to the tavern opened, and Matthew leaned out just a little bit, slipping his head off to the side so he could look out of the booth, then he leaned back, shaking his head.
“Why are you so jumpy?” Eva asked.
Matthew frowned at her. “We haven’t met. I’m Matthew Veran. I’ve known Jayna since she was about this high,” he said, raising his hand about waist-high off the floor. “She used to chase me and her brother around as we pulled jobs back in—”
“I know who you are,” Eva said.
Matthew frowned at her. “Do you, now?”
Jayna glanced over to Eva, wanting to remind her not to say anything to Matthew. He didn’t need to know she had stolen his memories. Eva caught her eye and looked away.
“You haven’t said anything about why you’re here,” Jayna said.
Matthew shook his head again. “I shouldn’t even be here with you, and if you weren’t Jonathan’s kid sister, I wouldn’t be, but I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Why would something happen to me?”
“Because of the fighting. There’s been upheaval in the city.”
“I’m aware,” she said.
“If you’re aware, then you should know that the upheaval is a little different than other times.”
“I don’t know about any other times,” Jayna said.
Matthew just grunted. “Me neither, and that’s the problem. This is something, though.”
“Why don’t you start telling me what it is. You brought us here,” Jayna said, looking around. The partitions between the booths allowed for quiet conversation. It would be perfect for thieves like Matthew, she realized. Maybe that was why he had brought her here. He wanted to have a chance to have a conversation that couldn’t be overheard.
“It’s just a place I know,” he said. “And one where I know they won’t talk.”
Jayna regarded him for a moment. It had to be about more than that, and Matthew’s reason for coming to the city had to be about more than he acknowledged too.
“All I want is for you to get to safety,” Matthew said to her, holding her gaze for a long moment. “I know you probably think I’m not the right person for you to trust, but I know what I’m talking about. The Society isn’t going to be able to protect you with this.”
What more did Matthew know?
“You obviously want to help me,” she said, trying a different tactic. “You can tell me. I’m not going to go run off and report you.”
She almost slipped up and said that she hadn’t reported him when she had first seen him in the city.
Matthew leaned back, fidgeting for a moment and looking over her shoulder again. “I don’t like this. I don’t like any of this. And had I known what the job was going to be . . .”
Jayna just frowned.
Maybe she should’ve pushed before, trying to figure out just what Matthew had gotten himself involved in, but his job had been his own.
He had helped her, as well. And then she had wiped his memory.
“You should just know that it’s dangerous,” Matthew said. “That’s enough.”
“It’s more than just dangerous,” Jayna said to him.
“Of course it is. War is dangerous.”
“You’re a thief, Matthew. There should be no reason to get involved in a war,” Jayna said.
“There is when you can get answers,” he whispered.
He jerked his head toward the door, jumping to his feet. “Just be safe, Jayna. Promise me you won’t get involved in all of this.”
“In all of what?”
“Don’t let the Society bring you into this.”
“And how are you into this?” Jayna asked, leaning toward him.
“Sometimes the jobs demand certain things,” he muttered and flicked his gaze around. “Don’t come back to this place. It’s too dangerous.”
“For you?”
“For you. You can have your ale, but don’t use any magic. If you do, just tell them you’re a dular. That will give you a pass.” He glanced toward the door again. “I need to get moving. I really wish I could talk to you again, and I’m sure I can find you in the city . . .”
He darted off, heading toward the door, leaving her sitting next to Eva, frowning.
“It might’ve been easier had you not used the enchantment on him,” Eva said. “He might have been more helpful.”
“Or he might have caused more trouble for me,” Jayna said. As she looked at where Matthew had disappeared, she couldn’t help but worry that might be the case now. “He thinks he can protect me.”
“What if he can? There’s something strange about him.”
Jayna nodded. She had wondered if Eva would