51

Sonya arrived at Cassa Estío shortly before noon. She recognized the old guard stationed at the front gate.

“Hey, Ignacio. How’ve you been?”

He looked unsure for a moment, then his face lit up. “Ah, you’re the little señor’s friend with the funny eyes.”

“That’s me.” She was used to such descriptions.

He eyed the feathery wings stitched into her black leather vest. “Joined the Anxeles Escuros, I see? Very impressive.”

She shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. “It’s a living.”

He laughed. “That’s one way of looking at it. I take it you’re the chaperone that the señorita said would be escorting her?”

She nodded.

He opened the front gate. “She said to wait for her in the gardens. She should be along shortly.”

“Thanks, Ignacio.”

“I don’t think I caught your name before, miss.”

“Sonya Turgenev.”

He nodded. “An Anxeles Escuros preferred by the Elhuyars? I’d say you’re making a good life for yourself here, Sonya.”

She gave him a close-mouthed smile. “Just so long as I don’t screw it up.”

Since it wasn’t quite noon yet, Sonya decided to stop by the stables to check on Peppercorn before she went to the garden. There weren’t any stables at the guild, so he’d been living here this whole time.

“By the Lady, you’ve gotten fat!” she told him.

He shook his mane, not looking the least bit sorry.

She sighed as she stroked his neck. “I guess after everything I’ve put you through, you’ve earned the good life.”

He pushed his muzzle against her affectionately.

“I miss you, too, Perchinka.”

She stayed a few minutes with Peppercorn, then made her way to the garden. It was strange to be back in this place. She saw it from an entirely different perspective now. Not merely a place of luxury and leisure, but of power and position.

“Sonya?”

She turned to see Jorge walking toward her, his dark brows furrowed.

“Hey, Jorge.” She smiled, happy to see her friend.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

Her smile faded. Apparently, he was not happy to see her. Maybe her worries had been well founded after all.

“I’m on a job, Señor.”

His eyes narrowed further. “Who hired you?”

“Maria.”

“Damn her!” He wrung his hands together. “I can’t believe she—” He shook his head. “No, who am I kidding. Of course I believe it. It’s exactly the sort of thing she’d do.”

“Jorge, what are you talking about?”

“My damned sister!” He grabbed her bare arm. “Listen, Sonya, don’t accept the job.”

“I already did.”

“Then tell her you can’t do it. Tell her something came up.”

She yanked her arm out of his grip. “Are you joking? I can’t do that to one of the Great Families. I’d get kicked out of the guild.”

He groaned and went back to wringing his hands. She hadn’t seen him this frustrated in a long time.

“Jorge, calm down and tell me what’s going on.”

“Fine.” He took a deep breath. “Whatever my sister hired you for, that’s not actually what she wants from you.”

“Really?” Sonya considered a moment. “I mean, I’ve never had sex with a woman before, but she smells great, and that goes a long way for me. I’d be willing to give it a try.”

“No! That’s not what I…” He sighed. “Look, Maria is involved in some sort of… anti-imperial insurgency. She heard about what you did in Izmoroz, and now she wants you to help free Raíz from the empire as well.”

“You’re joking,” said Sonya.

“I’m not.”

“Xefe would be pissed if I just started killing imperials again. He made that very clear.”

“Regardless, the last thing you need right now is to be caught up in someone else’s cause. I’ve been trying to keep her away from you, but I didn’t consider the idea that she’d just march down to the guild all on her own and flat out hire you. Stupid of me, really. I should have realized that as radicalized as she’s become, she wouldn’t hesitate to be so bold.”

“Wait, this whole time you’ve been protecting me from her?” asked Sonya.

“Of course! She kept trying to get me to invite you over for dinner, but I knew what she had in mind. Then, when I wouldn’t do it, she started working on Mama. Fortunately, Mama wouldn’t hear of inviting an Anxeles Escuros as a guest.” He winced. “No offense.”

But she smiled. “So… we’re still friends?”

He looked shocked. “Of course we’re still friends. My God, Sonya, did you doubt that?”

“Well…” She blushed. “We haven’t talked in a while. I thought maybe you were mad at me for becoming a mercenary. Or that maybe you didn’t care about me now that you had your family back.”

He shook his head in exasperation. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? Sonya Turgenev Portinari, yes, we are still friends. And as your friend, I do not want you getting mixed up in whatever harebrained scheme my sister has cooked up.”

“But I really can’t back out on the job, Jorge,” said Sonya.

“Fine, just… don’t commit to anything, okay? My sister goes through phases where she’s really passionate about something, then she loses interest. Right now it’s revolution, but in a month it’ll probably be Victashian erotic dance or something.”

“There’s special erotic dances in Victasha?” asked Sonya.

“Never mind that,” Jorge said impatiently. “Promise me you won’t let her take advantage of you.”

“Don’t worry about me, Jorge,” Sonya said. “The Uaine taught me not to go around making alliances with people I don’t know.”

He nodded. “Okay, good. Just… be careful.”

“I’m getting better at that, too,” she told him.

“Jorge, my dear brother!” Maria was walking toward them, her dress and hair flowing in the spring breeze. “I do hope you’re not trying to chase off my chaperone.”

Jorge glared at her. “Remember what I told you, dear sister.”

“How could I forget when you have told me so very many times?” Her smile remained fixed on her face, but her eyes were hard.

Jorge ignored her and turned back to Sonya.

“I’ll see you later, okay? I’ll try to come down to the guild soon.”

“Sure, Jorge,” said Sonya. “See you then.”

Jorge turned on his heel and stalked off.

“Well then, Sonya, shall we be off?” Maria asked brightly.

“Where are we going?” asked Sonya.

She grinned. “To the Viajero Quarter! I just know you’re going to love it!”