“He was one of the constables. He was a magic hunter.”
“A what?”
“You didn’t know.”
Gavin shook his head and stared at Gaspar in stunned silence.
Desarra got up and reached toward Gaspar, almost as if she wanted to take his hands, but as had happened at the house, he didn’t move toward her. After a moment, she turned and left the Dragon. Gaspar lingered at the table for a moment, his eyes closed, and he took a deep breath before getting up and heading over to them.
“Gaspar?” Jessica whispered.
“I have what we need,” he said.
“What?” Gavin asked.
“She provided a layout of the Captain’s fortress. Wrenlow can confirm it, but this should be enough.”
Gavin looked at the stack of detailed pages in Gaspar’s hand.
How would Desarra have been able to get that information?
Maybe it was best that he didn’t know.
“As soon as we confirm this, we’ll finish this job,” Gaspar said.
Gavin wanted to say something and to ask a few more questions, but seeing the look on Gaspar’s face and the troubled expression in his eyes, he realized that would’ve been a terrible idea. It was better to leave him.
Instead, he reached for more towels and continued to fold them. That would help him focus his mind. It wouldn’t be as effective as practicing or fighting, but maybe enough that he wouldn’t have to stare at Gaspar and wonder about the old man. He wouldn’t have to wonder why he left the constables. He wouldn’t have to wonder why he got into thieving. And he wouldn’t have to wonder about his relationship with Desarra—one it seemed that both still wished they had.
Chapter Eight
Gavin stalked along the street, moving under the shadows of night. He held one hand on the dagger, keeping it tucked away and off to his side. So far, there had been no additional movement, nothing that drew his attention, but he knew it was only a matter of time before someone appeared on the street. It was late enough that he’d been able to maneuver for this long without someone else appearing, but eventually, his luck would end.
“I can’t tell that you’re moving,” Wrenlow whispered in his ear.
At least he was whispering. That was a new development for him. Since gaining the new enchantment from Anna, Wrenlow liked to yell in his ear. With the new El’aras enchantment, Gavin had the ability to adjust the volume and no longer had to listen to Wrenlow scream at him.
“I’m still moving,” he replied.
He made the sound as little more than a soft breath of air, trying to call it out against the night. He didn’t want anything or anyone to realize that he was here. Not yet. Eventually, it wouldn’t matter. But for now, secrecy was key.
“If you’re still moving, where are you?”
“Do you have to keep chattering?” Gaspar asked.
Gavin smiled to himself. The old thief was across the street, moving in another set of shadows. He did so far more easily than Gavin did, though every so often, Gavin was able to make out a shimmer of reflection, thanks to the moonlight. When he did, he made certain to let Gaspar know that he’d been seen. So far, Gaspar didn’t seem to care.
“You’re just jealous I’m not talking to you,” Gavin said.
“There’s no jealousy. You two need to stop bickering.”
He grinned again, and he moved forward. At least Gaspar seemed back to his old crotchety self. Ever since Desarra had visited the Dragon, he’d been off. Now that they were making a run at the Captain’s fortress, he needed Gaspar to be focused.
There was another shadow out in the night, though this one was far more difficult for him to see. Gavin had learned that Gaspar wasn’t the most skilled thief in their makeshift crew. Imogen was.
She was deadly quiet. It was as if she practically floated above the ground, an enchantment carrying her forward. Gavin had yet to uncover her secret, but he was sure that there was one to be found. If it was simply that she was naturally that skilled, he didn’t know if he would be disappointed or impressed.
“Is she ready?” Gavin asked.
“She’s always ready,” Gaspar said.
Gavin nodded, counting on Gaspar to have seen it. It would be beneficial if Imogen had an enchantment that they could use to talk to her as well, but the El’aras enchantment was made only for three-way communication. If only he’d taken the time to request something more.
He still could, he realized. Anna had given him a token as a means of reaching her and summoning her, but Gavin was loath to use it for something that was not an emergency. He had no idea how she would respond—or if she would. It seemed he should wait for a time when he actually had the need. There might be others who could help anyway. Given what Davel Chan had said about enchanters in the city, they could find one to help create an additional earpiece for them.
“Then we should go,” Gavin said.
He darted across the street. The movement was as quick as he could make it without dipping into his core reserves of power. Gaspar was waiting for him. The old thief was swift, and he moved almost faster than Gavin did when he didn’t tap into those reserves.
Imogen stood further along the street, though she wasn’t going to break in quite yet. She would wait.
“Are you in position?” Gavin whispered to Wrenlow.
“I’m here.”
“You always wanted to come out on a job.”
“I wanted to be a part of a job, but I’m not sure that I wanted to be a part of this job.”
Gavin smiled to himself again, imagining Wrenlow sitting on the rooftop two streets away. Not that Gavin would blame him. There was something to be said
