There it was. Fi traced a nail around the edge of her glass. First Cardigan’s shady cargo descriptions, now this?
“That wasn’t the agreement,” Fi said.
The man, Erik, leaned forward. “You didn’t think we’d offer so many energy chips for a simple delivery? We had to be certain you were up to the task. A test of—”
Milana set a hand on his arm. At leastshenoticed Fi’s ice-crusted glare.
“We apologize for the duplicity,” Milana said. “Nothing to reflect a poor opinion of your services. We’ve been told you have a formidable constitution. That you don’t back down from challenging contracts.”
Fi made a sour face. Shehadworked very hard to fabricate that reputation, hadn’t she? A different person from the flimsy girl who’d run away from home ten years ago.
Wasn’t loving the trajectory of this conversation, though.
This woman didn’t speak like a black-market reseller. Milanaspoke like a politician—far more concerning. And Fi had to be cautious with clients who paid this well.
“What’s the rest of the job?” Fi asked.
“We need you to move the capsules into the capitol building.”
In the following silence, Fi could have heard a mosquito cough.
Or was that ringing sound in her own ears?
She wouldn’t bat her mascara-lined lashes at evading backcountry police. Slinking past border checkpoints. Emptying estates for scheming mistresses. Success relied on avoiding routes of highest risk. The capitol building rolled every conceivable risk into a single glass-coated cage.
“You’re joking.” Fi looked between them. “Pleasetell me you’re joking.”
“You’ll be finished by this time tomorrow,” Milana said. As ifthatwas the issue.
“The governor is in the capitol building.” Along with his retinue of security. More trade wardens than Fi could hurl an energy chip at. Rooms full of people faithful to the territory’s law and order, to say nothing of the greatest danger. “And the Void-damneddaeyari.”
“The Lord Daeyari is currently gone from the city,” Milana said. “Inspecting his eastern holdings. And the governor will be busy with meetings tomorrow.”
This was a joke. A test. Cruel retribution for Fi not paying taxes—but merciless Void,everyonehated taxes. “What business could you possibly have in the capitol building?”
“We’re looking to acquire a ceramic art piece of considerable value from the governor’s personal collection. The energy capsules you’ve transported will be our route into the safe.”
“You need that many capsules for asafe?”
“A precaution. You get the capsules into the building, then get us out.”
Fi blew out a breath, attacking a rainbow curl that had escaped onto her cheek. “Ah. See. Here, we have another issue. I transport items. I don’t infiltrate.”
“We’ll infiltrate. All you have to do is move us.”
“A Void smuggler never reveals her routes.” Neither was she thrilled at the idea of becoming a glorified getaway driver.
“There are no existing Curtains within the capitol grounds,” Erik chimed in. “Security policy during construction.”
Fi’s brow lifted, but before she could argue—
“We need you to cut a new Curtain,” Milana said.
Fi fell silent as permafrost.
Most Curtains existed naturally, remnants of whatever cataclysm shattered the Planes. The ability to cut new Curtains was a difficult,dangerousskill. One of Fi’s greatest secrets to success, used only in dire need.
“And what makes you think I can do that?” she asked, her tone a warning low.
