The hypnotic dance of fire held her rapt. It seemed she watched the house burn from behind her own eyes. Sorrow held her captive within her own body. She could do nothing but stare in horror as the fire destroyed her world.
* * *
Ilanna knelt in the ashes of her life. The fire had cooled hours ago, but she'd been unable to force herself to move. Now, beside the remnants of the armchair—the chair where she'd sat with her mother, where she'd read stories to Kodyn—her mind rejected the truth. She was in a stranger's house, staring down at the charred pages of someone else's book. The ashen shards of clay roof tile belonged to someone else. Anyone else. They couldn't be hers.
Occasional twinges ran up her arms and along her back. Burns turned the skin on her legs stiff, made each movement misery. A crumbling roof beam crashed to the ground a hand's breadth from her foot. She didn't move. Better it land on her head and put an end to it all. She would be with Kodyn then.
Hands gripped her arms and pulled her to her feet. She looked around in a daze, her mind barely registering the faces of those dragging her into the garden. Her house gave an ominous rumble and collapsed in a shower of dust, ash, and flying sparks.
Everything she'd loved was in that house. Kodyn, the son she could not give up even though she refused to raise him in the Night Guild. Ria, the dark-skinned Ghandian girl she'd rescued from a brothel and grown to care for. Now, the fire had taken it all. She had nothing left.
Her eyes fell on an object lying in the garden. She ripped free of the men's grasps and scooped it up. The wooden hawk had escaped the worst of the blaze. It was all that remained of Kodyn, her little hawk.
She allowed herself to be pulled away then. The men half-carried her through the collapsed front gate and up the street, away from Old Town Market. A crowd had gathered there, faces as grey as the embers of their homes. A pair of matrons surged toward her with blankets and water skins. Ilanna sagged into their arms. They hauled her into a nearby warehouse and settled her into a corner, pressing a crust of bread into her hands. Ilanna stared at it in mute silence. She had no words to offer thanks, no strength to even nod her head. She could only sit and stare at her soot-stained hands.
She was Ilanna, Journeyman of House Hawk, a legend in the Night Guild. She had climbed the impossible heights of the Black Spire, defied the Secret Keepers by stealing from the Temple of Whispers, stolen from the most impenetrable place in the city. Yet she couldn't even save the ones who mattered most.
She clutched Kodyn's wooden hawk in a death grip. The fire that consumed him had also devoured everything she had to remember him by. Only this little toy, stolen for him years earlier, had survived. She clung to it like a dying man grasped for one more breath.
How long she sat there, mute and motionless, she had no idea. Her eyes never left the scorched figurine. Her world had crumbled overnight.
"Ilanna?"
The sound of her name filtered into her brain. She raised her eyes.
"Ilanna, is that you?"
The man who knelt before her seemed somehow familiar. The small part of her mind that still functioned catalogued his features: a shock of dark hair, sharp features, fingers that refused to stop moving, and orange stitching on his scruffy clothing. A Fox.
Idan. One of the Foxes who'd trained her in the art of picking pockets more than a decade earlier.
She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out.
"Keeper's teeth, it is you." Idan searched her eyes. "Are you hurt?"
Ilanna looked down at her hands. Beneath the soot and ash, burned skin had begun to peel away. The pain hadn't yet penetrated her numb mind. Shock and sorrow kept everything else at bay.
The presence of a fellow Journeyman tugged at her thoughts. If anyone thought to question what brought her to Old Town Market—more specifically, to the house where they'd found her—what would she say to that? She had no answer. Worse, she could not begin to think of anything beyond her grief.
"She's in shock." A woman in the white robes of a Sister of Mercy, priestess of the Lonely Goddess, crouched before Ilanna. "Here, let me take a look." The woman pried open Ilanna's fingers. "Not burned too badly, but best we put some salve on it before the burns stiffen."
The wooden figurine dropped from her numb fingers, and Ilanna came to life long enough to snatch at it. She stuffed it into her breast pocket. Only once she knew it was safe did she allow the Sister of Mercy to tend to her burns.
"Can you stand?" The white-robed woman tugged at her arm. Idan slipped his hand under her armpit and helped lever her upright.
"Good." The Sister of Mercy nodded. "Get her to walk around. Talk to her. Moving her body will help her mind to recover."
Idan nodded. "I will. But my friend…"
"Which one is he?" The priestess glanced around.
Idan pointed to a shivering lump of blackened flesh huddled on a nearby cot. "Tunn was sleeping in an alley near the market when…" He swallowed and looked away.
A frown flitted across the Sister of Mercy's face, but she nodded. "I will lend him what succor I can. Go, take your friend home."
Home. The word felt like a blow to the gut. She had no home. The fire had devoured it. She had nothing left.
"Come on, Ilanna." Idan guided her through the cots and blankets laid out on the ground. "Let's get you back to the Night Guild," he whispered.
The Night Guild. Thieves, murderers, poisoners, and thugs. Her home for over fifteen years. Her father had sold her in payment of his debts and, in doing so, condemned her to a life of slavery. Oh, the Night Guild dressed it up as earning a living, but they'd held her captive since her eighth nameday.
Until last night. Last night, she had done the unthinkable, the impossible. She had stolen the golden sarcophagus of Lady Auslan, worth two million imperials. More than enough to buy her freedom. She'd had enough gold to get away from her past and start a future with Kodyn. And Ria.
What did she have now? A fortune in gold and no one to share it with. All that remained of the life she had dreamed of was this charred lump of wood. The Night Guild had stopped being home the day she gave birth to her son. Now, she would return to the cold earthen walls of the Guild tunnels. To her stuffy, windowless room and her empty bed. She'd survived this long because she'd had Kodyn to cling to. Everything she'd done had been for him. Without him, what did she have to live for?
Idan kept up a stream of conversation, but his voice blended with the background hum of the city around her. The city of Praamis bustled in the daylight. She heard nothing, saw nothing. Felt nothing. The world faded into a blur. Only Idan’s grip on her arm kept her placing one unfeeling foot before the other.
"Here you are."
Ilanna looked around, surprised to find herself standing in front of the double doors of House Hawk. Idan pushed it open, and Ilanna's feet carried her through the Aerie and down the tunnels leading to her room. The few Hawks she passed stared at her with wide eyes and gaping mouths. A few spoke to her. At one point, she thought she heard Master Hawk's voice. But she couldn't stop. She had to reach her room before she collapsed.
She fumbled at her door lock, her bandaged fingers numb and thick. Someone took the key from her. She didn't protest. The door swung open and she stepped inside. A voice droned in the distance, but she gave a dismissive wave. Whatever they wanted didn't matter. Nothing mattered now.
The door swung shut behind her, plunging the room into darkness. Cool, comforting darkness. The only place where she could truly feel safe now. She stumbled toward her bed, collapsed. The blankets scratched at her scorched skin, but she pulled them over her head. Her hand reached under her pillow and drew out the stuffed hawk.
It still smells like him. She drew in a deep breath, then another. The scent of her son brought back the memory of his face, his smile, his laugh. Pressure built within her, pushed her ribs outward until she felt her chest would explode.
Tears flowed down her cheeks and stained her pillows. For the first time in yea
rs, Ilanna wept.
Chapter Two
"Ilanna?" Someone hammered on her door. "What's going on, Ilanna?"
They'd pounded for over an hour now. Why can't they just leave me alone? She burrowed deeper into her blanket and crushed the stuffed hawk to her chest.
"Ilanna!" Allon's voice carried through the wood. "If you don't answer, I'm going to have Jarl here break down the door."
"G…" She swallowed, her mouth dry. "Go…away," she croaked.
"Ilanna, tell me what's wrong." Worry echoed in Allon's words. "Are you hurt?"
She wanted to laugh, to cry, to shriek at him. Of course, I'm hurt! I lost my son in a Watcher-damned fire.
With superhuman effort, she pushed the blanket away and moved on leaden feet to open the door. "Go away."
Allon stood outside, his face lined and tense. Jarl, her fellow Hawk, hovered behind the Hound Journeyman. Allon flinched at the sight of her. "Keeper's teeth, Ilanna! What in the fiery hell happened to you?"
A lump rose to Ilanna's throat. She turned away. He couldn't see her tears. "Leave me alone."
Allon barreled into the room. "Not until you tell me what happened." He fumbled to light the alchemical lamp and turned to her. "Ilanna! Your face and hands, they're…burned."
The agony of her scorched flesh seemed a faint throbbing, barely registered through the hollowness in her chest.
She swallowed again. "What…are you…doing here?" Her parched throat mangled the words.
Allon whirled toward the door, where a crowd of Hawks had gathered. "Gorin, get her water."
The Pathfinder quirked an eyebrow, but Jarl's grunt and a quick nod sent him charging off.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, finding her voice.
"Jarl and Gorin have been pounding on your door for hours. Master Hawk sent for me. He thought I could get you to open up." He gripped her arm. "Come, sit on the bed. Tell me what happened."
She ripped free of his grasp. "Don't touch me!" she snarled.
"Easy." Allon held up his hands. "I won't touch you, I promise. But can you tell me how you got burned? Do you know what happened?"
Ilanna sneered. "I'm injured, Allon, not losing my mind. It was the fire…"
"Old Town Market." The Hound nodded.
At that moment, Gorin returned bearing a pitcher of water. Ilanna sent an imploring glance at Jarl.
The huge Hawk seemed to understand. "Everyone leave. Let her be." He herded the Hawk Journeymen away. He didn't hesitate to shove the slower-moving figures. He peered in the door and cocked an eyebrow.
Ilanna gave a quick nod. "Thank you."
"Of course," Jarl rumbled, loquacious as ever, and closed the door.
She emptied the cup of water and Allon refilled it. "What were you doing at Old Town Market?" The Hound spoke with hesitation. "And why were you in the middle of the fire? Idan said they dragged you out of the ashes of a ruined house. Why didn't you run?"
Ilanna said nothing.
"Was it the house?"
Ilanna's head snapped up. "What?" Fear spiked in her chest.
"The house you grew up in. The one I helped you procure the deed for a couple of years ago." Allon searched her eyes. "Is that why you were there?"
Of course. Ilanna's shoulders relaxed. With his perfect memory, of course he'd remember that.
She nodded. "I…I had to see it."
"But why did you go in?" Allon leaned forward. "What were you doing in the house?"
Her fists clenched. Trying to save my child, you fool! The burden of failure and loss stole the strength from her legs, and she slumped onto the bed. Failing to save my child.
She clenched her jaw so hard she thought her teeth would shatter. Her knuckles turned white, yet her hands trembled. She squeezed her eyelids to prevent the flood of tears.
"Let me speak to her." Another voice, an older, softer one, echoed in the room.
"Uncle." Allon turned to the newcomer.
"Nephew." Master Hawk slipped through the door and came to stand before Ilanna. "Leave us," he said without taking his eyes from her.
"But—"
"I know you mean well, Allon. As does she. But right now, her House Master must have words with her." Master Hawk didn't raise his voice, but it held a tone of command tinged with anger. His message to the Hound was clear: he didn't want Allon to hear him dressing down Ilanna.
"I understand." Allon crouched before Ilanna. "I'll see you later?"
Ilanna met his gaze. She'd intended to end things with him but hadn't had the chance before the Lord Auslan job. She didn't have the strength to deal with it now. She nodded and forced a half-smile. "Sure."
Allon's grin failed to conceal the concern in his eyes, but he obeyed Master Hawk. Ilanna caught a glimpse of Jarl and Gorin standing guard at her door. No one would get past them.
Master Hawk sat on the bed beside her. "How bad are they?" He thrust a chin at her hands.
She stared dumbly at the bandages. "Don't know."
"Do they hurt?"
"Some." She shrugged. "Sister of Mercy put some ointment on them." With effort, she raised her eyes to meet his. "But you're not here to make small talk."
"No, I'm not." Master Hawk cast a glance at the closed door. "I wanted you to know…" He swallowed and spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry. About the boy."
Ilanna's eyes flew wide open. Panic set her heart thundering, and she jerked back from Master Hawk. "What?"
Master Hawk gave her a sad smile. "You're a damned good thief, Ilanna. Hell of a liar, too. Now Denber, he was just a good thief."
Ilanna's breath caught in her throat. "D-Denber?"
Master Hawk nodded. "Came to me a few years back, telling me a half-assed story about a job in Voramis that only you could do. Said it would take you a few months."
"I remember." Denber had insisted Master Hawk knew nothing.
"Problem is, I know you better than that. The only way you'd do a job that lasted months was for something big. And I mean Black Spire or Lord Auslan big. Not the few hundred imperials he turned over when the 'job' was done."
"You knew?" she asked.
Master Hawk inclined his head. "Never had children of my own, but I've seen my share of pregnant women. You hid it better than most."
Ilanna sat in stunned silence. He knew! All these years.
"W-Why…" She trailed off. She had no words.
"Why didn't I say anything?" The House Master scratched at his stubbled chin. "You wanted to keep it a secret. Not just from your House, but from the whole Night Guild. Life hasn't been kind to you. If it was me in your place, I'd want to keep my child from this life just the same."
He sighed. "Hurt a bit at first, you know. You not wanting to tell me." He dropped his eyes. "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized you were doing right by the child. So I did what I could to help."
Ilanna's jaw dropped. "How?"
"Claimed the territory about Old Town Market as mine. Said I wanted someplace to play around, for old time's sake. It kept the rest of the Hawks away. No one's going to argue with their House Master." Master Hawk's lips quirked into a half-smile. "I kept an eye on the place, made sure none of the Foxes messed with it. And that they kept their hands out of that dark girl's pockets."
"Ria?" The lump returned to Ilanna's throat.
"Ria, eh?" Master Hawk nodded. "Pretty name. Pretty girl, too. You could do worse, you know."
Ilanna glanced askance at him. How could he possibly know that I--?
"To care for the boy," he clarified. "I've seen few mothers who showed their own child half as much love as that girl did yours."
Tears burned in Ilanna's eyes, and she turned away. She couldn't bear to think of Ria or Kodyn. The pain was too much.
Something Master Hawk said stuck in her mind. "You were watching Old Town Market? Does that mean you were watching me, too?" Does he know about my hidden cache? She'd broken no Guild laws by hiding Kodyn's existence from the Guild. All the gold she'd stol
en, that was a different matter.
The House Master shrugged. "I spotted you a couple of times. You're a damned good thief, I'll give you that much."
Ilanna wrung her hands. What now? He knew her secret—part of it, at least. "Who else knows?"
"No one."
"Master Gold?"
"No one." Sincerity burned in his eyes. "Not Jarl, not the twins, not even my own nephew."
Relief flooded her. The thought of Allon finding out about her secret twisted her stomach in knots.
"Your secrets are safe with me."
She reached out and took his hand. "Thank you."
The House Master returned her grip. "It is my duty as House Master to care for my Journeymen." He smiled. "The Night Guild doesn't turn all men into monsters. Only those who yield to the darkness within."
Ilanna nodded. For a moment, they sat there, her hand in his. To her surprise, the contact didn't bother her. Despite the roughness of his callused palms and fingers, his touch brought to mind her mother's touch. Genuine warmth filled his eyes. He truly cared for her.
Master Gold, the Guild Master, had tried to use her for his own ends. Her needs had aligned with his for years, so she'd allowed herself to be used. But all this time, Master Hawk had gone out of his way to help her.
The House Master spoke in a quiet voice. "What was his name?"
Ilanna looked up, startled.
"Your son. What did you call him?"
The tears stung Ilanna's eyes again. "Kodyn." A lump rose in her throat, and her voice cracked. She produced the scorched wooden figurine from her purse. "The Twelve Kingdoms word for 'hawk'."
Master Hawk's face brightened. "You…named him after the House?"
Ilanna met his gaze. "After my mother's death, my father made life a living torment. Then he sold me to the Night Guild. Master Velvet put me through hell. Sabat—Twelve, at the time—only made it worse. All I had was Three—Ethen—to keep me sane." She smiled. "Then, on the day of the Choosing, I saw the banner of House Hawk. It wasn’t bright and colorful like all the others. It was simple, plain, and yet something about it called to me. I knew in that moment I wanted to be a Hawk more than anything in the world."
Queen of Thieves Box Set Page 78