Thieves' Quarry (The Thieftaker Chronicles) Read Online Free

unintentional.
    “Who have you told about this job?” Ethan asked.
    “No one! I swear it!” His eyes were wide, even fearful. He knew better than to think that Ethan would try to exact a measure of revenge. But they had been friends for a long time; Diver looked up to Ethan the way he might to an older brother. The last thing he would have wanted was to fail him on a job, in particular if it meant losing money to Sephira Pryce.
    “A girl, maybe?” Ethan asked.
    “No.” But Ethan could see the doubt in his friend’s dark eyes. With Diver, there was always a girl—a different one from fortnight to fortnight, but he was rarely alone. He was tall and handsome, with curly black hair and a smile that could have charmed the queen consort herself.
    “What’s her name, Diver?”
    “She wouldn’t have told Sephira,” he said, more to himself than to Ethan. “I know she wouldn’t.”
    “Diver?” Ethan said, drawing the young man’s gaze once more. “Her name?”
    His friend sighed. “Katharine,” he said. “Katharine Chambers. I met her outside Faneuil Hall maybe a month ago. She wouldn’t be working for Sephira. She’s…” He shook his head, perhaps knowing better than to complete the thought aloud.
    Ethan had never heard of the girl, but that didn’t mean much. “Have you told anyone else about Tanner?” he asked.
    Diver shook his head, his expression bleak. “No, no one.” He looked Ethan in the eye. “You have my word.”
    Ethan nodded and took a long pull of ale. “Well,” he said wiping his mouth with his hand, “there’s nothing to be done about it now. I’d suggest you stay away from her, though.”
    “So, we don’t get anything?” Diver asked.
    “This is Sephira we’re talking about. It’s not like her to share with the other children.”
    The young man closed his eyes and rubbed his brow with his thumb and forefinger. “I needed that money.”
    Ethan didn’t bother asking why. More often than not, when Diver said it that way he meant, I’ve already spent that money.
    They sat in silence for some time. Ethan surveyed the tavern while Diver stared morosely into his empty tankard. Eventually Kannice came out of the kitchen, beckoned to Kelf, and vanished again. Soon after, the two of them emerged again bearing a huge tureen of creamy white stew. The tavern patrons roared their approval, and Kelf began to ladle the chowder into wooden bowls.
    Kannice had spotted Ethan and she approached him now, her auburn hair shining in the lamplight, a few stray strands falling over her forehead. Reaching their table, she bent to kiss him lightly on the lips, her hair smelling of lavender, her breath tasting slightly of Irish whiskey.
    She bobbed her head toward Diver. “He’s been like an eager puppy all night, waiting for you to come in. I’d have thought he’d be happier now that you’re finally here.”
    Ethan shrugged, and flashed a rueful grin. “Yes, well, things didn’t go quite as we had hoped.”
    Diver glanced up at Kannice before looking away again. Kannice tolerated Diver because he was Ethan’s friend, but she thought him a reckless fool who brought trouble on himself and on those around him. Ethan found it hard to defend Diver, because Kannice often was right. This night’s misadventure was more typical than either Ethan or Diver would care to admit.
    Kannice regarded Diver through narrowed eyes and started to say something, but Ethan took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She clamped her mouth shut, and shook her head.
    “I take it you’re paying for his supper, then,” she said, looking at Ethan again.
    “I gave Kelf enough to cover both his and mine.”
    She chuckled, shaking her head a second time. “Fine. I’ll leave you boys to work this out yourselves.” She kissed the top of Ethan’s head. “And I’ll deal with you later.”
    This was Kannice’s way of telling Ethan that she wanted him to stay the night with her. They had been lovers for the better