He scratches the back of his head. "I told him you guys would be willing to help out with the demons — there's going to be a big raid on the Gray Garrison soon, we're hoping we can use the secret passage, maybe get some help from the Family, that sort of thing."

(One of the thieflings' eyes widens very slightly.)

"I see," says Sister Kerismei. "I can hardly permit our brothers and sisters to leave under the circumstances, but if we can identify the traitor, I suppose I will not impede the rest of them in joining you, nor in sharing the location of the secret passage."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Unlike the poor charitable souls funding Mendev's Worldwound defense, the Family does not compensate our associates for services they did not actually render. But nor do we punish outsiders for simple ineptitude. If you cannot find the information we need, you will be no better and no worse off than you were before you met us." 

"We'll be a lot worse off if you kill Woljif!"

Wait, that kind of makes it sound like she doesn't care about Woljif as a person.

"As a favor, Ser Paladin, I will stay my hand against brother Woljif until your mission in the Garrison is complete, one way or another, even if he proves himself to be thoroughly uninterested in maintaining his loyalty to the family."

"He has been ongoingly useful, we are not retaining him for one mission only."

"Then perhaps it is in your interests to help him demonstrate his loyalty." She shrugs, looking directly at Woljif. "But perhaps not. He is hardly irreplaceable."

"I have made some promises, but none of them in fact involve turning him over to you regardless of what conclusions you choose to draw. So as to be clear."

She smiles at him. It's not a very friendly smile. 

"How you choose to conduct yourself is your business."

"I'm glad we understand each other. To the shop, then."

To the shop! The streets continue to be badly damaged, but demon activity is thinner here.

"You know, if you ever feel like turning over a new leaf, paladins don't threaten to kill their friends."

"Hey, Sister Kerismei may be scary, but I'd take her over Hulrun any day!"

She makes a face.

The windows of the Ancientries and Wonders shop have been smashed to bits, and the door is hanging off its hinges, but the shop itself is still standing. 

"I don't detect anything."

"I too am confused about the appeal of this organization but killing people for desertion is also a normal trait of formal armies," Blai points out. "Those just have other compensatory virtues."

"That's different."

"Ah, yes, of course. When thieves kill each other for disloyalty they're no better than common murderers, but when Iomedae's people do it it's entirely unobjectionable. Truly, how could anyone fail to see the difference?"

"Well, if you understand it I would like to have it explained, it's one of the missing spots in my education."

"It's good to be loyal to your tribe, and the army is like a big group of hunters protecting the tribe. But it's bad to be loyal to a bunch of thieves."

"I don't think that's quite right. ...But I don't know how to explain it instead."

"Perhaps I'll ask Ser Tirabade next time she has a moment."

"If you ask me, the whole idea there's a difference is just something you paladin-types made up so half the army doesn't just up and leave," Woljif stage-whispers.

He's right, but there's no point in saying it.