“Roderick has been in operation for longer than you’ve been alive. Give it up, Gil.”
From the floor, Silas groaned and rolled a bit as he began to regain consciousness, and I gave him a swift jab to his temple so he stilled again.
“Come on, Ambrose. Just give me the file. I know you have it in here somewhere.”
Ambrose jutted out his weak jaw in the most obnoxious way. “No. It’s not a good assignment for you. The Nightsworn will probably pick him up soon, anyway.”
“I can take whichever assignment I want, and I want him.”
Ambrose continued to doggedly shake his head. “Take the poster if you want; there are a hundred just like that one that the Nightsworn have posted all over Berkway. But I won’t give you his file. It’s locked up in the Employer’s office.”
He had puckered up his mouth, his bottom lip curled over his upper lip in a ridiculous way that might have made me laugh if I hadn’t been so annoyed with him. There was no chance he would cave. I’d have to find a different way.
I heaved a dramatic sigh and handed the poster back. “Is he too difficult to catch or something?”
Ambrose nodded curtly and rolled the poster up to stuff into his desk, out of sight. “Very much so. He’s eluded everyone for years. You wouldn’t have a chance.”
“Fine, then. Do you have something easier that pays a good amount?”
Clearly relieved, Ambrose went back to perusing the wall. “There’ve been a few rumors of a man hustling fights nearby. No bounty has been set on him yet, but it’s only a matter of time. There’s a new bounty set on a drug smuggler from Ebora, but the Syndicate members based there will probably be the ones to take care of them…” I stopped paying attention as Ambrose went on to list several more options.
I kept looking at the poster clutched in Ambrose’s thin hands. Silas had said he sold young women to Roderick Vane. He would know where my sister was. I’d have to track down the slavers near the ports to find my mother, but getting to my father all the way back in Ebora would take some doing, unless…
Just as Ambrose had said, there was a group of syndicate members in Ebora. They could find my father, I was sure of it.
“Those are the best options I can give you,” concluded Ambrose. “Are you interested in any?”
“I’ll think about it. But in the meantime, I’d like to put out a bounty of my own.”
His thin gray eyebrows jumped up. “I’ve told you before Gil, hunters can’t put out bounties of their own and the Employer won’t pay?—”
“I know, I know. You said that when I first joined. But it’s different now. I have the money.”
“I still won’t issue any bounty without the Employer’s approval. And what would you be willing to offer?”
“A thousand gold shillings,” I said promptly. “Plus reimbursement for travel expenses if anyone can find a man named Tavrek Holloway. He’s about fifty-five years old and was sold to a work camp outside Ebora fifteen or sixteen years ago.”
“I’d still have to get the Employer’s approval…” Ambrose said slowly but recorded the information all the same. “Anything else to put in the file if it’s approved? A sketch of what he looks like, any additional information?”
“He was taken by Silas Grimbeard and separated from his wife and two daughters. That’s all I know. I might be able to provide a rough sketch to Elvin, but it would be very rough.”
He gave a low whistle. “That isn’t much information.”
“Which is why I’m offering a thousand gold coins plus travel reimbursement. They also have to deliver him alive and unharmed to me. Can you get this information to Ebora?”
“I still need to process the request through the Employer but if approved, then yes.” For a moment, he kept his mouth open, as if he was about to ask why, then wisely snapped it shut.
“Thanks, Ambrose.” I faked an immense yawn. “I’m tired. I’m headed home for the night.”
“Come back in a few days, then. Do you need anything out of your account?”
“Nope,” I told him, already striding out the door. “I have enough for now, and I’m saving up everything else.”
Ambrose chuckled and waved me out the door. “Saving up to set more bounties of your own, it would seem. Do you plan to replace the Employer one day?”
“No, no,” I said as I left. “I just want to be rich.”
I crouchedon a rooftop several buildings over and across the road as the night dragged on. I’d already counted four people leave from the Syndicate’s safehouse, and there had been six when I had spoken with Ambrose, not including myself, unless the Employer was hidden somewhere inside.
