" I suspect she, or someone she reports to, read the note I left in my pack.” “You left a note for the thieves’ guild? What did it say?” “Just that they were my animals and that they might want to reconsider taking them.” Albert and Hadrian exchanged looks of bewilderment. “They know me, and we have an arrangement. They leave me alone…and I leave them alone.” “You leave them alone?” Albert said in a mocking tone. Royce smiled at him. It was not a friendly smile. Royce searched his pack and pulled out a small bit of parchment. “What’s it say?” Albert asked. “Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience,” Royce recited, then chuckled before finishing. “The bitch didn’t know.” Royce held up the parchment and in a loud voice said, “Accepted. "