The Whitefire Crossing - By Courtney Schafer Page 0,1

power games with each other same as streetsiders, but I’d never heard of anything like this.

He’d listened to my exchange with Bren in solemn silence. His black hair was long enough in front that it fell forward over his face and shadowed his eyes, making them hard to read. I could tell they were light-colored, probably blue, and that was about it. I’d seen men from the far north with skin pale as his, though never with hair so dark. That might not mean much, since we were all children of immigrants here in Ninavel, highside and streetside alike. No sign of a family or merchant house crest on his clothing, but that only meant he wasn’t a complete idiot, assuming he didn’t want anyone to know about this meeting.

“What are the specifics?” I asked Bren.

“Same as always. Make sure there are no questions, no records, and get him across the border into Kost, along with my usual package. Ten percent in advance plus expenses, the rest upon return with proof of delivery.”

Bren made it sound so easy. It usually was, with a package and enough money for what Bren called “expenses.” But I had serious doubts a person would be so easy to hide, no matter how idiotic the Alathian mages were.

“And payment?” Bren had better make this good.

“Triple the usual, plus expenses.”

I made a disgusted noise. Bren had me over a barrel, but I had leverage of my own. There probably wasn’t anyone else desperate enough to take this job, and he had to know it. “Triple, expenses, and I want ten charm-grade gemstones from Gerran for each item I deliver.” Gerran was Bren’s partner in Kost, who handled the distribution of the smuggled goods to their buyers. His legal business was the import of gemstones, metals, and mineral ores.

It was Bren’s turn to snort. “Gerran would never go for that, and you know it.” He studied me, one finger tapping on the table. I kept silent. Eventually he said, “I think I can talk him into five charm-grade stones per item, but only for this run, you understand?”

I was careful to keep my surprise from showing. I’d never thought Bren would actually go for such a wealth of high quality gemstones. I’d figured he’d offer me two or three stones total and nudge my flat fee higher. Huh. This Kiran must be paying him an absolute fortune. Either that, or I was missing something about this job.

“Anything else I should know?”

Bren didn’t blink, despite my pointed tone. “It’s a simple enough job.” The flat finality in his eyes told me I’d get nothing more out of him. I hesitated, weighing the pay against my niggling sense of unease.

“Done,” I said at last. Bren’s smile widened until it nearly reached his ears.

Kiran had been watching us with a small frown line between his dark brows. “It is arranged, then? When do we leave?” His voice was soft but clear, with the faintest hint of an accent I couldn’t place. The accent made me even more curious about him. We get all sorts here in Ninavel, and I’d thought I’d heard just about every possible accent by now.

Bren turned that broad smile on him. “That’s right, everything’s set. You’ll be in good hands with Dev here, I promise. You’ll leave when the first trade group of the year to Kost does.” He tilted his head toward me.

“Day after tomorrow,” I said. “Meet me at the Aran Fountain, near the Whitefire gate, two hours before dawn. You know where that is?” Kiran nodded. “Don’t bother bringing anything with you, I’ll provide what you need for the trip.” I’d bet a thousand kenets he didn’t have any clothing capable of standing up to a trip over the mountains. I eyed the smooth, delicate skin of his hands, and sighed. I’d have to make sure and bring gloves. And salve. An awful thought struck me. “You can ride, right?”

“Yes.” Some of the nervousness I’d seen in his stance showed itself on his face. “That is—not well, I don’t do it often—but I do know how.”

“That’s fine,” I said, relieved. Some highsiders didn’t bother riding, thought it was something only servants and streetsiders did, who couldn’t afford carriages. Others were horse-mad. You never knew.

Bren made a few more pointlessly glowing comments about me as he ushered Kiran out the door. With a supreme effort, I managed not to roll my eyes. Thankfully, the instant Bren shut the door he lost all the fake