Page 15 of By the Horns
It seems to take forever for the line to wind along the plaza and up to the main stairs. A few of the men get irritated and leave, but Kipp seems as calm as ever, and I take my cue from his serenity. By the time we get to the doors, the sun is growing hot overhead, my feet hurt, and my stomach is growling. All that goes away the moment the Taurian manning the doors flicks a hand, indicating we can enter now.
We squeeze inside the crowded hall, my pulse hammering wildly. High above, banners embroidered with the symbols of the masters hang from the rafters. The Great Hall feels more ostentatious than the rest of the building, which is saying something. There’s an arching, vaulted ceiling and massive windows. Stuffed birds fill the nooks and crannies at the top of the airy room. I’m told they’re there as homage to the birds that the guild artificers take as their names, but it strikes me as just vaguely creepy instead of respectful. The floor underneath our feet is a shiny marble that scuffs easily. I know that because I’ve cleaned the damn thing a dozen times while working for Mistress Umala.
Along the center of the room are impressive statues of famous artificers from the past, the most famous being the enormous statue of Sparkanos the Swan outside in the plaza. Every single one of the statues is of a man.
If I was doubting myself before, seeing all those statues of men—and the floors I’ve cleaned—just makes me more determined that I’m not going to end up a maid for the rest of my life. I’m going to succeed, damn it.
Kipp moves closer to me as a pair of men shove their way past us, heading for the doors. We step aside, and the slitherskin gestures that I should lead. “I imagine you can’t see much, but I’m not having a lot of luck myself.” I crane my head, trying to peer over the shoulders of the crowd. I’m not a tall woman, so all I glimpse is a lot of nothing. But then I spot a pair of horns near one of the walls, and I grab Kipp by his sleeve and drag him across the room toward Hawk.
Master Hawk stands near the statue of the legendary Master Owl, Sparkanos’s son. Hawk’s hands are clasped behind his back and his shoulders seem massive, as if he’s taking up all the space between statues. The expression on his roan-colored face is austere, and he gazes at the crowd as if he’s assessing it. No one’s approaching him, though, which I’m hoping is a good sign. Maybe people are staying away from the first Taurian guild master? If so…good. I want a space on his team.
I manage to drag Kipp after me, holding on to his sleeve. I come to a stop in front of Hawk, smooth my repeater sash, and smile at my friend’s husband. “Hi again.”
Hawk inclines his head. “Gwenna. Kipp. Good to see you both. Are you here to find a master to pledge to?”
Something about the way he says it makes my nerves ping, but I ignore it. I’m sure I’m just reading it wrong. “We were hoping we could be your fledglings again. Serve you.”
Hawk’s expression turns pained. “Ah. I…” He clears his throat. “I wish I could choose you, but I cannot.”
A cold chill washes over me and I glance at Kipp. If Hawk won’t take us, what do we do now?
Six
Raptor
Recruitment day isalways a brutal sort of thing. There are so many hopefuls that crowd into the Great Hall who don’t get picked for one reason or another. Perhaps there’s a personality clash with a master, or there’s a prior obligation of some kind that they think they can still manage while being enrolled. Recruits don’t realize just how much work becoming a fledgling entails. You can practically hear the dreams crashing to the ground around you.
It’s common for some of the guild members to come and get a good look at the soon-to-be fledglings. I’ve always crowded inside the hall with all the others to check out the competition. I imagine some get a vindictive sort of pleasure at being one of the few who have passed the tests, and some are probably reminiscing about their time as a fledgling.
I’m usually not all that sympathetic to those who are turned away. It’s just part of guild life. You either get in, or you don’t. Some try again, some don’t. But the woman and slitherskin standing in front of Hawk are so earnest and hopeful that it pains me physically when Hawk turns them down. I knew he would, and yet it’s still difficult to see.
Hawk is under instructions from Head Guild Master Rooster to take on five new repeaters so he can keep a close eye on things. I know from talking to Hawk that both of these two were the terrible Master Magpie’sstudents last year and got into trouble when Aspeth did. Aspeth was removed from the guild entirely but was so knowledgeable about Old Prell that the archivists snapped her up. It didn’t hurt that she was a holder’s daughter, either. Having holders owe the guild is always a good thing. The others on her fledgling team weren’t as lucky as Aspeth. They were going to be expelled, but the group had managed to find a few Greater Artifacts, which made the guild quite a bit of coin. There’s a guild rule that any fledgling who finds a Greater Artifact is automatically made into a full-on artificer, but that couldn’t happen with these students due to the trouble they were in. They were stripped of fledgling status and demoted to repeaters instead of being kicked out entirely.
The little round woman and the lizard must have been expecting to serve with Hawk again. He had a motley crew last year and word got around, especially after Master Magpie was removed from the guild and Master Hawk took her place. Anyone who came from that old fledgling team would have a difficult time getting someone to look past the rumors of stealing to consider them. The fact that it’s a woman and a slitherskin? Not gonna happen.
Which makes me want to take them both under my wing. It wouldn’t be a bad thing, I reason. I’m supposed to get friendly with all the repeaters anyhow, right? I eye the unlikely pair. I know a bit about them from Hawk’s stories of the craziness that happened last year. The slitherskin is named Kipp. He never talks, but he’s competent for his small size. Arrogant, Hawk had called him. Good with blades but he knows it. I’m amused that such a tiny creature could be an artificer. I doubt he even comes to my waist. Any knife he wields will be little more than a toothpick. Still, a small size can be useful. He can get into places others can’t. I’ll be curious to see if he’s a liability or an asset.
Is he the one Rooster is looking for? I wonder. I contemplate the slitherskin while he stands next to the human female. If I’m honest, it could be him. There are no slitherskins currently on the guild’s roster. It’s entirely believable that he’s simply going to remain in the ranks of the repeaters and work on getting rich from the inside. If he can get into small spaces, perhaps he’s the one sliding into the guild’s locked vaults and stealing what’s there. It bears watching, certainly.
My gaze moves to the human female. She’s a bit younger than Hawk’swife, Sparrow, if I recall correctly. Can’t remember her name. She came with Sparrow from the hold, but she was a maid or a servant or something. I’ve seen her with Sparrow several times and remembered her because she’s built just how I like them. She’s short, but a tasty treat. Her breasts are overflowing handfuls, and her hips are nice and thick in the trousers she wears. Her waist nips in, emphasizing the exaggerated curves of her form. Her hair is dark and pulled back into a no-nonsense bun at the back of her head, and when she moves, it’s with both purpose and skill. There’s no awkward clumsiness to her motions, which I find appealing.
Five hells, if it weren’t for the fact that I’m already half in love with the missing Sarya, I’d say this one is just my type. I can’t stop eyeing that delectable backside of hers. Good thing I’m here only to flirt and get to know everyone. I want to save myself for Sarya, to show her that I’m committed, but I can’t seem to find her, no matter how hard I search. I don’t want to give up, but I’m getting discouraged. I suppose in the meantime I can devote myself to the guild’s secret plan. I can toy with a pretty female, get her to spill her guts…but that’s as far as it can go.
As I approach, I hear Hawk speaking to the pair. “If it were up to me, you know the two of you would be my first choice,” he’s saying, and I’ve never seen the bull look so damned uncomfortable. “But Head Guild Master Rooster has asked that I take on an entirely different roster this year. It’s my first time as a master and he wants me to prove myself. You understand.”
“Of course we do,” the woman says, her tone all business. “Can you recommend anyone in particular that we should approach? Given that we’re”—she gestures at herself, and then at her slitherskin companion—“a bit out of the ordinary?”
Hawk tugs on his nose ring. “I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to steer potential candidates. I’m happy to put in a good word for both of you with any master who shows interest, though.”
“Right.” Her tone is brisk again, without showing a hint of disappointment. I catch an almost imperceptible tightening of her shoulders from behind, as if she’s bracing herself for the future. For disaster.
Time to make myself known.
I stride forward through the crowd—which always seems to part when a Taurian is on the move—and stand behind her. Her scent drifts throughthe air, sweet and clean and oddly familiar, but I can’t place it. I lean forward, looping a casual arm over her shoulders, and rap my knuckles on the slitherskin’s shell. “Looks like we rejects have to stick together this year.”
Half expecting the woman to jump, I’m impressed when she simply looks over her shoulder at me. A flush on her cheeks and the dilation of her pupils are the only giveaways that my nearness has affected her. She flicks her gaze over me and arches a brow of disdain. I feel as if I’ve been caught by a maid after I’ve dared to touch a particularly pricey lamp at the master’s house.
I love it. Makes me feel naughty.
