“I’m a businessman,” Gideon repeated. “But I’m practical. I want you to succeed, which means I want you properly equipped. Dead scavengers can’t retrieve artifacts.”
He finished writing and held out the parchment. I took it, scanning the list of items. It was extensive. Two void mantles with crystal reinforcement, rope enchanted to hold in unstablegravity, daggers with elemental cores, medical supplies, rations designed for extended Gallery travel.
“This must cost a fortune,” I said.
“Do we have a deal?”
I looked at Kora. She gave a tiny nod. We’d discussed this possibility last night, war-gamed every scenario we could think of. This was dangerous, probably suicidal. But it was also our only real option.
“We have a deal,” I said. “But I want half the payment up front.”
Gideon laughed. “You have nerve, I’ll give you that. I’ll offer you five hundred sovereigns now, as a sign of good faith. The rest when you deliver the codex.”
“One thousand.”
“Seven-fifty.”
“Done.”
He pulled out a lockbox from beneath his desk, counted out seven hundred and fifty in silver sovereigns, and stacked them in neat piles. The sight of that much money made my throat tight. It was more than we’d make in six months of scavenging.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” Gideon said. “I’ll send word when I’ve arranged the meeting with Cypher. In the meantime, stop by tomorrow and my people will have your equipment ready.”
We took the money and left, stepping back into the morning sunlight. The street had come alive while we were inside, merchants calling out their wares, customers haggling, the normal rhythm of city life. It felt surreal after the conversation we’d just had.
“We really did that,” Kora said quietly.
“We really did.”
“We just agreed to break into the most dangerous realm in the Gallery to steal an artifact for a crime lord.”
“Not steal. Retrieve. There’s a difference.”
She snorted. “Right. I’m sure the void-touched monsters will appreciate the distinction.”
“We should get this money home,” I said. “Hide most of it, use some to buy mom’s medicine.”
We walked home through streets that suddenly felt different. Three days ago, my biggest concern had been making enough money for my mom’s next dose. Now I was planning an expedition to a collapsed realm with a legendary wayfarer captain I’d never met.
My father would either be proud or horrified.
The house was quiet when we arrived. My mom was still asleep, her breathing a soft wheeze from the bedroom. I hid most of the money in the workshop, tucking the coins into a hollow space behind a loose stone in the wall, one of my father’s secret spots that he’d shown me years ago.
I kept out fifty sovereigns and headed to the apothecary.
The shop was run by an older woman named Pia, a legitimate merchant who specialized in medical tonics. She looked up as the bell above the door chimed, and her expression softened when she saw me.
“Juno. How is your mom?”
“Same as ever. Sleeps most of the time.”
Her face fell. “I heard about your father. I’m so sorry.”
Everyone was sorry. It didn’t help.
“Can you sell me a month’s worth?” I pulled out the coins. “I can pay.”
She studied the money, then my face. “Where did you get this kind of coin, child?”
