D. Jackson - Thieves' Quarry

Ethan picked up the pouch and placed it in his coat pocket. “Is there anything else, Your Honor?”

“Yes. Be careful how you use that … that witchery of yours. I’ll go to my grave believing that it’s an abomination, and I know that I am not alone in my belief. We’ll be watching you and your kind, and we won’t look kindly on any association you might have with Samuel Adams and James Otis.”

“Yes, sir,” Ethan said, and left. He should have been angry; Kannice would have been livid on his behalf. But with all that conjurings had wrought in the past several days, he could not bring himself to blame the lieutenant governor for fearing his spellmaking abilities.

From the Town House, Ethan walked out to Sephira’s house on Summer Street. It was a clear, cool day, with a sky so blue Ethan could barely look at it. Leaves of orange and yellow and bronze clung to the trees lining Rowe’s Field and d’Acosta’s pasture. He knew that he was being foolish and reckless paying a visit to Sephira so soon after forcing his way into her home. But one part of the Graystone mystery remained, and he suspected that she was as aware of this as he.

Gordon saw him approaching and this time, rather than standing on the portico to face him, the big man retreated into the house. When he came out again, he was accompanied by Nigel, Nap, Afton, and even Mariz, who looked tiny next to the others.

“You got some nerve comin’ here,” said Nigel, toying with his pistol.

“I need to speak with Sephira,” Ethan said in an even voice. He hadn’t drawn his knife, but there was enough grass around him for a dozen conjurings.

He thought that Nigel would refuse to call for her, but he leaned toward Mariz and whispered something. The conjurer glanced at Ethan and slipped into the house.

“You shouldn’t have put us to sleep like that,” Nap said.

Ethan raised his eyebrows. “You’d have preferred it if I broke your neck or lit your clothes on fire or just crushed the life out of your heart?”

None of them offered any response.

The door opened and Sephira came out, followed by Mariz.

“Ethan,” she said. “You’re alive. What a surprise.”

“I’d like a word with you, if I may.”

She gave a guileless smile, which looked out of place on her features. “All right. Leave us,” she said to Nigel and the others. “There will be other chances for you to take your revenge.” This last she said with a glance at Ethan.

The men filed back inside. Sephira leaned back against one of the marble columns and looked down at him, beguiling and lovely as ever. “What shall we talk about?”

“The pearls,” Ethan said.

“I’ve told you, Ethan-”

He raised a hand, stopping her. “I’ve been paid by the Crown. Ten pounds. I don’t want anything else. Besides, I never had any claim to whatever treasures were stolen from you. Gant and Osborne are both dead now, as are Osborne’s daughters. And I’ve come to realize that I don’t want to see the customs boys get their hands on the pearls.”

Sephira had straightened and her smile had vanished. “Do you know where they are?”

“I have an idea,” Ethan said. “This would level things between us. It would more than make up for my unannounced visit the other day, as well as anything I did to your men.”

“We’ll see about that,” she said, purring.

“No. Those are my conditions. I tell you where they are, and you call off your dogs.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

“I’m not.”

She took all of two seconds to consider his offer. “Done. Where are they?”

“There’s a house on Green Lane, near West Church. The structure itself is unimportant-it’s the plot of land on which it sits. There should be a small gravesite there, somewhere in the yard. And if I’m right, the earth at the grave site has been disturbed recently. You’ll find the pearls there.”

“Osborne’s wife,” Sephira said in a breathy whisper.

“That’s right.”

“That’s well done, Ethan. Not surprising, though. Of the two of us, you’ve always been the more sentimental.”

Ethan grinned, refusing to let her goad him. “Good day, Sephira,” he said, turning to go. “Remember, we have a deal.”

“Of course we do. But sooner or later you’ll give me another excuse to send Nigel and Nap after you. You always do.”

He couldn’t argue.

He headed back into the South End, but hadn’t gone far when he heard someone calling his name. Turning, he saw Mariz hurrying after him. This time Ethan did pull his knife.

Mariz slowed, holding up his hands so that Ethan could see that he carried no weapon. He was breathing hard and sweating. Ethan wondered how recently he had awakened and risen from the bed in Sephira’s house.

“Sephira and I reached an agreement,” Ethan said, watching the man’s every move.

“I came for myself, not for her,” Mariz told him, his accent thicker than Ethan remembered.

Ethan lowered his blade. Mariz stepped closer.

“You healed me. You got me back to Miss Pryce’s home. I owe you my life.”

“I’m not sure Sephira would want you thinking that way,” Ethan said.

“No, I imagine she would not. But still, it is true.”

“You’d have done the same for me,” Ethan said.

Mariz laughed, and after a moment Ethan joined in.

“I think we both know that I would not have.” Mariz grew serious. “But if you have need of my aid in the future, you shall have it.” Before Ethan could say anything, he added, “I still work for Miss Pryce, and I will follow what orders she gives me. But when I am not acting on her behalf, I am free to honor whatever friendships I choose. And like it or not, Kaille, you and I are now friends.”

Ethan didn’t know what to say. At last he nodded. Mariz flashed a smile and started back toward Sephira’s house. As he walked away, a memory stirred in Ethan’s mind. He reached into his coat pocket and grinned at what he found there.

“Mariz!”

The conjurer stopped, turned. Ethan walked to where he waited and handed him his glasses.

“I forgot to give these to Sephira the other day.”

Mariz grinned again and put them on.

“What do you remember from the day you were attacked?” Ethan asked.

“Very little,” Mariz said, his expression sobering. “I was in New Boston, looking for Gant. I cast a finding spell, one of several I cast that day, and sensed a conjurer just behind me. I tried to turn and ward myself, but the spell hit me before I could.”

“A warding wouldn’t have helped you. Osborne’s daughters cast together, and their spells were very powerful.”

“Do you know why they attacked me?”

“Not for certain, no. But I believe they were checking on their intended hiding place for the pearls, and when they felt your spell, they panicked. You’re lucky it was just them. If their father had been there, he would have insisted that they kill you.”

“I was lucky because you found me, Kaille. And I will not forget that.” He smiled once more and started away again.

Ethan watched him go, unsure of whether he could trust the man, even now. Once Mariz was out of sight, he walked to Henry’s shop and up to his room. He remained there long enough to bundle up a change of clothes to take back to the Dowsing Rod. Crossing the city, Ethan pondered what Mariz had said to him. He didn’t know how the man could work for Sephira while also being a friend to him. But he hadn’t sensed that Mariz was lying to him, and he couldn’t imagine that Sephira would have been pleased by their conversation. For now, that was enough to satisfy him.

On his way to the Dowser, he stopped at King’s Chapel, where he found Mr. Pell tending to the chapel gardens.