Savage Read Online Free Page B

high price.”
    “Save your threats for your lackeys. We both know failure means death or worse for both of us.”
    The man smiled. “True. But the chance to destroy the prince is worth it. Now, this is what I had in mind to start…”
     

3
    DRAISHA
    KYRA opened the shop door. The pleasant aroma of fresh baked sweets and exotic teas filled her nose. Her mouth watered reflexively as she identified the scent of cinnamon tarka cake. The sweet and savory treat was her favorite, and was her second favorite reason to visit the bacco. Hoggard’s bacco was a simple affair, a few tables spread out to offer maximum privacy and the main counter where his treats were displayed.
    Kyra walked up to the counter and grabbed the piece of tarka cake that Hoggard had waiting for her. The soft and sweet cake melted in her mouth. Kyra slowly savored the treat before turning her attention to the waiting bacco owner.
    “Do you have the merchandise?” asked Hoggard.
    Kyra glanced down the counter. No one was within hearing distance. Hoggard was confident that none of his patrons were spies or the sort to sell him out, but Kyra wasn’t willing to trust that easily. She only trusted a few people and none of them were here. She slid a leather pouch across the counter. “Release papers signed by the duke. Not authentic, but only the duke himself would know the difference.”
    Hoggard slid the pouch under the counter, opened it, and quickly inspected the forged document. “You truly have a gift, Kyra.”
    Kyra smiled. It was true, she had a gift. Anything she saw she remembered and was able to replicate. A signature, a painting, she could even duplicate a statue if necessary, but she didn’t like working with clay, too time consuming and messy. Besides, the real money was in forged documents. She hardly ever got requests to do artwork. “Thank you, Hoggard. Have you anything else you need? I’m a little light on the cash this month. Grundal and his goons are looking for me.” Normally this wouldn’t be an issue but her last few bets had been fairly large, and Grundal sent the more dangerous goons out when the money got big.
    Hoggard shook his head. “You’d be a rich woman if you’d simply quit gambling. Haven’t I told you Grundal’s races are fixed?”
    Kyra shrugged. “I had a can’t miss tip. I thought I’d beat Grundal at his own game.”
    Hoggard scoffed. “Grundal likes to do that. He has one of his low level grunts make the rounds, hinting that the fix is in but for the right price he’ll cough up the secret. Sound familiar?”
    “Too familiar. Okay, Hoggie, I vow to never gamble with Grundal again. Now can you help me or what?” Hoggard wasn’t just Kyra’s preferred middle man, he was a fatherly figure that treated her with respect, and over the years their comfort level with each other had grown to the point where teasing and nicknames were common. The age difference was enough to remove any sexual issues. She was just into her twenties while Hoggard was at least double that. Kyra didn’t have any daddy issues and Hoggard had never acted inappropriate towards her. Not that she entirely trusted him, he was after all, a man. And men by nature were not trust worthy.
    “Perhaps. But I’m not sure this job is a fit for you. I don’t think it requires any forging. It’s more a mystery job.”
    Kyra was intrigued. A mystery was right up her alley. “Hoggie my dear, don’t tease me. You know I love a riddle. What kind of mystery can’t I solve?”
    “I’m not saying you’re not smart enough, I’m saying you probably want to avoid this job. It could be dangerous in a way you’ve never dealt with before.”
    “What could be more dangerous than stealing orders from a military camp? You had no problem sending me on that job.”
    “I have faith that you can sneak into any place, and I know once you look at something, you can replicate it perfectly. This isn’t about your skills as a thief or your smarts. Come to