"I am not feeling the warmth of the friendship you spoke so highly of Giovanni," I complained as I counted the meager handful of coins into my purse. The pawnshop was cluttered with old swords, last seasons dresses, and a surprising number of pistols and firearms. Keeping in shot and poweder was more expensive than people thought I supposed. Giovanni, a balding florid man spread his arms helplessly.

"Mia Cara, you know that I love you, but I have a bussiness to run! You say you have property in the palace, but you do not know it hasn't been looted, how can I advance money against what might not even be there?" he reasoned. I grunted sourly. What he said was true, but the excuse to poke around the palace was worth more than the few possessions I had left there. In truth, he had me over a barrel and he knew it. This was the only place I can think of to get some coin to get out of the city.

"I guess it will have to do," I grumbled and tied up my purse. We stepped out into the street keeping our hoods up.

"Are we going?" Kian asked, "also where are we going?" I shook my head and ducked into an alley across the way.

"Not yet, and not yet," I told him, peering out of the alley way as Giovanni emerged from his store, he locked the door and hurried off towards the palace. When he had turned the corner I stepped out and crossed back to the door, pulling the piece of parchment I had slid between the lock plates free as I opened the door. I crossed quickly and pulled the lock box from behind the counter, tucking it into my cloak.

"We are robbing him?" Kian asked, "Isn't he your friend?" I snorted.

"My friend who is running to the palace to inform on me," I explained, helping myself to a handsome pair of pistols and a rapier with a jeweled hilt.

"Grab what you need and lets get out of here, assuming your priestly virtues don't preclude a little loan."