“We’re your only chance to go free,” said Locke, fuming, considering saying a number of less productive things.
“Go free? Why? I like it here. I’m fed, and my creditors can’t reach me for at least the next year. The state of Espara will stop at one hand. Hells, that’s a bargain compared to what I might get when my markers are called in on the street.”
“What’s the name of the noble you struck?” said Sabetha.
“Why do you care?” said Moncraine. “How can it possibly be of aid to you as you SCURRY BACK WHERE YOU FUCKING CAME FROM?”
“Keep your voice down,” said one of the guards. “Or you’ll have to be carried into court tomorrow.”
“You know, that might be pleasant,” said Moncraine. “Can we give that a try?”
“Jasmer,” said Sabetha sharply. “Look at me, you stupid ass.”
Jasmer did indeed look at her.
“I don’t care what you think of us,” she whispered. “You know what kind of person our master is. What kind of organization we come from. And if you don’t stop braying like a jackass, this is what’s going to happen. We’ll leave.”
“I love this plan,” said Moncraine. “Take this plan all the way!”
“You’ll spend your year and a day inside this tower. Then they’ll cut your gods-damned hand off and throw you out the door. And do you know who’ll be standing there? More Camorri than you’ve ever seen in your fucking life. Not just us, or the other three currently toiling on your behalfon the other side of this pimple of a city. I mean big, unreasonable, cross-eyed motherfuckers straight out of the wombs of hell, and they’ll take you for a ride. Locked in a box, ten days, all the way to Camorr sloshing in your own piss.”
“Now wait a minute,” said Moncraine.
“You don’t have any other fucking creditors, get it? We’re the front of the line now. We’re all you need to worry about. You made a deal with our garrista. You know what that word means?”
“Of course—”
“Obviously you don’t! Our master sent you five of us, free and clear, ready to get your troupe back on its feet. All you had to do was teach us about your trade. You’d rather break the deal and insult a garrista. So, you have a comfortable year, you stupid clown. As soon as it’s over you’ll see us again. Come on, Lucaza.”
She turned sharply, and Locke, supporting her act wholeheartedly, favored Moncraine with a sour smirk before he did the same.
“Wait,” Jasmer hissed.
“What’s the name of the noble you struck?” Sabetha didn’t give him any more time to think or plead or stew; she whirled on him just as quickly as she’d pretended to leave.
“Boulidazi,” said Moncraine. “Baron Boulidazi of Palazzo Corsala.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I was drinking,” said Moncraine. “He wanted … he came down to Gloriano’s. He wanted to buy out my debts, install himself as the company’s patron.”
“For this you punched him in the teeth?” said Locke. “What are you going to do if we get you out of here, try to cut our hearts out?”
“Boulidazi’s an ass! A stuck-up little ass! He’s barely older than you, and he thinks he can buy and sell me like gods-damned furniture. A theatrical company with his name on everything, wouldn’t that be sweet! It took me twenty years to build my own troupe. I won’t be anyone’s hired man again. I’ll take the Weeping Tower to that, any day, any year.”
“How was assaultinghim preferable to letting him save your troupe?” said Sabetha. She sounded as incredulous as Locke felt.
“He doesn’t careabout the troupe,” said Moncraine. “He wants it mounted on his wall like a fucking hunting trophy! He wants some charity project he can dangle at whatever gilded cunt he’s chasing to show what a sensitive and artistic fellow he is. I refuse to sell my good name to help rich puppies dip their wicks!”
“What good name?” said Locke. “Even the members of your own company want to see you get eaten by a bear.”
“And I’d be glad to supply one,” said Sabetha. “Unfortunately for everyone, we’re still going to rescue you. So I want you to sit quietly in your cell and bite your tongue.”
“Tomorrow,” said Locke, “this Baron Boulidazi will forgive your insult and decline to make charges.”
“ What?” said Moncraine. “Boy, listen to me. Even if Boulidazi had a thousand cocks in his breeches and you blew every last one like a flute from sunrise to sunset—”
“He’ll forgive your insult,” said Sabetha through gritted teeth, “because that is the only possible salvationwe can arrange for you. Understand? We have no other cards to play. So this is how it’ll be. Once you’re out, we’ll discuss what you need to get your Republic of Thievesback into production.”
“The trouble with this fantasy, girl, is that it requires both of us to not be mad,” said Moncraine softly.
“All it requires is that you shut up and behave,” said Sabetha. “And my name isn’t girl. Most times you can call me Verena Gallante. But when I’m onstage, you’ll call me Amadine.”
“Will I?” Moncraine laughed. “That’s a presumption a few steps ahead of my grasp. You show me your mythical thread of kindness in Boulidazi. Then we’ll chat on the matter of plays.”
“Go back to your cell,” said Sabetha. “I guarantee we’ll speak again tomorrow.”
5
“EVEN IF we get him out,” said Locke, “we’ll need to put that man on a leash.”
“He’s a menace to himself and the rest of us,” said Sabetha. “When we spring him, we should crowd him. Make it clear that he’s being watched and judged at all times.”
“By the way, who’s Amadine?”
“The best role in The Republic of Thieves,” said Sabetha, grinning.
“I haven’t read any of it yet.”
“You should, before all the good parts get snapped up.”
“Someone kept it to herself all the way here!”
“Moncraine’s got to have more copies of it somewhere in his troupe’s mess. Jenora might know. But first, we’ve got our miracle to deliver on.”
“Miracle indeed,” said Locke. They were moving back down the Legion Steps, through the still ranks of the marble soldiers. The drizzle had let up, but there were soft rumbles of thunder from above. “We need to reach this Boulidazi, more or less as we are, and convince him to forgive one of the craziest assholes I’ve ever met for a completely unjustified drunken assault.”
“Any ideas?”
“Uh … maybe.”
“Spit them out. I managed to shut Jasmer up long enough to make our point; I’ve earned my day’s pay.”
“And you were a pleasure to watch, too,” said Locke. “But then, you’re always—”
“ Youdo not have the time to be charming,” said Sabetha, giving him a mild punch to the shoulder. “And I certainly don’t have time to be charmed.”
“Right. Sure,” said Locke. “We need an angle of approach. Why should he open his door for us? Hey, what if we were Camorri nobles going incognito?”
“Hiding in Espara,” she said, clearly liking the notion. “Trouble at home?”
“Hmmm. No. No, if we’re not in favor at home we can’t offer him anything. We might actually be a risk to him.”
“You’re right. Okay. You and I … are cousins,” said Sabetha. “First cousins.”
“Cousins,” said Locke. “So many gods-damned imaginary cousins. You and I are cousins .… If we have to show Jean and the Sanzas, they’re family retainers. We are, uh, grandchildren of … an old count that doesn’t get out much.”