D. Jackson - Thieves' Quarry

“Wait,” Kannice said. She sat on her bed and beckoned him over.

He walked to the bed and sat beside her.

“How did you get caught up in this? Why would representatives of the Crown come to you?”

“Geoffrey,” he said.

It took her a few seconds. “Your sister’s husband?”

“He works for the Customs Board. And, of course, he knows I’m a conjurer.”

“And who is Simon Gant?”

“Another of Sephira’s playmates. Word is that he betrayed her several years back. I thought that Mariz-the man who used those spells on me-that he might have been trying to kill Gant. I now know that’s not the case. But if Gant is a conjurer-”

“Why would Sephira care about the British fleet?” Kannice asked.

That stopped Ethan cold. “I don’t know.”

“You said that ninety-seven men died. Even Sephira Pryce isn’t so brazen as to think that she can take on the British Empire.”

He weighed this, saw the logic in it. “Go on,” he said at last.

“The occupation is about to begin and there are plenty of people who are unhappy about it. Some of them would stop at nothing to see that those regulars never set foot in this city.”

“I thought you were one of them,” Ethan said, smiling to soften the words.

She smiled back at him. “Aye, well, I can’t conjure, can I?” Her grin faded. “You do see where I’m going with this.”

“You think that the Sons of Liberty have declared war on King George’s army.”

“It’s not as foolish as you’re making it sound,” she said.

“You’re right, it’s not. But even if Samuel Adams and his friends suddenly had access to such power why would they attack a single ship? And why choose the Graystone as opposed to the Launceston or one of the other rated ships?”

“I don’t know,” Kannice said. “Maybe their spell didn’t work the way they intended. Maybe they were aiming for all the ships and the spell only worked against one of them. But if you ask me it’s much more likely that this was the work of Adams and the rest than it is that Sephira would be willing to take on General Gage.”

She had a point.

“All right,” Ethan said. “Thank you. I’ll give that some thought.”

He started to stand, but Kannice grabbed his arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Ethan grinned again. “Back downstairs.”

She shook her head and kissed him deeply on the lips. “I don’t think so. There’s a roomful of men down there who think you brought me up here for something other than a bit of conjuring. We wouldn’t want to disappoint them.”

They kissed again, and Kannice began to unbutton his waistcoat and shirt.

“I thought you were angry with me for working on behalf of the Crown.”

She smiled and whispered, “I’ve forgiven you for that.”

They went back down to the tavern’s great room some time later. The Dowser was far more crowded now-most of those drinking ale and eating Kannice’s stew hadn’t been in the tavern when Ethan and Kannice went up to her chamber. But that didn’t stop them all from whistling and applauding when the two of them reappeared. Ethan blushed to the tips of his ears, but Kannice didn’t seem at all embarrassed.

“Don’t applaud too much boys,” she said, her voice carrying over the din. “Or else we might go back up for an encore and you won’t have any more stew until morning.”

As the men started laughing anew, she winked at Ethan and hurried off into the kitchen to prepare more stew. Ethan returned to the table and was surprised to find that Diver was still there. His friend cast a hurt look his way, but said nothing.

“It wasn’t what it seems,” Ethan said.

“No? Then why is your face as red as a regular’s coat?”

Ethan smiled, feeling sheepish. “All right, it was what it seems, but it was more as well.” He looked around, much as Diver had earlier in the evening, making sure that they wouldn’t be overheard. But with so many now in the tavern no one could hear what he said and no one was paying them much heed. Keeping his voice down, he told Diver about the Graystone and the spell he had cast in Kannice’s room.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Diver asked when Ethan had finished. He still sulked, refusing to look up from his ale. Sometimes Diver was more boy than man. It was part of his charm and also the reason Kannice thought him a wastrel.

“Because I didn’t know if I could trust you to keep it quiet.”

He did look up then. “That’s not fair!”

“Isn’t it? I can’t have you talking about this all over the city. Especially now. I don’t know what happened to the men on that ship, and until I do the fewer that hear of it the better. Do you understand?”

Diver nodded sullenly. “Aye, I do. And I know that I cost us both by talking about Tanner when I was with Katharine. But when are you going to start trusting me again?”

“I think I just did.”

A small smile stole across Diver’s face. “Aye, all right.” He finished his ale and stood. “I should be going. I suppose you don’t need me looking for Spectacles anymore.”

“No,” Ethan said. “But you can start looking for Gant. Don’t go near him if you see him and don’t let him see you if you can help it. But if you find him, I want to know about it.”

Diver’s smile broadened. “I’ll keep my eyes open.” He winked. “And my mouth shut.”

After he left the bar, Ethan sat alone for a while longer, sipping his ale and, when it was gone, watching Kannice and thinking about what she had said upstairs. At one point, Kelf caught his eye and held up a tankard, asking Ethan if he wanted another ale. Ethan shook his head.

Ethan had had some dealings with Samuel Adams and his fellow Sons of Liberty a few years before when investigating the Berson killing. One of the so-called patriots had turned out to be a conjurer and an agent of the Crown. Ethan and Adams exchanged some harsh words during the course of Ethan’s inquiry, but in the end Adams saved his life and Ethan managed to defeat the conjurer who had betrayed Adams’s cause. He and the tax collector had not spoken since, but Ethan was certain Adams would remember him. He was less sure of how the man would respond to his questions about the Graystone and her fate.

Eventually, the tavern crowd thinned. Kelf and Kannice cleaned up and Kannice led Ethan upstairs to bed and sleep. Ethan slept poorly, though. He had odd, disturbing dreams of the dead on Castle William and he woke often. Several times, he drove himself from slumber after sensing conjurings, or at least thinking he did. He couldn’t tell if he imagined the spells or if they were real.

When at last he woke to morning light, he felt no more rested than he had the previous night.

Kannice offered to make him breakfast, but he refused.

“Where are you rushing off to?” she asked, watching from the bed as he dressed.

“I’m going just where you told me to go.” He grinned at the confused look on her face. “I’m going to speak with Samuel Adams. As you said, maybe he can shed some light on all of this.”

“You could breakfast with me first.”

Ethan shook his head, his grin fading. “The fleet was on the move yesterday evening. I’m convinced that the occupation will begin today, and I doubt that Adams will sit idly by while the regulars land. If I want to find him at his home, I have to go now.”

He didn’t add that he had only so much time before Hutchinson would begin rounding up Boston’s conjurers and hanging them as witches; he didn’t wish to alarm her. But already he felt the pressure of the lieutenant governor’s ultimatum.

Kannice sat up, sobered by what he had said about the occupation. “Do you know yet where the men will be billeted?” she asked.