Terrier

by Tamora Pierce

  The little boy reached out with a shriek of glee. Pounce trotted up to us with a stick loaded with chunks of grilled meat. It was horse well seasoned with garlic, from the smell. The older girl took it from my thieving cat with a hand that shook.

  Ersken put her sister down. As she ran to us, he said, “There’s an idea. I’ll be right back.” By the time the three of them had jammed the meat into their mouths, he returned with more, and three turnovers. They ate those, too, in silence.

  I couldn’t leave them there. Slavers might bag them, or worse than slavers. They could disappear.

  I had some extra coin, thanks to the slaver bookkeeper’s bribe. Now I know why the Goddess sent such a windfall my way. It wasn’t to save against hard times, as I’d hoped. But how long will it last? How much do napkins cost? There is my landlady to be thought on. I can bully her for a little while, as long as these three keep quiet.

  How much will it cost to feed them?

  It can’t be helped, I thought. I hobbled Jack Ashmiller’s wife. I won’t tell him I lost his children, too.

  I got them past my landlady by telling her that Mistress Painter gave me good information. After that, she was so flattered that she didn’t argue over me bringing three mumpers into the house, at least not right off. Ersken helped me to haul buckets of water upstairs so they could wash.

  “You’ll stay here for now,” I told them as we rearranged things. “I’ll find your da.”

  “Why believe you?” the middle girl asked.

  Her sister smacked her head. “Because we’re here an’ off the street. She didn’t take us to the slavers or the foundling hospital, so shut yer gob.” She looked at me. “Don’t make a liar of me, you Puppies.” She looked at Ersken. “I’ll curse you with my every breath.”

  Though they weren’t allowed to watch Poundridge, the Dogs that first volunteered came to listen when my Dogs and I traded news before muster. I guessed they’d want to know, so I told everyone about the Ashmiller family’s fate. For a moment no one made a sound. Then I heard some of the best swearing of my life. Seemingly all of them believed as I did. Jack Ashmiller was hired by one of Crookshank’s folk. Now his days were numbered.

  “No use beggin’ Ahuda or the Commander for more of us to watch Crookshank’s folk,” Jewel said, squeezing his hands into fists. “Eight of them Crookshank used to raid the Court of the Rogue was killed last night, four of ‘em right in their barracks. And that’s not countin’ the usual murderin’ and thievin’ in the Lower City. We’re keepin’ eyes and ears open. Near as we could tell, Kayu’s stickin’ close to Crookshank. Mayhap he thinks folk might want him dead.” He looked up at Ahuda, who glared at us. She knew we needed more watchers. “Eyes and ears open, mitts tied, and the Lower City like an upturned hive.” He walked to his place like an old man.

  After muster, Goodwin stopped Tunstall, Pounce, and me as we walked into the outside courtyard. “We need to talk to your houseguests,” Goodwin said. “A proper talk. You’re learning, Beka, and I’ve heard naught but good of Ersken, but mayhap we can winkle a bit of gold out of them you didn’t know they had.”

  I knew she was right, but my pride twitched. I’d thought we’d done a fine job talking to children who’d as soon curse my name as breathe. They’d come home with me, hadn’t they?

  “Good idea.” Tunstall thrust his slab of a hand out to Goodwin. “Pony up, Clary.” She glared at him. “Cooper’s housing them on Puppy wages. How long can she do it? We’ll tell Ahuda they’re witnesses, and reclaim what all three of us pay out from the jewel box fund. Some of it, anyway.”

  A fist under my breastbone relaxed. I could get back a bit of what I’d spent? That would help. I stopped counting and recounting my store of coins.

  Goodwin cursed under her breath as she opened her purse.

  Tunstall said, “Don’t even think it, Clary. I know every copper you have on you. That thing is just to madden thieves.”

  Goodwin actually snarled. She thrust a hand inside her tunic, yanking out a second purse. “Lout!”

  “Coin cutter,” he said.

  But that settled the argument. With Pounce following, we went off to the Nightmarket. Tunstall didn’t spend only Goodwin’s money. He dug out five silver coins of his own. We bought used clothes, with me guessing at the right sizes, sandals, food that would keep, and a hot meal. We went to my lodgings with full packs and baskets.

  A surprise waited for me on the landing by my room and Aniki’s. Tansy sat there, dressed for the world I lived in. A fat pack and a leather bag were by her side.

  She looked at the three of us, her lower lip quivering, and moved her bags. Goodwin and Tunstall walked around her. Pounce rubbed against one of her hands and washed it with his tongue.

  I stood there. Which god did I vex so badly today?

  “I’ve nowhere else to go,” Tansy said. “My family turned me out when I married Crookshank’s grandson. And Beka – Grandfather said he’ll make me lose the babe so the Rogue can’t use my newborn child against him. I think he’s gone mad.”

  “He’s always been mad,” Tunstall said, comforter that he was. “He’s just gibbering with it now. Cooper, will you let Mistress Lofts in?”

  I began to see why Goodwin kicked him so much. He was not going to house five people in rooms that were comfortable for one.

  I unlocked my door. The three Ashmillers were in a corner, huddled like they expected a beating. The shutters were open. Pigeons were everywhere. The little ones had found my bread scraps.

  My head began to ache. I never told them they shouldn’t open the shutters.

  Slapper flew to me and tried to perch on my head. Of course he slid off. I looked at the Ashmillers. “My Dogs want a word,” I said. “I forgot to warn you about the birds.” I looked behind me. Tansy was still huddled on the stair. Did she think I would kick her down them? “My friend Tansy will be staying with us. She’ll have the bed. And you’ll be kind to her.”

  Tunstall and Goodwin unloaded the packs as I talked. I don’t know if it was my speaking or the smell of hot food that made the Ashmillers nod. When Goodwin set out pasties and a pot of hot noodles on my table, they edged toward it. I got down my dishes and cutlery for them. Tunstall made them smile a hair when he perched on a stool too small by far. Goodwin shooed the birds off, though they went only so far as the windowsill and the edges of the roof. I could hear them and their ghosts over the late day breeze.

  Tansy brought her things in. She had a string bag of food that she served out. She’d remembered my love for fruited honey cake. I watched as it vanished between the young ones and Tunstall. As Tansy moved about the table, getting a napkin onto the boy, brushing the younger girl’s hair and braiding it, my Dogs asked their questions.

  I felt a looby when Tunstall and Goodwin sought information I had not. Had the children followed their papa on his search for work? They went with him sometimes, the oldest girl said. The places she named we had checked several times. She told Goodwin that in the last two weeks, her papa had gone elsewhere, alone. He’d found places where not so many others were there for the same jobs he was.

  The job he’d got at last was night work. He’d left for it and hadn’t come home in the morning. Three days later, the landlord had come. He had kept all but what was in the small bundles he’d let the children pack. He’d watched them put those together. He didn’t want them taking aught of value before he kicked them out.

  The older girl, who did most of the talking, fell silent. Goodwin drummed her fingers on the table. That’s when the younger girl jerked her chin at me and said, “She only took us in from a bad conscience. Because it’s her fault we’ve no ma and no da.”

  Tansy tugged the little demon’s braid. “You hush,” she scolded softly. “It’s rude to bad-talk them as offers you a roof, whyever they offer it.” The polished speech she’d learned at Crookshank’s vanished when she talked with the Ashmillers. They, in turn, softened around a young mother from Mutt Piddle Lane.

&
nbsp; “Your ma was a problem,” Tunstall told her. The words were hard, but his voice was kind. “You’re old enough to know that. Shall I find a mirror to show you the scar on your face? We can guess who put it there, and you know. You can see the ones on your hands yourself.” The girl looked down. “If not for Cooper here, we wouldn’t even have a place to start seeking your da.”

  I could feel myself turn red. I hate it when people talk about me whilst I’m in the room.

  Goodwin stood. “We’re off. If you young ones think of anything that your father let slip about where he was going, about who hired him, tell Cooper. You want him found, we’re the ones to do it. Don’t mess about.” The two girls nodded. The boy was smearing raisins on his face. Tansy began to wipe him clean.

  “We’ll be about our work, then. Stay inside and lock up,” Tunstall said. He even bowed to Tansy. “Gods keep you safe.”

  “Gods keep you safe,” Tansy said. “All of you. And Beka, thank you.”

  I just waved at her. “Don’t bolt the door so I can’t get in.” I followed my Dogs out of my rooms.

  “Well, that was a pot of piddle,” Goodwin said as we went downstairs.

  “It needn’t be,” Tunstall said. “Let’s go to the house. Mayhap the landlord hasn’t sold Jack Ashmiller’s goods. We can put Achoo to sniffing from there.”

  “Achoo will have trouble tracking a wagon,” Goodwin argued. “Cooper’s pigeons say the diggers are carried to the cellars in a wagon. What’s this?”

  A clump of folk was coming in the door, joking. I recognized Aniki and four rushers from Dawull’s court. In their turn they saw Dogs and went to draw their swords.

  “Hold, right there,” Goodwin said, bringing out her baton. “I don’t fancy a battle in these surroundings, and I doubt Cooper wants her stairwell chopped up.”

  “Throttle it, you loobies, it’s Goodwin and Tunstall,” Aniki ordered. Her blue eyes were worried. “Is everything all right?”

  “I’ve houseguests,” I said. “Orva Ashmiller’s husband got digging work and vanished. His children were thrown into the street, so I brought them here. And Tansy left her in-laws’ house. She’s here, too.”

  Aniki’s mouth twitched, I suppose at all my guests. Then she frowned. “Digging – and he vanished?”

  “Jack’s not dead,” I said quickly. “The little ones let the pigeons in and fed them. He’s not among them. This crew’s still alive.”

  Aniki was carrying a bag with two wine bottles in it. She held it out to one of her friends. “Find another place to grumble, lads.” She looked up at us. “Tell me where to look or who to watch. Beka said all but you three are on street duty, trying to keep the Rogue from killing any more of the ones who helped on the raid. Here I am, fancy free. Put me to use.”

  “What about Dawull?” Tunstall asked.

  “I quit Dawull.” Aniki gave Tunstall her relaxed grin, the one that said she hadn’t a care in the world. “He ordered a clutch of us to go kill the Rogue tonight.” The coves with her were nodding. “I told him, in Scanra, when a chief wants to become Rogue, he challenges the Rogue, straight and honest. He told me to do as I was ordered. I told him to stuff his lousy orders. My friends did likewise. We were going to come here and drink ourselves silly.” She looked at the others. “Sorry. I can’t do that if more Lower City folk are going to die to make Crookshank richer.”

  “How do you know they’re dyin’ an’ it’s Crookshank as profits?” one of them asked. “Folk vanish all the time hereabouts.”

  “If Goodwin and Tunstall believe it, I believe it,” said one of the others. “That’s why you was lookin’ for Crookshank at Dawull’s tavern, innit? Crookshank buys Dawull off with stones these poor beggars bought with their blood.”

  “We can’t say Dawull knows Crookshank kills the diggers,” Tunstall said gravely. “Mayhap he thinks Crookshank just bought him to make certain Kayfer behaves.”

  “Dawull knows there’s blood in it,” replied that cove. “No one pays out the fortune Dawull’s been braggin’ of without blood. Dawull’s gettin’ rich whilst cuddies like us is dyin’.” He shoved his bottles at another cove. “I’m with Aniki. Show me who to watch.”

  In the end, only the bottles went to Aniki’s room. We had five new watchers to put on the lookout for Jens, none of them Dogs. After talking it out with Goodwin, Tunstall gave them the description we had, then their assignments. They knew Crookshank’s people, just as they knew the various exits to the Market of Sorrows. It was the sort of thing any self-respecting thief or rusher had to know, once he or she made it into a chief’s court. Off they went. Aniki winked at me as she left.

  “They’ll never believe this back at the kennel,” Goodwin muttered as we walked to our watch post at the slave market. “Pigeons, dust spinners – and now rogues. Cooper, since you became our Puppy, my Dog work has turned upside down.”

  “There’s something more I need to tell you,” I said. I thought my gut would explode if I waited any longer. “Mayhap me’n Ersken talked to the first mother bit by the Shadow Snake.” I told them about Mistress Painter. “I think it’s Yates Noll,” I said as we came up on the market. A cloud of slave stink washed over us. “The Painters had just bought from Mistress Noll. Working for her, Yates and Gunnar and their friend go all over the Lower – “

  Goodwin put a hand on my arm. “Eight or nine lives for one, Cooper,” she said gently. “Even with your crooked friends to help, we can’t get distracted from the diggers right now. First we nail Crookshank and his murderers to gravestones and give the Ashmiller children back their father. Then we go after the Snake.”

  “But Herun,” I said. I knew she was right, but I had to remind her all the same. “He dies in five days if Crookshank don’t pay up, and he won’t.”

  “Jack Ashmiller and whoever’s with him against one, Cooper,” Tunstall said. As we neared the alley that was our watch post for Poundridge, he drew his baton. “Now, what mischief is this?”

  Someone crouched in our spot, then rose tall in the shadows.

  “You’ve been boring me to tears over our suppers, Mattes,” Lady Sabine said. She wore dark leather sewn with black metal rings. Her breeches were dark, her boots unshined. She spoke just loud enough for us to hear. “Muttering about catching a drop in a net with just three Dogs and one cat to watch the whole Market of Sorrows. The only way I can get you to pay attention to me is to lend a hand.”

  Goodwin looked at Tunstall. “‘Our suppers’?” she asked in a forbidding tone.

  “Relax, Guardswoman. It’s just suppers – so far.” The lady looked from Goodwin to Tunstall. “Are you actually going to refuse my aid?”

  “We’re going to sit on the Spidren Walk entrance, Cooper and I,” Goodwin told them. “That one’s been itching me, and now I can scratch it. Since you and my lady are so friendly, Mattes, you can tell her about our crooked helpers.” She marched back down the street. Pounce meowed a greeting to Lady Sabine and trotted after Goodwin.

  “It’s all right, Cooper,” Tunstall said when I hesitated. “Clary’s just cross that I never asked her permission to go a-courting.”

  As I hurried after Goodwin, I heard my lady say, “You’d better not be planning to court me for anything serious, my lad. I like my single state.”

  And I heard Tunstall’s low chuckle.

  Thunder rolled far off. A fine rain that was hardly more than a fog began to fall. It would soak us to the skin in a hurry.

  Goodwin and I walked into the alleys behind the Market of Sorrows. We passed the watch posts of Aniki and her friends, pretending to ignore them. Finally we reached the small gate on Spidren Way, the entrance closest to Rovers Street. It’s not the most used gate, which was why my Dogs had sent our helpers to other places. It was the only one we’d had no one for, until now.

  One of the buildings across the alley was set back from its neighbor. It gave us a sheltered spot where we could watch the gate without being picked up by the light from the covered lanterns around
it. Our view wasn’t as good as at Tunstall’s watch spot, but we could hear every squeak the gate made.

  We settled with Pounce between us. I listened to the rain, the laughter of the slave guards, and the passing of folk in and out. Finally I had to ask.

  “Are you that angered at him? At them?”

  “Hmm?” I’d startled her. “Mattes? Oh, he’s a fool. Getting mixed up with a noble. It never comes to any good, not with so much distance between them – a lady and a hillman, Crone witness it!” I heard her but doubted anyone passing a foot away would notice. “Still, Lady Sabine…She’s not like most of them. She’s more my lord Gershom’s sort. Useful.” She was silent for a time. Then she said, “Cooper, we do care about Herun Lofts. Tansy is a fine mot – no one should lose a child and a husband in the same year. And we want the Shadow Snake. If we allow ourselves, we Dogs, we would go raving over all the crimes that go unpunished whilst we can only follow one. It’s maddening to have but two Dogs where we need twelve or more. It’s so maddening we’ve jumped to add rogues and a lady knight to our roster, gods bless them.”

  I smiled in the dark. I couldn’t have put it better.

  “But this is the Dog’s life, Cooper. We seek and we hobble and we cage. Sometimes we can only do it a little at a time.” I nearly missed what she said next – “And sometimes we lose more than we catch, curse it.”

  We waited in silence again, watching folk as came and went through the gate in the rain. It fell harder. Soon enough we were soaked even with our shelter.

  We’d been there two hours and my belly was grumbling when a short, plump mot walked up to the gate. She had three tough-looking coves with her. One of them held a Yamani parasol over her to keep her dry. Goodwin stiffened.

  “Uta Norwood,” she whispered as the guards let the four of them enter. “She keeps Crookshank’s books. What business has she got here, do you suppose?”

  “The old scale was in no mood to buy slaves,” I said. “If they need someone for the house, wouldn’t the cook or the footman do the buying during the day?”