She lifts one shoulder in half a shrug. “I’m not breaking the rules. There’s a time limit, and you’re the first Hunter I’ve seen.”
I’m certainly not going to argue. I take a step forward and put out my hand. “I’ll take both.”
“You’ll take one. And only because I don’t want a Hunter sleeping in the street when the kingdom’s been ordered to freeze.”
“They’re both stitched closed. What if the targets are together? You want the death of one to tip off the other?”
Her eyes narrow.
Hammish laughs under his breath. “He’s got you there, Rach.”
“You won’t see Logan or Gunnar until nightfall,” I add. “If then.” They’re the two best Hunters in the Guild, the men who’d usually get first crack at opportunities like this.
They’re also the best sleepers, because they earn enough silver to keep them well-housed and well-fed.
Rachel taps the bound leather against her hand. “Both jobs are to be done by sundown,” she says. “If they’re not, I’ll have to send another Hunter, and they’ll only pay half.”
It’s not a lot of time for two jobs, but I give her a sharp nod. “Even more reason to give them to me now.”
She doesn’t move. “If they only pay half because you got cocky, you’re covering the rest.” Her eyes flick to the lines on my cheek, the punishment marks left there by the slavers. “And you know where the Master will get it.”
I stare at her, weighing the implications of that.
It’s almost enough to make me drop my hand.
She stares back. “Still want both, or do you want to think about whateverdelayedyou in Morinstead?”
She’s implying that I got caught up in a romance, or gambling debts, or any of the other vices that distract Hunters when they’re new.
“What happened in Morinstead wasn’t anything like that,” I say evenly. “I got the job done.”
Behind the bar, Hammish catches a glimpse of my expression, and he laughs. “You were gone a long time,” he calls. “The others were starting to lay bets on why. Bekka was disappointed that you came back so soon. She bet we wouldn’t see you inside of a year. Sorrel thought maybe you were in prison again.”
I scowl. That’s a little too close to the truth.
But now that the opportunity has been offered, I don’t want to see it yanked away. I keep my hand extended, then swallow hard. “Please, Rachel.”
She heaves a sigh and stands, carrying the leather folds to the bars, but she hesitates before coming close enough to pass them through. “It’s my neck on the line, too, Asher. I’ll give you till midday. If they’re not done, I’m telling Pavok to send someone after you.”
My eyebrows go up. It’s barely dawn. Shortening my deadline doesn’t give me a lot of time.
But I nod. “They’ll be done.”
She slips the folds of leather through the bars. “I’m looking out for you.” Her eyes flick to the ink-brands on my cheek again.
I scowl and pull up my hood so she can’t look at them anymore. When I reach for the assignments, the leather is so rich and smooth—I’ve rarely felt anything like it since I lived in the palace.
“You’re looking out for the Guild,” I say.
But maybe she’s looking out for me, too. She didn’t have to offer these to me.
She doesn’t deny it, though. “Midday, Asher.”
I nod. “Understood.” If she has to send another Hunter after me, I wouldn’t hear the end of it. I could kiss any decent assignment goodbye.
It would almost be worse than disappearing for months and having everyone think I was whoring my money away.
Then again, Pavok would probably sell me back to the slavers anyway. I’d rather he send someone to kill me—though I suppose that wouldn’t put any coins in his pocket.
