Rane was observing Grimney. “He’s not an ordinary golem, is he?”

“He’s not for sale.”

Rane gave me an amused glance. “While that is to be mourned, I’m sure, I was only admiring your master’s work.”

“Oh.” I scratched my ear. “Thank you.”

Rane seemed to think for a long moment. “I have one last question. Is Master Galen a good man?”

“What?”

“I understand he’s your boss and you can’t speak out against him. The truth is, I’ve been looking for a jewelsmith of a certain caliber. I admit, I was prejudiced against Master Galen. He boasts like a man who has nothing to offer. Perhaps it’s a strange quirk of genius. But it still makes me hesitate. Is he a good man?”

“He... saved my life.”

His eyes were soft with understanding. “That is an interesting answer.”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “He’s a good man.”

He hmmed. From somewhere in the folds of his clothes, he pulled out a card that gleamed like silver. On it was an address, written in loopy handwriting. “This is where I will be for the next few days. I have a job I’d like to discuss with Master Galen.”

I reached for the card.

He pulled it back. “One thing. I would appreciate discretion. In fact, if word of this meeting leaves this circle, then Master Galen can consider the offer rescinded.”

My hand hovered above the card. “You haven’t said what the job is.”

“I haven’t said who my boss is, either.”

I waited a long moment and then realized he wasn’t about to elaborate. “Well?”

“I’ll tell Galen when he comes.” He pressed the card into my hand. His gaze flickered out the window. “Forgive me, but do you have a back door?”

I followed his gaze to the street. “This way,” I said, and showed him out back.

At the door to the garden, he gave me a gallant bow. “Till we meet again.”

He strode out. And maybe it was a trick of the light, but it seemed like between one blink and the next, a beard grew on his face and his clothes grew more muted.

He slipped out the gate and was gone.

The street out front had been empty, save two uniformed men. But why was Rane hiding from the Imperial Guards?

Later that night, I lay in bed, thinking. The card was cool to the touch, the paper almost iridescent. The address pointed to somewhere in the Merchant District. Curiosity tugged at me, but the thought of meeting Rane again made my skin feel one size too small.

The front door slammed open.

I slipped the card under my pillow and hurried downstairs.Grimney met me, wringing his great stone hands.

Galen stumbled into the wall. His eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and he reeked of drink and perfume and hashish. “I tol’ ’em,” he slurred. “’Ee’s not gonna come ’ere, not a chance... All of ’em sweet on ’im, the beast, like he’ll pick any one of ’em... think they’re too good for me now...”

He vomited on the floor.

Grimney poured water down his throat. I grabbed the rags and cleaned up the mess.

We sat him against the wall, and a bellyful of soup later, Galen’s eyes seemed clearer. He gnawed methodically on a half loaf of bread, stopping only to spit out pieces of gravel.

Curiosity nipped at me. “The Serpent King didn’t show?”