The Palace Job (Rogues of the Republic, #1)

by Patrick Weekes

“Use Derenky. He loves that crap. Why did you give my death-curse case to Tomlin?” “It has to be you.” Melich blinked this time. “And Tomlin has family history with the wizards. It might give him an in.” “Everyone in Tomlin’s family is a wizard, sir. Do you know why he isn’t?” “Because he had a deep desire to protect the helpless?” Melich deadpanned. “Because he’s an idiot. He’s good with pushpins and a map, and that’s about it. And I ruled out the wizards. It’s either a fairy creature or a rogue priest. You should give it to Jyrre.”

“A lock-man, a second-storey operator, and somebody who can jigger with the crystals the Ancients used,” Loch said crisply, “plus anybody who can handle magic and isn’t insane, evil, or overly religious.”

“And, what, she usually just wants to look like a horse with a big point on its head?” “Evidently, Kail.” “I’m not sure I’d want a team member who thought that walking around as a horse was the best plan.”

“I’m just saying, as someone who occasionally rigs fights, I’m offended by the lack of professionalism.”

“Does this job benefit the untamed realms of nature?” Ululenia asked. “It’s going to pay really well,” Kail said after a moment. “Well enough to buy a lot of nature for yourself.” Ululenia frowned. “Is there any chance that young muscular virgins will be involved?” Loch’s lips quirked into a grin. “I can probably arrange that.” “Wonderful,”

“You the wizard?” Kail asked. The wizard looked up and glowered. “No, I’m just wearing these robes because they’re so comfortable.” “We’ve got a job,” Kail said. “We need a wizard.” “What kind of job?” the wizard asked. “The kind where we unlock that cell and all those shackles,” Loch put in. “I think I’d be interested in that kind of job,” said the wizard.

Tis a sad place,” she said softly, her ash-white hair falling into her face as she stared down into the fountain. “I sense unshed tears in earth long paved with stone and brick and tears and blood.” “That’s… slightly less helpful, but thank you for trying.

“Fortune favors the bold, though statistics favor the cautious.”

“Icy!” Tern cried. “No!” “There is no need for apprehension,” Icy said calmly. “I knocked the blade aside harmlessly.” The crewman snarled and went off to find greener pastures. “No!” Tern grabbed Icy’s shoulder and pointed up. “What I was going to say was, ‘Icy, no, you knocked the knife straight up, and it appears to have torn a hole in the balloon overhead,

She tried to roll as best she could, and this section of Heaven’s Spire appeared to be a gentle garden area, because she hit a hedge, fortunately, and then a tree, unfortunately.

“Remember, everyone, it’s your republic!” “Stay informed!”

“Mister Hessler?” said Dairy. “Isn’t the contact supposed to know he’s the contact?” “I don’t know, kid. I’m still picking up the fine points of all this.”

“Well, we’re not wizards, Voyant. Who are we to say that it isn’t some completely harmless magical term—” “Kail?” “Yes, Voyant?” “Please stop snowing me.” “Yes, Voyant.” “I’m a much better liar than you are, and I hate to see it done badly.”

“What about the vault?” “I have mixed news.” “Like good and bad?” Kail asked, pouring himself a drink. “Like bad, very bad, hell no, and maybe,” Tern clarified.

“I mean, Silestin is a bad guy. He stole the book from Loch. But because he’s got so much power, we can never arrest him. What we can do, though, is hurt him for all the bad things he’s done. It’s sort of like we’re doing justice very quietly on our own.” Dairy thought for a moment. “The world shouldn’t be like that, Mister Kail.” “Damn right it shouldn’t, kid.”

What little pride we may retain is—oh, my virgin needs a good pair of gloves. “Dairy?” Icy blinked. “I do not believe he is your.…” After a brief pause, he gave that up. “You believe that his lack of handwear presents a problem?” The gray suede ones. The tiny reptilian form under Icy’s collar dug in her claws. Can you not see him wearing them? Them, and nothing el— “I shall purchase them immediately,” Icy promised, “provided that you refrain from further discussion of this topic.”

“Come on, baby, let’s make this fast.…” “Tern theorized that the ambient magic of the lapisavantum would preclude… are you anthropomorphizing your lockpick?” Kail squinted, trying to feel the tumblers. “You know, she really works better when it’s quiet.”

Icy, work with Dairy, will you?” Loch gave the kid an encouraging nod. “We’re teaching him some combat moves.” Icy continued to smile vaguely. “I am forbidden by my oaths from causing him injury, but I can evade. And perhaps throw him, very gently.”

“Okay,” said Hessler, peeking around the sitting room corner at the chaos, “the important thing is not to do anything hasty.” “Hasty in what sense?” Tern asked, and cocked her crossbow. “If they fight each other,” said Hessler, “we may be able to sneak out undetec…” Tern stepped around the corner, leveled her crossbow, and fired a bolt that exploded out into several coils of what Hessler suspected was yvkefer-lined chain. It snared the black-armored man as justicars lunged in at him. “…ted. Like that! Hasty like that!” “Well, you could have been less ambiguous,”