D. Jackson: Dead Man's reach

“Come now. We both know that Mariz is no thieftaker. I find it convenient having access to magick, but I wouldn’t trust him with an inquiry.”

He knelt beside the chair he had been repairing. “I’m no longer a thieftaker. You’ll have to find help somewhere else.”

“No, you won’t,” Kannice said. “If he can help you he will. For half of whatever fee you’re paid.”

Sephira blinked, then laughed. “Oh, I like her, Ethan. I remember her as fiery, but who knew she could be so shrewd as well. She knows you better than you know yourself. Perhaps I was wrong before. She won’t allow you to grow bored. She’s too smart for that.”

“Shouldn’t you be crawling back under your rock?” Kannice asked.

Sephira stilled, putting Ethan in mind of a wolf. “Have a care, my dear. You may be clever, but no one speaks to me that way.”

Ethan, who still carried his knife on his belt, drew it now and stood once more. “I think you should leave.”

She smiled once more. “Very well. But I’m not through with you, and eventually I’ll lure you back into the lanes. You’ll see.” She cast one last look at Kannice, and sauntered out of the tavern.

“You need to be more careful with her,” Ethan said, watching the door, his blade still in hand.

“I can’t help it; she brings out the worst in me.”

“Oh, I understand. Believe me. But you must never forget how dangerous she is.”

“I know.” Kannice came out from behind the bar and joined Ethan where he stood. “Evil as she may be, she’s right, you know: You are going to get bored.”

“No, I won’t.”

She nodded. “Aye, you will. And that’s all right. If a job comes your way, and you wish to take it, you should.”

“I thought you didn’t want me thieftaking anymore.”

“I don’t. But more than that, I don’t want you to be unhappy, or to feel trapped. And if you say that you’re never going to work in the lanes again, that’s what will happen.”

“So, I’m to be a tavernkeeper by day and a thieftaker by night?”

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “You won’t be thieftaking every night,” she murmured. “I’ll see to that. But perhaps now and then.”

He glanced toward the door before kissing her again. “Now and then,” he repeated, his breath stirring her hair. “I believe I can live with that.”