Sanya had tried to give her some pointers on how to act like a lady of the streets, which Caim observed with much amusement until they booted him from the room. When Josey emerged an hour later, all dolled up like a courtesan, he was genuinely surprised. She strutted ahead of him on the way to the wineshop and looked every bit the part.
Of course, Kit had been furious. She argued every step of the way, rattling off the many reasons Caim should cut his losses now while his head was still attached to his neck and flee the city for greener pastures.
'Don't let that pretty face fool you,' Kit said. 'And don't think I haven't noticed the way you've been watching her! She's just using you. She'll leave you high and dry the first good chance she gets.'
He listened to her tirade all the way to the Merchant Quarter before he lost his temper and muttered some very pointed things about meddling spirits and the ugly head of jealousy.
'Fine!' she said. 'I guess you've made up your mind.'
With that, she left in a puff of sparkling silver dust and he hadn't seen her since. Now he regretted his words. He didn't have enough friends that he could afford to lose one, but Kit would be back once her temper cooled. Sooner, he hoped, rather than later.
As he watched Josey saunter around the room, lingering at the occupied tables, Caim began to think she was enjoying the charade. That is, until she turned in his direction and transfixed him with a venomous glare. Thankfully, Mother arrived in time to save him. While he handed her twice the price of the drink, plus a sizable tip for the inconvenience, Caim caught Josey's gaze and jerked his head to a nearby table.
She stalked across the taproom and alighted gracefully into a chair. She started to sit up like a proper lady until she saw his expression and slouched, hips thrust forward and legs dangling askew, the perfect picture of a bored streetwalker taking her ease. Mother avoided looking in her direction, but every other eye in the place was plastered to her every move. That was exactly what he wanted. If they salivated over the lusty whore, they wouldn't notice the noblewoman behind the act.
The sound of the door swinging drew Calm's gaze back to the entrance. He breathed a little easier at the sight of Hubert. After the way they had been forced to flee the last time they'd met, Caim had feared the young man wouldn't show. He signaled.
Hubert came over. He grinned as he took in the disguise. 'Going back to your roots, Caim?' He helped himself to a seat at the table. 'Or shouldn't I be using your real name?'
Caim set down his half-empty cup. 'It's safe enough here, but I'm trying to cover my tracks.'
'I was a little surprised to get your message. I thought you were done with us. To what do I owe the pleasure?'
'Mathias is dead.'
Hubert's smile vanished. 'What happened?'
'Someone dealt me a poisoned job, and then went back to make sure I couldn't get more details from Mat. Now they're after me. And my friend.'
'Friend?'
Caim gave a slight nod in Josey's direction. Her seat was close enough to overhear their conversation without appearing obvious. She looked Hubert up and down before turning away with a bored yawn.
'Hubert,' Caim said, 'meet Josephine.'
'She's lovely.' Hubert's eyebrows rose. 'A friend or a friend?'
Josey's smile curled up into a feral smirk as she pretended to examine her nails.
'Careful,' Caim said. 'She bites.'
Hubert tipped his hat in a way that included Josey, or perhaps he saluted the entire room. 'Charmed, milady. Hubert Vassili.'
Josey frowned. Out of the side of her mouth, she whispered, 'Vassili?'
Hubert nodded. 'No doubt you've heard of my father, the archpriest.'
Josey inhaled sharply. Caim glanced around the taproom. Few in Othir dared to talk openly of the Elector Council these days. People had been known to disappear for voicing opposition to their edicts.
'Do not be alarmed, milady.' Hubert touched the blue feather in his hat. 'Despite my father's office, I am a sworn enemy of the theocracy that holds our fair city in bondage.'
He called for a drink as he turned back to Caim. 'Say, are you behind those funerals up in High Town?'
Caim gave the young man his best deadpan face. 'No.'
'Ah, just as well. So I gather you've got a problem that you need my help to solve. Let me guess. The lady has a jealous husband?'
'Not exactly.'
'A jealous pimp?'
Josey's smile became a strained grimace as a patron approached her with a lecherous smile and a cocky swagger. Caim slipped a hand behind his back, but Josey rejected the fellow with a dismissive flick of her fingers. Not precisely in character, but it worked. The man turned around and went back to his table with a glum frown. Mother shot Caim a frown of her own as she hustled over to soothe the jilted lover with a fresh flagon of ale. Message received. She didn't want any more trouble in her place. He needed to hurry this up.
'I'm trying to find someone. A city official, maybe high up.' Caim gave a brief description of the man Josey had seen in her father's study, complete with the sigil stitched into his clothing.
'Crossed keys?' Hubert asked as a decanter of wine arrived with a semiclean glass. 'That would mean a minister of the Church treasury. From what you've told me, I'd guess you're talking about Ozmond Parmian. He's the assistant to the keeper of the Holy Coffers.'
Caim digested that for a moment. 'Any idea why he would be meeting with a retired exarch just hours before that respected man should be killed?'
Hubert tasted his wine and made an unpleasant face. 'You're talking about Earl Frenig.'
Calm's nod was so slight as to be almost imperceptible.
'Oh ho! Caim, you've gotten yourself into a real wasps' nest, haven't you? Old Frenig had his hand in all sorts of interesting business.'
Josey spun around on her chair. 'If you're insinuating he had anything to do with underhanded dealings, you're severely mistaken, sir! He was a-
Caim held up a hand. 'Josey, I'll handle this. You're drawing attention.'
Hubert looked between them. 'Josey… Josephine.' His eyes widened. 'As in Lady Josephine of House Frenig?'
'One and the same,' Caim said. 'Now you see my problem.'
Hubert sat back in his chair and scratched his forehead. 'Maybe better than you do. You're frogged seven ways to Sun Day, my friend.'
'Tell me something I don't know. Like this Parmian guy. Was the earl dealing with the prelacy?'
Josey stiffened in her seat, but Caim ignored her. He didn't have time for niceties. They could be found out at any moment. He had no illusions about what would happen if they were caught. He'd never make it to Castle DiVecci's infamous dungeons. A convenient accident would silence his involvement in this matter for good, and Josey might not survive much longer.
'That's the thing,' Hubert said. 'Frenig was well known to be an active opponent to the Church, one of the last loyalists to the old imperium. That's why he was recalled back to Othir.'
'He retired!' Josey hissed under her breath, loud enough to make Mother jump as she passed by with a tray of drinks.
Hubert shook his head. 'I beg your pardon, milady, but that's not how I heard it. The Reds didn't like some of the things he was saying and so they cancelled his commission. His choices were return to Othir where they could keep an eye on him or be branded an enemy of the people.'
'It doesn't make any sense. Parmian is a bright star in the prelate's administration, but he wouldn't treat with someone like Frenig. It would be a death sentence if he was ever found out.'
Calm's gaze wandered around the room. The place was filling up as people got off from their day's labors and sought solace in a wine cup. 'We have to get hold of this guy. He knows something about the earl's death.'
'I can help with that,' Hubert said. 'Let me contact a few friends and we'll set up a meeting.'
'Is Mr. Parmian going to know about this meeting?'
Hubert tipped back the last of his wine and stood up with a flourish of his silk-lined cloak. 'Not until it's too
