Thief in the Myst (The Master Thief Book 2)

by Ben Hale

  “We do,” she pointed out.

  He grinned and gestured toward the spine they were approaching. “The tavern maid said that Val’Trisian is the current reign of Xolenous, the spine of magic. This is the quickest route there.”

  “I don’t think it’s the safest,” she said.

  “Since when do you care about safety?”

  She threw him a look. “Just because you ignore wisdom doesn’t mean everyone else does.”

  He laughed as they stepped off the bridge and entered the spine furthest from the heart of Elsurund. The plants on the Kordun Spine were dimmer than in the rest of the city, with many flickering or dark. The stone lacked the polished look of the rest of the city, and the lavish trappings of the wealthier spines were noticeably absent. Even the water of the streams was dirtier.

  “It looks like the Sticks,” Beauty said, referring to the poorest district in Terros.

  “Every city has its slums,” Jack replied.

  “I don’t think this is a normal slum,” she said.

  Jack found he could not disagree. He’d expected the poor and destitute, the desperate, the weak. Instead he spotted brutes, outcasts, the mighty. One dark elf stood almost seven feet tall, his body layered in muscle. Another was a female dressed in clothes of liquid shadow. She spun a ring dagger in her hand, the steel blurring through the material of her glove and sleeve, making it difficult to discern its location. Her charcoal eyes never wavered from Jack.

  Beauty glanced behind them, to where a scattering of dark elves flitted in an out of view. “They think we’re lost and easy prey,” Beauty said, her voice tightening.

  They passed into the spine and came to a city square. Lined with poor shops and homes built from the interior of the rock, the buildings showed the scars of conflict and war. The utilitarian nature of the structures made them seem drab compared to the rest of the city. Dark elves appeared in the alleys, drifting closer, closing off the exits. Jack saw the trap and came to a halt.

  “Whatever happens,” Beauty said, “don’t be you.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Jack asked.

  “These aren’t the type you incite to anger,” she murmured as a dark elf female stepped into their path.

  “We took a wrong turn,” Beauty said. “But I’m sure—”

  “I like lost ones,” she interrupted Beauty, her eyes sliding up and down Jack’s body.

  The seven-foot dark elf appeared at Beauty’s side, his appearance so sudden that she flinched.

  “You don’t get them both,” he rumbled. “I get the girl.” He smiled in a way that made Jack’s skin crawl.

  The one in a shadowy cloak appeared at Jack’s side and idly spun a curved knife in her hand. “You had the last one,” she said to first one.

  “Aranis,” the elf to first stop them said, retreating a step. “You know you’re not supposed to be here. Thock may be in the Pit, but his orders must be obeyed.”

  Aranis stared at the dark elf as the tension mounted. Her ring dagger continued to twirl, slicing through the shadows of her clothing with rhythmic menace. Thinking she’d triumphed, the first elf stepped forward.

  “Go,” she said. “Before—”

  A second ring dagger sank into her heart, appearing so suddenly that Jack never saw the throw. Gasping for life, she toppled to the ground. Aranis glided forward and slowly withdrew the blade, her eyes never leaving Jack.

  “I want him,” she said to the corpse.

  Jack folded his arms. “Just because you want me, doesn’t mean you can handle me.”

  Aranis continued to stare. Jack still couldn’t see much of her form beneath the cloak, but the other dark elves seemed to distance themselves from her. The shadows shifted and curled about her as if sentient, occasionally revealing a flash of skin.

  Aranis stared at Jack without blinking, twirling the bloody ring dagger in her hand. “I always get what I want.”

  “Do I get the girl?” the giant asked.

  “I don’t care, Jorlin,” Aranis said.

  Other dark elves hovered in the background. Some looked nearly as powerful as Aranis and Jorlin, but they seemed reluctant to issue a challenge. Aranis ignored them and drifted toward Jack.

  “Wait,” Jack said, and flashed a brilliant smile. “Will you grant me a final request?”

  Aranis came to a stop, and then acquiesced with a tiny nod. Taking the lead, Jack turned to Beauty and wrapped his arms around her waist. Startled, she released her grip on her knife and caught his arms.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Before we die you must know how I feel,” he proclaimed, his tone grand.

  Shock flitted across her features, but before she could respond Jack leaned in and kissed her. Jack had intended on using the distraction to create an exit, but was unprepared for the wave of emotion that flooded him.

  She tensed, clearly focused on the myriad of dangers, but then her hands wrapped tighter, pulling him to her. He responded in kind, the force of the kiss drawing gasps and a murmur of laughter from the dark elves.

  Then Aranis coughed.

  Jack reluctantly withdrew, and smirked at the expression on Beauty’s face. “Ready?” he whispered.

  She grinned. “Of course.”

  Aranis continued to spin her dagger, but the tempo had increased as if with excitement. “Kiss me like that and I’ll let you live longer,” she said.

  Jack inclined his head and stepped to her, briefly obscuring Beauty from view. The next instant an object tinkled as it struck the ground—and a blast of sunlight exploded throughout the square. The dark elves cried out and shielded their eyes, while Aranis raised the shadows of her cloak into a shield.

  Jack bolted through a gap with Beauty at his side. Racing toward the nearest alley, they rushed down the street, leaving chaos in their wake. The magic faded in seconds and dark elves flooded after them.

  Jack turned a corner and came to a dead end, so he leapt to a window of a building and dove inside. Beauty cast a strength spell and leapt after him, rolling on the floor to stand beside him. They jumped out the opposite window and sprinted down another street. Pandemonium echoed off the walls, with dark elves eager to reach them before Jorlin or Aranis caught them. Abruptly one leapt out of an alley and hurtled a glowing net.

  “I enjoyed the kiss,” Jack said, leaping over the web. He struck the elf on the face as he soared by.

  “You want to talk about it now?” Beauty demanded.

  “We never talk about it,” Jack said.

  Another dark elf dropped from above them. Brandishing a sword, he landed in their path and charged. Beauty twisted past him and bashed her elbow into the wielder. “When Skorn is dead, we’ll talk.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  She threw him a faint smile. “You have my word. Now can we get out of here?”

  Jorlin burst from an alley and grabbed Beauty’s throat, slamming her into a wall. “Nice try little mouse,” he said, “but no one escapes me.”

  Jack drew his dagger and swung it, but Jorlin caught his wrist and launched him down the street. He tumbled to a stop and slammed into a wall, losing his grip on his dagger. He groaned and forced himself to his feet, stumbling to his weapon. His vision swam into focus as he retrieved it. Then he saw Beauty.

  “I’m not a mouse,” she snapped.

  She grabbed the thumb that wrapped around her throat and yanked, forcing him to release her. She landed in a crouch and grabbed his free hand. With the strength of her magic she pivoted on her foot and hurtled him into the wall. He grunted as he went down but rolled forward.

  “That wasn’t nice,” he growled, and leaned back to punch her.

  Beauty punched first.

  Their fists collided and bones snapped. Jorlin cried out and crumpled. Before he could recover Beauty stepped forward and reared back to deliver a punishing blow to his jaw. As Jorlin collapsed Beauty turned to the handful of elves that had filled the end of the alley.

  “Who wants me
now?”

  Her snarl sent them scurrying away, and Jack stumbled to her side. “I certainly do.”

  “I don’t,” Aranis said coldly.

  Jack turned and raised his crossbow but she was faster. Threads of magic from her clothing streaked out and formed hands of liquid black. One caught Jack’s dagger on the blade and another wrapped around his crossbow, yanking them from his hands. Another shadow hand grasped Beauty’s dagger and tossed it away. Jack retreated to Beauty and drew a knife from a sheath on his chest.

  “I don’t need weapons to fight,” Beauty said, balling her hands into fists.

  “I don’t need them to kill,” Aranis said.

  Her clothing unraveled further, revealing toned arms and legs. The threads of shadow magic turned into hundreds of hands, each clenching and unclenching. They streaked toward Beauty and lifted her off the ground, wrapping around her throat. Others came for Jack, coiling around his legs and arms, dragging him toward her. She spun her ring daggers faster, her eyes fixed on him. Other threads lifted more spinning daggers, turning into a whirlwind of steel.

  “Come, my pet,” she said, smiling for the first time as Jack was lifted off the ground by the shadow hands. “It’s time to forget about her.”

  A silver sword exploded into view, severing the shadow threads. Ring daggers clattered to the street and Jack and Beauty fell with them, crashing onto the stone. Jack rolled to his feet and retreated as the Silver Guard glided between them.

  Aranis scowled and sent threads to pick up her weapons. “Why are you here?” she demanded. “Who commands you?”

  “Me,” a dark elf said, appearing with a dozen soldiers at her back.

  “Reign Trisian,” Aranis said, withdrawing into her shadow cloak until only her mouth was visible. “What brings you to Kordun?”

  Val’Trisian smiled. “Find a new pet, Aranis. This one already belongs to me.”

  Aranis scowled and spoke to Jack as she retreated. “I can be patient for this one . . .”

  The magic of her cloak wrapped about her and she evaporated from view. The other dark elves of Kordun followed her lead, and in seconds the street had emptied. Jorlin cast a baleful look at Beauty before limping away.

  “Jack of Thieves,” Val’Trisian said, turning to him. “I never thought I would see you again.”

  “The pleasure is mine,” Jack said, stepping toward her.

  One of Val’Trisian’s guards raised her sword. “That’s far enough human. We know of your exploits.”

  Jack grinned broadly. “My reputation precedes me. How intriguing.”

  The guard jabbed her sword toward Jack. “I suggest he be remanded to the Pit for—”

  “That will not be necessary,” Val’Trisian said, flicking her hand in dismissal.

  “But my lady,” the guard protested, “you cannot trust them.”

  Her eyes flicked to the guard. “I suspect they would protect me with the same zeal you would.”

  The guard scowled but withdrew, and Val’Trisian gestured to Jack. “Come,” she said. “We should leave Kordun, quickly.”

  The guards formed a ring around them as they ascended through the spine and crossed a bridge to Xolenous. Only then did they slow their steps. Val’Trisian dropped back to join Jack and Beauty.

  “As much as I’d like to believe your presence is social, I suspect your purpose is more nefarious.”

  “Yet you dismiss your guards?” Beauty asked.

  “Sometimes being a reign is a stifling occupation,” she murmured. “And one needs the occasional intrigue.”

  Jack smirked. “We seek a knife like this,” he said, pulling the first Eternal key from a secret pouch at his side.

  She accepted the ancient knife and examined it. “The craftsmanship is uncommon,” she replied. “It contains an enchantment foreign to me.”

  “Have you seen its like?”

  “I have,” she replied, returning the knife to him. “The captain of the Reaver Guard has collected weaponry for centuries, and I believe I’ve seen a sister blade on his walls.”

  Jack caught the disgust on her features. “You do not like him?”

  “He is a vile and repulsive elf,” Val’Trisian said. “And I look forward to embarrassing him.”

  “For you to embarrass him?” Beauty asked.

  “I can’t let thieves have all the fun.” she said, and smiled. “I’m coming with you.”

  Chapter 25: Sinder’s Obsession

  Jack and Beauty left the reign and returned to The Dragon’s Fate. There they found Riskellion passed out on a table and the other thieves conversing around him. Jack found a seat across from the slumbering dark elf.

  “What happened to him?”

  Lorelia smirked. “He got grabby, so I slipped lightsbane into his mug.” She tapped his head. “Unfortunately, he doesn’t know anything.”

  “We didn’t learn anything either,” Gordon said, and Ursana grunted in irritation.

  “Any sign of Gallow?” Beauty asked.

  Jack smiled. “We found the key.”

  They leaned in and he detailed what they knew. The ambient light of the city gradually dimmed, mirroring nightfall. The tavern and houses of entertainment grew raucous as the wealthy wasted their fortunes. Then a dark elf slid into a seat across from them.

  “Who are you?” Lorelia asked.

  Tall and beautiful, the dark elf wore grey, fitted clothing with silver accents. Her hair hung braided down her back. Armed with a sword and a sheathed crossbow on her chest, she appeared ready for a fight. She grinned at Jack’s query.

  “I understand this is what you call a persona?”

  Jack began to laugh when he realized it was Val’Trisian. “Flawless,” he exclaimed.

  “Forlana would be hard pressed to do better,” Beauty said with an appreciative nod.

  The dark elf brushed the silver ring protruding from her ear and her face flickered, briefly showing her real face before returning to the persona.

  “Few are capable of casting the guise charm,” she said wryly, “but it can be a powerful mask.”

  Jack met Lorelia’s gaze. “As long as the mask doesn’t become you.”

  Mistaking his words, Gordon nodded. “We use personas only on assignment. Only a coward would hide themselves from everyone.”

  Lorelia’s features hardened and she looked away. Jack wanted to kick Gordon under the table but that would lead to questions Jack could not answer. In an effort to shift the conversation he turned to Val’Trisian and motioned to her clothes.

  “I must say, I did not expect you to commit so fully.”

  Even the magic could not hide her flush. Then her expression turned excited. “Let’s go steal a knife.”

  They exited the tavern and Val’Trisian led them into the neighboring spine, which proved to be a labyrinth of smaller streets. Homes lined the ascent, lights glowing beside the doors. Etchings of fogged light graced the ceiling, giving the street a magical feel. The stone underfoot had been carved like cobblestone, suggesting a wealthy neighborhood.

  They continued to ascend until they reached a large cavern at the extreme summit of the spine. Three homes graced the terminus of the roadway, and each sought to outshine the others. The two on the sides displayed balconies and turrets, their surfaces dripping with magic, while the one in the center held a real dragon shackled to the front gate. The young black had a chain wrapped around its snout to stifle its acid breath, but its eyes glowed with hatred as it paced. White tattoos of blades adorned its scales.

  “Please tell us it’s not the one with the dragon,” Jack said.

  “I can’t do that,” Val’Trisian replied with a smile. “We must bypass it to enter.”

  Beauty threw her a look. “If one of your status gets caught, what’s the consequence?”

  “It depends,” Val’Trisian replied. “If my identity is known I will be stripped of my rank. If not, I’ll spend a few months in the city’s prison, the Pit.”

  “Are you cert
ain you wish to do this?” Lorelia asked.

  Jack answered first. “A life without excitement is no life to live.”

  Val’Trisian laughed, her tone laced with anticipation. Overhearing the exchange, Roarthin snorted in amusement.

  “Stealing with Jack is more excitement than one needs.”

  “Stop complaining,” Thalidon said. “We both know you enjoy it.”

  The dwarf’s lips twitched behind his beard. “I will not admit that.”

  “Let’s get this done,” Gordon said. “Before Gallow appears.”

  “Gallow?” Val’Trisian asked.

  Lorelia’s gaze flicked to the dark elf. “He’s the head of the assassin’s guild, who now serves our foe.”

  “Did they not mention that?” Ursana asked.

  Jack made a dismissive motion. “No need to worry about him.”

  “I worry about him,” Beauty said.

  Val’Trisian’s expression was alight with amusement. “I’m beginning to think I chose the wrong occupation,” she said.

  Jack smirked at her answer. “Thalidon, Roarthin, if it comes to it, distract the dragon. Lorelia and Beauty will handle the guards. Gordon and Ursana, get high and provide cover. If we are discovered, we’re going to need it.”

  “And how exactly do we get in?” Val’Trisian asked.

  Jack wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling the beautiful elf close enough to kiss. “You stay with me,” he said, and cast his shadowhook toward the ceiling of the cavern.

  She gasped as it yanked them into the darkness at the roof of the cavern. They caught the wall and then Jack cast it again, allowing them to swing around the exterior of the cavern. She laughed breathlessly as they flew through the air, causing the dragon to lift its head and glare. Then Jack swung them over the wall to the surface of the home.

  They alighted on the topmost balcony of Captain Sinder’s home, and Jack darted to the door. Withdrawing a set of picks, he set to work on the lock. Seconds later his lock picks sizzled and melted. He frowned in irritation, and then withdrew the knife Beauty had given him.

  He disconnected the blade from the hilt and placed the hilt against the lock, caressing the rune on the pommel. The hilt turned liquid and flowed into the lock, filling every nook and pressing against the tumblers. When it turned solid Jack inserted the blade into the lock and turned.