“Stub...born?” Janco sounded out each syllable as if saying the word for the first time. “Gee, I don’t know anyone who is stub...born.” He stared at me.
“Just for that, you get to go into the stinkin’ alley first,” I said.
“Yay for me.” He rubbed his right ear. “What about the horses?”
“Ari, can you stay with them until we find the door?” I asked.
“What if it’s a trap?”
“I’ll scream really loud and you run and get backup,” Janco said.
“It’s not a trap. It’s Fisk.” I dismounted.
“Yeah, well, Fisk is a businessman, and I’m sure he has other clients who will pay—”
“No. Not Fisk.” I kept my tone even despite my anger. “Before you remind me of my...inability to wield magic and how I have to be paranoid and trust no one, it’s Fisk. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” The big man set his jaw.
“While I’ll agree that Fisk wouldn’t ever betray or harm you for money, Yelena—” Janco swung down from The Madam’s saddle “—I also think Ari has a point, even though he didn’t communicate it well. Everyone is vulnerable. If I was a ne’er-do-well, I’d find a person’s weakness and exploit it in my favor. Like when Owen found your weakness by kidnapping Leif and forcing you to steal the Ice Moon. Fisk is no exception.”
“You’re right.” Before Janco could gloat, I added, “Ari didn’t express it well. My apologies, Ari.”
“Just be extra careful,” he said. “Janco, if you sense any magic inside Fisk’s headquarters—”
“We’ll make a super-quick exit.” He handed The Madam’s and Rusalka’s reins to Ari.
Janco entered the alley and I stayed a step behind him. The rank smell of urine and rotted garbage stung the inside of my nostrils, causing nausea to roll in my stomach. Our boots crunched on broken glass. Fist-sized spiders skittered behind heaps of trash. All, I hoped, part of the magical illusion. I kept my hand close to my switchblade just in case.
“You always take me to the fanciest places, Yelena. You really spoil me.”
“Anyone who can use ne’er-do-well in a sentence deserves every comfort.”
Janco grunted, but I wasn’t sure if it was over the joke or because of the magic. He stopped, turned to his right, held up his hands and walked through a brick wall, disappearing. I followed, bracing for impact even though I knew it was illusion.
We entered an alcove. Remembering the series of knocks Leif had used during our previous visit, I rapped on the door. If they’d changed the pattern, we might be in trouble.
A small peephole opened. “Kinda early for a visit,” a young girl said.
“It’s never too early to lend a helping hand,” I replied.
The peephole shut with a bang.
“Talk about paranoid,” Janco whispered.
Nothing happened. I resisted the urge to pound on the door with the sides of my fists. Then a metallic snap sounded and the door swung wide.
A girl no older than thirteen gestured us into a foyer. “Lovely Yelena, you honor us with your visit.” She tucked her long brown hair behind her ears. “Master Fisk has been expecting you.”
And probably wondering why we didn’t come sooner. I scanned the three rooms that branched off the foyer. On the right, the rows of bunk beds for the helpers were empty, and so was the classroom on the left. The enticing aroma of sweet cakes floated from the kitchen located straight ahead.
“Is Fisk in his office?”
“No. This is our busiest time of day and everyone is at the market helping shoppers. However, I sent Cricket to fetch him. Come and have breakfast while you wait. Amberle’s making sweet cakes.”
Another delay. I clasped my hands together to keep from shouting at the girl that we didn’t have time to eat. With my fingernails biting into my skin, I said, “We have another person outside with our horses.”
“Then I will direct him to the stable.”
Interesting that she already knew his gender.
“You have a stable in here?” Janco asked, glancing around with a sharp gaze. Probably marking all the exits.
“Not exactly. It’s on the other side of our building and is part of the White Rose Inn. However, we have an...arrangement with the proprietor of the White Rose, and there’s a convenient door into our headquarters from the stable.”
“I’d better go instead. Ari’s not gonna trust you.” Janco asked for directions.
“Tell the stable boy Hilly sent you.”
Janco nodded and left. I followed Hilly to the kitchen. It opened up into an expansive kitchen with rows of long wooden tables to the left of the hearth. Amberle waved hello with her spatula.