in the Sunset Ocean? With their magician keeping the storms at bay, they’d be safe. And no one would suspect they lived there.

Excited, Valek scanned the coastal map. Dozens of small islands were marked on the chart. It’d take seasons to check them all, and news would undoubtedly spread about the search, alerting the Storm Thieves, who could use a storm to keep the searchers from reaching their island. Plus they could have discovered an uncharted island. Deflated, Valek leaned back in the chair. Finding the island would be impossible.

He returned to the list of stolen items. What was missing? What did they need to sustain a settlement? Medical supplies had been taken from an infirmary in Coral Caye, casks of ale missing from a tavern in Lattice Beach, pots and glassware from a inn in Draggan and—

Valek shot to his feet. He flipped through the information Endre and Annika had collected, looking for the report on damages sustained during the storm thefts. Once he found it, he scanned the pages. A henhouse had collapsed during one storm and all the chickens had escaped. During another, a gate blew open and a dozen sheep had run away and had presumably drowned. Four milking cows had disappeared when a storm had knocked down a wall of a barn. What if these animals had been stolen instead? That meant the Storm Thieves still needed beef.