“Our deal didn’t include any additional objectives you may have,” Sophie said. “So you can sort them out yourself. You aren’t staking us out as bait for some other reason, are you?”

“Of course not,” Clarissa said.

“Then we choose the targets and we choose the timing.”

“Fine,” Clarissa conceded. “Just make sure I’m notified beforehand.”

“No, we’ll keep you out of it,” Sophie said. “We wouldn’t want people moving attention from Silva to you, after all. We plan and execute the robberies alone, and we fence the goods through Silva's people. We have connections enough for that.”

Clarissa’s mouth was smiling, but her eyes were spraying venom.

“Very well,” she said. “But I want jobs done quickly and repeatedly. If not, then you aren’t holding up your end, and there won’t be a place in this city you can hide from me. As for escaping it… if you could leave this city alive, then you wouldn’t have come to me in the first place.”

Sophie gave a curt nod, then strode away. Belinda followed in her wake, Clarissa’s bodyguard trailing them until they were out of the compound. They walked through the darkened streets of Old City at a rapid stride.

“What was that?” Belinda angrily demanded once she was sure they had cleared Clarissa’s eyes and ears. “That whole thing makes no sense. Everything hinges on people figuring out that we’re the thieves. And stirring up trouble with the Island people? They'll send adventurers after us. Is she trying to bring all that down on her own head?”

“You're right,” Sophie said. “It doesn't make sense if this is still about provoking Silva. Something's changed, and somehow Island politics are involved. Ventress wouldn't risk provoking the Island unless she has some kind of backing to shield her.”

“This whole plan is madness,” Belinda said.

“Yes,” Sophie agreed.

“Then why go along with it? She has to know how transparent she’s being.”

“You know how Ventress is about her reputation. She wants us to break the deal, even if everyone knows she pushed us into it.”

“Why bother?” Belinda asked. “We aren’t any use to her except as a stick to poke Silva with.”

“I don’t know,” Sophie said. “Maybe she’s looking for an excuse to hand us over to him. Whatever she’s into now, we’ve somehow become leverage. But she can’t be seen breaking the deal.”

“Her vaunted reputation.”

“If we break the deal, she can openly do whatever she wants with us.”

“So you bought us as much time and freedom as you could,” Belinda realised.

“We need to figure out our next move. Ventress is no longer our way out of the city.”

“Dorgan?” Belinda suggested. The third member of the Big Three had been quiet since the death of Old Man Silva.

“We don’t have anything to trade for protection.”