Published at 16th of August 2026 8:12 am

Chapter 169: The Sour Smell of Success

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The carriage driver frequently looks about as they go, obviously worried about pursuit. Theyre in servant finery, no doubt a disguise, as their posture makes it clear theyre not used to the restricting attire. I use concealment while hopping from roof to roof, tracking them both myself and with my birds. They wont get away.

They go into a warehouse, where I peek in a window to see them change clothes, and the fancy carriage for a plainer one, such as what a merchant would use. They put the armour in a crate, then they leave the fancy wagon and head several sections out at a pace that lets me walk behind them. One section away from an exit, they go into a second, much more rundown warehouse which seems to be their intended hiding spot until they leave the capital.

I climb up to the second floor of three ahead of them, crawl through a window, then go through each room (offices and storage rooms with some sleeping mats) distributing sense tokens. I climb the stairs to the third floor just as theyre going to the second, where I do the same, then climb out a different window. Finally, seeing through the tokens that theres an opening, I go back down to the first (a single, wide open ware room with various boxes) and place some there. Once Im done, I stash my crossbow in a nearby spot, then head across the street to a decent looking tea house and peek through the tokens from the balcony after ordering their most expensive tea and cake.

Its fine. A little overpriced for the quality, but not too bad. Some interesting floral notes. The cake is much better, being sweetened by honey and lavender. I have a pocket book on the herbs of the Principality of Rohdam, which I peruse as an excuse to sit for a while. Its probably not necessary, but there is some satisfaction to it. Just the image, I suppose. Probably Allens talk of aesthetics rubbing off on me.

It would seem that the thieves have acquired the warehouse legitimately and are running it as their cover. One appointment comes in ten minutes later and retrieves some of their boxes, which they had stored there. I get a bit nervous that it might be their buyer, but I saw the thieves haul the armour to the third floor, and none of them go near it again. Perhaps they were trying to establish an alibi by having the appointment so close to the heist? It wouldnt have worked anywhere else, of course only Arkothians are so punctual.

There are seven thieves left: the six who did the heist and the driver. The appointment does comment on the missing four, to which the leader claims that theyre sick. Theyre all enhanced, though only one (a squire) is a knight aspirant. Likewise, theres only one obvious mage, who I see first light a candle with a cantrip, then go and do some sort of water based divination to counter pursuit. Hes around thirty, with soft coloured moppy hair cut just above his eyes. He seems easy-going and affable, though theres a steel to his eyes.

The mage seems to be the leader, and handles the payment from the appointment, which he brings back up to the third floor to put into a lockbox, then puts the key in a desk before returning downstairs. They wait for their customer to leave, then immediately close everything down and lock up.

All seven sigh in relief, and the squire breaks out containers of alcohol. We actually managed to pull it off, he laughs, plopping himself down on one of the crates. I didnt think wed make it for a second. Not after Enriche and Patsol bit it. Chance, I didnt see them get hit, and then the others he gives the mage a pained look. You did what was right. We couldnt have escaped with them, and theyre better off dead than mind ripped.

The mage nods appreciatively, whispering with a far off look. Thankyou. It was hard, but they died bravely for the cause. May we all go so willingly when the same need arises.

Aye! the squire shouts, raising his drink in a toast and prompting the rest to do likewise.

Theres a lot of congratulatory talk for the next minute, during which the squire grows gloomy before finally breaking the celebration with a question. I um, I want to talk about the plan.

The mage makes some confused guttural sound, his smile freezing as he turns. Whats there to talk about? We wait for the buyer, get paid, and then go back home to give our comrades there the much needed coin we raised. What else might there be to do?

Yes, I know, but well, this armour its special, you see.

Yes, I know. Thats why we stole it.

No, you dont understand. Its something doesnt fit right with this. I mean, that snake buyer who found us? I dont trust him.

The mage snorts in amusement. Yes, its always a risk they might turn on us, but I dont think he will. He might be a mighty mage, but cant kill us all without risking drawing attention on a busy street. Of course, well take all the normal precautions, but I dont see a greater risk of betrayal than normal, unless theres something else?

Well yeah, I mean, why is he paying us so much? A hundred large is twice what it was going for when we came in. Why wouldnt he just buy it himself? I mean, he obviously could get in, since he helped us get past security.

Er, yes, that was strange, I suppose, but perhaps he drastically overestimated the price?

And you think that hell agree to pay now he knows how wrong he was?

The mage puffs himself up and shrugs, trying to seem unbothered. If he doesnt honour the deal, then well simply take it elsewhere. Though, even if he pays half, itll be as much as we made here with all our other jobs. Why, what would you do with it?

Bring it with us! He pleads. Surely you sense how much greater it is than we supposed? Itd be enough for Calesh to ascend to the next level. To get that much closer to true godhood and free our homeland.

Teh, weve been through this. Calesh does not want a martial ascension. He doesnt want to become just another war god.

And youve spoken to him since our homeland fell? The squire asks in a tone that already knows the answer.

The mage flinches from it. Even if my knowledge is ten years out of date, that puts me closer to his thoughts than you.

But we dont need to guess his thoughts. We can bring it back and let him decide.

Except bringing it out of the city will be much harder than a bag of coins. A bag of coins that could equip an army. Let us start our own version of Caethlon. You said it yourself, we wont get a better price than what the man offered Look, I know whats really causing this. Its these contracts with that knave god. We couldnt have done what we did without it, but to be bound to someone other than Calesh? It feels filthy. Just the first one felt vile, but the greater one? One cant help but second guess everything feeling like this. But this is the best way, trust me. With this much coin, we could buy a more suitable item for our god and still have enough left over to arm an army. So just bear with it for a little while longer. Well meet with the seller, then well track down that gutter priest and terminate the contract. After that, well be on our way home.

The mage squeezes the squire's shoulder, who seems to take great comfort from it and nods in agreement. The squire smiles and raises his bottle for a long drink. Youre right, of course. Im sure whatever surprises the man has for us, well handle it. Just like we always have. Hey! he shouts to one of the mundanes whos currently sitting on one of the crates, leaning back to chug the bottle of alcohol and looking precariously close to falling. Get your lute. Partys no good without music. Sing us something of home.

So, thats the mystery then. I've stumbled across the Caleshnite thieves Similce mentioned. How awkward. Theyve been enemies of the empire for even longer than we have. Shame that or goals are cross-purpose.

Part of me wants to just talk to them, make an alliance, but unfortunately their group squandered the natural trust between those with mutual enemies during the insurgency Allegedly, at least. I never met any of the groups, but I heard their cult sent a few cells of their own over to fight alongside us. Things were going well, but then something happened. Word got around that they had betrayed several of our cells in some way, and that all alliance between our groups were terminated. To consider them hostile, even.

It was very strange; everyone thought so. Our cell never encountered one of theirs, neither before nor after. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding, or even a scheme by the empire to drive a wedge between us and have us fight each other. I dont know, though, and that means I cant trust them. So, any interactions I have with them must be with my cover identity.

Still, it would be a shame to just go in and kill enemies of the empire.

I could just let them have the armour but no, Im committed to Terry getting it. Perhaps Im acting against my mission by doing so, but Im sure I can rationalize it if I put in the effort. I mean, surely catching such prominent thieves would gain me acclaim, not to mention their valuables.

I still dont want to kill them, though. Even if our groups had a falling out well, Im practically the entirety of my group now, anyways. Its up to me to decide whether to keep up the animosity. I wont move with the lethality as I normally do. Ill give them a chance to escape.

So how am I going to do this, anyways? I could just try to carry out the armour, and the crate its in too. But thatd be a bit cumbersome. Besides, if Im going to rob them, I might as well see if I could gain the rest of what theyve stolen as well.

I shake my head, realizing Im not thinking clearly. I need to do this as Malichi, not Malz. Im a noble with certain rights and privileges. Why wouldnt I just inform the guards? I'll still give them a chance to get away, but I cant risk having them attack me. After all, I dont know what the mage can do, and the squire would likely best me if he gets close enough.

What god are they under anyways? Theyre under intermediate boons regardless of which one, at least if I understood their conversation. Logically, it should be the thief god. The other gods that would let them land from that height would do so with a basic boon. Only the thief god would require intermediate Well, there may be a couple that can do it at major, but why go for them if thats the feature youre looking for? Besides, they are thieves, so the requirements should be easy to maintain. Just steal stuff with regularity.

If thats right, that gives me an approach. The defining essence of the thief god is contempt. Or at least thats what I wrote on the entrance exam. No doubt another perspective that intrigued Rakenhal (I mean, everyone else probably wrote thievery). Regardless, the God of Thieves is not a god of desperate waifs stealing loaves of bread to survive. No, theyre above such petty acts, though they do technically fall under their domain. What the thief god is about is contempt for those who fail to keep their own property. Especially if that property is being neglected in some way or could be put to better use. But also, from a failure to protect what is yours.

Thus, their simple commandments: Steal from others. Do not let yourself be stolen from.

The first thing I do is write a message detailing the location of the stolen armour, which I send via bird to my driver at the auction house, telling them to give it to someone in charge. Itll take a while for it to get there, but I want to act while theyre all still bunched together, so I move on with the plan.

While theyre still celebrating downstairs, listening to their songs of home which I frankly find rather shrill, I retrieve my stashed crossbow, then climb up to the third floor under concealment. There, I take the key from the desk and unlock the box where the mage put the coin. In it are coin pouches from much more than just warehouse work. Likely from selling their other stolen goods. Coin that belongs to the whole group. I take it all, shoving some in pockets, tying others to my belt.

The boon of the thief god, like most gods, has many facets. Besides reduced falling speed, the contract comes with increased bodily control and improved senses (especially night vision). Also running strength and stamina, though to a lesser degree compared to other gods. Naturally, the penalty for breaking the Thief Gods commandment while under their boon is an inversion of benefits.

The effects are immediate after I leave the room (apparently their god was giving them a chance to detect me), with the lute player suddenly missing every note they try to play turning the already garbled sound into something completely discordant. Everyone curses, shouting questions and exclamations about their suddenly blurry vision and inability to walk straight.

Gah! What are we drinking Ive never got this drunk so fast!

Its not the ale, fool, the mage shouts. The boon! Upstairs! Go!

One tries to mount the stairs, but immediately trips, barely catching themselves from bashing their head in on the stone. Satisfied by my handiwork, I step into view at the top of the stairs, targeting them all with guidance and aiming the crossbow at the mage.

All right, everyone, dont move, I say with almost boredom.

Who are you! The mage shouts.

I shrug, though he likely cant make out the gesture with his impaired vision. Someone whos going to give you a chance to run away, if you go right now.

Run where? How? We had major boons. We wont be able to get across the street, much less through the gates.

Aw that is a bit of a snag. They might have been able to escape with an intermediate curse, but with a major one? Maybe the squire could have made it out, but with a major? No chance.

The squire speaks. We can still get out of this. Kill them, and take back whatever they stole. That should end the curse, right?

I nod indifferently. If you think you can. Im not betting on you though.

The mage snarls. Better to die trying than have our comrades' names ripped from our minds. Nakr He begins to chant some spell, but is cut short as I throw a knife into his gut, doubling him over. Fortunately, he didnt have a shield active, likely to avoid attention. Otherwise, I would have to use the more lethal crossbow. The sedative will keep him down if the pain doesnt.

The squire manages not to stumble as he charges up the stairs. Still, hes slow, giving me time to throw knives into both of his knees. He falls sidewise off the stairs with a sound that might have killed a mundane to make. He seems fine, though.

My eyes dart to the mage as they squirm onto their back, struggling from wound and toxin. I ready myself to pounce on him to interrupt any spell hes about to cast, only to have him pull out a knife and scream For Calesh! then drive the knife into his own throat.

Stunned, Im unable to move in time to stop the rest from doing likewise. I slowly descend the stairs into the now silent room, whose only sound is the gurgling of blood and the last gasping breaths of the dying. I could try to heal one, but Well, I suppose itd be disrespectful of their resolve.

I find myself staring at the mage. I talked Ibil into letting himself be killed sacrificed, even. But Ive never seen anyone in my cause instantly kill themselves when they realized all hope was lost. I didnt even mean to make them lose it. I just wanted what they took.

I breathe in deeply, reassuring myself that I acted in accord with what I knew, and that my mission is more important than theirs.

The door creaking shakes me from my thoughts, and I spin around, levelling my crossbow at the source, only to find the Favoured of the Sun and Sureme Hierarch of the Imperial Sect, Johnathon Rakenhal, stepping through the doorway.

He pauses as he sees the scene, then regards me with a smile both strained and delighted. Ah, Malichi, what a surprise to see you here. Well, you certainly took care of things quickly, didnt you?

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