Free Emperor's Edge Republic by Lindsay Buroker Page B

daughter would choose to live in poverty with that, that buffoon when you could be back on the force at home.”
    “It’s the city, Father. Of course, everything is more expensive. We’re fine here. We—”
    “The captain offered you a promotion! Lieutenant! You’d make more money and could rent a nice house there if you don’t want to live with the family.”
    Maldynado paused, halfway into his trousers. She had been offered a promotion out in her own district? When had that happened? Why hadn’t she said anything?
    “I know, Father, but—”
    “You’re not staying here because of that fop , are you?” He thrust a finger at Maldynado, who did feel a touch foppish standing on one leg with his trousers around his ankles. “Does he even work? Contribute money? Isn’t his family disgraced? Or in prison?”
    “I’d vote for prison,” the brother grumbled, giving Maldynado another glower. Brothers were always so terribly insufferable when men slept with their sisters.
    “Not the entire family,” Maldynado said.
    The father glared at him, the brother glowered at him—it was more of a continuation of the same ongoing glower—and the two stomped outside. Evrial headed after them, though she paused in the doorway to look back at Maldynado.
    “Thank you for making dinner.”
    “You’re welcome. Will you be back to enjoy it?”
    “I... hope so. Do remember to use your apron. I’ve told you before, cooking naked is dangerous.” Though a sadness—almost a defeat—lurked in her eyes, she smiled and added, “Oaf.”
    Alone in the flat, Maldynado thought about trying again to make flat bread without turning it into a singed charcoal cake, but he sat down to contemplate Evrial’s father’s words instead. The man didn’t know him, didn’t know all the work he had done in the last year—Maldynado deserved a vacation. But, then, he had grown restless of vacationing after a few weeks, and he’d started to think of future adventures with the team. Even if half of the team was gone. More than half. Akstyr was studying in the Kyatt Islands. Basilard had gone back to reconnect with his daughter. Amaranthe and Sicarius were doing who knew what on some tropical beach. And Books...
    Maldynado swallowed. With all of them gone, the city was drab. Bland. He was not a man who appreciated blandness. He also didn’t appreciate that he had no income. Before Evrial... he had barely cared. He’d made do, offering his services to ladies for room and board and the opportunity to attend all sorts of fashionable events—Evrial had disabused him of the notion of returning to that line of work. But if he couldn’t act as an escort, and he couldn’t trade his handsome face and charm for items from women—Evrial also forbade this—he didn’t quite know how to go about earning a living. Aside from dueling and thumping people, what could he do? He didn’t even know how plebeians went about acquiring jobs. Not that he could imagine himself laboring from dawn to dusk in some factory anyway. He wanted to be... to do...
    Maldynado huffed and pushed a hand through his hair. He didn’t know. He couldn’t stomach the idea of being some random worker or bouncer. Maybe he could ask President Starcrest for a job, something on his staff. Wasn’t Maldynado owed some favor for the role he had played in helping to put the man into office? Not that he should need a favor; he was imminently qualified for... er... whatever the boss might come up with. He sighed. Amaranthe really needed to come back to town.
    The door opened. Maldynado looked up warily. Evrial walked in alone.
    “Apple brandy?” he offered, raising one of the tumblers he had poured. Once a week, he spent an hour smiling and passing out cards to affluent women at the Greenscale Market to earn his free samples. The fine drink should have been served in an aperitif glass, but these were the beverage holders that had come with their “tastefully furnished flat.”
    “Do I