The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (Pillars of Reality Book 4) by Jack Campbell

Alli said, “they’ll hold a meeting to decide what to do, and then likely call to Guild Headquarters in Palandur for guidance before acting. That should give us a few hours.”
    Asha came to a sudden halt before a three-story structure that stood slightly apart from a similar building on one side, a narrow alley separating them. A vacant lot with only an old foundation overgrown with weeds was on the other side.
    Colonel Faron rode up next to Mari. “It’s a former hotel. Now a place of ill-repute. You! Over here!”
    The police officer summoned by Faron came running over, holding his helmet on with one hand and a hardwood club in the other. Like most police, he wore only a lacquered leather chest plate as armor over his uniform. “Yes, sir?”
    “What can you tell me of this place?”
    “We make arrests outside of it nearly every night but haven’t been able to prove anything against the owner.”
    “The owner is paying off the police,” Mage Dav said, the coldly emotionless voice of a Mage even more intimidating than usual. “This shadow reveals it.”
    “I…I…” Terrified to be the focus of a Mage’s attention, the police officer backed away.
    Faron looked at Mari. “There are laws in Julesport. We would need a warrant to get that door open.”
    “I don’t need a warrant,” Mari said. “I’ve got Mechanic Alli.”
    “But—”
    “You don’t see me, right? Aren’t those your orders?”
    Colonel Faron paused, then smiled. “And I must follow my orders.”
    “Alli, we need a door down,” Mari said, looking at the door barring entry to the building. It was made of heavy planks reinforced with metal straps, the sort of barrier that could require some time to force.
    “Right here,” Alli announced, sounding cheerful. She had a small lump of something in one hand and was poking what looked like a large stick into it. “Stand back.”
    Everyone pushed away from the door as Alli pressed the explosives against the lock, did something to the fuse, and then ran back to rejoin the others. “How did you know I’d have some explosives with me?” she asked Mari.
    “Seriously?” Mari said. “Mage Asha, are you sure that Mage Alain is inside there?”
    Asha nodded.
    “Four, three, two…” Alli counted down.
    The explosion wasn’t large, but it was enough to leave the heavy door sagging on its hinges. Mechanics Dav and Bev hit the door with their shoulders, knocking it open. Mari found herself pushed aside by Mages Dav and Asha as they followed the Mechanics, long knives out.
    She rushed after them to find a tall, thin man standing in the center of the room, his mouth agape. “How— How dare you!”
    Asha was turning, her gaze sweeping the room. She stopped, eyes intent, then stepped forward, her long knife swinging in a fast, vicious arc. It rebounded from something unseen with a clang of metal on metal, but Asha whipped her knife around in a reverse circle that ended when the knife stopped in mid-air.
    A man appeared, his mouth open as he grunted with pain from a deep cut in his side. A knife fell from his own hand as he staggered back.
    Mage Asha pulled back her knife for another slash, but before she could strike again Mechanic Dav stepped forward and swung his rifle butt against the man’s head.
    “This is no Dark Mage,” Mage Dav said as the injured man collapsed. “It is Mage Niaro. But there is another here.”
    Both Mages swung to face another corner of the room. “Another hides there.”
    Bev took two steps, leveling her rifle at the apparently vacant corner. “Should I just kill him?”
    An older man appeared where nothing had been, his face a strange mix of Mage impassivity and terror, dropping to his knees with hands upheld in supplication. “No! I will not resist! I have money! You can have it all!”
    “See if you can buy off Colonel Faron after you killed his soldiers!” Mari snarled. “Asha! Where is Alain?”
    Asha swung slowly again, then pointed up a flight of stairs