Garrett's workshop is exactly as illegal as I'd suspected. Maybe more illegal. Possibly the most illegal place I've ever been, and I once delivered a package to what I'm pretty sure was a cult meeting.
"That's a banned explosive enchantment," Kira says, pointing at a rack of glowing crystals.
"Technically it's a mining tool," Garrett protests.
"It's banned in seventeen provinces."
"Eighteen now, actually. They added the Northern Reaches last month."
I'm less interested in the legality and more interested in whether it'll work. "And you're sure these will bring down the building?"
"Oh, absolutely. They're designed to collapse tunnels. A two-story warehouse? Gone in seconds."
"But we'll be out first, right?"
"Theoretically."
"Theoretically?"
Garrett shrugs. "I've never actually tested them on a building while actively trying to escape said building. But the math checks out."
Mochi squeaks nervously from my shoulder.
"It's fine," I tell him. "Probably fine. We'll definitely probably survive."
Kira is examining the crystals with professional interest. "How long until detonation once they're activated?"
"Two minutes. Plenty of time to reach a safe distance."
"In theory."
"Always in theory. That's what makes it exciting."
I'm starting to see why Garrett lives alone in an abandoned warehouse district.
"Okay," I say, pulling out a piece of paper and sketching quickly. "Here's the plan. Garrett sets the explosives. We have two minutes to get out. But we can't just run—they're surrounding the building. So we need a distraction."
"What kind of distraction?" Kira asks.
"Me."
"Absolutely not."
"Hear me out! I'm fast. Faster than anyone they have. If I go out the front door, make a lot of noise, they'll chase me. That pulls them away from the back exit where you two will actually escape."
"And then you get caught and killed," Kira says flatly.
"No, because I'm not going to get caught. I know this city better than anyone. I'll lead them on a chase, lose them in the market district, circle back to meet you at—" I think for a moment, "—the old courier station. Torres keeps a spare key under the third brick on the left. We can hide there."
"Renn, these are professional assassins."
"And I'm a professional runner. It's literally my job."
Mochi squeaks in support of this plan, which I appreciate even though he's clearly biased.
Kira is not convinced. "This is too dangerous."
"Everything is dangerous right now! But this way, we at least have a chance." I grab her hands. "Trust me. Please. I got us this far, didn't I?"
"By jumping out a window and running."
"Exactly! It's my specialty!"
She looks at me for a long moment. Then she sighs. "You're insane."
"Probably. But you married me anyway."
"I'm starting to regret that decision."
"No, you're not."
A small smile. "No, I'm not." She squeezes my hands. "Fine. We do it your way. But if you die, I'm killing you."
"That doesn't make sense."
"I don't care. I'll find a way."
Garrett has been setting up the crystals while we argued. "They're ready. Once I activate them, we have two minutes. Everyone clear on the plan?"
"Renn goes out front, causes chaos, leads them away," Kira recites. "We go out the back during the confusion, head to the courier station. If he's not there in thirty minutes, I'm coming after him."
"I'll be there in twenty," I promise.
"You better be."
Garrett pulls a lever, and the crystals start glowing brighter. "Clock's ticking. Everyone in position."
We rush upstairs. The front room has windows overlooking the street. I can see shadows moving outside—the assassins, waiting for orders to breach.
"They don't know we know they're there," Kira observes. "They're trying to be stealthy."
"Good. Element of surprise and all that." I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "Okay. Mochi, you're with me. Kira, be safe. Don't do anything stupid to save me."
"That's my line."
"I love you."
"I love you too, you complete idiot."
We kiss, quick and desperate. Then I turn to the door.
"Ready, Mochi?"
He squeaks determinedly. Born ready.
I open the door and step out into the street.
For a moment, nothing happens. The shadows freeze, surprised that someone just walked out the front door.
Then I cup my hands around my mouth and yell, "HEY! Are you guys the assassins trying to kill my wife? Because if so, you're doing a really bad job! I can see at least four of you from here!"
The shadows explode into motion.
I run.
───
Behind me, I hear shouting. Footsteps pounding on cobblestones. Someone yells, "Get the husband! Don't let him reach the market!"
Too late. I'm already three streets ahead.
This is what I'm good at. Running. I've been doing it every day for seven years. I know every shortcut, every alley, every loose cobblestone that might trip someone who doesn't know to avoid it.
Mochi is glowing bright on my shoulder, lighting my way. "How many following?" I gasp.
Six! No, seven! One just joined from a side street!
Seven assassins chasing one delivery runner. Those seem like bad odds.
Unless you're the best delivery runner in the city.
I take a sharp left into Copper Alley—narrow, twisting, with low-hanging laundry lines that I've learned to duck under. Behind me, someone swears as they hit a sheet face-first.
Six assassins now.
Through Baker's Row, where the morning bread is cooling and the smell is divine even while running for my life. I grab a roll as I pass—sorry, Mrs. Chen, I'll pay you back later—and stuff it in my mouth. Need the energy.
They're spreading out! Trying to cut you off!
"Which direction?"
Three ahead, two behind, two on the parallel street!
Smart. They're herding me. Trying to trap me in a pincer movement.
But I'm smarter.
I take an impossible turn—literally impossible for most people, requiring a jump to a window ledge, a scramble up to a low roof, then a leap to the next building. It's a route I discovered when I was drunk and lost my keys. Completely impractical.
Perfect for escaping assassins.
I hear someone try to follow. Hear them miss the jump and crash into a trash pile.
Five assassins.
The market district is ahead. Morning vendors are setting up, creating a maze of stalls and carts and confused people. I dive into the chaos.
"Sorry! Excuse me! Coming through!" I vault over a vegetable cart. The vendor yells after me. "Sorry, Mr. Patel! It's an emergency!"
Behind me, the assassins are trying to follow, but they're trained for stealth, not for running through crowded markets while apologizing profusely. I have the advantage here.
Two minutes since the crystals were activated!
Right. The building. I need to be far enough away when it—
The explosion rocks the warehouse district. Even from here, I hear it. Feel the ground tremble slightly.
The assassins hear it too. They pause, confused. That's their forward base, isn't it? Why is it exploding?
I use their confusion to put more distance between us.
Three assassins left chasing me. The others must have peeled off to check on the explosion.
I'm heading toward the river now, toward the courier station. Almost there. Just need to lose these last three.
The old temple route. It's forbidden to run through temple grounds, which is why no one expects it. I burst through the gate, past Sister Elena who's sweeping.
"Renn?! What are you—"
"Sorry, Sister! Emergency! I'll explain later!"
Out the back gate, across the meditation garden, through the donation hall. The assassins follow but they're hesitating, not wanting to cause a scene in a holy place.
I don't have that problem. I cause scenes everywhere I go.
Two assassins left.
The river is ahead. There's a bridge, and on the other side, the old courier district. I can see Torres's station.
Almost there.
I risk a glance back. The two remaining assassins are fast. Really fast. They're gaining.
"Mochi! Remember that trick we practiced? The one I said was too dangerous to ever actually use?"
The stupidly risky one?
"That's the one!"
He squeaks acknowledgment and jumps off my shoulder. For a moment, he hangs in the air, glowing bright, bright, bright—
Then he explodes into a dozen illusory copies.
Suddenly there are Mochis everywhere. Running in different directions. Glowing. Squeaking. All looking identical.
It's a technique he developed by accident when he was very excited about getting a new type of spirit seed. Costs him a lot of energy and only lasts about thirty seconds, but right now, thirty seconds is all I need.
The assassins don't know which Mochi is real. Don't know which direction I actually went.
I use the confusion to sprint to the bridge and across it. Behind me, I hear swearing. They lost me.
The real Mochi materializes back on my shoulder, much dimmer now, exhausted.
"You did great, buddy. Just a little further."
The courier station is abandoned at this hour. I find the spare key exactly where Torres always keeps it, unlock the door, and slip inside.
My legs give out. I collapse against the wall, gasping for air, my heart hammering like it's trying to escape my chest.
I made it.
I actually made it.
I outran seven professional assassins through half the city.
"I'm either really good at this or really lucky," I tell Mochi.
Little bit of both, he squeaks tiredly.
Now I wait. Twenty minutes, I told Kira. It's been... I check the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes since I left the warehouse.
She should be here soon.
Unless something went wrong.
Unless they caught her.
Unless—
The door opens. I jump to my feet, ready to run again, but it's Kira. And Garrett, looking annoyed at having to run.
"You're okay," I breathe.
Kira crosses the room and kisses me hard. "You're insane. That was insane. Never do anything like that again."
"Did it work though?"
"You led away seven of the twelve assassins and then lost all of them in under twenty minutes. Yes, it worked."
"And the building?"
"Very exploded," Garrett says. "Also, you're now wanted for destruction of property. The City Watch is investigating."
"Great. Add that to being hunted by assassins."
"You're taking this very well."
"I'm in shock. The panic will hit later."
Kira is checking me over for injuries, her hands gentle despite the efficiency. "You're not hurt?"
"Just winded. And maybe I pulled something in my left calf. But I'm alive, so that's good."
"That's very good." She holds me close, and I can feel her trembling slightly. "When I heard that explosion and you weren't there yet, I thought—"
"Hey. I'm okay. We're okay." I stroke her hair. "Now what? They'll be looking for us. We can't go home."
"No, we can't," she agrees. "Vex won't stop. He'll tear the city apart looking for us."
"Then we need to end this," I say. "We need to stop him permanently."
"Renn, he has the entire Guild behind him. We can't fight all of them."
"Maybe we don't have to. Maybe we just need to fight him."
Garrett clears his throat. "For what it's worth, I might know someone who can help with that."
We both turn to look at him.
"Who?" Kira asks.
"Someone who also has a grudge against the Guild. Someone who's been gathering information on them for years, waiting for the right opportunity to strike." He smiles slightly. "Your old mentor, Torres."
My jaw drops. "Torres? Old Man Torres? The fruit seller?"
"The fruit seller who used to be one of the Guild's best strategists before they betrayed him," Garrett corrects. "Why do you think he lives in the merchant quarter instead of the Noble District where he could afford? Why do you think he took in a random clanless kid and taught him the delivery trade?"
"He was... he was watching me," Kira realizes. "He knew what I was."
"He knows what everyone is. And he's been waiting for someone brave enough—or stupid enough—to stand up to Vex." Garrett heads for the door. "I'll contact him. Tell him you're ready to fight back. In the meantime, stay here. Don't leave. Don't let anyone see you."
He's gone before we can respond.
I sink down onto an old bench, Mochi curling up in my lap. "Torres," I say wonderingly. "He was Guild."
"He was more than Guild," Kira says quietly. "He was legendary. If he's offering to help... this might actually work."
"What might work? What's the plan?"
"We do what you suggested. We stop Vex. But not by fighting him directly—we can't win that way. We fight him the way he fights us. With information. With leverage. With everything the Guild fears."
"Which is?"
She smiles, and it's not a nice smile. It's the smile of someone who's spent seventeen years learning exactly how organizations like the Guild operate.
"Exposure," she says. "The Guild only has power because they operate in shadows. They kill, they intimidate, they control, but always quietly. If we drag them into the light—if we expose their contracts, their members, their operations—they lose everything."
"How do we do that?"
"We steal their records. Every contract, every kill, every politician they've bribed, every secret they're keeping. We steal it all and give it to the City Watch. Let them clean up the mess."
"That's..." I consider it. "Actually brilliant. And completely insane. Where are these records?"
"In the Guild headquarters. Which is in the Undercity. Beneath the Noble District. Guarded by the remaining five assassins, plus Vex himself, plus whatever security systems they have in place."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"It's impossible," she admits. "Even at my peak, I couldn't break in alone."
"Good thing you're not alone anymore." I stand up, tired but determined. "You have me. And Mochi. And apparently Torres. And Garrett. We're a team."
"A team of a retired assassin, a delivery runner, a hamster, a former strategist, and an illegal enchanter."
"The world's weirdest team," I agree. "But we're what we've got. So let's make a plan. Let's figure out how to break into an impossible fortress, steal years of records, and destroy the organization that's trying to kill us."
"You're serious."
"Completely." I take her hands. "Three years ago, you saved my life without knowing it. You gave me a home. A family. Love. Now it's my turn. Let me help save you."
She's quiet for a moment. Then she nods. "Okay. Let's do it. Let's take down the Guild."
Mochi squeaks in agreement, his glow returning slightly.
"One problem though," I say.
"What?"
"I have no idea how to break into a secret underground fortress."
Kira grins. "Good thing I do. I used to work there, remember?"
Right. My wife the assassin. Sometimes I forget.
We spend the next hour planning. Kira sketches the layout from memory. I point out possible entry routes based on my knowledge of the Undercity's legitimate tunnels. Mochi contributes ideas about reconnaissance.
By the time Torres arrives—apparently summoned by Garrett somehow—we have the skeleton of a plan.
"Bold," Torres says, studying our sketch. "Stupid. But bold."
"That's becoming my specialty," I say.
He looks at me, and there's something almost proud in his expression. "Kid, when I took you in seven years ago, I thought you were just another lost soul who needed direction. But you've surprised me. You've got spine. Heart. And you're crazy enough to love an assassin and fight the Guild for her."
"She's worth it."
"Yeah," Torres agrees, glancing at Kira. "She is. Which is why I'm going to help you." He pulls out a scroll. "Guild blueprints. Updated as of last month. I've been stealing their information for years, waiting for the right moment to use it."
"Why didn't you strike before?" Kira asks.
"Because I needed someone on the inside. Someone they'd trust. Someone who could get close to Vex." He looks at her meaningfully. "They want you back, Kira. That's our way in."
Understanding dawns on her face. "I surrender. Let them take me to headquarters. Then Renn and the team break in while they're focused on me."
"Exactly."
"No," I say immediately. "Absolutely not. That's too dangerous."
"It's the only way."
"We'll find another way."
"Renn." She cups my face. "This is what I'm good at. Infiltration. Deception. Survival. Trust me."
"I do trust you. I just don't trust them not to kill you the second you're in their custody."
"They won't. I'm too valuable. Vex wants me back in the Guild, not dead. He'll try to convince me to rejoin before resorting to execution." She smiles slightly. "I can stall him for hours. That's more than enough time for you to get in, steal the records, and get out."
"And then what? How do you escape?"
"I'll figure it out. I always do."
I want to argue more. Want to insist we find a safer plan. But I can see in her eyes that she's already decided.
This is happening.
We're really going to break into Guild headquarters, steal their secrets, and try to destroy them from the inside.
"When?" I ask.
"Tomorrow night," Torres says. "The Guild meets every full moon. All twelve assassins, plus Vex. They'll be gathered for their monthly report. Perfect timing."
"Perfect timing to get killed, you mean."
"That too," he admits. "But it's our best shot. After tomorrow, they'll scatter again. We'll never have another chance like this."
I look at Kira. At Mochi. At Torres and Garrett.
My weird, impossible team.
"Okay," I say. "Let's do it. Let's end this."