The Box Read Free Page A

saying. “It’s the same in every language, kapteo. I’m not here for a handout, and Desna take your insults. I’m here to make a deal about the Shoanti.”
    The kapteo raised one bushy white eyebrow and gestured for Kostin to continue.
    “The worst scum in Beacon Point—what do they call themselves? The Iron Eaters? Something ridiculous. We both want them out of the picture—only you have an agreement with the Night Scales not to touch them. They’re the Scales’ blunt instruments in this part of town, and they push and push at you and all you can do is complain to navedo bosses that life isn’t fair.” Kostin stopped, took a breath, and noticed his hands were knotted into fists. “I can get rid of them.”
    A calculating look crept into the old man’s eyes. “If one pretends the Scales will ignore what they can surely find out about such a deal, what do you want from us?”
    Kostin named his figure.
    The kapteo licked his lips before speaking. “A lot of coin. It will take time to raise such a loan.”
    Kostin hissed a choice Varisian oath and slammed his hand into the ground between them, sending a leather-punch skittering across the carpets. The old man’s eyes flashed fire, and his hand slipped to the hilt of his blade.
    “It isn’t a loan, you old cheat. Either I get it done, in which case it’s payment. Or I don’t—in which case I’m dead, either at their hands or yours. And I don’t need coin. Hacksilver, trade bits, ingots—hell, dinnerware is fine, just have it for me by this time tomorrow. I have people that need to get paid.”
    The kapteo shook his head, his anger giving way to amusement. “Too much risk. I cannot say yes to this. But it is good to see the spirit of the People is still in you, mossback.”
    Kostin leaned back and smiled. “You don’t know the best part yet, kapteo. I admit that I’m an unknown quantity to you—my abilities in this area cannot be seen as a guarantee. But the real risk you’re talking about is retaliation from the Scales.” Kostin scrutinized the old man, noting his interest. “But the Scales grow tired of their alley dogs, and they’ve already tried to arrange the killing of the Shoanti Azahg, the mad shaman that holds their leash.”
    “And I am to take your word at this? You would say anything; I see revenge in your eyes.”
    Kostin stood. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled forth a wad of fire-blackened cloth, its former intricate and multi-hued pattern barely discernable. It was his kapenia, his family scarf. The story of his parents and his parents’ parents, the story of his life before it had been given him. He dropped the ruined thing before the old man.
    The kapteo smoothed the garment with bent fingers, and said nothing.
    “This time, tomorrow. It’s enough time to check my story. One of Symirkova’s brats down at the Bazaar can tell you all about the Kellid freelancer who took a shot at Azahg, and how the deal was brokered by a couple of town guards called Marster and Dennebris. Maybe you’ve already heard of that pair—they certainly run their mouths enough. The girls of half-a-dozen Lowcleft dance halls had plenty to repeat about those two, about how they like to go around spending Night Scales silver and playing the big men.”
    Kostin declined to mention the remaining link in the chain of information he had uncovered this morning—that it was Donal Carent that had sent him sniffing after Marster and Dennebris, the two men that had rolled into Dockyard impound one day with a cartful of supposedly confiscated sundries and a false bill of lading. Their cargo had disappeared by the end of the day, gone home in the pockets and pouches of a score of guards and officials. All their cargo, that is, except for a black, wizard-locked box.
    The kapteo spoke after a moment’s consideration, “If this is true, then the Scales will take care of our problem for us.”
    Kostin shook his head. “The Scales want to cut off the head of the