Dance of Thieves

Before he leaves, Griz tells Kazi, Wren, and Synové to watch for labor hunters, who kidnap people for others to enslave. Eben and Natiya, who are also romantic partners, depart to inform the king of Eislandia that the Rahtan are investigating treaty violations on his land. Kazi thinks of Eben and Natiya’s devotion to each other and decides she doesn’t want to risk her future for love. Synové chatters to distract Kazi from the open plains. They see a Racaa, a giant bird, carrying an antelope in its claws.

As a thief, Kazi was called Ten because Vendan thieves are punished by having their fingertips cut off; Kazi was never caught, so she had all ten fingertips. After the war that made the benevolent Lia the Queen of Venda, 11-year-old Kazi wasn’t sure how to navigate a less cruel world, so she spit in the queen’s face when Lia traveled through the city. Instead of hurting her, the queen brought Kazi to the palace of Sanctum Hall, where Kazi stole things and hoarded them in a secret passage. One morning, the queen handed Kazi one of her stolen swords, revealing that she knew Kazi's hiding place, and this put Kazi on the path to becoming a Rahtan. Rahtan means "never fail," but Kazi once failed when she mistook an ambassador for an old enemy and stabbed him. Kazi was imprisoned for two months before the queen was able to get her released. Eben told the queen about Kazi’s past, but Kazi refused to speak about her mother and lashed out at Eben. (It's later revealed that Kai was orphaned when her mother was kidnapped by labor hunters). Eben told her to confront her demons and not waste her second chance.

Kazi is determined to redeem herself on this mission. Six years ago, a handful of men were responsible for the war. One of them is Beaufort Illarion, called a "dragon" by Queen Lia. Illarion was once the Watch Captain of the Citadelle in Morrighan who betrayed his kingdom and murdered the crown prince. He eluded capture for five years, but a merchant spotted him at Tor’s Watch and now Queen Lia has sent her Rahtan to bring him to justice.

Jase Ballenger, 19, sits at his dead father’s bedside as the outlaw Ballenger Empire's new Patrei, or leader. He surveys the family’s land and promises to uphold his family’s legacy. He cuts off his father’s ring, which symbolizes the Patrei, and slips it on his own finger. Jase's mother tells him and his brothers to give alms at the temple before drinking at the Tavern and keep the straza, bodyguards, close by. Jase knows the family will be in danger after their patriarch’s death, sensing weakness. Paxton, his cousin, is the grandson of a man who betrayed the family and was banished to a smaller territory in the south.

A priest blesses Jase and his family at the temple. The seer there tells Jase that people are coming for him. He isn’t surprised because there are always power challenges for a new Patrei. Two of his overseers drag Hagur, a skimmer from the livestock auction, to him. Jase reminds Hagur that no one cheats the Ballengers, but since the gods spared his family once they will do the same. Jase hugs Hagur and demands double taxes the next year. Jase is confident he will handle whatever comes from the seer’s warning like Hagur's situation.

Kazi, Wren, and Synové are angry about a Vendan settlement’s destruction after a night raid. The settlement leader, Caemus, thinks the Ballengers attacked them because they took a shorthorn before as payment for trespassing on their land. Kazi promises reparations will be made but Caemus is doubtful.

Synové tells the other Rahtan the Remnant origin myth on the way to Hell’s Mouth: The Ancients wreaked destruction by elevating themselves to godly positions so Aster, guardian of the heavens, threw stars to earth to destroy their wickedness. Aster led the Remnant, those found pure of heart and allowed to live, to the safety of the Vendan gates. Hell’s Mouth comes into view and Kazi is relieved to be going back into a city.

Kazi, Wren, and Synové stable their horses. Kazi asks the magistrate about treaty violations, but he acts like he knows nothing. In the mercantile, Kazi spots children being chased away from a crate of oranges. Kazi stole an orange once and knows it’s the food of the gods. The Rahtan follow the children to the Vendan settlers. Kazi finds out the merchants charged the Vendans double, so she takes an empty sack to the orange merchant. She juggles to distract him and steals four oranges. Kazi gives them to the Vendans. Wren, Kazi, and Synové move to avoid swaggering, hung-over young men. Kazi is attracted to a tall, handsome man walking like he owns the place. Not knowing of his recent death, Kazi only wants to find Karsen Ballenger, the patriarch, or Patrei, who can get them into Tor’s Watch. The Rahtan believe the Ballengers are harboring Captain Illarion.

Jase’s brother Mason wakes up Jase and the other Ballenger brothers, who were sleeping on the floor of the Hell's Mouth tavern. The Rahtan were spotted in town asking questions. Mason, Gunner, Titus, and Tiago follow Jase through town until Mason points out the Rahtan in the mercantile. Jase wonders why one of the Rahtan is juggling until he notices her stealing oranges. She (Kazi) spots him and studies him like a bug before turning away, which makes him angry. 

Kazi, Wren, and Synové find more Vendan settlers outside the Hell's Mouth apothecary. Jase, who is the handsome young man Kazi noticed earlier, interrupts her conversation with them, so she slams him against the wall with her knife at his throat. Kazi tells Jase to call off his posse. He studies her face before smiling and walking off alone. The shocked Vendan couple tell Kazi Jase is the Patrei because Karsen recently died. Kazi worries she ruined the mission, so Wren and Synové stand guard while she follows Jase.

Kazi finds Jase bound and gagged in the grips of a labor hunter. Kazi orders the labor hunter to let Jase go because he’s in her custody for a treaty violation. Jase groans as the labor hunter strikes Kazi in the head and she passes out. Kazi wakes in the back of the wagon traveling through the plains. Her wrists are chained and she is ankle-shackled to Jase.