David Cook - King Pinch

"Praise your god!" he extemporized. "It's safe. I would have a bet a noble those Red Priests had stolen it. Where did you find it?"

"Where you were carrying it," was her icy reply.

"Precisely. I was worried I'd dropped it in the mud," the rogue continued, thinking fast. "Priestess Lissa, although it is not as I intended, let me present you with your temple's treasure." The only hope of coming out of this, Pinch figured, was to claim credit for what he never intended.

"You-what!"

"I was bringing it to you."

"I surely cannot believe this."

Now was the time for Pinch to assume the air of roguish effrontery. "I told you I had means."

"How did you get it back?"

Pinch let knowing smile play across his lips. "I have had some experience with thieves and their like. I understand them. It just takes the right threats."

"A few threats and they give it up?" It was clear the woman wanted to scoff.

Pinch pressed the amulet back into her hand. "Threats backed by sword and coin. There was a cost in getting it back-five thousand nobles. Will your temple honor my debt?" Pinch knew better than to look too pure and noble and so let his devious heart weave a profitable deceit.

Lissa was unprepared for the demand. "I… I am certain they will. By my word they will," she added with more confidence as she weighed the artifact in her hand.

"I will prepare a receipt for you to present to your superiors," Pinch added as an extra fillip of persuasiveness.

"Your injuries. Did you…"

"Fight for the amulet-no, I'm no hero." Later, when the rogue told this story around the table, this would be the place where he would pause and spread his hands with the confidence that he had caught his mark. "This was, I think, an attempt to get it back."

Lissa hastily slid the artifact out of sight. "You think they'll try again?"

"Almost certainly. If I were a thief, I would. I fear it puts you in danger."

"I can care for myself."

"They'll be looking for you."

"I'll take it to the temple."

"The Morninglord's temple here in Ankhapur is small and poorly funded. These thieves already stole it once from a better-equipped temple. They'd be certain to try here."

"Not if you turned them over to the authorities."

"I can't." Pinch was lying in this. If he ever had to, he'd turn Sprite and the others over without a qualm.

"Can't?"

"I'm not sure who they are and even if I knew, I wouldn't. Understand-my success is based in part on discretion. Lose that and no one will trust me."

The priestess was shocked. "This is a business for you!"

Pinch sipped at the brew the tea vender set in front of him. "It is a service. Sometimes there are rewards and sometimes not. We can't all live supported by the donations of others, lady."

She felt the venom in that sting. "It's not a pure business-"

"And I am no priest, even if I am decked out in these red robes," Pinch interrupted. "You live to see the perfect world rise over the horizon like the sun of your Morninglord, and I laud you for that, Lissa. I must live to survive. Besides, isn't recovering what is stolen a virtue? Maids come to priests to find rings they have lost; I just do the same without spells."

The priestess pointedly looked at the sky, unwilling to admit the soundness of his argument. Pinch sipped his tea and gave her time, but never changed his gaze of expectant answer. He had her on the hook and was not about to let her wriggle away.

"There is virtue even in the cloud that hides the sun," she finally murmured. It was a quote from something, probably some scripture of her church. It was her admission to accept his point, her faith overruling her good instincts.

Priests always made the best prey, Pinch thought to himself. Others were unpredictable, but priests had their codes, for good or ill, giving a sharper lever to tip them one way or the other.

"What will you do with the amulet?" he asked, abruptly changing the conversation. "It's not safe either with you or your temple."

"I can find some place to hide it."

Pinch shook his head in disagreement, as if he were considering the point to himself and she were not across the small table from him.

"What?"

"What was taken can be found. It's a saying among their kind."

"You have a better plan?" she challenged as Pinch hoped she would.

"Yes, but there's no purpose in naming it." Like the hunter in the blind, he was baiting the trap to lure the prey near.

"What do you mean?"

"There is a way you could keep it safe, but you'll not do it, so I won't say it."

"You are so certain!" she fumed. "How can you be so sure about me?"

"Then you will give me the amulet?"

"What?"

"See! 'Tis as I said. There's no point in pursuing it."

"What do you mean, give you the amulet?"

"Nothing. It was a foolish idea. Hide your treasure and let it go."

"Tell me."

"It's pointless. It requires trust."

"How does your having the amulet protect it?"

"First, because they'll assume you have it, not I. We've met; what other point was there but to return your treasure? Therefore, they'll look to you as the person who must be robbed.

"Second, they know my sting and fear it. Why do you think they gave it back in the first place? For five thousand gold nobles? Hardly. This treasure's worth far more, if they could sell it to some rival priest or wizard." Pinch paused and took a sip of tea. "They're afraid of my connections and my position. As the late king's royal ward, I could have anyone arrested and executed on my word alone. They will not cross me like they would you."

Lissa studied her hands. "I don't-"

"As I said-trust," Pinch countered with disappointment. "You injure me, which is why I would not bring this up. First, you think me a thief and wound me for it. Second, you suspect me as a liar. Another wound. Third, you think that I would refuse to give it back. Any more of these cuts and I'll take a worse beating from you than those scoundrels did to me."

Lissa tried to sip her tea, but its bitterness felt like her soul and brought no comfort. "Perhaps… I have been uncharitable in my judgments. I… believe you are right. Take the amulet and guard it for me."

"No." Now was time to set the hook.

"You won't?"

"I won't do it just to make you feel better."

"Then do so because you're right," she urged, pressing the amulet into his hand. "Hold it for me until I return to Elturel in a fortnight's passing-because I will trust you."

Pinch contemplated the amulet, feigning some doubt about the matter, before quickly slipping it away. "For a fortnight, then." He raised his mug as a bond of their word and smiled his first genuine smile since their meeting. A fortnight it would be, barely enough time to find a buyer and arrange for the artifact to disappear conveniently one more time. It was almost a shame to swindle one so pretty and trusting.

She matched his toast, blind to the intent of his good cheer. Hardly had the mugs clinked but Pinch was on his feet and ready to go. "You must give me leave, Priestess Lissa, but this robe suits me poorly. I must find a tailor with a quick hand. I have no desire to return to the palace dressed as I am." It was best to be gone quickly before she had the chance to reconsider her choice, and certainly his clothes offered the best excuse.

Their parting done, Pinch hurried down the street, into the city, and far away from the palace gates. There was still one more appointment to keep before he could begin the work Cleedis had commissioned of him.

Pinch found his company several hours later, after he'd got himself new dress. No locks were broken or heads cracked, but the Red Priests would be hard pressed to explain why one of their order was seen fleeing a laundry with a gentleman's wash.