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Honor Among Thieves
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Honor Among Thieves
by B. A. Tortuga
Torquere Press
Copyright ©2006 by BA Tortuga
First published in http://www.torquerepress.com,
2006
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Honor Among Thieves
by B. A. Tortuga
Chapter One
Things were going well downstairs. The guests were
happy, the drinks flowed freely, and the gambling tables in
the back room were full. Hundreds of well-dressed idiots fairly
begged to be stripped of their worldly goods. Enoch was well
pleased. He'd spoken to the high-end patrons, checked that
his best lad was indeed recovered from a nasty cold, and
tasted the food.
Time for more pleasurable business.
Leaving behind the opulent rooms with the scantily clad
young men and their patrons, Enoch climbed the stair to his
private chambers on the third floor, undoing his starched
cuffs and collar as he went. He was about to commence his
second favorite pastime. Bargaining.
Opening the door to his sitting room, Enoch looked about,
hoping his evening's dickering partner had not become bored
and left.
Oh, the man was still there, a tiny, silver knife flicking over
the slender fingers, the lithe body displayed to delicious
perfection upon a low settee of plum velvet. Dark hair shot
through with brightest silver poured loose over a blood-red
blouse, the silver pin at the throat a fine filigree done by a
master's hand.
Add to that slim legs in a rich black, soft shoes shining in
the firelight, and the man gave a lovely image indeed.
"I hope I did not keep you waiting overlong." Enoch
smiled, settling himself at a table, studying his guest intently.
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Honor Among Thieves
by B. A. Tortuga
A twist of the wrist and the little knife was gone, dark eyes
meeting his own. "Not at all. A man such as yourself leads an
exceedingly busy life. Thank you for seeing me."
Such quick, clever hands. Enoch could not help but wonder
what else they were good at. "So what have you for me?"
"I had the good fortune to come upon some fine, matched
gems on my travels and the word is you are the man who
might have interested buyers." Slick and soft, not musical
enough to draw attention, but non-threatening—this man was
well-practiced, well-spoken. Well-watched.
"Indeed. I am always in the market for such things, though
unaccustomed to dealing with people to whom I am
unintroduced." He could play the game equally well, come to
that.
"Cormac de Barrie." The lad—for even with the silvered
hair, the man was thin and small, cheeks smooth and eyes
bright—stood and bowed deep, hair sliding to brush the wine-
colored carpet.
Oh, he did like a man with panache. "Enoch Fairweather,
at your service. How did you come to hear of me?"
He always asked. Enoch liked to know who was talking.
"A sweet, little bird with bright, blue eyes and a lovely
plumage whispered it to me. Hopped right onto my bedstead,
I swear it."
"Really." Enoch pondered that, grinning at the thought that
it was one of his lads that set young Cormac on him. "I vow; I
am amazed you still have aught to sell."
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Honor Among Thieves
by B. A. Tortuga
"Oh, I believe the chick found his tail feathers scorched
when he hopped too near the fire and chose to fly off with the
treasure he'd been offered." Oh, those eyes were wicked.
So was the voice, thick with amusement and something
like pride. Enoch liked a confident rogue.
"Very well, lad. Let us see what you have, and we'll
dicker."
With another motion, quick enough the slender fingers
seemed to blur, three emeralds appeared, the size and shape
of fat robin's eggs, so dark as to be almost black in the pale
palm.
Careful not to react on the outside, Enoch took a deep
mental breath. The emeralds were lovely, stunning, really.
They would make wonderful additions to his collection.
"Well. You have been lucky."
"I am oft-blessed by the gods of luck. It is a load I gladly
bear." One gem was held toward the firelight, the pattern of
green light dancing upon floor and ceiling. "They are clear and
all pure. A fine lot."
"They are. May I?" Enoch took one gem, wanting a closer
look. Lovely, with a deep inner fire. They would look well with
his eyes, and he was just enough of a dandy for that to
matter.
"What sort of price are you looking for, so I can find a
buyer?"
"Separately they'd draw two hundred of the king's coin,
give or take a ducet. Together they're worth five times that."
"I'd say three times, since you won't be selling them as
family heirlooms, will you?"
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