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Vin nodded

Caer Finally, he looked away,to hi more than just Vin Perhaps he had heard about the skaa rebellion several days to the north One of the provincial lords, The, had apparently been round Such disturbances were bad for business; they ullible That, in turn, could cut seriously into Ca for soets nervous before a job She looked up at Ca blood on her lip She lanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and his expression darkened He raised his hand, as if to strike her again

Vin used up a bit of her Luck

She expended just a sen; she’d need the rest for the job She directed the Luck at Ca his nervousness The crewleader paused--oblivious of Vin’s touch, yet feeling its effects nonetheless He stood for ahis hand

Vin wiped her lip as Ca in his nobleman’s suit It was as rich a costume as Vin had ever seen--it had a white shirt overlaid by a deep green vest with engraved gold buttons The black suit coat was long, after the current fashion, and he wore a s, and he even carried a fine dueling cane Indeed, Ca a noble a role, there were few thieveshe could keep his temper under control

The room itself was less ian to snap at some of the other crewmembers They had rented one of the suites at the top of a local hotel Not too lavish--but that was the idea Ca the part of "Lord Jedue," a country nobleman who had hit upon hard financial tiet some final, desperate contracts

The main room had been transfore desk for Camon to sit behind, the walls decorated with cheap pieces of art Two men stood beside the desk, dressed in for; they would play the part of Camon’s manservants

"What is this ruckus?" athe rooray shirt and a pair of slacks, with a thin sword tied at his waist Theron was the other crewleader--this particular scaht in Camon as a partner; he’d needed someone to play Lord Jedue, and everyone knew that Camon was one of the best

Camon looked up "Hum? Ruckus? Oh, that was just a minor discipline problem Don’t bother yourself, Theron" Camon punctuated his remark with a dismissive wave of the hand--there was a reason he played such a good aristocrat

He was arrogant enough that he could have been from one of the Great Houses

Theron’s eyes narrowed Vin knehat thehow risky it would be to put a knife in Camon’s fat back once the scam was over Eventually, the taller crewleader looked away fro at Vin "Who’s this?" he asked

"Just a ht we didn’t need anyone else"

"Well, we need her," Canore her My end of the operation is none of your concern"

Theron eyed Vin, obviously noting her bloodied lip She glanced away Theron’s eyes lingered on her, however, running down the length of her body She wore a simple white buttoned shirt and a pair of overalls Indeed, she was hardly enticing; scraith a youthful face, she supposedly didn’t even look her sixteen years Some men preferred such wo a bit of Luck on hiator is nearly here," Theron said "Are you ready?"

Ca his bulk down into the chair behind the desk "Everything is perfect Leave me be, Theron! Go back to your room and wait"

Theron frowned, then spun and walked fro to hi the decor, the servants, the atmosphere Finally, shethrough a stack of papers, apparently trying to decide which ones to put out on the desktop

"Camon," Vin said quietly, "the servants are too fine"

Ca?"

"The servants," Vin repeated, still speaking in a soft whisper "Lord Jedue is supposed to be desperate He’d have rich clothing left over from before, but he wouldn’t be able to afford such rich servants He’d use skaa"

Calared at her, but he paused Physically, there was little difference between noblemen and skaa The servants Camon had appointed, however, were dressed as minor noblemen--they were allowed to wear colorful vests, and they stood a little ator has to think that you’re nearly impoverished," Vin said "Pack the room with a lot of skaa servants instead"

"What do you know?" Cah" She iretted the word; it sounded too rebellious Camon raised a bejeweled hand, and Vin braced herself for another slap She couldn’t afford to use up anyanyway

However, Cay hand on her shoulder "Why do you insist on provoking me, Vin? You know the debts your brother left when he ran away Do you realize that a less mercifulago? Hoould you like that, serving in sorew tired of you and had you executed?"

Vin looked down at her feet

Ca her skin where neck rinned at the reaction

"Honestly, I don’t knohy I keep you, Vin," he said, increasing the pressure of his grip "I should have gotten rid of you o, when your brother betrayed me I suppose I just have too kindly a heart"