Kyra rolled her eyes. Brendel put his pen down and looked at her, his expression turning serious. “I really don’t know,” he said. “I’ve traveled many places and heard many tales. Some of them sound pretty far-fetched. But then…”

“Then what?”

“I’ve never been across the Aerins, but I talk to people. And you start noticing differences between the folk who believe the tales and those who don’t. Those who don’t, they’re folk like you’d meet every day, living their lives around Forge. The ones who believe the tales though, they’re the ones who’ve traveled farther. I’ve met a few Far Rangers myself, and they’ve told me some pretty spectacular things.”

“Think they’re stretching?” Kyra asked.

“Could be. Or maybe there’s really something out there, beyond the mountains. What do you think, Kyra?”

Kyra shrugged. “If a griffin landed in front of me, I’d pay attention. But I’ve enough to think about than to go chasing after them. Though I wish a hive of bees would solve my problems.”

Brendel laughed. “Don’t we all?” The talesinger waved her on her way.

According to legend, Lady Evelyne won over the felbeast by bringing him fresh honey. The monster was so touched at her kindness that he didn’t kill her, instead taking her into the forest to live with him. Kyra amused herself for a while by imagining what the assassins would do if she showed up with a honeycomb. Somehow, she doubted it would be enough to win Bacchus’s friendship.

In many ways, life had improved since she joined the Guild. She no longer worried about money; her lodging was paid off for the next few months, and she still had some extra. (In fact, Kyra was playing with the idea of renting an extra room at the Dog for Idalee and Lettie, since Lettie was still getting sick.) Also, Kyra was picking up useful skills. Though her fighting lessons with Rand were humiliating, Kyra had to admit that they would come in useful if anyone tried to push her around again.

But joining the Assassins Guild had its disadvantages. As a thief working by herself, she had known the details of every job she undertook. Working with James, however, was like exploring a dark building with a single candle flame. Kyra didn’t know why she was drawing maps, or even what she would be doing the following week, much less what big job James eventually had for her.

Then there were the other assassins. They were all men, hardened by their years in the Guild, and even the ones who weren’t overtly hostile looked down on her. As long as James made her work alone, Kyra didn’t see any way to earn their respect.