Kingdom of Scourge and Shadow (The Sightstone Series #1)

Chapter Thirteen: Zoya

"The mark of a good thief is that he knows how to come and go unseen; the mark of a great thief is that he doesn't even need to hide. He is a chameleon, and he comes and goes in plain sight, as though he has every right to be there. And perhaps he does."

- Unknown Author, Crime and History: Thefts, Assassinations and Espionage

***

"Tell me again why we're here?" Zoya asked Jan as they squinted down at the Saroviyan embassy far below. She, Jan and Max were hunkered down on the rooftop of a jeweler's store, Max with a notebook that he used to record the names of anyone he recognized who visited the embassy so they'd know who they had to worry about recognizing them when they did finally break in.

So far, his list contained two names. One was a milkman who serviced pretty much every well-to-do residence in the city. The other was a servant who'd spent the last hour scrubbing the embassy steps until it shone. He occasionally gambled at the Tempest. Roulette, mainly.

"Because I'm trying to come up with a plan, Max is trying to figure out who's going to be a problem, and I need you to follow anyone who looks suspicious."

Zoya let out an annoyed huff. "I'm supposed to be watching Natalie's back," she said. "She'll kill me if she finds out I ditched her."

"Yes," Jan agreed tartly. "If she finds out. Just don't tell her, and you'll be fine."

"Easy for you to say," Zoya retorted, shooting a glare at Jan over her shoulder. "You're not the one supposed to be protecting her. What if that captain of hers tries to pull something over on her? What if he turns her over to the authorities, or shoves her in his brig or something? Will you be this unbothered then?"

"I won't, because it's not going to happen," Jan said with excruciating patience, as if he was speaking to a small child who refused to listen.

"You can't know that," Max said, supremely unhelpfully, Zoya thought. He never even took his eyes off the embassy entrance and the people coming and going. "Not for certain."

"Actually, I can," Jan said, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Did you really think you were the only insurance I'd give one of my most valuable gang members?"

That shouldn't have stung, but it did. Zoya thought Jan trusted her. She thought he'd had faith enough in her to trust her with Natalie's freedom, maybe even her life. She knew he didn't trust many people, but she'd thought he at least trusted her to protect a member of his crew. It had almost been flattering, and now that he'd dispelled that illusion, it hurt more than it should.

"It's not that I didn't think you could protect her," Jan went on, but Zoya wasn't sure that she believed him. "I needed you here more than I needed you watching over Natalie. Now, shut up and pay attention, before we miss something."

"An unforgivable sin," Max drawled under his breath, just loud enough for Zoya to hear, and she found herself smiling, almost against her will.

Zoya shook her head, annoyance and amusement warring within her. She wasn't convinced by Jan's platitudes. It wouldn't have surprised her if he didn't truly trust her, if they were just words to placate her, like a parent promising a child a treat in exchange for good behavior. But she'd let it slide. For now.

They settled into silence, peering over the edge of the roof. Out of habit, Zoya found herself making a mental list of the embassy's entrances and exits as she scanned the crowd. The massive building, its facade painted a cheery red, perched right on the edge of the Østen Kanal, only a few streets away from Emissary Harbor.