Page 10 of By the Horns (Royal Artifactual Guild #2)

I pack my bag and make my bed in the nestmaid quarters for hopefully the last time, tucking the coverlets in tight.

One of the other maids, Jelessa, eyes me with a look of curious disgust, as if I’m a giant spider that’s suddenly crawled across the floor.

“You know if you give up the whole ‘repeater’ thing, they’ll hire you.

A maid can earn a decent living, and meals and a bed are paid for. ”

“I want to become a fledgling.” It wasn’t my dream as much as it was Sparrow’s, but I’ve been tempted by the thought of coin. Of never making another bed or emptying a chamber pot ever again. It’s a gilded dream, that thought, but I’m going to chase it anyhow. “I could have been a maid back home.”

“Aye, you could have,” Jelessa says. She doesn’t understand me at all, but she hugs me anyhow and gives me a firm pat on the back. “Good luck to you. You’re a hard worker. If they can see past the skirts, they’ll take you for certain.”

I’ll make sure they see past the skirts. I’m going to pitch them the moment I leave the barracks and wear my trousers instead. Just in case. I’d rather have my arse hanging out than have them think I’m not serious about things.

My small pack is over my shoulder, and I’m hugged by four other women—all maids living in the barracks—before I make it out the door. Then I duck into an alley, shimmy off the skirt that’s over my pants, and head on toward the main guild hall.

Even before I get there, I can see the crowd forming outside.

My stomach flutters with anxiety. There are men everywhere.

I see men with dark cloaks, men with embroidered cloaks, men with the homespun shirts of farmers and the poor.

They crowd at the front of the Great Hall, which looks like a fancy-pants church of some sort on the outside.

There’s a line at the double doors of people waiting to get in.

I see no women. Not a single one. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck prickle with awareness. Maybe I should turn around and leave. Accept my fate as a maid for the rest of my days. The guild pays better than Lord Honori did, and it’s not the worst living.

But I’ll die inside. I know I will. I can’t do it.

Being Sparrow’s friend has taught me that if you want something badly enough, you must pursue it, regardless of what people say.

Even if I’m not successful, I can at least try.

Failing makes me end up at the same spot that not trying does, so why not try?

I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

As I step forward, I’m more aware of the men eyeing me.

I keep my gaze ahead as I approach, but I’m waiting for someone to pinch my arse, or brush up against my tit.

I’m waiting for the sniggers. The comments that I don’t belong.

I approach the doors, and a trio of men turn around and give me stares that could boil water.

“This isn’t the servants’ entrance,” one states, eyeing me and ignoring my repeater sash.

“I’m applying to the guild, same as everyone else.” I keep my tone sweet, because the last thing I want to do is make a group of men even angrier at me. Pinching men are an annoyance. Angry men are a terror.

They look me up and down, and the one at the front sneers at me, pointing away from the doors. “The back of the line is that way. You want to get in, wait your mucking turn.”

“We’re repeaters. We get in first.”

“Everyone here is a repeater. New students aren’t coming until after lunch.”

Oh. I lift my chin and manage to sweep away with a crumb of dignity. “Of course.”

It’s hard to march past the long line of men, all of whom seem to be smirking at me with delight, pleased to see me retreating.

I hate that they’re reveling in my walking away, even if it’s only to the back of the line.

It just reinforces my need to prove them wrong.

I’m not going to be a maid for the rest of my life.

I’m not. Surely I’m destined for more.

By the time I make it to the back of the line, I’m practically in the middle of the plaza, and the stretch of the queue in front of me feels depressingly long.

What if I don’t make it to the front before they cut off?

What if all the masters have full groups by the time I get there?

I try not to think about those things as I wait for the line to shuffle forward.

A few men get in line behind me, and one snickers.

I wait for someone to shove me or pinch my arse.

I know it’s coming. The shove comes first, and when I get knocked into the man waiting in front of me, he scowls with an utterly black look on his face.

“Sorry,” I say meekly. In this moment, I hate everyone.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I try to ignore the others in line, even as they jostle my heavy pack, which carries everything I own.

What am I going to do if I don’t get picked?

What if I get to Master Hawk and his group is full?

What if he is told not to take any women this time around?

It’s not a guarantee that he’ll pick me again.

I’m just hopeful. But maybe even that is wishful thinking.

The line shuffles forward and I move in step with the others. As I do, something tugs on my pant leg, right at the knee. I turn to see a welcome, bright green face.

Kipp.

He eyes me in that calm way of his, his shell perched on his back and a weapons belt at his waist. His black repeater sash looks like a ribbon across his tiny shoulder, but I’m thrilled to see him.

I could cheerfully hug him in this moment, because I am no longer alone.

“Kipp,” I breathe, sagging with relief. “You’re here. ”

He pats my leg and then gestures that I should stand with him, a few paces back. I don’t mind losing my place in line in the slightest, because it means I’ll be with a friend. I let the men move in front of me and ignore their expressions entirely. They don’t matter anymore.

Kipp flicks a bit of imaginary dust off his shoulder as I stand in line next to him, in front of a pair of sailors.

I clasp my hands, but I can’t stand still. “Are you nervous, Kipp?”

He gives me a look that scoffs at the very idea of nerves.

I wish I could be as confident as him. Even though slitherskins are rather alien to most humans, I suspect most guild members would rather work with him than with a woman.

“I’m nervous,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice down so the others around us won’t hear me doubting myself.

“I don’t mean to be a bother, but it’s obvious I’m not wanted here. ”

The slitherskin reaches out and touches my hand, giving the side of my finger a reassuring squeeze.

I could almost cry at that small, sticky touch.

He’s confident in me. Why do I doubt myself?

I can do this. I might be stout, but I’m strong after years of hauling water for baths and carrying trunks up and down stairs.

I’m a hard worker. I might not be as educated as some, but that just means I’ll have to be more persistent. I can do this.

I won’t let them hold me back, because I know what’s waiting for me at Honori Hold: lugging chamber pots for Lord Honori and his new wife, and a lifetime of blending in with the tapestries on the walls, never to be seen or heard. Never to have more than a few sorry coins to rub together.

Fuck all that. I want more than what my mother had.

Straightening, I put my chin up as the queue moves forward again.

It seems to take forever for the line to wind along the plaza and up to the main stairs.

A few of the men get irritated and leave, but Kipp seems as calm as ever, and I take my cue from his serenity.

By the time we get to the doors, the sun is growing hot overhead, my feet hurt, and my stomach is growling.

All that goes away the moment the Taurian manning the doors flicks a hand, indicating we can enter now.

We squeeze inside the crowded hall, my pulse hammering wildly.

High above, banners embroidered with the symbols of the masters hang from the rafters.

The Great Hall feels more ostentatious than the rest of the building, which is saying something.

There’s an arching, vaulted ceiling and massive windows.

Stuffed birds fill the nooks and crannies at the top of the airy room.

I’m told they’re there as homage to the birds that the guild artificers take as their names, but it strikes me as just vaguely creepy instead of respectful.

The floor underneath our feet is a shiny marble that scuffs easily.

I know that because I’ve cleaned the damn thing a dozen times while working for Mistress Umala.

Along the center of the room are impressive statues of famous artificers from the past, the most famous being the enormous statue of Sparkanos the Swan outside in the plaza. Every single one of the statues is of a man.

If I was doubting myself before, seeing all those statues of men—and the floors I’ve cleaned—just makes me more determined that I’m not going to end up a maid for the rest of my life. I’m going to succeed, damn it.

Kipp moves closer to me as a pair of men shove their way past us, heading for the doors.

We step aside, and the slitherskin gestures that I should lead.

“I imagine you can’t see much, but I’m not having a lot of luck myself.

” I crane my head, trying to peer over the shoulders of the crowd.

I’m not a tall woman, so all I glimpse is a lot of nothing.

But then I spot a pair of horns near one of the walls, and I grab Kipp by his sleeve and drag him across the room toward Hawk.

Master Hawk stands near the statue of the legendary Master Owl, Sparkanos’s son.

Hawk’s hands are clasped behind his back and his shoulders seem massive, as if he’s taking up all the space between statues.

The expression on his roan-colored face is austere, and he gazes at the crowd as if he’s assessing it.

No one’s approaching him, though, which I’m hoping is a good sign.

Maybe people are staying away from the first Taurian guild master? If so…good. I want a space on his team.

I manage to drag Kipp after me, holding on to his sleeve. I come to a stop in front of Hawk, smooth my repeater sash, and smile at my friend’s husband. “Hi again.”

Hawk inclines his head. “Gwenna. Kipp. Good to see you both. Are you here to find a master to pledge to?”

Something about the way he says it makes my nerves ping, but I ignore it. I’m sure I’m just reading it wrong. “We were hoping we could be your fledglings again. Serve you.”

Hawk’s expression turns pained. “Ah. I…” He clears his throat. “I wish I could choose you, but I cannot.”

A cold chill washes over me and I glance at Kipp. If Hawk won’t take us, what do we do now?