Page 13 of By the Horns (Royal Artifactual Guild #2)

Mucking hells. No wonder Jay looks so annoyed. He’s been saddled with deadweight. This is good for me, though. “Lucky for all of you that I’m here.”

“Careful, if your head gets any bigger, you won’t be able to make it through the doorways,” Gwenna replies tartly, and she’s so mucking cute that I want to squeeze her.

I focus on Jay, who looks unconvinced. “If you take on us three, you only need one more. We’ll make a strong team.”

Master Jay eyes Gwenna and Kipp, and then turns back to me as if they’re not there. “I’d take you, of course, but I’d rather save the rest of my slots. Though I’ve heard the slitherskin is fast enough.”

Next to my legs, Kipp puffs his chest and brandishes the tiniest weapon ever in a show of skill. Gwenna says nothing.

Strangely, I become insulted on Gwenna’s behalf. I don’t even know the girl but I can tell she won’t be the problem of the group. Not choosing her because of her gender is just old-fashioned foolishness. “I’m afraid we’re a package deal. It’s all three or none at all.”

Jay’s expression grows even more sour. He studies me, and I resist the urge to flex, showing off my strength. Instead, he glances down at Kipp, and then eyes Gwenna. “You were both with Master Magpie last year, right? Part of that mess that happened?”

“Aye,” she says, voice crisp. “Due to circumstances, we were demoted to repeaters.”

His mouth tightens with displeasure. “?‘Circumstances’ as in you were there to steal from the guild. Don’t act like I don’t know.”

“?‘Circumstances’ as in we were doing our best to help a friend who was being blackmailed and backed into a corner by someone working with our master . All artifacts were turned over to the guild without protest, and we’ve learned our lesson.

We all came here with the intent of becoming artificers, not stealing from the guild, and that hasn’t changed.

” Her back is ramrod stiff, and it’s impossible to tell if there’s a hint of dishonesty on her face.

Thievery is one of the more common reasons people end up as repeaters, so it’s not a death sentence, but a repeater caught stealing twice is sent packing.

“You’re Sparrow’s friend. Can you read or write Prellian? Any special skills?”

“No. I’m here to learn.”

“You’ve a chaperone?”

“Sparrow is my chaperone.”

Jay grunts, as if he expected this. His gaze turns to Kipp. “And you’re a swordsman.” When the slitherskin nods, the guild master gestures at our surroundings. “Prove to me that you can be effective even with your size, because right now it looks like a detriment.”

In response, the lizard leaps past the scatter of people and clings to the nearest statue base. He scrambles up it quicker than a blink and hangs over the statue’s extended arm, then brandishes his sword as he hangs practically upside down with only his sticky feet keeping him in place.

Jay grunts again, but I can tell he’s impressed.

He turns back to me. “Fine. If you’re all three a package deal, I’ll take all three of you.

But I expect you to drag Hemmen and the woman through the tunnels if you must.” He’s staring right at me as he says this.

“And you have to find me a decent fifth.”

“Easy enough,” I drawl. Secretly, I’m pleased.

Not with Hemmen—he’s a lump—but that so far, we’ve got four repeaters, and I’ll be working closely with sharp-tongued Gwenna.

I just need to find one more repeater to round out our team.

I’ve worked with worse in the past. Lord Nostrum used to hire the cheapest teams, and I’d find myself with drunks, lazy fools, and the absolute bottom of the barrel of the guild.

I’m used to doing the majority of the work.

Gwenna looks as if she wishes to protest, but her lips are drawn into a hard, thin line, and if there’s a comment there, she’s biting it back.

I rub my hands together and glance around the room. “You lot stay here. I’ll handle this.”

I wade back into the crowd, trying to pick out someone who seems decently capable.

Tall would be helpful, considering that both Gwenna and Kipp are smaller-statured and Hemmen won’t be reliable for anything.

No wonder Jay looked so mucking sour. Four repeats in a row. Five hells, that’s a nightmare.

Perhaps I should find someone acting shifty.

Someone who looks as if they could be the problem that Hawk and Rooster are in search of.

I step through the crowd, watching as masters interview possible candidates, and eye the ones who are turned away.

Leaning against the far wall, I see a taller human man with yellow hair who might be strong.

He also wears a scowl on his face, as if he’s been turned down already.

He stands near Master Finch, who’s well-known for his scrupulousness in his fledgling choices. He won’t pick a repeater.

And this one? This one looks far too shifty for the likes of Master Finch.

Well, it can’t hurt to ask. I cut across the room and go to stand near the pale man, all casual like. “Any luck today?”

“None so far,” he comments, watching the room with that petulant expression. “You?”

“Some.” I pause before easing into the rest of the answer, trying not to seem too eager. “I’ve got a master who will take me and my friends on provided I can find a capable fifth. Know of anyone who’s looking to find a spot?”

The pale human pushes off the wall. “Me. Name’s Arrod.”

“Raptor,” I say.

“But your name—”

I put a hand up. “I’m keeping it. I’ve been demoted, but not for long.” I nod at his sash. “What are you repeating for?”

“Truancy. Skipped a few too many classes, and Master Crow flunked me. I’ve been working as a runner ever since.” There’s a hot, hungry look in his eyes. “I’ll be your fifth.”

“Even if I tell you that our group consists of a woman, a slitherskin, and some spoiled boy who’s been foisted on Master Jay due to a favor?”

“Even so.” He tilts his head, indicating the busy room. “I’m not having any luck with this lot, and even if we fail, at least it’s more training.”

I admire his attitude. “All right. You’re in.”

A big grin crosses his face. He rubs his hands together. “The woman. She pretty?”

I suddenly want to plant a hoof in his backside and kick him across the room. “Does it matter? She’s going to be your fellow fledgling. You don’t stick your dick in that.”

Arrod just laughs. “I’m not looking to get married. Just figured it might be nice to have a bit of fun on the side. But the guild comes first, of course.”

I’m souring on Arrod the more he speaks.

But we do need a fifth, and he’s a repeater, which means he bears watching.

Despite my better judgment, I wave him forward, indicating he should follow me.

We make it back to the small group waiting awkwardly in front of Master Jay, and I introduce Arrod with a flourish. “Our fifth.”

Master Jay perks up at the sight of him. “Trained with Crow last year, didn’t you? You had promise. Don’t muck it up this year.”

“No, Master. I won’t.” He bows quickly and then flashes a grin at Gwenna. A flirty grin, I can’t help but notice. She smiles back.

It takes everything I have not to scowl at Arrod. Gwenna, too. I don’t know why their friendliness bothers me. I’m waiting for Sarya. I’ve never felt as connected to a woman as I did to her that afternoon, and nothing else matters. Once I find her, all will be right again.

Let Gwenna and Arrod flirt. It’s fine.

It’s all perfectly fine. They’re all suspects in my eyes anyhow.