Chapter One
“Fuck, it's cold out there,” the X'anti said as he stomped his hooves on the stone floor to shake off the snow.
Everyone in the Sable Fist stared at the man and not because of his enormous size or the bull horns on his head, their black lengths fading to brown at the tips. His bluish-gray skin wasn't of note either. It was common to all X'anti, not a result of the uncommonly harsh winter. We stared because the Fist was a Raltven tavern and the only non-Raltven who dared enter it were potential customers.
Then the X'anti took off his coat, and everyone looked away.
“Fuck,” Kimu muttered on my left. “A damn Horn. No one in Midnight will work for him. Why would he come here?”
I eyed the golden horn embroidered on the man's black tunic. “He's either really dumb or really desperate. I wonder which?”
“I don't know, but if he approaches anyone, he'll be really dead.”
“Perhaps.”
“Just because he's a X'anti, it doesn't mean he'll stand a chance. Not in here.”
“Unless he has friends waiting outside.”
Kimu went still. All but his eyes, which darted to the door. Then he slid into the shadows, going transparent in the Raltven way. The dark interior of the tavern, combined with the black gauze that hung from the ceiling—both commonly found in Raltven taverns, hid the faint, dark outline of his body. I chuckled as many other members of the Midnight Clan followed suit. By the time the X'anti ended his conversation with Sinna, the bartender, he turned to find the room nearly empty. At least, that's how it would appear to him.
The X'anti frowned, then said, “I'm here on behalf of King Cynric.”
No one reappeared.
Feeling sorry for the guy, I called out, “What does the King want with us lowlifes?”
A few of my fellow clan members chuckled. Everyone knew about Raltven shadowform, so the X'anti would know they were there. Still, it must have seemed as if the shadows laughed at him. But then he narrowed his eyes at me, and the darkness shut up. Hands slid to corkscrew daggers as the King's messenger strode over to my table, his hooves clomping hollowly on the floor.
Of all things, a nursery rhyme billowed up in my mind.With the echo of hooves, his destiny drew near. The boy stood strong and faced it without fear.
It sent a shiver down my back.
“He's got a job for one of you,” the X'anti said, his voice perfectly timed with the shivers. “A job that will pay more than any of you could earn in a year.”
“You know you're in a Raltven tavern, right?” I asked. “Our talents aren't the sort kings usually pay for. Unless it's a very naughty king.”
A snickering went around the room, even Sinna joined in.
“He needs a thief,” the X'anti said, surprising us all. “The best.”
“I think the King's going to have to take whatever he can get.” I lifted my mug to the X'anti. “To His Majesty. May he find his thief.”
“Are you all cowards then?” the X'anti growled.
I lifted a brow as several Raltven stood up, though the X'anti couldn't see them move. Only we Raltven could sense each other in shadowform. In bright light, he might have spotted a faint outline, but not in this dimly lit tavern. My friends were closing in on the idiot. I had seconds to save his ass.
“Do not mistake stealth and prudence for cowardice,” I said. “No one in this room is a coward. We are, however, very good at doing very bad things, and part of what makes us so good at it is our shadowform. I urge you to take that into consideration and quickly offer my friends an apology.”
The X'anti stiffened, his gaze shooting around the room.
“Where are they?” I mused in a sing-song tone. “Oh, where, oh, where have they gone? Are they surrounding you? Or perhaps holding a dagger to your throat?”
“Fuck,” the X'anti growled. “All right, I apologize.”
My friends backed away but remained standing.
“You've bought yourself some time,” I said. “Now, what's the job?”
