Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(58)

I might not have known much about the Sidhe but people were predictable. It was pretty much a given that Aifric would place an unobtrusive guard on my rooms. He couldn’t afford to have me killed off by whichever renegade Sidhe was doing all this shit – not before I’d fixed his Foinse. With that in mind, I slipped out soon after Byron dropped me off – and before any guards could take their places.

I couldn’t wait around for Brochan to use my true name to bring me to him. I wasn’t sure how long I could carry off this fever business. When it was all over, I’d also need to pretend that I had gained some stupid Gift. I had no idea how I’d manage that. Still, I still felt chipper, despite my near-death experiences; I was certain that my words to Brochan were going to prove true and I was going to escape any divine presents.

I found all three of them huddled round a table in a room near the top of the tower Brochan had pointed out. Lexie and Speck sprang up, barrelling into me with outstretched arms.

‘You’re safe!’ Lexie exclaimed. ‘Brochan told us what happened. How can these idiots want you to save them when they’re trying to kill you at the same time?’

‘Because you said it, Lex,’ Speck added, giving me a warm hug. ‘They’re idiots.’

Lexie raised her blue eyebrows. ‘Are you actually agreeing with me for once?’

‘Even a stopped clock is right twice a day,’ he said.

She frowned at him before turning back to me. ‘You wouldn’t believe the bounty we’ve managed to get while we’ve been here. These Fey planks just leave stuff lying around all over the place. Look!’ She pointed to a collection on the table: there was all manner of jewellery, coins and fripperies.

I gave an approving nod. ‘Nice work. Take care who you target, though. It might be better to leave the Moncrieffes alone.’

Even Brochan looked surprised at that. ‘Why?’

‘Byron Moncrieffe is stepping out with Tipsania Scrymgeour. He gave her a beautiful emerald necklace made entirely out of glass.’

Speck’s eyes gleamed. ‘A man after my own heart.’

‘Not only that,’ I continued, ‘but he seemed very worked up at the loss of the Lia Saifire. I think the Moncrieffes are broke.’

Lexie’s mouth dropped open. ‘No shit. There’s not been the faintest whisper of that anywhere on the streets.’

I shrugged, picking up one of the gold coins and weighing it in my hand. ‘They’d want to keep it quiet. Aifric Moncrieffe might have been the Steward for the last three decades but if he can’t keep his own finances in check, the other Clans might toss him out.’

‘What goes around comes around,’ Speck shrugged. ‘Although it explains why his son’s shagging Tipsy Scrymgeour. Her Clan is loaded.’

Brochan was watching me carefully. ‘I’m guessing that since you’re not encouraging us to help ruin them, Byron Moncrieffe isn’t responsible for the attacks.’

‘He’s not. And sometimes better the devil you know. Aifric Moncrieffe is a known quantity. If someone else took his place as Steward, things might get better – or they might get a whole lot worse. Until I have a better understanding of Sidhe politics, we’re best not exacerbating his situation.’

Both Lexie and Speck shot glances in Brochan’s direction. ‘I told you,’ he said smugly. ‘She wants to stick around.’

‘And be a Sidhe?’ Lexie whispered. She stared back at me. ‘Really? I thought you hated them.’

‘I do hate them. But there’s more to the story about my parents than I realised. I want to stick around and find out what. If my father wasn’t the murdering bastard that everyone has made him out to be…’

Lexie smirked. ‘Hell hath no fury like an angry Integrity.’

I grinned. ‘Indeed.’

Speck gnawed on his lip. ‘Aren’t you worried about whoever is really trying to kill you?’

I met his eyes. ‘Frankly, I was expecting it. I get enough looks that could kill when I wander around the castle. A lot of the highborn Sidhe really don’t like me. And they’ve not even spoken to me. I’ve laid the groundwork for them to believe that I’ll have at least one gift emerge in the next few days. I’ve also made a big show of being angry rather than scared. It might buy me some time.’

Speck wasn’t ready to let it go. ‘That’s all very well, but shouldn’t you be scared? I’m terrified and no one even knows I’m here.’

‘I have a secret weapon,’ I said simply. I pulled the scimitar out of my pocket and laid it down.

‘You’re going to read their mail?’

‘It’s not a letter opener.’

Lexie frowned. ‘It looks like a letter opener.’

‘It’s a scimitar.’

‘Tegs, I love you to bits but that’s not a scimitar.’

I placed my finger to my lips, encouraging her to be silent. ‘Watch.’ I slid the blade out of the sheath but, before I could rub it, there was a painful flash of light. All four of us moaned in sudden pain, covering our eyes.

‘Bob,’ I complained, ‘I’d not summoned you yet.’

‘Jeez Louise. You tell me to pay attention in case you need me at the drop of a hat then you fling me off to some Sidhe dude who stomps around and shouts a lot and you’re annoyed because I’m listening in and ready to appear when you want me to.’