Dance of Thieves

Jase surprises Kazi in her room, calls her Ten and accuses her of lying about a being a thief while she lectured about the Previzi. Kazi explains her nickname and how she became a thief. She never knew her father. She explains through tears how the Previzi driver kidnapped her mother while she hid for two days, afraid he’d come back; this is why open spaces terrify her. Jase tries to discredit her memory, but Kazi describes the kidnapper down to the mole on his wrist and his wagon with four black stripes on his tarp that distinguished him as Previzi. Kazi asks if Jase knows him, and he denies it. Lydia and Nash knock on the door and ask about their fight. Kazi reassures them. Vairlyn wants to talk to Kazi about food for Queen Lia.

Jase wonders what Kazi stole from the King of Eislandia and why, how Kazi went from street thief to Rahtan, and where she disappeared to. Synové and Wren are chattier than normal, and Kazi speaks enthusiastically as if nothing happened. Jase feels something off and watches the cook and her husband replenish their food. Vairlyn tells Jase to check on Jalaine who won’t come out of her room. Jase apologizes for shaming her in front of the family, but she doesn’t answer.

Jase thinks of Zane, the Previzi driver Kazi described. Zane coordinates deliveries at the arena and discreet deliveries to Illarion. Jase takes Mason to the quiet kitchen in the middle of the night and tells him about Zane and Kazi’s past. They agree to question him to find out about labor hunters past and present. Jase considers ousting the Previzi drivers or making them adhere to a new set of rules.

Jase and Mason agree something was off at dinner. Jase admits he loves Kazi and Mason thinks Kazi loves him too. Jase sends Mason to bed and does the dishes. He unlocks the storage room and finds the birchwings that Wren asked about. He checks the lock on the door which would be easy for a thief to pick.

Kazi is kept awake by the memory of the Illarion's laughter and tries to figure out why. In the morning, she finds a hay wagon to take their potential prisoners (Illarion and his men) out of Tor’s Watch. The Rahtan plan to knock out the horse groom, dog kennel keeper, and prisoners with birchwing for their escape. Kazi broke into the storage room and stole the birchwings, replacing them with salt. Wren and Synové ride up from town with supplies. Natiya brings slop for the pigs, reminding them not to be late for dinner and mess up the timing. Natiya wonders if they should take Jase with them since he hid Illarion, but Kazi decides to leave him since she knows Jase is good at heart. Gunner is puzzled when he finds Natiya, who he thinks is the cook, with Kazi, but she hurries off with the pig food. Gunner brings Kazi to Jase in the gardens. 

Jase finds Zane making a delivery and pretends he has a question about Venda. Jase claims a Vendan textile trader is offering them a good deal, but Jase thinks it’s too good to be true. Zane agrees to look. Jase points Kazi out in the gardens and recognition shows on Zane’s face. Although he denies knowing her, Jase slams him up against the wall. Zane tries to fight back but Mason, Titus, Drake, and Tiago surround him. Jase has Drake and Tiago take him to the warehouse while he talks to Kazi.

Gunner is chatty until he leaves Kazi with Jase. Kazi is puzzled by Jase’s collusion with Illarion, knowing he loves Hell’s Mouth and doesn’t have ambitions to dominate other kingdoms. Still, she can’t ignore the captain’s words. Jase apologizes, says he loves her, and asks her to stay with him. Kazi wants to believe him but thinks about his lies. They kiss.

Kazi finds Jalaine in the solarium on the top floor of the house. She’s upset she allowed Fertig to use her and let her family down. Kazi tells her to forgive herself and come to dinner. Jalaine thinks about it and sweeps plant cuttings while Kazi tries not to care.