Stella snuck past the first checkpoint of the bustling royal city of Cress for what she hoped would be the last time. She didn’t want Don Warren’s spies to know she was here, let alone alive. I might be a thief, but at least I have honour. Bastard. Cursing to herself, she just hoped the Don hadn’t harmed Del.

Even at midnight, the balmy weather and constant influx of travellers like her kept Cress as busy as ever. Stella wondered if all the Bug-kin everywhere would be a blessing to blend and distract or a curse to reveal her to the Don too early. A band of heavy clouds was moving in, obscuring the moonlight. For now, at least, she could move about the outskirts of town in relative secrecy. It helped her relax a bit, and her mind wandered.

Her mind drifted to the Golden Egg job last year. There had been so many moving pieces to consider, but Del kept watch and informed her. She’d made fun of the hand signals and mimicked animal sounds he’d developed to communicate with and warn her, but they saved her and kept her safe. Del watching out for her but attracting attention to himself is what got him picked up by Don Warren’s thugs on the last job. Her awareness snapped forward; she needed to plan quickly and get Del back.

Stella steeled her resolve. She was going to need help if this was to go off without a hitch. She picked up her pace, heading toward the east end of Cress, where she still had a few contacts. Passing damp farms filled with the sound of croaking frogs, she’d blend with other travellers whenever a guard was near. This, at least, proved a good way to get the recent gossip of the area. Her mind tracked each new tidbit she overheard as she navigated, weighing if anything might be useful to her.

“The Watch finally got that nasty shrew at Neem!”

“‘Ad to pull a bunch of ‘em grates out’ them sewers. Young Prince ‘as us replacin’ ‘em next week. Paranoid, I think.”

“Coin for an old Kin?”

“Them new newt ponds reak! Whatever they feed those things is absolutely rank. Could kill a frill bear with the odour wafting out of that place.”

“No, Jara, I’m sorry. Like I said, the farm can’t last another season if we can’t barter for the seeds we need.”

Stella’s gears worked in overdrive, putting things together. In the meantime, she’d arrived in the east side. Folks weren’t kidding; the newt ponds made her antenna droop to hide under her cloak. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been as careful as she’d hoped, and someone noticed her, calling from the corner of an industrial alley. What was worse was it seemed that was the direction the odour wafted through the air.

“What kind of trouble is The Little Missus of Shadybatch up to?”

“Ugh.”

“Ain’t no way to respond to an old friend.”

“Can’t believe you’d still call me that,” she replied as they regarded each other in a mock size-up.

They both laughed before locking hands to pull each other into a quick embrace and more laughter.

“Heard about Del. Sorry, Stell.”

“Thanks, Shay. It’s why I came this side. The Don sent me to seek a trade, but it was a setup. Tried to get me killed. I gotta get Del outta there, and I need help.”

Shay looked off into the alley as he thought to himself. “I kind of figured. Let’s head to the ponds and chat some more.”

Stella was afraid Shay had something to do with the stench, but the situation slowly improved. She hoped Shay could help her prepare and provision for what was to come.

–

Shay led Stella down several sets of stairs and a hidden door that closed tight behind them below the newt ponds. Small whiffs of the smell still got through, but it was more than manageable. Of course, Shay used the smell to keep nosy Kin away, and his real operation was hidden. As she eyed up illegal furs, aged casks, and jars of oily paste, she found herself missing this world. Shay and his band of smugglers were doing quite well for themselves. As long as she was with Shay, no one paid her much attention. As she saw a couple of faces she recognized, she looked away.

“Hey. No one blames you for leaving. Don’t make it weird.”

“That’s like asking the sun to stop shining,” she jested. But he saw her guilt.

“We’ll get him back.”

“I can’t promise there won’t be blood. Or heat after. Don’s gotta pay.”

Another familiar face appeared, along with one heck of a hard slap on the back. “Cut one of us, we bleed together.” Ram. He’d gotten even bigger. Which was saying something. He still looked like a soft shell to her. She couldn’t help but smile.

Shay nodded and smiled, then added, “And anything here that can help is yours. Del’s one of us, and you are, too. Now, let’s get things sorted while this blockhead still thinks he’s rid of you.”

It felt good to have friends in low places. “What the heck is that stench, anyway?” She asked.

“Fermented mint, bay leaf, lavender, and other herbs.” Shay paused while Ram snorted, then continued, “Oh, and run-off straight from the palace latrines. Cheap, and the newts love it. Meanwhile, the royal family pays a pretty penny for newt steak.” Shay looked proud of himself, and the three of them walked laughing toward a cluttered table at the center of Shay’s operations.

–

It was half past five and just about daybreak. They’d spent an entire day planning, hoping to use the surprise of Stella still being alive to their advantage, but hopefully, the lack of rest wouldn’t throw them off too much. A lone thug struggled to stay awake outside the small, walled tower that was home to Don Warren.

“Ready?” Ram shifted his bulk from side to side, stretching.

Both Stella and Shay nodded, and Shay added, “Any moment.” They watched, waiting through one of the small decorative windows in the wall for the guard to change. “There.”

Shay was the first to ball himself onto one of Ram’s giant hands. In an instant, Ram had vaulted him over the wall. “Good luck, Little Miss. Draw blood.”

“You got it.” With a smile, nod, and a tuck, Stella was jettisoned over to join Shay.

Shay was already halfway across the courtyard, bow across his back, readying his climbing gear. By the time had made it to the tower wall and looked back, Stella was already down the sewer drain and replacing the cover. They both hoped they’d be able to keep up the stealth.

—

Stella slipped into the water, near-soundless. She hoped work in this part of the sewer tunnels was in her favour. One last gamble, she thought, On my way, Del.

The grates were gone, temporarily replaced with nets. Three sets of nets stood between her Stella and the ladder into the Don’s tower basement. No problem; She unsheathed her belt knife, dove under, and got to work cutting a way through the first net. She used a glow worm in a jar from Shay to help light what she was doing. It would need to be abandoned down here so as not to draw attention to her once she was inside the tower.

Halfway through the second net, Stella swore she could feel a current in the water. Like something had joined her. Turning to shine, a glow behind her invited a view of snapping jaws. Something was stuck in the net behind her and trying to get at her. It was big, and she doubted it would be stuck long, its weight and teeth shredding the net. She hurried through cutting the second net, this time making her passage smaller, hoping it would slow the pursuing jaws. It had the opposite effect, snagging on her pack. She cursed internally.

Stella struggled to wriggle her pack free but it seemed useless. She could see there wasn’t much left of the net behind her either. She slashed furiously with her belt knife at the net she was caught up in, but she couldn’t see well enough to tell which parts she was snagged in. She saw a blur of shadow and glinting teeth race forward at her. She shrugged her pack off just as it reached her. It seemed content gnawing away on the leather, distracted as she cut through the last of the nets as quickly as she could. Most of her poisons, tools, and other supplies were in that pack.

Hauling herself up the ladder, Stella dropped the glow worm jar below her. She could see the water churning, and then the light blinked out. Fah! Not even the royal city sewers are safe from infected vermin. Before pressing on the sewer cover above her she collected herself, using touch to orient herself and see which implements survived the encounter. Belt knife, lockpicks, a single vial of poison, and her bone hilt dagger. It would have to do.

—

From what Shay could understand from his informants, the basement had two sets of stairs up. One on the north, near the main entrance to the tower, and heavily guarded, and one on the south that was mostly used for carting supplies up and down to the basement. Stella emerged from the sewers and entered the basement near the south stairs. She listened closely before gently moving the sewer cover back into place. She readied her dagger and moved to the stairs. Three flights to go. Her perception sought any evidence of Del. A calm fury filled her gut.

The stairs to the first floor were clear. Good.

The Don’s thugs occupied the main floor. Most were near the tower's main entrance, but one was wandering about, pacing. She spied several sharp implements on the walls and a single table. She decided to wait. The restless guard wandered north again. She scurried up the next set of stairs. Progress.

From what Shay had understood, this floor would be more difficult if it were occupied. The southern staircase ended, and the next path was across the entire floor. Four rooms, two east and two west, stood along the way. Any one of them could hold Del or danger. Her dagger twitched in her hand.

Listening at the first door on the east. Nothing. She cracked it open. Storage.

The first door on the west. Music? She risked it and cracked it open. Chains dangling in a slight breeze from a small window. She checked quickly to see if Del may have been held here but could see no sign.

Third door, then. She approached, dagger drawn. As she reached for the handle, it opened on its own. The guard had barely registered she didn’t belong before her dagger was in his throat. His decorative wings tried to unfold, a sad attempt to struggle and gain ground. Stella tackled him into the room and to the floor. Sloppy, she thought, cursing herself. What if there had been…

A whisper, “Stella?”

Del sat, chained to a bedpost. She eased the door shut before rushing to embrace him.

“Oh, I hoped, but I didn’t know for certain,” Stella said, voice cracking.

“They were keeping me around in case you managed to return. Said they’d get rid of me soon.”

“Del, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s…”

“No. No, it’s not. I promise things will be different when we get out of here.”

“I knew what I signed up for with you, Stell.”

“You deserve a better partner, though. One who puts you ahead of the heist. I swear. I’ll do better. I’ll be better.”

There was a creak from upstairs. Silenced, Stella began working Del’s bindings with a lockpick as Del reached for the guard’s shortsword. It only took a moment to free him, but it felt like an hour for both of them.

Starting to creep out the door as Stella wiped her dagger off on the fallen guard, Del veered right and back toward the stairs down. Stella hushed a small sound in her throat, which was familiar to both of them, to mean wait. Del looked back as Stella shook her head and gestured upward. Del was perplexed, but Stella knew there was a beast in the sewers and a heavily guarded front entrance.

Del leaned to whisper in her ear, “In that case,” and reached for the remaining door handle on the west side. They both peered in to see a small study. Several paintings adorned the walls, leading to a desk at the room's far end. Del quickly carved the paintings right out of their frames and rolled them up as Stella picked the lock on the desk. A far more complicated lock than the ones that bound Del. The drawer slid open just as he stood behind her. Documents, some writing tools, and an expensive-looking velvet pouch. They both eyed each other. Gems of all sizes and colors poured into Stella’s palm, and they both smiled at each other. She dumped them back in and tossed the pouch to Del. He tied it to his belt.

Before they went up the next set of stairs, Stella stopped to carefully coat her dagger with the vial of poison. Don Warren might be on the next floor or in his penthouse. Either way, the dagger was meant for him. They crept up the stairs.

A lone guard played a solo card game at a small, round table facing east. She hummed to herself happily. Ducking back behind the stair corner for a quick glance at each other, Del nodded in readiness. They both appeared in one coordinated motion, Stella throwing her belt knife and Del moving as quickly and silently as possible toward its target. The knife plunged into the guard’s neck, but she didn’t go down. While she was surprised, Del wrapped his arms around her, covering her mouth. Stella charged forward, using her palm to drive two lockpicks straight through the guard’s eye. It was over in an instant.

Three doors on this floor. Del shook his head. Not worth the effort, and Stella knew better than to question his judgement. He’d been casing the place the whole time he’d been here. She wondered what he’d been through. Talk for later, to out with it. And then never again.

Stella walked up the stairs confidently. Del looked surprised to see her so brazen at first but then readied the shortsword to match her dagger.

Don Warren’s penthouse was immaculate. His life in the true dark side of Cress served him well– a world Stella, Del, Shay, Ram, and any of their associates wanted nothing to do with. Dark hardwood tables held silver pitchers and covered trays. An amber-carved aphid suckled at a maple wood-carved rose outside the Don’s bedroom door. Stella wondered about the symbolism. They’d have grabbed it to sell if they didn’t have to travel lightly. Del seemed to understand as Stella avoided it and went straight for the door handle.

The Don’s bed was covered in velveted pillows and silk curtains draped down the sides. The morning light spilled in, still tinged orange. It was right in the Don’s eyes as he woke.

“I don’t need anything. Leave me be.”

“I’d tend to disagree. I know exactly what you need,” Stella replied.

Don Warren gaped, sitting straight up and blocking the sun from his eyes. Stella moved to a window, throwing the curtains open and causing him to retreat back from the sun slightly. Del thought he could see movement out the balcony as he flanked the bed with Stella, blades drawn.

“Now, listen, Stella. There doesn’t need to be any hard feelings. You’ve got your nymph; just go the way you came.”

“And have you on our heels the next year? I don’t think so.”

He inched toward one of his bedside tables. Del pointed the short sword at his throat but still had five feet of distance between them. It stopped him for a moment. Stella paused a long while, staring, wondering what else to say. Killing in defence was one thing, but she wasn’t sure this was that. She was having second thoughts, but after one look at Del, she knew he would follow her lead. Then the Don noticed the velvet pouch on Del’s belt.

“Of course, you’d rob me, too.”

“Better than what you tried to do to the two of us,” Del shot back for the two of them.

A commotion could be heard far below.

“Ahh, shift change. How do you plan to leave, exactly?”

On cue, Shay stepped through the balcony into the room. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry yourself with details, Don.”

Stella thought to herself, that’s the moment the Don realized it. This wasn’t another regular tit-for-tat encounter with Stella and Del. He lunged for his bedside table, drawing a dagger of his own and parrying Del’s shortsword to the side. Stella didn’t like the oily look of the blade. He was out of bed and cornering Del to the far side of the room, but Stella knew Del wasn’t great with a blade.

This time, she was the one communicating through signal. Stella watched Don Warren’s movement and made a clicking sound that warned of danger on listener’s left and hoped he’d understand. Del feinted right, allowing her to close the space between them.

Stella simply said “No” as her dagger thwacked straight through Don Warren’s head, and she felt it grind against the head crystal each Bug-kin has inside their head. He dropped to the floor with a heavy thud. Del looked surprised but relieved. She hoped it wasn’t too much for him.

They could hear movement below now. Shay ushered them out the balcony where he’d shot a line right across the wall into the roof of a bakery on the other side. They could see Ram securing it, being as discreet as his mass would allow. Del first, then Shay, and finally Stella slide down the line, using cuttings of Don Warren’s expensive curtains to protect their hands. As Stella reached the roof of the bakery, they all turned to watch one of Don Warren’s thugs, consider the line before turning to the scene of his dead employer inside, rightfully reconsidering what the bother was. Ram cut the line anyway.

Shay regarded Ram. His fists were battered and covered in blood.

“Got bored.”

Stella looked pensive, and they lingered on the roof longer than they should have before Del nudged her back to herself. “Do you think the poison worked?” he asked. Ram felt like he missed something as the rest of them burst out laughing. Don Warren would be no more trouble, and she had Del back.

—

As Stella and Del walked to the southern exit gate of Cress, onlookers stared up at Ram lumbering along with them. The group paused momentarily at a branch in the road, a good parting spot.

Del handed Ram the velvet pouch taken from Don Warren. It was only slightly lighter but still worth a small fortune. Stella gave voice to the interaction, though. “For all the help and to repay Shay’s supplies.”

“Ahh. No bother. See ya again?”

“Nothing to keep us away now. I can’t see why not.”

Del gave Ram a high-five that looked ridiculous to Stella in contrast. The large Bug-kin likely could have squashed Del if he’d put more force behind it. They all smiled and waved before Ram turned back toward the east end.

“I hear Moodō has seen a spike in trade,” Del offered.

“Oh? Anywhere else you wanted to go?” Stella asked, but something about her voice was different, and Del reconsidered a moment.

“Well, one of the Don’s guards talked about how the area around Pendo has fallen on hard times. Maybe they could use a hand?”

“Pendo it is.”

Stella smiled to herself. They could make this work.

“Coin for an old Kin out on his luck?” She heard as they approached the gate.

“Get yourself out of the cold,” Stella replied. Del could have sworn it was something smaller but shinier than a coin. By the look on the age-weathered Kin’s face, he thought so, too.

“Woho! A deal you have!” And he took off back toward the bustling city.

Stella regarded Del as he glowed at her “We’re going to have to teach you how to use a blade.”

“I always wanted to use a hammer, like Ram sometimes has.”

They both chuckled.

“I’ll see you trained to swing a great spiked mace if it keeps you safe” She added.

And Del nodded, knowing although they might head into more dangerous scenarios the risk was going to start to skew more in their favour.