Along with Bac, a rebel nymph named Tanziel would join our heist party. Bac had introduced me to Tanziel the night before and though the blue-haired nymph had been distant, she’d also been polite. It was as much as I could ask from rebels when I’d been involved in hunting so many of them down.
“Here we are!” Bac sang as we approached the brothel.
Like the Warmsnap in Avaldenn, this establishment was far nicer looking than most of its kind. That was the stamp of Lord Leyv Riis, who owned no low-end establishments.
Younglings appeared to take the horses. Bac and Thyra paid a copper apiece for each horse, allowing Neve and me to hang back in the shadows.
We were waiting until the last moment to apply glamours, which we’d need in Avaldenn. That way, the magic would remain as fresh as possible in the city where so many recognized not only my face, but Neve’s and Caelo’s too.
With the horses stabled, we walked into the tavern on the ground floor. Here, we did not pretend to be patrons. Rather, Luccan led the way to the back and up the stairs. With every step closer to the active brothel, the scent of flowers and musk grew stronger. Faint music played, loud enough to cover up some of the less attractive noises of lovemaking. When Luccan reached the top, the madam smiled in recognition.
“Lord Luccan.” She inclined her head. “Back so soon. Might I tempt you to stay the night?”
“Not tonight, Lady Amal,” he said, though his tone sounded like ‘never’. If I had to guess, Luccan was far too consumed with Clemencia to wish to visit a brothel for pleasure. “Keep the workers and clients away from my father’s office. I require privacy.”
“It is yours.” She swept down the hallway, deeper into the brothel.
Luccan claimed the workers of the taverns and brothels did not know they had gateways in their places of employment, but I wasn’t so sure. Some of them had to suspect as much, but if they held their tongues, that was good enough for me.
We entered a short, empty hallway in which only one door waited at the end. Luccan approached and placed his hand on the knob. The door lit up, and the lock clicked, allowing us entry.
Fitting so many into the office was difficult. Lord Riis was an extravagant male in many respects, but he didn’t use this office often. As a result, it was on the small side. Fit we did, however, and once the door closed and locked once more, Luccan turned first to Thyra.
“I’ll send your lot through first and seeing as you’ll have Arie with you, returning won’t be an issue.”
As the only Riis in the other group, Arie not only gave them access to the gateway on the other side, but he would also get them into the coinary of Bitra by asking to access his family vault. It would likely be on the lowest level, just like House Skau’s vault.
Duran was also going to Bitra. Not for connections, but for reasons involving his mind. The Skau family had a reputation for being erudite. Many of that bloodline became a Vishku of the House of Wisdom or renowned scholars in their selected field. It was a common practice for noble houses to put their own protections on their vaults. Protections particular to their strengths. House Skau might have a riddle at the door or something of that nature and for that, Duran was being brought along.
“This gateway enters into Skau Castle?” Thyra asked.
Luccan nodded, not about to correct her thathisfamily now owned the palace in Bitra.
“As I’m with you, there will be no issue with the skeleton crew of servants we keep at the castle,” Arie added.
Thyra let out a breath. “Then we’re ready. Open the gateway.”
Arie stepped forward and poked his finger with the tip of his dagger. With his blood he drew an X on the wall.
Instantaneously, a portal opened, light blinding us and hiding what was on the other side.
“You first, Riis,” Thyra said.
Neve huffed at the lack of trust her sister exhibited. I felt the same.
Arie rolled his eyes, but did as Thyra said, slipping through the portal.
“I hear nothing,” Thyra said.
“You won’t,” Luccan snapped. “I wouldn’t let my brother go through first if there was a monster or something, would I?”
Thyra looked at Neve before staring at the portal again. “I don’t know your relationship with your brothers, gatemaker.”
Anger rose in me, but I tamped it down. Soon Thyra would be gone, and we’d be on our own mission. It was best not to take a negative attitude with me.
Sigri the dwarf followed Arie. Then Duran, Halladora, the rebellion’s glamourist, and then the vampires Livia and Astril, which left only Thyra standing with our party.
My mate’s twin inhaled. “Meet back here as soon as the job is done.”
