“The constables. We need their enchantments.”
Chapter Seventeen
The street was mostly empty. Gavin had sheathed his sword, and as he hurried along, he tried to ignore Gaspar’s grunts as they hurried through the streets.
“Do you have to make that much noise?” Gavin asked.
“How much noise would you like me to make? I’ve heard you sleeping. You snore as loud as a bear. You do everything loudly,” Gaspar said.
Gavin ignored him, sweeping his gaze along the street, looking for any sign of movement from whoever that might be out there. Once they found the constables, the next step would be to sneak up on them and incapacitate them.
“I still think this is a terrible idea,” Gaspar said.
“Your objection is noted.” Gavin glanced over to him. “When you were with them, did you have any items like that?” He hesitated to mention the constables too loudly. He never knew who might be listening. Gavin didn’t think that anyone was out here following them, but if there was, he didn’t want them to know that they were intending to go after the constables.
“When I was with them, they were just getting started.”
“Getting started hunting those with magic?” Gavin asked.
“There was less understanding about what they were doing.”
“I don’t know. It sounds to me from what you’ve said that there was a pretty good idea about what they were doing.”
“I don’t think they understood the consequences,” Gaspar said.
Gavin turned to look at Gaspar behind him and shook his head. “What consequences do you think there really have been through all of this?”
“When it comes to missing out on these opportunities for other power, there are consequences.”
Gavin shrugged. He had seen places different than this, places where magic was used more openly. In his mind, that was one of the benefits of Yoran. He didn’t think that those who ruled in the city had any greater justification for their power, but at least they weren’t using magic as a reason to rule.
“So you don’t have one of these enchantments,” Gavin said.
“If I had one, don’t you think that I would have offered it?”
“I think it depends on what you might get out it.”
“You can think anything you want. I’ve been far more helpful with you than I have with anyone else in the city.”
“What do you mean by that?” Gavin asked.
“You think you’re the only person who’s come thinking they can disrupt the typical patterns here? But you get things done. You’ve been useful. So for that reason alone, I’ve helped you. And it’s a far sight more than I’ve helped anyone else, so be thankful.”
Gavin watched him a moment, debating whether to thank him or argue with him. “You do know I’m not trying to disrupt anything.”
Gaspar grunted. “You’re not trying, but you’re still doing quite a good job of it. Damn it, but the things taking place within the city are things that need to change. The fear of magic has been unreasonable.” He said that quietly, and his gaze darted around the street, almost as if he was afraid that somebody else might hear what he was saying. “At the same time, I also realize I’m not in any position to make those changes,” Gaspar added.
There was something in what he said that suggested to Gavin that Gaspar wanted change. Probably because of Desarra, but maybe there was more to it. He’d never pushed to find out what Gaspar did on his jobs, but he made it sound like he had some noble purpose.
“There are ways you could help,” Gavin said.
“Maybe, but that involves me wanting to. I wanted to ensure that those I work with are safe, and you, boy”—he added the “boy” more aggressively than he usually did—“have made it very clear that you aren’t always concerned with that.”
“I want to keep the Dragon safe.”
“You say that, but maybe stop bringing danger to it.”
Gavin opened his mouth before shutting it again. Danger continued to follow him to the Dragon, despite his intentions. “I’m not trying. It’s just that bad people keep coming to it.”
“Because of you.”
There was movement from a crowd at the end of the street, and Gavin headed toward it. He was looking for a crowd; anything that might suggest constables. In the last few days, they had been a constant presence, so he expected that they would be here. So far, he hadn’t seen any.
“Why do you think we’re having a hard time finding them when we want to?” Gavin asked.
“The constables don’t have any sort of supernatural ability,” Gaspar said. “They aren’t magical.”
“They do have enchantments though.”
“Be careful how loud you say that.”
Gavin looked at him. “Why? Because you fear that the constables will hear us?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you said that their enchantments were only to help them detect magic.”
Gaspar shook his head. “There are many different kinds of enchantments. You think that just because I was a constable that I’d be privy to all their secrets, but that’s not the way it works. I don’t know about all of the enchantments the constables have. Possibly the ability to listen, or perhaps something else.”
In the distance, there was more movement from the crowd of people along the street. He saw something, though it didn’t seem to be constables. “Come with me.”
Gaspar sighed loudly as Gavin hurried up the street.
He had no idea if he was heading in the right direction, but as he raced forward, Gaspar kept pace with him. The old thief breathed heavily, and Gavin couldn’t help but feel as if he were doing it intentionally.
They reached another intersection, and Gavin found what he was looking for: three constables who were stopped in front of a home. He hesitated, motioning toward them so Gaspar knew they were there too. A few others were out in the street with them, but they looked as if they attempted to avoid their notice, speeding along the street.
“I can see them,” Gaspar said.
“Yes, but you’re also old. How am I supposed to know what you can see?”
