Page 63 of A Thief to Die For

Atlas tilts his head, thinking. ‘Yes, but he has suspects.’

My stomach bottoms out.

Atlas waves his hand. ‘Enlighten her, so we can move on.’

Soren raises his chin. ‘There’s been a rumour that the Dresden have been receiving gifts to pay their collections. We now know these gifts are stolen from Notting collection carts. They’re looting to pay their outstanding rent and protection fees.’

I stop breathing.

‘All whispers point to Brother Thomas,’ he continues. ‘He also matches the height of the second raider. Let me talk to him. And Lieutenant Lucky Pollent. I don’t suspect he’s the raider, but he’s often working the post closest to our trader raids. That can’t be a coincidence. With your permission, I’d like to interrogate these men at Halkirk Tower and –’

‘Interrogate?’ Halkirk Tower is essentially our jail, but it’s also where we take people to be questioned – so nobody hears their screams.

It feels like a horse is stepping on my chest. ‘I strongly disagree with this direction. Lieutenant Collins is basing this on rumours, not true leads. But if we’re going to talk facts – Soren failed to stop a raid, broke protocol, then destroyed nine Dresden homes in his resulting temper tantrum. He’s undoubtedly hindered our production of coal, due to injuries and people needing to rebuild.’

Pleadingly, I stare at Atlas, hoping for once whatever favouritism I have will actually help me. ‘Look, Brother Thomas is a man of the cloth. A good citizen and a hard worker. And Lucky is also a loyal guardsman. These men are not raiders. I can vouch for them.’

Atlas stops me with a wave of his hand, and it’s physically painful to shut my mouth. ‘My, my, you are worked up about this, my dear.’

I nod.

‘But you shouldn’t be,’ he chastises. ‘If Brother Thomas and Lieutenant Pollent are innocent, that will come out.’

No.

‘It’d be negligent to ignore Soren’s suspicions.’ Atlas shifts in his chair, then digs his fingers into his temples. ‘This whole thing is giving me a headache. Soren, clean up your mess. Go. Report to Coatl. I don’t want to be bothered with this again.’

Soren’s face is the picture of victory, and he immediately takes his leave.

My hands fist as my body floods with panic. ‘Then I request to go with him. To … represent the integrity of your office and interests.’

‘You would miss our afternoon meeting.’

I force a disappointed look. ‘It’s not ideal. But I feel it’s important.’

He sighs. ‘I … suppose. Except not yet.’

Urgency splashes like molten metal up in my throat.

‘Aren’t you going to ask how my travels –’

The High Command doors open with a creak. ‘Commander, Agatha is here to see you,’ Clark announces. ‘She says it’s important.’

My sister appears out of the hallway without waiting for approval. She’s dressed in a guardsman uniform. Cold alarm seeps through me.

‘Why are you interrupting us?’ Despite Atlas’s annoyance, there’s a note of curiosity in his voice. ‘This had better be important.’

‘It is.’ She stops near me, hands clasped behind her back like a guard. ‘I trust you had a productive business trip?’

‘Yes, get on with it.’

The confidence on Agatha’s face wavers, then something hardens in her eyes. ‘I wish to have a rematch against Marian.’

‘Arematch?’ Atlas scoffs. ‘You wish to fight your sister, right now?’

‘Yes,’ she says. ‘I took your advice and have been working hard on my training. I’m ready to show you what I’ve accomplished.’

‘Commander,’ I urge. ‘Now’s not a good time.’ In minutes, Soren will have my friends rounded up. I need to get there, not help Agatha chase Atlas’s approval.