The old warehouse was like Taava remembered it: exactly the same as dozens of others up and down this blighted river. The warehouse wasn’t special. What was under the warehouse was special. The place was on a small rise—the last bend in the river before the ocean; and the part of the Underwash that ran under it didn’t flood with the tide.

The Mudrat base here was secure, defensible, and little-known considering the warehouse had been mostly buried before Garvin and his crew dug it up. A collapse a long time ago had sealed it off and no one before the Mudrats had been determined (or stupid) enough to see if there was anything down there.

The entrance was hidden underneath the old structure, and the inside was surprisingly stench-free. If only the endless damp of the river didn’t seep in through ancient stone walls that wept dark moisture. Oil lanterns hung around the place, casting the stacks of contraband goods in flickering light.

Soot marred the ceiling, a product of the cheap oil Garvin liked to use. There was one door leading to the exit tunnel, and another leading to other chambers farther in. Rumor had it there was a secret exit into the Underwash somewhere deeper in, but Taava had never found it.

Mostly for lack of trying. Hopefully she’d be able to walk back out the way she came in, nice and neat.

Doubtful.

The two goons with her and Vink were some of the bigger ones in Garvin’s employ. One of them was dumber than a wharf rat, but the other’s small, dark eyes gleamed with malicious cunning. Karrus, Taava recalled his name.

Her odds of slipping away if things went wrong were looking worse and worse. I just have to make sure things don’t go wrong then, she tried to reassure herself.

Taava didn’t like uncertainty—despite the act she put on and the faces she wore. And right now? She wasn’t in control, and it shook her.

Karrus and the other goon shoved her roughly down into a patchwork chair at a worm-worn table. Vink took a seat next to her, tilting down on the short leg. Karrus glared at the rat-like man. He shrugged in response, a nervous reaction he tried to play off as confidence.

It didn’t take, and Karrus’ cold glare set Vink squirming in his seat. Taava didn’t have to work very hard to act nervous either. Just not for quite the same reasons, she suspected.

Garvin made them wait, stewing in the awkwardness and the smell of damp soot that lingered under the incense. Karrus stood in a silent vigil; the dumb one stood awkwardly fidgeting next to the immense man. Perhaps humans couldn’t smell the ever-present soot, but Taava wasn’t so sure. Their senses weren’t always so dull as she’d thought.

Her mind drifted to the demon Zarenna, even as she tried to steer it away. She knew she should treat the demonic woman as a danger, but the casual air she affected was infectious. However, the hints of her simmering fury, tightly leashed, that shone through at times caused Taava to evaluate her carefully.

She was surprised Zarenna hadn’t forced her way into this evening. And right now, in the damp cellar and with a situation sliding further out of her control, Taava wished that maybe she would.

She couldn’t plan for that. Shouldn’t, either. Taava knew it was for the best she’d gone alone. Cold comfort.

After a frustrating amount of time, the door at the back of the room opened. In stepped a man who, at first glance, might have looked out of place in a damp underground room full of contraband. Garvin had fair features, well-styled shoulder-length brown hair, and was dressed nicely—but not pretentiously—with small accents subtly hinting at great wealth.

Garvin’s expression, however, gave much away. There was no warmth in his eyes, nor his smile that he wore as fraudulently as his gentlemanly attire. A long, wicked scar was just visible under heavy makeup along his neck, its presence threatening to tear the whole illusion asunder.

Garvin’s been somewhere important tonight. Or, he wants me to think he has, Taava thought.

“Taava!” Garvin exclaimed. “So good of you to visit tonight! And I see you’ve brought my trusty assistant along, too.”

Vink preened.

Taava schooled her expression into neutrality. “Always a pleasure, Garvin. Whaddya need from me? I’ve got my haul from Rochewood and it’s everythin’ ya wanted.”

“Oh, so you didn’t have any trouble getting in?” Garvin strode toward the table, around to Taava’s side.

“No,” Taava replied curtly, meeting his gaze with lowered ears.

Garvin leaned down by her ears. “Were you followed?” He gave a distracted-looking Vink a pat on the head as he swept by.

“No, I wasn’t,” Taava said curtly, tracking Garvin with her eyes, but not meeting his gaze.

“Hmm,” Garvin circled the table, running a finger along the cracks in the bloated old wood. “I think you’re lying.”

“Look, I have the goods, alright?” Taava snapped, reaching slowly toward the small satchel tied around her torso. “Just be glad you wanted something small and durable. I had a little trouble on the road, that’s all.”

“A little trouble on the road?” Garvin took a seat across from her and leaned back in his chair. “Does it have anything to do with those new friends of yours.”

“Yeah,” Taava replied and her hand stopped mid-way to its goal, “it does. They bailed me out and I helped them look for some friends of theirs. That’s it.”

Garvin’s smile widened, like the cat that got the mouse.

What does he know?

“So,” Garvin said smoothly, “Let’s see the take.”

Taava hissed quietly and removed the satchel, setting it on the table. “Here.” She pulled a small metal object out of the pouch and opened it, setting the pieces on the table face-up. “The last retired copper mold from the imperial mint. Do ya even know how hard it was ta get this? And ta get the fake in its place? They’ve got magic wards all over the damn buildin’.”

Taava’s rant got Vink to look over at the mold. His eyes grew wide as saucers.

“Yeah, but that’s why you’re the best in the business.” Garvin picked up the two pieces and studied them carefully, but his eyes moved to Taava. “Exquisite, my Raavian rose”

Taava grimaced, showing a calculated amount of displeasure. He knows I hate being called that. And he knows why, too.

“You know, Taava, I’ve been thinking you really ought to start doing wetwork.” Garvin slid the two pieces into his suit pocket.

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“Are we gonna make gold coins!?” Vink interjected excitedly.

Karrus took a step forward from his place in the corner, silent as a mouse. Garvin put up a hand and he stopped in a moment. “Vink dear, you should really learn not to interrupt. But I suppose this once I’ll entertain you. Those dies were for the last variation of the imperial copper piece—the ones before the Edathan Civil War.”

“Copper? Why do we wanna make copper pieces?” Vink frowned, trying to process why the Mudrats wouldn’t go straight for gold coins.

Instead of explaining, Garvin turned to Taava. “Why don’t you explain why, Taava?” He paused for just a short moment to lean forward. “And then you can tell us all about how many people you had to kill to get these.”

Taava’s well-trained expression broke for a moment into fury before she schooled herself. Karrus twitched, but stayed in his corner. She took a breath to steady herself. “Copper pieces’re the most used currency, makin’ ‘em difficult ta track. They’re also not faked so much ‘cause they’re cheaper, and we can get metal for ‘em easier. Plus, there’s a lotta old old coppers floatin’ around. We make some, let ‘em grime up in the Underwash, and then we’ve got counterfeit funds no one’s gonna bat an eye at. Just gotta trade ‘em for things and trade those things for gold and then it’s all legit.”

“Oooh,” Vink sighed, then looked to Garvin. “That’s a real smart plan boss.”

Garvin smiled predatorily. “Indeed it is, Vink.” He tilted his head toward Taava and kept his smile firmly in place. “But I think she left out one of the parts I asked for.”

Taava frowned.

“Aww, come on, Taava!” Garvin leaned back and shrugged; hands open. “We’ve all had ta kill! And all you have to do to start paying off that debt is to go after some people I need taken care of!”

Taava stayed silent.

Garvin laughed. “You know, there’s a bounty on your head now! I’m sure you found that out on the way here. How many, Taava? How many for these two lumps of metal, hmm?”

Taava glared at Garvin.

“Yeah, Taava, how many!” Vink jeered. Then, his head snapped back as something cracked against his skull. He fell backward in his chair, crashing onto the ground.

“Quiet when I’m talking, please.” Garvin said with a hint of annoyance, his throwing arm sinking back to rest behind his head.

Vink groaned on the floor.

“Get up, and give Karrus my dagger,” Garvin said condescendingly. “I don’t want your blood on it. The next time you interrupt, you get the pointy end.”

Vink started to move and struggled upright.

Taava watched him for a moment, then turned back to Garvin, who was smiling dangerously.

“Answer me, Taava.”

Karrus took a step forward.

For a moment Taava gauged her chances. Unless she took out everyone in this room—except maybe the slow one—she’d end up dead. And knowing Garvin, that dumb-looking bastard had orders if that happened. Even so, her odds of killing Garvin when outnumbered were low. He didn’t get to the top in Lockmoth on looks alone. In the moment of silence, Taava heard a sound from deeper in the tunnels. She hoped the twitch of her ears would be misread.

“Three,” she answered quietly, lowering them and listening.

“You’re going to have to speak up a little Taava. I don’t think I could hear you over Vink’s groaning.”

The groaning cut out. Vink put a hand on the table and started to struggle to his feet. Karrus took another step forward, but not toward Vink.

“I killed three innocent people to get those dies,” Taava replied, each word hollowing her out.

“Only three?” Garvin replied.

Taava nodded sharply. She was telling the truth. Another sound from farther in. Closer. She kept her ears still.

“I’ll admit then,” Garvin continued, “I am impressed. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it? And the people I want you to go after deserve to die.”

Not as much as you, Taava thought venomously.

“In fact, now that we can make our own money, I’m not so sure I need you around anymore.” Garvin waved and Karrus changed course to Vink. He took the knife from the man and Vink pulled himself into a standing position hunched over the table, taking out a dirty rag to hold to his bleeding forehead. “But,” Garvin’s eyes gleamed maliciously, “if you start doing wetwork, then I think your usefulness will far outstrip the bounty. I’ll have to add the bounty to your debt of course, but I’m sure you’ll pay it off in no time at all.

“So, what do you say, Taava? Do you want to continue to be an asset, or become a liability?” Garvin smiled.

Karrus moved silently to stand right behind Taava. The other, dumber guard cracked his knuckles and took a step toward her, too. Another sound, louder. Taava glanced at Garvin, and saw his eyes flick to the door behind him.

“I’ll do it.” Taava said quietly. “I’ll do it, you—”

Her Raavian curse was cut off by Garvin’s outstretched palm. “Good, but there’s one more thing I do want to ask about. And answer carefully. What do your new ‘friends’ know?”

Taava met his cold gaze for a moment. He knows something. He’s asking for more than the answer to this question.

“They know that I’m a bard who can fight. I got jumped on the road and they jumped in after I started fightin’ my way out. I couldn’t let a buncha bandits get the dies. They don’t know I’m a thief, and they don’t know about my past,” Taava lied smoothly.

Another sound—something metal, and close. This time, Karrus heard, his small dark eyes flicked to the back door for a moment.

“Hmm,” Garvin rubbed his chin. “I don’t like that answer.”

Taava tried to slide under the table, but Garvin kicked out, stopping her. Karrus grabbed her by her shoulder, thankfully too slow to get her neck. Vink, for his part, knew to stay out of it.

“Bodden!” Garvin hissed quietly at the dumb guard. “Go check that noise. And Karrus? Restrain her, but don’t kill her. Vink, with me.” Garvin stood up quickly and turned to leave, giving Taava one last look.

Karrus’ grip was like iron. Before he could do anything else, Taava let out the breath she was holding by screaming as loudly as she could. If that noise is anything that can help me…

A giant hand clamped over her mouth and nose. She bit down on it, expecting to taste dirt, but only getting the iron of blood as her sharp canines managed to get through Karrus’s thick skin. The man didn’t so much as grunt.

She saw the dumb one open the rear door. Garvin stayed in the room, looking at her with a carefully neutral expression.

As if he isn’t happy about this.

Taava flailed like she was in a panic, which wasn’t far from the truth. Like she’d predicted, Karrus didn’t mind her flailing limbs, but he paid attention to them, holding her out and moving his hand farther down her shoulder to restrain that arm. She’d always shown her right arm to be dominant, but the truth was Taava’s training had largely made that point irrelevant.

Right now, however, she wasn’t trying to use either hand. Deftly, she gripped a knife in her tail and drove it up between Karrus’ legs. To his credit, the man didn’t flinch even at that. He did, however, slam Taava against the ground, knocking the wind out of her.

She saw stars and she was barely able to ignore the pain of broken ribs. Blackness started creeping in at the edges of her vision. Air. I need air!

A huge weight settled on her as Karrus pinned her to the damp stone floor. The blackness crept farther along, her remaining vision getting blurry. This time, she struggled for real. She managed to get a few more cuts in. Poisoned blades, all of them. She had to hope it was enough to slow the man down.

The poison was supposed to be fast-acting, but it was old, she’d had to mix it herself, and Karrus’ immense bulk would slow it down. When she’d gotten her hits in, Taava tried to still her heart and slow her body, hoping to hang on to her consciousness a little longer. As she felt herself slipping away, she heard a shout of surprise and a hit of metal on metal.

Her vision swimming and her lungs and muscles burning, Taava held on to consciousness. Above her Karrus grip slackened. His finger slipping off her nose. She exhaled stale air then drew in as big a breath as she could. The blackness started to clear into a starry array of spots, and her ribs burned like fire against the expansion of her lungs. She held the breath, not willing to lose in case Karrus had just slipped up.

“Karrus!” Garvin’s voice was low, but clear. “We’re going. Now.”

The weight on top of her tried to move upright, wobbled, and collapsed back on top of Taava. She tried to roll free, but the hand on her shoulder still had enough of a grip to stop her. The man’s immense bulk crashed down.

Taava felt something snap, then couldn’t feel her legs at all. Fear overwhelmed her façade and she screamed, raw and primal.

Garvin cursed, and said something Taava was too out of it to discern. Vink whimpered nearby. Something crashed behind her, and a cool wetness mixed with the warmth of what might have been blood, piss, or both. She smelled the oil soaking into her and Karrus. Then, she smelled burning.

No! Please!

Memories played through her mind. She remembered all the horrors she’d visited on others. Maybe, a part of her mind lamented, I deserve this.

Two sets of footsteps hurried out of the room. The heat grew and Taava felt the burning start at her sides. The pain was intense, searing agony unlike she’d ever experienced. She screamed again, but all that came out was a whimper.

As the pain and burning consumed her mind, she heard another pair of footsteps, light and fast.

“Aretan!” a small voice shouted urgently and the weight crushing her shifted, but didn’t abate. “Help! I can’t move the big guy!” the voice spoke in Turquoiser.

Another deeper voice replied as the last of Taava’s fight left her and she succumbed to agony and darkness.