“Well, we went to Erica’s home and didn’t find anything other than some clothing. I think Gaspar doubts you’ll find out enough information about the layout of the Captain’s home.”
“That’s not very nice.”
“I’m just telling you what he said. Anyway, what does Jessica know?”
“Just a minute.” There was silence on the other end, and Gavin hurried toward Gaspar. The man stood at the door, hesitating with his hand outstretched.
“Don’t you bother him about this,” Jessica said. Her voice came from a distance, and he could imagine her yelling at him through Wrenlow’s side of the enchantment.
“I’m not doing anything,” Gavin said.
“If he doesn’t want to talk about it, then you don’t talk about it.”
“I think he owes us—”
“He doesn’t owe you anything.”
Gavin imagined Jessica looming over Wrenlow, his book spread open in front of him while trying to protect it from her.
Gavin shook his head. “Why don’t you put Wrenlow back on?”
There was a moment of silence. “I don’t think she’s willing to talk about this,” Wrenlow said. “Don’t push him too hard. I guess that’s the only advice I can give you.”
“Thanks. I have that sense.” Gavin tapped on the enchantment and joined Gaspar at the door. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“Are you going to knock or not?”
“I’m deciding whether it’s worth it.”
“Didn’t you say we need to help Erica and that boy of hers?”
“Maybe,” Gaspar said.
“Well, if you want me to do whatever I can to help him, then you need to do whatever you can in order to help him.” Gavin resisted the urge to smile. He suspected that Gaspar knew though.
Gaspar’s face was a dark thundercloud. It was almost enough to make Gavin laugh again. He reached past. Gaspar grabbed for his wrist, but not before Gavin got a good solid rap at the door.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Gaspar hissed.
Gavin flashed a grin and shrugged. “I figured you weren’t going to…”
He trailed off as the door opened. Gavin looked at the woman on the other side of the door and frowned. This wasn’t who he expected.
The person who answered was no more than fifteen, maybe sixteen.
“Is she…” he whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Gaspar elbowed him, and Gavin jumped off to the side, wincing.
“Is your mother home?” Gaspar asked.
The girl looked at Gaspar and nodded. “I’ll go get her. Who should I say is visiting?”
Gaspar frowned for a moment. “Just tell her it’s an old friend from the Roasted Dragon.”
The girl tipped her head, studying Gaspar with a quizzical expression on her face before nodding. When she left, she closed the door most of the way, but it remained open a crack.
“Is she yours?” Gavin whispered.
“I told you to be quiet.”
“I think it’s a reasonable question, at least in light of everything.”
“In light of what?” Gaspar asked.
“Of the fact that she’s here. She’s in the home of your ex. And…” Gavin wasn’t sure he should finish.
Gaspar watched him with a look of murder in his eyes. For a simple thief, he certainly gave off an air of danger in a way that surprised Gavin.
“We aren’t going to talk about this,” Gaspar said.
“I could just go and ask Jessica. You did say that you were a friend of hers from the Roasted Dragon.”
“I’m warning you, boy. Don’t push me.”
Gavin started to chuckle but straightened at the look on Gaspar’s face. He really should be careful. Seeing that expression, he decided not to say anything else. Instead, he took a step back, crossed his arms in front of him, and waited.
Gaspar shifted his weight, moving from foot to foot. Gavin didn’t know the old thief to be nervous about anything, so it surprised him.
When the door finally opened again, the woman standing in the doorway had dark hair, much like the younger girl. She had a round face and was dressed in a colorful gown. She was lovely, but she was nothing like the kind of person Gavin would’ve expected—not that he had any idea about the kind of woman that Gaspar would’ve been with.
The woman’s eyes widened when she saw Gaspar. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t a real issue.”
“I thought you couldn’t visit with me anymore.”
“And I don’t think I really can,” Gaspar said. He glanced past her, his gaze looking into the home. “But someone needs my help.”
“Someone always needs your help, Gaspar.”
“Desarra—”
She shook her head. “Don’t. You don’t need to say anything. Much like I don’t need you to say anything. After all, didn’t we agree we both knew we couldn’t be together anymore?”
“You know what happened.”
Gaspar’s back was tense, and Gaspar looked toward him, as if trying to indicate something to him. Maybe trying to tell Gavin he needed to turn away; to not listen.
How could he not listen though?
“Can we come in?” Gaspar asked.
Desarra looked over at Gavin, frowning. “I’m sorry. I should be more polite. I didn’t know you had someone with you. An apprentice?”
Gaspar glanced over at him. “This one doesn’t think he needs anyone’s help.”
“So he’s more like you,” Desarra said, smiling.
“Unfortunately,” Gaspar muttered.
“I don’t think you should come in. Not today.”
“I understand. Can I ask you a question in confidence?”
“What is it?”
“It’s about…” Gaspar trailed off as he looked past her again, and he seemed to notice the other girl. He waited for a moment before sighing. “Perhaps now isn’t a good time.”
“Now is fine,” she said.
“I don’t know that it is. Until we have more privacy, I…”
She stepped forward, giving the younger woman a pointed glance, and then pulled the door closed. Once outside, she stayed there with her hand on the door, looking at Gaspar. Gavin had seen an expression like that in other people’s eyes before, and seeing somebody look at Gaspar like that was surprising.
It was affection, but it was a pained sort of affection.
“You really shouldn’t have come,” she whispered.
“And I wouldn’t have, were it not necessary,” Gaspar replied.
“I…” She looked over at Gavin, and she
