let him get away without something in his belly.
Kepi was a true child of the streets, and knew neither hisparents nor his own age. From the looks of him, he could have been anywhere from ten to a malnourished twelve or thirteen. He was skinny, with a pointed little face, wide blue eyes, and a tangle of blond hair so pale it was nearly white under the faded silk head scarf Seregil had given him. His long tunic—some nephew’s castoffs that Sara had cut down for him—hung loose on his narrow shoulders, and his legs and feet were bare and dusty beneath it. He could play the innocent when needed, but in truth he possessed all the craftiness and the streak of savagery needed to survive in his part of the city. But he was also bright and quick, and utterly devoted to his benefactors. As soon as he caught sight of Seregil and Alec, he hopped down from the barrel and made them an awkward little bow. “Evenin’, my lords,” he said, spewing crumbs. “Hope I didn’t disturb you or nuthin’.”
“No. Is there something you wanted?” asked Seregil. The boy had no outstanding assignments from them.
“I was hoping you had some work, my lord. With you gone so long, it’s been a hungry time.”
“What happened to the money we left you with?” asked Alec.
Kepi’s brash grin faltered. “Gambled it, my lord.”
Seregil chuckled. “A lesson from Illior. Hard-won money is easily lost.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You’re in luck, though. I do have something for you to do. I want you to watch the house of Duke Reltheus in Silvermoon Street. It’s the fifth one on the palace side, east of the gate. If the duke goes out at night, especially alone late at night, I want to know when and where. And keep an eye on who goes in. Don’t worry about the daytime, just after dark. And find someone to keep an eye on Marquis Kyrin in Emerald Street, too.”
“I will, my lords, just as you say.”
Seregil counted out a handful of coins and let the boy out the back postern gate. Kepi disappeared into the night like a stray cat.
A LEC wasn’t really displeased about the party, but when he was growing up in the wilds, his father had never made any particular fuss about his name day except to note it. Neither had Seregil until now, since it came so soon after the summer festival, but this year he claimed that Alec reaching his majority warranted a proper party among the nobles.
“It’s an important event, talí. People would talk if we didn’t,” he told Alec firmly as they shared breakfast with the Cavishes that morning.
Alec rolled his eyes. “They talk about us, anyway.”
Micum chuckled. “Well, you were quite the scandal.”
“What’s a scadnal, Papa?” asked Luthas.
“It’s silly people being jealous because our uncles are so handsome together,” Illia explained, much to her father’s amusement. “Aren’t they, Uncle Seregil?”
“Of course! They’re green with envy at my good luck.” Seregil raised Alec’s hand to his lips, making him blush.
Illia noisily kissed the back of her own hand, mocking them, and the two little boys did the same, thinking it the greatest joke. Alec stuck his spoon to his nose and crossed his eyes at them, making the children scream with laughter.
“That’s enough of that,” said Kari. “Illia, take these jackdaws out to play. There’s still work to be done for the party. Come along, Elsbet.”
“Kari, you’re our guests,” Alec objected. “You don’t have to work.”
“Don’t be silly.” Kari shooed the children out and headed for the kitchen to consult with Sara.
Micum sat back in his chair and sighed. “I learned long ago to just get out of her way when she makes up her mind. And you know she enjoys it.”
“And I hate to have you working at your own party, too, Alec,” said Seregil. “But if you can sound Selin out about his friend, it will be a good night’s work.”
Micum raised a bushy red brow. “You two are up to something.”
“Just a
Kepi was a true child of the streets, and knew neither hisparents nor his own age. From the looks of him, he could have been anywhere from ten to a malnourished twelve or thirteen. He was skinny, with a pointed little face, wide blue eyes, and a tangle of blond hair so pale it was nearly white under the faded silk head scarf Seregil had given him. His long tunic—some nephew’s castoffs that Sara had cut down for him—hung loose on his narrow shoulders, and his legs and feet were bare and dusty beneath it. He could play the innocent when needed, but in truth he possessed all the craftiness and the streak of savagery needed to survive in his part of the city. But he was also bright and quick, and utterly devoted to his benefactors. As soon as he caught sight of Seregil and Alec, he hopped down from the barrel and made them an awkward little bow. “Evenin’, my lords,” he said, spewing crumbs. “Hope I didn’t disturb you or nuthin’.”
“No. Is there something you wanted?” asked Seregil. The boy had no outstanding assignments from them.
“I was hoping you had some work, my lord. With you gone so long, it’s been a hungry time.”
“What happened to the money we left you with?” asked Alec.
Kepi’s brash grin faltered. “Gambled it, my lord.”
Seregil chuckled. “A lesson from Illior. Hard-won money is easily lost.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You’re in luck, though. I do have something for you to do. I want you to watch the house of Duke Reltheus in Silvermoon Street. It’s the fifth one on the palace side, east of the gate. If the duke goes out at night, especially alone late at night, I want to know when and where. And keep an eye on who goes in. Don’t worry about the daytime, just after dark. And find someone to keep an eye on Marquis Kyrin in Emerald Street, too.”
“I will, my lords, just as you say.”
Seregil counted out a handful of coins and let the boy out the back postern gate. Kepi disappeared into the night like a stray cat.
A LEC wasn’t really displeased about the party, but when he was growing up in the wilds, his father had never made any particular fuss about his name day except to note it. Neither had Seregil until now, since it came so soon after the summer festival, but this year he claimed that Alec reaching his majority warranted a proper party among the nobles.
“It’s an important event, talí. People would talk if we didn’t,” he told Alec firmly as they shared breakfast with the Cavishes that morning.
Alec rolled his eyes. “They talk about us, anyway.”
Micum chuckled. “Well, you were quite the scandal.”
“What’s a scadnal, Papa?” asked Luthas.
“It’s silly people being jealous because our uncles are so handsome together,” Illia explained, much to her father’s amusement. “Aren’t they, Uncle Seregil?”
“Of course! They’re green with envy at my good luck.” Seregil raised Alec’s hand to his lips, making him blush.
Illia noisily kissed the back of her own hand, mocking them, and the two little boys did the same, thinking it the greatest joke. Alec stuck his spoon to his nose and crossed his eyes at them, making the children scream with laughter.
“That’s enough of that,” said Kari. “Illia, take these jackdaws out to play. There’s still work to be done for the party. Come along, Elsbet.”
“Kari, you’re our guests,” Alec objected. “You don’t have to work.”
“Don’t be silly.” Kari shooed the children out and headed for the kitchen to consult with Sara.
Micum sat back in his chair and sighed. “I learned long ago to just get out of her way when she makes up her mind. And you know she enjoys it.”
“And I hate to have you working at your own party, too, Alec,” said Seregil. “But if you can sound Selin out about his friend, it will be a good night’s work.”
Micum raised a bushy red brow. “You two are up to something.”
“Just a
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