Free The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

asked. Her aura was almost normal. Her hair and skin were their usual tone, and her dress was just a bit dark.
    "Kutesosh gajair'is?" Ghylspwr asked.
    "A friend told us you were hitting temples that had gotten money from the Voyancy," the man noted. "Father Bertrus had a reputation. We've been waiting."
    "Not just yet," Desidora told the warhammer, smiling wryly.
    "We've got a job," the Urujar woman said. "Likely involving magic. If you can break through the temple wards, you could be just what I need."
    Desidora let the aura slide back in, felt her skin cool and her hair tighten into glossy black, the ice creep into her voice. "I could break through the temple's wards because I'm a death priestess."
    "Besyn larveth'isr
    She glanced down at Ghylspwr in irritation. "There is little point hiding it."
    "You're a death priestess?" the man asked. His urge to have sex with her had diminished greatly, though not entirely. "Like, sacrificing babies and devouring souls to gain the power of demons and all that?"
    Desidora thought for a moment. There were ideas, suggestions, not hers. She forced them away, forced the colors of life back into her skin and hair. "I don't really know. I hope not."
    "Loch, we don't need this," said the man. "My wizard can get us through any safe."
    "Then we'll be twice as lucky to have him as well."
    "Are you the two Jyelle is up in arms about?" Desidora asked.
    "Jyelle?" the woman asked quickly.
    "Master of the Thieves' Guild for most of the province," Desidora said.
    "Dammit!" The man turned to the woman. "And here we've been playing nice, registering in every damn town we pass through!"
    "Maybe she'll let it lie," the woman suggested.
    "Based on what I've heard," Desidora said, "probably not." "She ratted us out before, Loch," the man said. If she's guildmaster, that's a complication."
    "It'll be dealt with," Loch said. "Like I said, I'm looking for someone who can break wards. You interested?"
    "I'm not for hire," said Desidora, but then checked herself and asked, "Where is the job?"
    The woman jerked her head up to the night sky. "Heaven's Spire."
    Desidora nodded. The gods provided. "I'm in."

    It was nearly midnight when Akus emerged, drunk and reeling and squinting in the torchlight, from the tavern Pyvic had tracked him to.
    "Prisoner Akus," Pyvic said calmly, "you're surrounded." "Thought you could escape, now, didja?" Orris cut in. "Well, you thought wrong, Akus!"
    Akus looked from Orris to Pyvic in confusion, then grinned at Orris. "Hey, Orris. Sorry I left. Just had to give it a try, you know?"
    "Had to give—had to give it a try?" Orris stomped forward, and Pyvic followed, sword ready in case Orris's antics turned him into a hostage. "You make a fool of me, and that's all you can say? You're gonna be dangling every night for the next month, Akus! You and—"
    "Enough." Pyvic silenced Orris with a glare, then turned to the town guards he'd pulled in to help. "You four, put Akus in chains. We'll want him for questioning. You three." He pointed. "You're with me."
    "As you say, Justicar." They were good men, a luxury in small towns like this.
    Inside, the tavern was loud and filthy. Loch and Kail had been in the Cleaners for unlawful entry into Heaven's Spire—which usually meant smuggling yourself in a crate. They'd been caught when an informant, Jyelle, had tipped off Customs agents. Loch and Kail could be two-bit thieves hoping to get lucky in the magical capitol city of the Republic, or they could have had a bigger plan. If it were the former, then this was their kind of tavern, too.
    It wasn't, from what Pyvic could see. He made the rounds, staring down a few drunks who got angry when they saw uniforms and asking the bartender a few polite questions. He even let the bartender get his digs in, so that he could hold his head up after Pyvic left. A good justicar knew when to take a little lip. The bartender would remember that Pyvic didn't make it hard for him if Pyvic ever came back.
    After