Page 46 of Warrior's Reign
Aanyah’s face brightened. “Nowmay I inspect the armory?” She stood. “There are one or two pieces I think would be especially tempting to a female of her youth and personality. . .”
Dozian hauled himself up as his bonded swept out of the room, taking the last two biscuits. “I’d better go offer to help her polish the steel pieces or she’ll accuse me of not caring. Tell me how it goes with the courtship request, eh?”
Dismissed, presumably so his parents could arrange his marriage, plan his wedding, and prepare a nursery for his firstborn—requiring no input from him, of course, other than to choose his wedding garb—Vykhan bowed and left them to their devices.
17
The alerton her wall console turned red. Reign rose from her cross-legged position on the floor and approached, leaning against the wall.
She was off duty for the next several hours and planned on taking advantage of that in the form of a hot soak, meditation, and maybe an hour of sleep. She’d have to try and get eight hours eventually, but there was too much to do. She could sleep when she was dead.
“Accept, audio only.”
Icolo’s face popped onto the screen. “Reign.”
She relaxed and accepted the request for visual. She hadn’t recognized the incoming credentials. “That was quick.” He wouldn’t be contacting her unless he had prospects.
“You have connections now,” he said. “The problem wasn’t finding jobs, the problem was selecting the right offers. Which, I want to add, means it’s time to dress better. You represent the Imperialists now, not just your own concerns.”
She frowned, glancing down at her leggings and drapy top. Maybe the fabric had seen a few too many washes, but it took time to break clothes in. “I wear suits to client meets. My everyday clothing has nothing to do with my capabilities. I don’t have to dress like I live in a palace just because I live in one.” . . .maybe that sounded a little nonsensical.
His look was patient. “You can say it until you’re as blue as a Yadeshi, but clients will always now be interested in you foremost because of your place in the palaces and they will expect a certain level of polish. I’ll send you some capsule options. And it might be time to start scouting a formal meeting location rather than hoofing it to clients. Relax,” he added, probably reading her expression, “I researched. You aren’t the only one with a side operation and even staff, at least among the lower tiers. At First or Second level, you’d have no time.”
She rubbed a hand over her face. “We’re going to have to waste time wading through political bullshit before we actually get to a job. I hate window shoppers.”
He flicked some imaginary lint off his shoulder. “Please. You always insult me. I wouldn’t have commed you if I didn’t already have vetted prospects. And real estate options, which I’ll send to your console.”
“Fine. Send me the offers first.” She cut the comm and pulled up a chair, manually accessing her unit.
The three offers were good. Preliminary, the kinds of jobs new clients gave someone they wanted to put through their paces. That was fine, she expected at least three months of petty work before getting to meat.
The third offer was from Loka Vohn, a wealthy businessman with remote ties to the palace—or he claimed remote ties to add to his image—seeking to add a guard to his retinue for special events.
Reign continued reading through the requirements for the guard. Female, preferably, attractive and able to navigate all facets of society. The ability to work incognito or publicly. Reign pursed her lips. She knew this type. He wanted a woman who looked like an escort, behaved like a society matron, but was a killer.
The job was nearly too simple an assignment for what she and her team normally handled—straight event security was rarely lucrative. But she could see why Icolo would like this one. With her experience and connections, he could demand top compensation, enhancing her visibility in Naidekai to expand their network. She’d worked for wealthy businessmen before, and even a few people with noble ties in their provinces, but not this kind of old lineage. Again assuming that wasn’t a fabrication.
In light of the current investigation into the identities of those trying to infiltrate the palace. . .any connection she could make to a player in the city’s underbelly, with purported ties to the palace, was one more layer to peel. This connection could become highly useful if Reign played it right.
Of course that’s what Icolo was scheming on.
She leaned back in her chair and opened the private message attached to the file. Icolo could have accessed it, but it was coded for her only.
:AdejahnaObe’shan.: A smooth, dark voice in the upper-class drawl of Beysikan province high society emerged.
:I was delighted to learn of your interest in offering your skills to a suitable patron here in the city. Congratulations on your elevation and choosing Naidekai city as your base of operations. I anticipate great things for you. Your liegeman was most persuasive, and if my offer finds favor, I would enjoy meeting you. Dinner, perhaps? If you accept, your liegeman knows how to send me word.:
Reign closed the message and commed Icolo. “Did you listen to the message attached to file three?”
“Yes.”
Of course he had.
“Itwascoded for me only.”
“Truly,Adejahna?”
“Don’t start. Accept the invitation.”
