Page 48 of The Study of Fire
“Join them, as in during the day?” Janco asked, sounding hopeful.
Valek suppressed a smile. “As in all night and day. In fact, don’t bathe, it’ll help with your disguise. Sorry Brigi.”
His hopeful expression fell. “You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
Janco stared at Valek in horror. “But that’s… It’s… I’m…” His mouth continued to move, but no sounds escaped.
“All part of the job, Janco. I once lived on the streets of Jeweltown for a week, during the cold season and dressed like a woman.”
“Jeweltown?” Ari asked. “Is that when you were hunting the royal family?”
“It was the only way I could get close to the queen.” Valek had befriended the queen’s hairdresser, Parveen, by pretending to save her from a mugger. She had given him a job in her shop, and he’d learned how to cut and style hair. After a season, he filled in when poor Parveen had been too sick to tend to the queen. He had impressed the queen so much, she’d hired him, giving him access to the royal suite and the royal family.
“I’d ask for more details, but I don’t think we have the time,” Ari said. “What’s my job for this mission?”
“You’ll be stationed at the Keep. Go and apply for a job, they always need people. If you see Yelena, let me know. There’s a chance she might return tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’d say I was jealous.” Janco rubbed at the scar that replaced the bottom half of his right ear. “But the Keep creeps me out.”
“Gabor and Brigi, continue with your regular duties, I’m going to find Fisk at the market and see what he knows.”
* * *
After Ari left for the Keep with a forged letter of recommendation, Valek helped Janco with his disguise. “Living on the streets is a hard life,” he said. “Infrequent baths, little to no food, and limited possessions. These people have figured out how to survive and they’re resourceful. You can learn a great deal from them.”
Janco stroked the stubble on his cheeks. “No place to shave?”
“No. In fact, you might want to darken that scruff a bit, so you don’t look like a newbie.”
“Iama newbie. Maybe I shouldn’t try to pretend to be street smart. Being new would explain any mistakes I make and be a good excuse for asking lots of questions.”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
Janco beamed. “I have my moments.”
“Then why do you let Ari tease you?”
“Because I also have my moments in the opposite direction, and Ari’s very good at saving my ass. He has earned the right to tease me all he wants.”
“I’m sure you’ve saved his ass as well.”
“Well, yeah. We’re partners, that’s what we do.”
Valek considered his relationship with Yelena. He longed for the day when they would become true partners. When they could reminisce over dozens of shared experiences, when they knew more about each other than any other person in the world, and when they spent more time together than apart.
Switching his knit cap for another one that wasn’t so battered, Janco adjusted his clothing for his role as a newbie beggar.
“What’s your backstory?” Valek asked.
Janco adjusted his belt, cinching it so his seen-better-days-but-still-useable pants didn’t fall down. “Fired from my job for reasons that I’ll swear weren’t true. Can’t find another position because my old boss holds a grudge and told all his buddies not to hire me. Ran out of money and was kicked out of my place. No family or friends to mooch off because nothing is my fault so I’m not about to apologize for anything to anyone.”
“And the reasons that you were fired?”
His sly expression was full of mischief. “Vague enough to imply an impropriety without confirming anyone’s guesses. And I’ll swear the boss got bent out of shape over nothing. Stuff like that.”
