Page 146 of The Discount Damsel

Dirk ran a paw down his lengthy throat, considering. “No,” he said sulkily.

She flicked a glance at him. “What’s a dragon need a pickpocket for?”

“Not for me,” he answered brightly, pleased she was interested in his job offer. He knew from his first princess-napping that consenting hostages made a world of difference. “For my princess. You’re going to train her to be a pickpocket.”

Pocket snorted. “Your princess that strapped for cash?”

Dirk had no idea the state of Millie’s finances and answered truthfully. “I don’t think so. But she needs the experience. And you seem very experienced. How long have you been picking pockets?”

“About five years.” The window creaked free, and the pickpocket guided it open with a fingertip. “Shush now.”

Dirk stole a glance inside. “You’ll never get that bracelet off his wrist with a cloak in the way. How do you even know which bracelet it is? He’s got three on that wrist.”

“With this.” She held up a reddish hag stone, grinned, then slipped the hag stone out of sight. “It reveals to me hidden things. The bracelet I want is that one in the middle, the gold one with the red coral cabochons. One of those is actually a locket, and what I really want is hidden inside.”

“That’s aweso⁠—”

“Shush!”

“But he’s gonna notice a cut in his cloak,” Dirk persisted. “If not now, then when he gets his coin purse to pay for his drinks.”

“I’ll be long gone by then.”

Dirk gave her an assessing look. No fewer than four raffia bags were slung about her person, as if she carried everything she owned with her all the time. A full-length patchwork skirt hung past her ankles with a travel-stained hem. Nothing about her was ideal for running away.

“What?” she snapped.

“Nothing. It’s just that I’m already at risk at blowing curfew and I really need you to come with me, like, now.”

“I’m not going anywhere without that bracelet.”

“Fine. Move over.”

“What—”

Dirk hip-checked her out of the way and angled himself below the open window. He lengthened out of his scrunch just enough that only one yellow eye, a small ridge of muzzle, and the flared tip of a nostril could be seen above sill.

“Left wrist, middle bracelet.”

He didn’t need the reminder. He could smell the magic of the whatever it was in the coral locket. Sort of. Barely.

He lifted a paw to direct his magic when one of the men growled low, “Why are you so relaxed? The bitch is in league with the dragon. You know, the dragon who stole the rubies you were going to pay me with and destroyed the Kalharis mine?”

“I’m aware,” the mark said.

Dirk stilled, his blood turning to sludge even as his heart burned. How dare they slander his princess! And he didn’t destroy any mine. The audacity⁠—

“You’re aware? Surely you’re also aware, Leighton, that I’m not sending you another crossbolt, let alone that second Skybreaker, until⁠—”

“Yes you will, Merle, unless you’ve decided you no longer want my help in usurping your cousin from the throne.”

“Shhh! Not so loud.” Merle glanced around the tavern, but no one had heard them except for the eavesdropping dragon. He continued mulishly, “Can’t keep a throne if my own coffers are dried up, now can I? Damascus steel is expensive and I refuse to part with another ounce until you pay what you owe me.”

“That was what the Kalharis mine was for. It’s not my fault your men proved insufficient in defending it against a dragon.”

“I’d barely taken ownership of it. My men hadn’t even arrived there yet!”

“And how is that my problem?”