Page 8 of Realm of Thieves

“House Kolbeck? Of the Norland syndikat?” I repeat, ignoring that.

Something dark flickers in his gaze for a moment. “Yes. I take it you’ve heard of us.”

Easy now, I tell myself.Don’t let it slip who you work for.

“Everyone knows the houses,” I explain.

He crosses his arms. “Is that so? See, I would have thought everyone would know the different kings and queens of the realms. Not the houses. The kingdoms are the ones thought to have true power. Unless you know exactly what power the houses have.” He pauses, his tone growing unkind. “And I think you do.”

I swallow, my mouth thick and dry, and give him a quick smile. I think it’s time I make an exit.

“Hard to know what to think,” I tell him, adjusting my holsters on my back. “I’m just a girl from Esland. Well. I better get on my way before the dragon wakes up.”

Andor nods at the remaining egg in the crater. “You’re not going to take that?”

“Best not to push my luck. You might not save me a second time.”

He lets out a dry laugh and I glance at Lemi quickly.

“Come on, Lemi,” I say as I turn around and start walking off. I expect to hear the gallop of his paws on the rock as he races after me, but I hear nothing at all.

“I’m afraid the dog is coming with me,” the Kolbeck says, his voice turning cold and hard. A command, a sentence, another knot in my plan. It’s enough to make my heart freeze. I stop and turn to look at Andor, wide-eyed.

His mouth lifts slightly, his eyes darkening. “And so are you.”

Chapter 3

Andor

I don’t expect the lavendergirl to take the news of her kidnapping well.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she says, her brown eyes narrowing at me, ready to fight. “And neither is my dog. Lemi, come.”

The big dog gives a little whine and reluctantly leaves my side. Loyal to a fault. If only it were so with humans.

The hound trots over to her and I watch them walk away for a beat before stealing a glance at the dragon. Time is ticking. The beast will wake soon, and I should collect that last egg while I can.

Then again, I can’t let the lavender girl go either. I’ve been working on this plan for the last five moon cycles, and she’s the whole reason I’m on this side of the Midlands. Her and her dog. My father will be thrilled to know we have a suen-sniffer. Might even tell me I did a good job, though I won’t hold my breath.

I have to make a decision and fast. She won’t get away, I made sure of that when I hired Tromson, but dealing with the egg will be too cumbersome, especially if she puts up a fight. Despite her reputationin the Banished Land as a top thief, I have yet to see her fighting skills. I have a feeling she’ll make me work for it.

I stride over to the crater and drop down into it, swiping the sharp hollow sapper out from my boot and plunging it into the bottom of the egg. By the time the slippery red suen starts to drip, I’ve got a container underneath, collecting the resource. I glance up at the dragon again and then the girl, who is just about to disappear over the horizon, half-swallowed by the billowing smoke. I wonder if her dog will sniff out another nest or if she’s going to head back to Tromson at the boat. Seems such a fucking waste to leave the egg behind like this, especially when I’ll only be able to tap a portion of it.

My uncle’s recent words to my father ring in my head:What’s the point of sending Andor anymore when the raid always turns into a fool’s errand?

I swallow down the bitterness and force myself to focus just as the girl and her dog pass out of sight and the dragon begins to stir, moving its legs slowly, its long claws scratching loudly over the black aerated rock. I don’t have enough of the poison left for another arrow—I need to leave. I quickly seal the container and remove the sapper from the egg. Then I climb out of the crater and run toward the shore after the girl.

The dragon growls and the ground trembles as I feel it get to its feet. I pick up the pace, with my cloak flowing behind me, glancing over my shoulder to see the beast shaking its wings out. In seconds it will be airborne. I wish the poison didn’t leave the system so quickly.

I make a mental note for Steiner to adjust the formula and I keep pumping my legs until I see the girl again, this time in another crater, busy gathering smaller blooddrage eggs, the dog watching her work intently.

“Hide!” I holler at her, my speed increasing. “She’s awake!”

The lavender girl stares at me with her large dark eyes, unsure what to do for a moment, then yells at her dog. “Lemi! Go to the boat. To the boat!”

The dog looks reluctant until she yells “Go!” again.

And then he disappears into thin air.

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