Thick as Thieves (26 page)

Authors: Tali Spencer

BOOK: Thick as Thieves

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Three months and five days had passed since they had met. Three months of working for Tagard and cementing in stone their unusual partnership. They were easily the best three months of Vorgell’s life so far.

For one thing, his partner was looking good. Madd had a fondness for finery, and today, he wore blue wool breeches tastefully hemmed with embroidered silk, topped by an indigo jerkin of velvet and a jacket of black-and-gold leather. The hat crowning his raven-black hair boasted an insouciant feather that dipped just above his eyes and gave him the enticing air of a nobleman’s son in search of adventure.

Vorgell wondered if he could possibly get Madd alone before nightfall. He really needed to get fucked. Or sucked. It was still all he could do sometimes to keep his unicorn-horn lust at bay.

Since resuming their lives in Gurgh, they’d prospered well enough between escorting Thencu Lustre and his Sun Virgin of a wife about town and taking other jobs. Madd still owed Tagard nine more months of service, but the shadowy witch thief was fair in his way and allowed Madd to keep part of the proceeds earned or fees paid. Between that and Vorgell’s stints serving as guard to men both legitimate and shady, they made enough coin to afford a room overlooking the river in Thieves Wart. It was as good a situation as they could hope to find.

Since the death of the Grand Wizard Usdan, the Wizards’ Guild had been rounding up witches with increased fervor. Usdan’s brother was their new leader and even meaner, if that were possible. Vorgell felt bad about the persecution of Gurgh’s witches, but that did not diminish his satisfaction in having bashed Usdan’s skull. The man had tormented Madd, and that was reason enough for his demise. As for the witches, they were holding their own. Tagard was secure in Thieves Wart, where wizards seldom dared to enter. Ibeena, on the other hand, had moved twice to other locations in the city, and even Madd no longer knew where to find her. Not that he tried. Vorgell knew that someday the old witch would call in her favor, but so far she had not.

In their favor, Gillja’s heartrending story about being kidnapped—and widowed—by bandits had found fertile ground among Gurgh’s paranoid barons and lords, none of whom had loved Flemgu but all of whom wished to avenge him, if only because their performance might win the affection of the lovely, magnificently landed young woman.

No one was talking about a big barbarian or his pretty partner who had once worn Baron Flemgu’s love collar.

Every day now was an adventure, even if those days were filled with cranky witches, conniving barons, and revenge-seeking wizards. Vorgell’s heart might be chained to the smiles of an enticing, dark-haired witch, but he had never been so happy with his life.

“I think I like being your partner.” Vorgell grinned at Madd, not bothering to hide his appreciation. His companions chuckled and exchanged knowing smirks.

“I only do it because you’re good for business,” Madd said. “One look at your godlike stature and skill with weapons, and clients completely believe we can protect them from anything short of a horde.” Vorgell knew why he didn’t add that magic was also part of their services, for which customers paid double. Madd pushed back from the table and said, “Let’s go outside. I have a proposition for you.”

Vorgell cut his pals a grin and grabbed the pack he always carried, slinging it so the pouch rode high across his shoulder blade. Several men bid them a good day as they left the tavern. They were far down the street before Madd drew him around a corner and into the shelter of an alleyway.

After a quick look to every side, Madd pulled something from his pocket. “I got this from Tagard in lieu of payment for a job. I, well, I think
you
should wear it.” He held up an amulet: three delicate golden chains attached to a clasp and ring at one end and at the other to what looked like a large scallop of creamy bone.

“This looks costly.” Vorgell took it in hand. A closer look confirmed the piece to be unusual, the pale object mounted in thick gold and scored with a dark, elegant symbol identical to the one Madd used when making his mark on contracts. He felt a familiar tingle. “Is it magic?”

“As magic as you are. It’s a slice of unicorn horn.”

Vorgell laughed at that. Seeing how intently Madd watched him, he hung the amulet on the braided leather thong he always wore around his neck. The unicorn horn now rested on his skin like a trophy. Even if no one else ever realized the meaning, he and Madd did. Vorgell still wanted to screw someone—usually Madd—several times daily.

“You know, if I were an unscrupulous man, I would slip this bit of horn into your ass one night,” he mentioned.

“And even that wouldn’t allow your oversized pole to fit in there.”

“Someday.” Vorgell thought Madd was beginning to weaken to his requests.

“Don’t make me regret being a generous man.”

Vorgell’s shoulder pouch lurched, its flap flying open and something the size of a cat pounced first onto his shoulder and then to the ground. It disappeared behind some rubbish. A furious bout of scurrying—then squeals—ensued, followed by juicy munching. Soon Petal returned, the pink tail of a rat dangling from her pointy snout. She chirped up at Vorgell, who beamed with approval. His little Petal was turning into a deadly hunter.

“Is that thing eating again?” Madd complained. “For the love of the moon, how big is she going to get? From the sounds outside our window, she ate a dog last night!”

Vorgell released a throaty chuckle. His new family might be small, but there was no other like it. He had Madd in his bed and Petal guarding the door—not to mention keeping down the vermin population and protecting them from evildoers. He and his partner were prosperous enough. This morning, he had helped a merchant divert a shipment from one warehouse to another. Before nightfall, he and Madd would escort a Sun Virgin to the Temple to sing the Sun to a safe sleep. And tomorrow, he would escort the daughter of a gem merchant to the wedding of a diplomat while Madd fenced some goods they had pilfered from a goldsmith.

Wizards be damned. If that lot ever became a danger to those he loved, Vorgell would vanquish them all to preserve what he had found. He and Madd were in the best place in the world.

Here in the rotten heart of Gurgh, in the midst of wizards and kings, there was plenty of work for a couple of thieves.

About the Author

T
ALI
S
PENCER
fell in love with writing at an early age and never stopped. Thanks to a restless father, she grew up as a bit of a nomad and still loves to travel whenever she can. Her longest stint in one place was Milwaukee where she went to college and enjoyed a series of interesting careers including respiratory therapist, airport executive, and raising three surprisingly well-adjusted sons. She later married her true love and put down new roots in Philadelphia, where she lives in an ongoing Italian American family sitcom. At least she’s learned how make good pasta. When not writing, Tali reads everything from sweet goofy romances to Lebanese cookbooks, manages her fantasy football team—go Gekkos!—and takes long walks with her loving, if slightly neurotic, poodle.

Visit Tali’s blog at http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.blogspot.com

E-mail: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tali.spencer

Twitter: @tali_spencer

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ALI
S
PENCER