“Every coin,” Binky said mournfully. “Gone. Vanished. Stolen under the guise of ‘fair play’.”
Dave winced sympathetically. “Yeah, that sounds like Denzel.”
“I had a winning streak,” Binky insisted. “Astrategy.”
“You had hope,” Bas corrected.
“I had both.”
“You had neither.”
Binky ignored him. “I demand compensation,” he declared, fluffing what remained of his dignity. “For the feathersandthe funds.”
Maeve raised a hand. “We can do snacks?”
“Continue,” Binky said cautiously, wiping his glasses with his wing. That little action started the laughing all over again, and this time, Jessica and Dave joined in.
7
Spencer had always believedthat if you stayed somewhere too long, then you got soft. You gained attachments and attachments got you into trouble… possibly killed. Which was why it was deeply inconvenient that, after less than a day in Krakens Hole, he was already starting to feel… settled. He didn’t like it. No, he liked itfar too much.
“Stop looking like that,” Mark muttered beside him as they walked down the main stretch of town.
Spencer didn’t glance over. “Like what?”
“Like you’re considering buying property.”
“]I am not considering buying property.”
“You absolutely are.”
Spencer frowned slightly. “Maybe a small one.”
Mark groaned. “We’ve been herehours.”
“Long enough to form an opinion.”
“That opinion should be ‘we find the target and leave.’”
Spencer hummed noncommittally, because, logically his brother was right. They had a job, a simple one. Find the missing heir of the Smokeclaw clan, secure her, deliver her, then collecta bounty large. Enough to ensure they never had to take another job again.
And yet, Spencer’s gaze drifted across the town as they walked. The locals moved with ease, no tension, no worries at all. He’d never experienced that before.
“You’re doing it again,” Mark said.
“I’m Observing,” Spencer corrected.
“You’re thinking about settling,” Mark argued back
Spencer ignored that as they moved through the town slowly, deliberately, not searching in any obvious way, just… existing. Listening. Watching.
It didn’t take long. Places like this thrived on stories and gossip.
“…told you, witches down by Merlin’s Gate nearly took the cavern out this morning…”
“…nah, they do that all the time…”
“…familiars worse than the witches, if you ask me…”
