Page 6 of A Tower of Half-Truths

If she was serious about making a career change—one that involved more honest work—the “help wanted” section was the best place to start.

She flipped to the back of the newspaper and was greeted, front and center, by an enormous ad in elegant, bold lettering.

A filigree border framed it on all sides:

WANTED: ABLE-BODIED MEN she had no intention of sticking around long enough to find out. She would travel to Leyport, convince this wizard to hire her, and then clean his tower of valuables at the first opportunity.

Convincing him that she was the right woman for the job wouldn’t be too much of a challenge. He just so happened to be looking for a Gardemancer, which she knew was the fancy, academic word for warding magic.

She also knew that her ability to detect magic was something of a rarity.

The average mage could not see the color of a ward, taste a spell being cast, or differentiate the pungent odor of shadow magic from the calming aroma of healing magic.

What she lacked in formal education, her abilities would make up for in spades.

The wizard would never even know she’d failed to finish university, so long as she kept the details vague enough.

And even if the wizard saw through her ruse and didn’t give her the job, she would at least use the interview to case out his tower. The only challenge would be getting to Leyport before any other applicants.

She ripped out the newspaper ad and tucked it in the front pocket of her pack. Though she wouldn’t yet be leaving the criminal life, it was within reach. All she needed was one final score.