Luck in the Shadows

stiff muscles and paced the now familiar confines of the cell-three strides and turn, three strides and turn again. It was doubtful that word would come before dawn even if things went as planned.
    He paused at the door, rising on his toes to peer out the grille. Was it midnight yet? An hour before? Two hours past? The dank, silent corridor told him nothing.
    Damnation! he raged silently, resuming his restless vigil. By now I'd have done the job and be backhome in front of the fire!
    Unless, of course, he'd been wrong about the apothecary's involvement in the first place.
    Alec and Micum met Myrhini in a darkened square near Hind Street. She'd wisely put aside her uniform in favor of a plain tunic and breeches under a dark cloak, though she'd kept her sword. Unrolling an awkward bundle, she handed them two pot-brimmed helmets like those worn by the City Watch.
    "Where did you come by these?" asked Micum, trying his on.
    "Don't ask. If things do go wrong, you can pass for some of Tyrin's men in the dark."
    "This Tyrin of yours, he's up to this?"
    Myrhini nodded. "He has ten men in an alley across from your man's tenement and two lookouts in the courtyard. They've been told to move at the first sign of disturbance inside. I just hope Alec can manage it without getting caught."
    "If I can get in, then I can get out again,"
    Alec said quietly, tucking his helmet under his arm.
    Leaving their horses tethered in the square, the three set off together for Hind Street. Slipping into a narrow alley beside Alben's building, they took stock of the situation.
    The lower floor showed no light between the shutters, nor was any apparent on the upper level, where Alben's chamber would be. A small window overlooking the alley appeared to be the best point of entry.
    Pulling off his boots, Alec climbed onto Micum's shoulders and peered through a crack in the shutters. The room beyond was quite dark and no telltale sounds of breathing or snoring warned of anyone within.
    Jiggering the latch inside as quietly as he could, Alec opened the shutter and climbed through.
    He smelled candle smoke in the darkness, felt bare floor beneath his feet. Faint candlelight showed at the top of a stairway across the room. As his eyes adjusted, Alec realized with relief that he was in the very room he'd come to burgle. But someone, presumably Alben, was still awake upstairs after all. A creak of floorboards came from overhead, followed by a muffled cough. The sitting room fire had been banked, however, meaning the master of the house was not coming down again before morning— Alec took a lightstone on a handle from his tool roll and shielded it with one hand as he crept to the door leading to the shop. It had been closed and bolted for the night.
    Alec fumbled a leather cone out of his pouch and fitted it over the stone to shield the light.
    It didn't take long to find what he was looking for. Running his fingers over the carved moldings that framed the fireplace, he soon struck a loose edge on the thick square base of one of the decorative posts. Working the tip of his dagger under it, he uncovered a deep, narrow cavity in the stonework of the fireplace. Inside lay a long iron box secured with a heavy lock. Hunkering down, he picked the lock and opened the box. Inside were several bundles of documents. His skill at reading was by no means great
    but he knew Seregil's large, flowing script and signature well enough to recognize them among the others. One entire packet was made up of letters in Seregil's hand, some complete, some half finished. There were eleven in all, and several were clearly duplicates of others.
    Got you, by the Maker!
    Replacing the documents, he returned the casket to its hiding place, carefully leaving the concealing bit of stonework slightly askew.
    This accomplished, he picked up a small footstool and went back to the window. With one leg hooked over the sill, he tossed the stool into the center of the room with a loud thump and dropped down into the alley. Poised for flight, he and the others listened for an outcry to be raised.
    Nothing happened.
    "How could they not have heard that? I heard it!" whispered Myrhini.
    Micum shrugged. "You'd better give it another try."
    With another boost from Micum, Alec peeked over the sill. The faint glow of candlelight still showed in the stairwell but there was no sign of life.
    Climbing in, he briefly considered setting another fire but dismissed the thought; at this time of night the