Shield of Stars by Hilari Bell

Author:Hilari Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: 2007-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

“It’s information,” Weasel told him. “I want coin, too, mind. Five gold blessings for the pair of us. But I also need to contact the Falcon.”

“The Falcon?” The old man’s brows rose. “What do you want with a road bandit, boy?”

“He’s a rebel leader,” said Arisa. “Not a bandit.”

Weasel scowled at her. “What I want him for is my business,” he told the old man. “Do you know someone who could take me to him?”

“Hmm. I can’t m’self, you understand, but … We could maybe arrange that. But you’re not getting five blessings for the job. Not on top of introductions. Five copper flames are enough.”

They settled on eight silver stars, two in advance, with the job to take place two days hence. Final payment would follow completion.

By the time they left the Empty Net, Weasel was sweating as if he’d been running races.

“We did it!” Arisa exclaimed as they reached the street. “You’ve got your job, they’ll guide you to the Falcon at the end of it, and I’ll have enough money to get home. Why are you looking so grim?”

“Because these are my kind of people,” said Weasel. “And I know why he was trying so hard not to pay us up front. I thought I’d never get him to agree, even to the terms we got!”

“I noticed that,” said Arisa. “But I don’t understand why you care. Of course he doesn’t want to pay us too much up front; we might have taken his money and left town. Though knowing how long we’ve been looking for a job, I’d think he’d believe us. Especially since it was pretty obvious that an introduction to the falcon is what you really want.”

“Oh, he knew that,” Weasel told her. “If it had been straight coin, we’d probably have gotten six or seven gold blessings for this job. If they have a way to approach the Falcon without getting themselves killed, they got a bargain.”

Arisa frowned. “Then why did he haggle so hard about paying up front?”

“Because even two stars isn’t as good as free,” said Weasel.

“Free?”

“if the guards catch us, they won’t have to pay anything. That’s what they’re gambling on. They’ve got pretty good odds, too.”

Fifteen minutes. Ten guaranteed. He must have been mad.

“Arisa.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing you can do to help with this. And it could be … it will be dangerous. I think it’s time for you to go home.”

Arisa snorted. “It hasn’t been dangerous before this? Besides, I’m a better fighter than you are.”

“This isn’t going to involve fighting.” He hoped. “It’s a matter of running and escaping, and that’s my job, not yours. And don’t give me any blather about your duty to fight the regent,” he added as she opened her mouth to argue. “The conspiracy’s over. Pettibone will probably rule till he dies—the One God help that spoiled princeling—and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop him. This is going to be dangerous.”

Arisa closed her mouth and thought a moment. “All right,” she said finally. “Forget about duty, to your realm, to your people, to your God.

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