Thief of the Night Guild

by Andy Peloquin

  Ilanna darted forward. “So?”

  Master Hawk shook his head. “The Guild declines the Bloody Hand’s offer.”

  Relief drained the tension from Ilanna’s shoulders. “Thank the gods.”

  “It was a close thing.” Master Hawk’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Too close.”

  “What do you mean? Who voted in favor of the Bloody Hand?”

  “The Bloodbears, of course.”

  Ilanna snorted. “Not surprising. They only think with their fists and purses.”

  “House Fox and House Hound voted as well.”

  Ilanna’s eyes widened. “What?”

  The Foxes had little enough, so she could understand their desire for the wealth and prosperity offered by the Bloody Hand. But House Hound? Their earnings might not match House Hawk or House Serpent, but surely they enjoyed a degree of luxury. It didn’t make sense that they would accept the Bloody Hand’s offer.

  “House Scorpion and House Serpent were as quick to shoot down the offer as we were, but Master Grubber said the vote almost went the other way. If it had…”

  Ilanna shuddered. Keeper forbid!

  “This was the closest it’s ever been.”

  “Ever been?” Ilanna’s spine stiffened. “This has happened before?”

  “The Bloody Hand has been trying for years to get their claws into Praamis. The first offer came before I became Master Hawk.”

  “That was more than twenty years ago!”

  Master Hawk nodded. “And still they try. Their persistence grows with their increasing hold over Voramis.” He sighed and, for the first time, Ilanna noticed how old he looked. The lines on his weathered face had deepened. Grey hairs outnumbered the black on his head and beard, and his shoulders drooped as if beneath an immense weight.

  “Prepare yourself, Ilanna. The Voramians will bring their trouble upon us. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but sooner than we’d like.” He rubbed his eyes. “And when that day comes, may the gods have mercy on us all.” Leaving ominous words hanging in the air, Master Hawk strode toward the Aerie.

  Muscles tightened at the base of her spine. She’d believed Master Hawk unflappable, yet even a blind man couldn’t miss the fear lurking behind his eyes.

  Raising a hand, she knocked on Master Gold’s door.

  “Enter.”

  Masters Grubber, Serpent, and Scorpion stood around the Guild Master. Their conversation died as she strode into the room.

  “Ah, Journeyman Ilanna.” Master Gold beckoned. “Thank you for coming so quickly. I feared you would be too busy to heed my summons.”

  Ilanna bowed. “I am here, as requested. But if you are occupied, I can return another—”

  “No, no.” The Guild Master gave a dismissive wave. “The good Masters and I were simply reminiscing on better times.” He gave his three companions a meaningful look. “But I’m sure they have their own duties to be about.”

  “Of course.” Master Serpent uncurled from his chair and stood in one smooth motion. “I believe all of our Houses expect to hear the outcome of the vote.”

  Master Scorpion bowed to Master Gold, nodded to Ilanna, and followed Master Serpent out. Ilanna tried hard not to wrinkle her nose as the odorous Master Grubber scurried after them. She didn’t miss his surreptitious attempt to slip a purse into his pocket.

  Ilanna raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t send for me.”

  “We must maintain appearances. For any other Journeyman to speak to me, he must make an appointment through Entar or wait until they are summoned. If you simply walked into my chambers to speak to me and I was seen to encourage it, it would raise suspicions.”

  “Amongst who?” She crossed her arms and held his gaze.

  “Anyone who wants something to use against me. My position as Master Gold is not as secure as you might think.”

  The words Master Gold had spoken to her on the night she became a full Journeyman echoed in her mind. “It will be good to know I have one such as yourself to watch my back. There are ever more daggers in the dark.”

  She studied the Guild Master. He reclined in his chair, for all appearances at perfect ease. Ilanna saw through the façade. His calm demeanor failed to hide the worry in his eyes and the tightness around his mouth.

  “Master Hawk said it was close, but we won.”

  Master Gold’s lips pressed into a thin line. “We didn’t.”

  Ilanna sucked in a breath. “But Master Hawk told me—”

  “Master Grubber said his house voted against the Bloody Hand’s offer. He lied.”

  Ilanna’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that why you paid him?”

  It was Master Gold’s turn to show surprise. “What?”

  Ilanna gave him a hard, cold smile. “Master Grubber isn’t as quick-fingered as he thinks. That purse he pocketed could only have come from you. Unless he’s gotten in the habit of lifting your belongings?”

  The Guild Master’s shoulders tightened. “Well…” He met her eyes, but had nothing more to say.

  “Is that why you said you needed more coin? To pay off the House Masters?”

  “Not just the Masters. Many Journeymen are willing to be bought.” He turned his palms upward. “Every man and woman has a price, some higher than others.”

  “Master Grubber I can understand but Master Serpent, Master Scorpion?” She hesitated, a bitter taste in her mouth. “Master Hawk?”

  “Master Hawk and I don’t agree on everything, but there are few I trust more to keep the wellbeing of the Guild ahead of his personal desires. Masters Serpent and Scorpion need a bit of…encouragement, as do many of the Journeymen.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, gold is the primary method of motivating recalcitrant Journeymen to make the right decision. And the gold I have is simply not enough. Which is where you come in.”

  “And what about the other Masters?”

  “Master Bloodbear couldn’t come up with an original idea if it punched him in the face. Master Fox is willing to bend over for anyone with enough coin. He insists it’s for the sake of his Journeymen and apprentices, but I suspect more than his share of imperials wind up in his pocket.”

  “And Master Hound?”

  “Bernard has his own beliefs about how the Guild should be run. We were friends once, many years ago. We were as fiercely competitive as brothers, yet it was a rivalry built on a mutual desire to succeed. Until our Undertaking.”

  “What happened?”

  “My triumph cast a shadow over his. I rose in the ranks of House Hawk faster than he did in House Hound. When the seat of Guild Master became vacant, he failed to drum up the support needed. He came to me for help, but I told him I, too, intended to become the next Master Gold. He’s resented my election for twenty-three years.”

  “And that’s enough to have him join the Bloody Hand?”

  “It seems petty, but Master Hound truly believes the Bloody Hand’s offer is for the good of the Guild. A painful transition, to be sure, but ultimately beneficial to all. For over twenty years, since the first offer was extended, he’s been its most vocal supporter. Until this latest vote, I had no idea just how much influence he has over the Journeymen. If I don’t step up my efforts to undermine that support, I fear what will happen the next time the Bloody Hand comes calling.

  “Wait, they’ve been asking for over twenty years?” Ilanna gave an angry snort. “And you’re just telling us now?”

  Master Gold shrugged. “Until now, the Council was mostly in agreement to refuse the Bloody Hand’s offer. Yet Bernard has gathered enough support to bring the Council to a deadlock. We had no choice but to present it to the Guild body.”

  Ilanna struggled to digest the information. Master Gold’s cryptic words had begun to make sense. Both he and Master Hound sought whatever tools they could use to sway Guild support in their favor. She was a tool in the Guild Master’s political battle against Master Hound’s faction.

  “How many Journeymen support him?”

  “Too many, if this last v
ote is any indication.” He counted on his fingers. “If the majority of the Hounds, Foxes, Bloodbears, and Grubbers support him, he can call for a vote and have me removed as Guild Master. That is his ultimate goal and he will use the Bloody Hand’s offer as leverage to sway as many as he can to his side. We must respond with gold, else we stand to lose everything.” His brows furrowed. “How soon do you anticipate success with the Duke’s job? That influx of gold could do wonders to buy the goodwill of all but Bernard’s most fervent supporters.”

  Ilanna shook her head. “We’re still a long way off. We haven’t even found the blueprints yet, much less figured out the way in. The job will take time.”

  “Time is not on our side.” He pinched his nose. “The Bloody Hand’s offer will soon turn to demands. When that happens, if I don’t have the majority of the Guild to stand against them, I fear for our survival.”

  The words hung heavy in the silence. Master Gold’s fingers toyed with the silver falcon brooch, and his eyes stared into emptiness. Ilanna didn’t need to wonder what he pictured; she, too, had no trouble imagining what would happen if Master Hound accepted the Bloody Hand’s offer.

  “If all goes well, the job should be done tonight.”

  Master Gold’s eyes snapped to her. “But you said—”

  Ilanna shook her head. “The first part only. Thanks to your information, Errik and I have a chance of finding those blueprints. Once we have them, it will take weeks to set everything else into motion. I’ll have no problem finding the time to slip out unseen.”

  The Guild Master nodded. “I will do what I can to conjure up more gold on my end.” He gave her a wry grin. “Not for the first time, I find myself missing the freedom of roaming the rooftops of Praamis and sneaking into homes. Far easier than being Guild Master.”

  This surprised Ilanna. Master Gold always seemed so confident, so content in his authority over the Guild. Yet the burden had to weigh heavy on him. With what he’d told her about Master Hound…

  “And Ilanna,” the Guild Master’s voice snapped her back to reality, “I’d appreciate it if you could do some quiet research about Master Hound’s supporters. From what I understand, you’re close with a high-ranked Journeyman in his House.”

  Ilanna blushed. What could she say? She’d thought it a secret but if Master Gold knew, there was no use denying it.

  “Don’t worry.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s not public knowledge. Jagar told me. Seemed quite happy about it, for that matter. Something about seeing his favorite nephew happy with a good woman.”

  Ilanna suppressed the urge to cringe. She’d encouraged Allon’s developing feelings for her; it made him easier to use. When the Hound no longer served a purpose, she’d discard him without a second thought. But the idea that it would hurt Master Hawk sat uneasy in her gut.

  Master Gold’s grin grew hard. “Use it, Ilanna. Use him. Whatever it takes to keep the Bloody Hand out of Praamis. I’d rather kiss the Duke’s arse a thousand times than allow even one of those vicious bastards to step foot in my city.”

  Ilanna gave him a sharp smile as cold as icicles. “Whatever it takes, Master Gold.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “WHAT’D YOU BRING me?”

  Errik’s eyes gleamed as Ilanna drew the bundle from beneath her cloak. He devoured the thick slice of bread stuffed with soft goat cheese, cured meat, and herbs.

  “Nice to see you, too.” Ilanna pulled the window shut behind her.

  The disheveled, dust-covered Serpent muttered something around a mouthful of watered wine.

  “Any bright ideas on a faster way to find those blueprints?”

  Errik shook his head.

  “All those hours spent hiding, wasted!” Ilanna snorted. “Guess we’d better get to it.”

  Gulping the last of the wine, Errik stoppered the skin, tucked it into his cloak, and opened the door a crack. At his wave, Ilanna slipped into the corridor after him. Unless they got lucky, they had a long night ahead.

  * * *

  ILANNA LEANED AGAINST the shelf, arms folded, eyes narrowed. There has to be a better way to do this.

  The Lady’s Bells had rung midnight at least an hour earlier. After four hours of searching, they hadn’t found a shred of parchment with the duke’s name on it. Everything belonged to minor nobles or merchants.

  So where do the truly wealthy store their belongings?

  More than a few had private vaults, safes, and strongboxes built into their mansions, used primarily for physical wealth: gold, silver, and other precious metals and gemstones. For legal documents—records, patents of nobility, contracts, and proprietary designs—Coin Counters’ Temple guaranteed security. Though the relationship between Duke Phonnis and Grand Reckoner Edmynd bordered on hostility, the Duke availed himself of the Reckoners’ services.

  No way the Duke would keep his important documents in the same place as a merchant. He’s way too aristocratic to mingle with the lowborn.

  She pictured Duke Phonnis striding into the Coin Counters’ Temple and demanding the respect owed the King’s brother, Chief Justiciar of Praamis, and one of the city’s wealthiest nobles. Just as Lord Munder had.

  She sucked in a breath. Idiot!

  The watchman’s lantern swept the room. She ducked behind a shelf, mind racing.

  Lord Munder had insisted he be escorted to the Grand Reckoner’s office with all the haughty disdain that marked residents of Old Praamis. He would insist on exclusive treatment.

  So if he’s storing documents in the temple, it makes sense that he’d deliver them to the Grand Reckoner—the only one “on par” with his noble status.

  The nobleman’s servant had climbed the stairs carrying an oversized scroll tube and come down empty-handed.

  “Errik,” she hissed. When he turned, she beckoned him.

  “What?”

  “What’s on the third floor?”

  Errik scratched the stubble sprouting on his cheeks. “Second floor’s living quarters for most of the Reckoners. Grand Reckoner’s office is on the third floor, maybe his private rooms as well. Probably a lot of offices for the upper priests. Why?”

  “We’re not going to find what we’re looking for here.” She explained her theory to him.

  He nodded. “Makes sense.”

  “We’ve got to get into that office.”

  Errik jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “The staircase on the northeastern wall bypasses the second floor.”

  “Lead on.”

  They slithered through the rows of shelves, silent as shadows. The locks on the enormous steel door engaged with a click that made Ilanna wince. Her irritation flared as the watchman’s passage forced them to hide. They’d wasted too much time searching the secure records room; they’d have two hours to get into the Grand Reckoner’s office, locate the Duke’s blueprints, and get out.

  That’s cutting it bloody close!

  She swallowed her annoyance and forced herself to match Errik’s measured pace. Even on the dark stairs, he moved in total silence, without a rustle of cloth or an audible breath. Whatever they teach Serpents, it’s worth learning.

  He paused at the top of the stairs and whispered in her ear. “Wait here.” Crouching motionless for several seconds, he peered around the corner then slipped out of sight. He reappeared a minute later, holding up five fingers. “Guards.”

  Keeper’s teeth! Not surprising, but no less frustrating.

  “No way around?”

  Errik shook his head.

  “Let me see.”

  A few paces from the staircase, the plush-carpeted corridor ended in an intersection. Light streamed from the passage on the right. Ilanna dropped onto her belly and inched forward to peek around the corner. At the end of the hall, a pair of olive-clad men flanked an ornate bloodwood door. The Praamian Guards stood rigid, eyes on the hallway, hands on their weapons. Two more sat at a table, playing cards and drinking from steaming mugs. The fifth, who wore the black armband of a captain, pa
ced before the doorway.

  Not taking any chances, are they?

  Cursing the guards for their competence, Ilanna beckoned for Errik to follow her down a floor and around a bend in the stairs. “Can’t get in that way.”

  “Now what?”

  She sat, mind racing.

  The guards’ presence indicated she’d had the right idea. Grand Reckoner Edmynd’s office had to be the place. But if that’s the only way in, we’re in trouble. They couldn’t fight the guards; the success of her plan hinged on getting in and out undetected. Perhaps she could get in through the office’s windows. That’ll just make it even more difficult. There’s no way to easily replace a whole bloody wall of glass.

  Hobnailed boots clacked on the stone stairs and lamplight flooded the stairway above her.

  Ilanna leapt to her feet and ran down, Errik a heartbeat behind. She peered into the records room, froze. The watchman’s whistled tune grew louder, as did the clink of the descending guard’s armor. The staircase brightened with every thundering heartbeat.

  Ilanna muttered a silent stream of curses. In seconds, the guard would round the bend in the stairs and spot them. But they couldn’t advance until the watchman below moved on.

  Come on, come on! Her fists clenched and relaxed, and she resisted the urge to reach for a dagger. Don’t make me do this, you bastards.

  The watchman’s lamp slid past the mouth of the stairway, moving to the rest of the shelves. Without hesitation, Ilanna darted across the room and ducked behind a bookshelf. Light flooded the stairwell a second after Errik slipped in beside her. The Praamian Guard stopped at the bottom of the stairs, hung his alchemical lamp in its sconce, and took up position.

  Bloody hell! Her hands trembled and her heart tried to hammer its way free of her chest. Beside her, Errik let out a slow, quiet breath.

  They crept through the rows of shelves at a much slower pace. Ilanna hardly dared to breathe until they reached the stairs that led to the second floor. She pressed her lips to Errik’s ear. “Let’s get out now. We have to figure another way into that office.”

  Errik nodded and slipped up the stairs ahead of her. After a glance at the empty corridor, he darted toward the storeroom. Ilanna followed, boots silent on the carpeted floor.