The Blacktongue Thief

In Edth, Kinch confronts Galva, who confirms that she is the daughter of Duke Rodricu Braga of Ispanthia. That evening at a tavern, Norrigal proposes that she and Kinch enter a moon-vow, a temporary, month-long marriage that is common in their culture.

A drunken man named Johash confronts Kinch about his debtor’s mark and slaps him. However, Norrigal uses magic to make Johash repeatedly slap himself and others, inciting a brawl. When the trick is discovered, the barkeep evicts Kinch and Norrigal for using witchcraft. Sitting in the mud under the new moon, Kinch and Norrigal exchange marriage vows and magical “clovenstone” pendants. Norrigal demonstrates that the pendants, when warmed, will allow them to find each other anywhere. Together, they head for the city’s public baths.

After their moon-vow, Kinch and Norrigal go to the Stone Baths, which are widely known to be a safe, neutral place for all comers. Norrigal leaves Kinch in a pool, and a small, frog-like man approaches him. After annoying Kinch with inane conversation, the man transforms into Sesta, the Guild’s Assassin-Adept. Sesta warns Kinch that his relationship with Norrigal makes him a liability to the Guild’s mission.

Sesta threatens the safety of Kinch’s family if he does not comply with the Guild’s commands.