Nuliyaa hadn’t meant to be home when Cheeyt returned. She’d tried her best not to be, but there was nothing new on any of the notice boards and there was no point in going to the Guild office when Cheeyt would stop by there on her way home. And visiting the shops and markets was more of a risk than she wanted to take at the moment. If she ran into Wiispuu, she wasn’t sure what she would do to him. It certainly wouldn’t benefit her, or the company’s, reputation, though.

So when Cheeyt walked through the door, sweaty and dusty, Nuliyaa was right there, helping Miyt work on commissions. She dropped two drafts on the table. “There’s the pay for both of our jobs. Why was yours at the Guild office?”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

Cheeyt had been about to drop her littiichangs on the hook by the door, but at Nuliyaa’s words she spun back around. “What?”

“Nuliyaa,” Miyt said quietly.

Arms crossing, Cheeyt said, “We can go talk elsewhere, Miyt. It seems Nuliyaa has something to say to me and we all know nothing is going to stop her.”

“We’re not going anywhere because this affects Miyt, too! She was worried when you didn’t come home and didn’t tell us that you were leaving!”

Cheeyt’s arms flew wide open, her littiichangs almost getting slung across the room. “The Guild office knew! I was gone for a day. I’ve been gone on jobs for a lot longer than that before.”

“But we always knew you were on a job before!”

Tseetsaa pushed open the door and walked inside, a folded and wax-sealed paper in hand. “There was a courier outside,” she said. “For some reason, I don’t think they wanted to knock on the door. I couldn’t imagine why—the screaming is so very welcoming.”

Cheeyt sighed and took the paper, scanning over the address. She then stopped and scanned it again. “It’s addressed to the company,” she said.

“To our company?” Nuliyaa stood and hurried to her sister’s side. Cheeyt tipped the paper toward her so she could see the letters precisely written across the front. “Is that the city logo?” She touched the inked stamp on one corner.

“What could the city possibly want with us?” Cheeyt slit open the letter and unfolded it. Then she spun on Nuliyaa. “Did you know about this?”

The blood drained from Nuliyaa’s face as she shook her head. “No. Maltangku never had to pay this.”

“What is it?” Tseetsaa asked as she sliced into the fruit.

Stolen novel; please report.

“An invoice for a registration fee.” Nuliyaa did some quick math in her head. “This is over half of what’s left in our savings. If we don’t get better jobs soon…” Her voice trailed off as she imagined going door-to-door at the shops around the market squares trying to find a new position. And, oh, the mocking she’d get from Wiispuu, his wife, and all of their friends.

“How could you not know about this?” Cheeyt demanded. “Isn’t that why you’re the business manager?”

Miyt took the paper from Cheeyt’s hand and started reading. “This is for a lifetime registration,” she finally said. “Charchee Maltangku would have paid his a long time ago.”

“A registration fee? What for?” Tseetsaa asked.

“This says registration is required in order to operate in Wumaltsmaas.”

“So are you going to pay it?” Tseetsaa bit into a slice.

Cheeyt scowled at her. “What else would we do?”

She shrugged. “Go back to your regular work.”

Both Nuliyaa and Cheeyt turned away from their youngest sister. Even Miyt gave her a disappointed look.

“I could sell back the wagon,” Cheeyt said slowly.

“Then we won’t have the wagon when we need it, and the money for buying another one will be gone.”

“We will make do,” Miyt said as she returned to her cushion and her work. “You are both working hard. There will be jobs in the future that will make back the money.” Tseetsaa sniffed and went into their sleeping area.

Cheeyt lowered herself to the nearest cushion. “There is something we can do for more money.” She spoke as though she had to force every word out.

“What is it?” Certainly there wasn’t anything as bad as having to go back to their former employment.

“I saw Layk on the way to the Guild office yesterday.”

Nuliyaa stared at her blankly.

“She’s the one working with that company that’s been hiring up all the mages.”

So Cheeyt meant the one she’d broken up with. Or had broken up with her, Nuliyaa wasn’t sure how their relationship had ended. It wasn’t as though Cheeyt spent a lot of time talking about her previous lovers.

“They are—what did she call it? Subcontracting! Subcontracting jobs out to other guarding companies. From the jobs they get by having their own office.” That last part sounded bitter.

“Are they allowed to do that? Why don’t we have an office, then?”

Cheeyt shot her an exasperated glare. “We’re trying to figure out how to keep paying for our apartment in a couple of months. Why do you think we don’t have an office? I didn’t even know the Guild would allow it.”

“Do they?”

“Apparently it’s allowed as long as the Guild continues to get their cut.”

“And since there are more jobs going to their company, including some jobs the Guild probably wouldn’t accept, there’s more money going into the Guild.” Nuliyaa frowned. She could see how it would be a profitable scheme. But they were pouring a lot of money into their enterprise that was only a few months older than Cheeyt and Nuliyaa’s company.

“We can save that for a truly last resort,” she said firmly.

“Nuliyaa—,” Cheeyt started, even though she looked relieved.

“It isn’t like we need the money right now. As you said, once this fee is paid, we’ll still have at least a couple of months.” Provided the city didn’t have any more massive fees planned for them. “And it isn’t as though we have no money coming in at all.”

“As I said, we will make do.” Miyt tied a knot in her thread. “Now, you will both apologize for your behavior today. Scaring off a city courier! Your father and I raised you both better than that.”

The sisters glared at each other before muttering the most minimally acceptable of apologies.