Free Thief's War: A Knight and Rogue Novel by Hilari Bell

heard—and spilled the big copper kettles of melted wax, which had run over the floor in thick congealing sheets.
    The apprentice made a sound of distress, and went to lift one of the spilled tubs off the fire. The small amount of wax that remained in it was beginning to smoke.
    The chandler looked at the ruins of his workplace, and the tears finally came.
    “I should have paid. I should have shut up and paid, like everyone else.”
    “Could you stay?” I asked. “If you agreed to pay…oh, double for a year, or something?”
    The woman had already chivvied her daughters up the stairs. Brisk footsteps sounded overhead. She seemed a sensible woman, willing to salvage what she could, and leave the rest without looking back.
    Michael could run for a long time. I hoped the thugs were in good shape too. Still…
    “You keep watch out the front window,” I told the apprentice. “Yell if you see those men. I’ll take the back door.”
    It opened onto an alley, with a clear line of sight for several blocks in either direction.
    The chandler sat on a keg, staring around in despair.
    “So, you could stay if you paid extra?” I asked it more to keep him talking than because the answer mattered. Rumors of Tallowsport’s corruption and wickedness abounded throughout the Realm, but I’d been skeptical. It seemed I was wrong.
    “No. If I’d paid up like I should’ve…well, I can’t say those payments weren’t a problem, but I could have managed. But I had t’ get brave… I started talking t’ my neighbors, see. I had plans t’ raise a delegation, go t’ the Liege Guard in Gollford. There’s a post there, though it’s not as large as the one here. Witnesses, signed statements. I’d already begun t’ gather them. So many people said they agreed with me, that we had t’ stand up… I guess I got too cocky. I decided not t’ pay. And look. Look!”
    I did, and under the wreckage I could see a tidy business. It would cost to clean it up and repair the damage, but spilled wax could be scraped up and melted down again. Broken candles could be recast.
    “Do you have money on hand, for the payment you skipped and one other?”
    It was almost as crazy as one of Michael’s schemes. On the other hand, we’d been looking for work and there was plenty of that here. And eventually, some of the chandler’s rebellious neighbors might be willing to talk to us.
    If we could gather sufficient evidence to convince the Liege Guard to pay Tallowsport a visit, I might be able to talk Michael out of trying to deal with Roseman himself.
    “Yah, I’ve enough set by for three payments. But it won’t be enough to start a new business, in a new town, with no shop, no supplies, no—”
    “Sound hands, our health, and each other.” His wife was coming down the stairs, carrying two canvas bags and a travel case. “That’s enough t’ be starting with. And I was with you all the way, doing something about the Rose, so don’t go blaming yourself. We all agreed.”
    The apprentice had left the door to the front room open behind him, and I saw his head turn sharply. Judging by his expression he hadn’t agreed, but no one had listened.
    “You can’t stay here,” I said. “Even if Roseman didn’t know your plans, now that they’ve fallen apart one of your neighbors is bound to say something to someone, and it will all come out. But suppose you had someone you could leave behind, to run the shop for you?” I went on. “Someone new in town, who could convince Roseman’s men he’d be happy to pay whatever it takes to make reparation and regain their trust. And eventually, find a buyer for this place, and send you the money from the sale. Minus a reasonable broker’s fee, of course. That should give you enough to set up shop in Hinksville, or wherever you choose.”
    “No one would dare take the place,” the chandler said bitterly. “All my friends live here. And they’ve their own businesses to run.”
    “Your wife’s