Steel Rogue by Alex Oakchest

Author:Alex Oakchest [Oakchest, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Rick was lying on his bed with the copper disc and the silver string on his chest, struggling to work out how they fit. Squir was nestled on his lap, his tail twitching as he dreamed.

Making no progress, his thoughts kept returning to Nyassa. To her face, her eyes. The touch of her hand on his. And then what he’d said to her. If she found out he’d lied…

Someone tapped on his door. Rick bolted from his bed. He brushed his curly hair back. Straightened his shirt. Sniffed his armpits, not completely unhappy with the results. But when he opened his door, it was Jackdaw standing there.

“Oh.”

“A most pleasant welcome,” said Jackdaw.

The master vervist was wearing an ivory wool suit with peak lapels and a bow tie. A little silver handkerchief was stuck in the jacket pocket. Looking closely, Rick saw the outline of a dagger that must have been in the inside pocket.

“Get your coat,” he said.

“You’re going to be my next verve teacher?” said Rick.

“Nope. We’re going somewhere.”

“Can’t it wait until morning?”

“This is important, Rick. I’m not messing around.”

A twenty-minute walk through Swindbaston’s seedier districts later, and he and Jackdaw were outside a tavern called The Greedy Pig. Gaggles of drinkers stood outside. One man had his coat spread open, revealing an array of daggers tucked in loops in the inner lining. His companions perused them, pointing at blades and prompting him to call out prices.

“You brought me to a pub?”

“Not just any pub, Rick. The best in this foul city. A place where, without being vain, yours truly is revered.”

“This is a place for rogues?”

“Spotters know to come running if the signias edge this way, though there’s no reason they ever would.”

“We could have just had drinks at the hideout.”

“I want to see how you’re doing. Sometimes an ale or two loosens the tongue. I must warn you though, Rick. I’m quite popular here. It can get grating sometimes, everyone wanting my attention. Try not to get annoyed.”

Jackdaw walked ahead, but not a single person said a word to him, nor even turned in his direction. He paused at the Greedy Pig doorway. He coughed. Nobody turned around.

Inside, heat blasted from not just one log fire but two. Rogues huddled around tables and played card games. The object wasn’t just to win but to win by swindling the others as much as possible. A sinister figure, quite a feat in a rogue bar, sat in the corner and peddled various flasks of strange liquids.

“Tess!” said Jackdaw overly loudly, then looked around. Not a single face looked up, except for a young barmaid who sauntered over with a tray.

“An ale and a bourbon please, Tess,” he told her.

“I’ll take a bourbon too, actually,” said Rick.

“You’ll take an ale, Rick. Bourbon is for real thieves.”

Rick leaned back in his seat, wondering why Jackdaw had brought him here. There was more to it than just a chat. It was the way Jackdaw had tried to get people’s attention, clearly expecting them to fawn over him.

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