earlier. The longer Fender was gone the better.
But she couldn’t stand here enjoying the show all evening. Down in the streets below were thronging crowds, vendors selling ale and food, live entertainment and carny stalls. People had full purses and couldn’t wait to part with their money. Rag could certainly help.
Before she could drag herself away from her boys, the rickety staircase at the side of the building give off a whiny creak. Tidge and Chirpy jumped, but Migs just continued rubbing his bare tummy as if polishing it to a shine. When they saw it was Markus coming up the stairs, the boys let out a sigh. Rag’s welcoming smile dropped when she saw the look on his face. His eyes looked red from crying, and the streetlight showed up a livid bruise on his cheek.
‘You okay, Markus?’ Rag asked, gently.
He shrugged in reply. Rag put an arm round his shoulder and they turned to watch the endless procession of revellers. She was concerned for sure, but she wasn’t going to pry – it was none of her business. If Markus wanted to tell her he would, in his own time.
They watched the show until Rag decided it was time to go to work.
‘Right, you stinkers, I’ve got to go. I’ll try and be back before sun up, so the lot of you had best stay out of trouble.’
There were faint noises of acknowledgement from the younger boys, who were still captivated by the display. Markus, however, looked at her questioningly.
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘I think I should come with you,’ he stated, uncertainly.
‘What? On the rob?’ She couldn’t help but grin at the suggestion. ‘You must be joking.’
‘I’ve got to learn some time. I need to start paying my way. Fender said—’
‘Fender says a lot of things and most of it’s horseshit. You’re fine to come and stay with us any time you want.’ She glanced at his discoloured cheek, wanting more than ever to know what had happened. ‘It’s safe here for you, there’s no need to fret. You leave that long streak of piss, Fender, to me. I’ll soon change his mind.’
‘No.’ Markus raised his chin determinedly. He had never been so forceful before – Rag was impressed. ‘If I stay I’m going to learn what you know. You can teach me, Rag. You and Fender are the best purse pinchers in the city.’
Rag was flattered – she couldn’t help it, even though she knew Markus was wrong. If she had been one of the best in the city the Guild would have grabbed her up for sure by now and she’d be sleeping under a roof rather than on top of one. Markus had a point though – he could do with learning the trade. An extra pair of hands bringing in the steal would benefit them all. Besides, persuading Fender that Markus could stay would be much easier if he was earning his cut.
She stared deep into his eyes, looking for any doubt there, any weakness, and it pleased her to see only cold determination. If Markus was going to walk this road with her he had to be damn sure it was what he wanted to do.
‘All right then,’ she said. ‘Best follow me, hadn’t you.’
Markus smiled, a wide naïve smile, as though this was going to be some kind of laugh. It gave Rag second thoughts. This was no laugh – it was deadly serious.
‘You do
what
I say,
when
I say it,’ she made clear as they went down the rickety stairs from the roof. ‘Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Tonight you’ll just be watching and learning and staying out of the way. And if the Greencoats spot me, you just run. Run home and don’t look back.’
Markus nodded obediently, a trace of a smile still on his face.
They made their way from Dockside up towards Eastgate, sticking to the shadows like the rats they were. Markus was with her every step of the way and it didn’t take long for Rag’s doubts to leave her. He was doing well, keeping silent and close and out of view. If she hadn’t known better she’d have called him a
natural
, but it was obvious he weren’t. Rag was a
But she couldn’t stand here enjoying the show all evening. Down in the streets below were thronging crowds, vendors selling ale and food, live entertainment and carny stalls. People had full purses and couldn’t wait to part with their money. Rag could certainly help.
Before she could drag herself away from her boys, the rickety staircase at the side of the building give off a whiny creak. Tidge and Chirpy jumped, but Migs just continued rubbing his bare tummy as if polishing it to a shine. When they saw it was Markus coming up the stairs, the boys let out a sigh. Rag’s welcoming smile dropped when she saw the look on his face. His eyes looked red from crying, and the streetlight showed up a livid bruise on his cheek.
‘You okay, Markus?’ Rag asked, gently.
He shrugged in reply. Rag put an arm round his shoulder and they turned to watch the endless procession of revellers. She was concerned for sure, but she wasn’t going to pry – it was none of her business. If Markus wanted to tell her he would, in his own time.
They watched the show until Rag decided it was time to go to work.
‘Right, you stinkers, I’ve got to go. I’ll try and be back before sun up, so the lot of you had best stay out of trouble.’
There were faint noises of acknowledgement from the younger boys, who were still captivated by the display. Markus, however, looked at her questioningly.
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘I think I should come with you,’ he stated, uncertainly.
‘What? On the rob?’ She couldn’t help but grin at the suggestion. ‘You must be joking.’
‘I’ve got to learn some time. I need to start paying my way. Fender said—’
‘Fender says a lot of things and most of it’s horseshit. You’re fine to come and stay with us any time you want.’ She glanced at his discoloured cheek, wanting more than ever to know what had happened. ‘It’s safe here for you, there’s no need to fret. You leave that long streak of piss, Fender, to me. I’ll soon change his mind.’
‘No.’ Markus raised his chin determinedly. He had never been so forceful before – Rag was impressed. ‘If I stay I’m going to learn what you know. You can teach me, Rag. You and Fender are the best purse pinchers in the city.’
Rag was flattered – she couldn’t help it, even though she knew Markus was wrong. If she had been one of the best in the city the Guild would have grabbed her up for sure by now and she’d be sleeping under a roof rather than on top of one. Markus had a point though – he could do with learning the trade. An extra pair of hands bringing in the steal would benefit them all. Besides, persuading Fender that Markus could stay would be much easier if he was earning his cut.
She stared deep into his eyes, looking for any doubt there, any weakness, and it pleased her to see only cold determination. If Markus was going to walk this road with her he had to be damn sure it was what he wanted to do.
‘All right then,’ she said. ‘Best follow me, hadn’t you.’
Markus smiled, a wide naïve smile, as though this was going to be some kind of laugh. It gave Rag second thoughts. This was no laugh – it was deadly serious.
‘You do
what
I say,
when
I say it,’ she made clear as they went down the rickety stairs from the roof. ‘Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Tonight you’ll just be watching and learning and staying out of the way. And if the Greencoats spot me, you just run. Run home and don’t look back.’
Markus nodded obediently, a trace of a smile still on his face.
They made their way from Dockside up towards Eastgate, sticking to the shadows like the rats they were. Markus was with her every step of the way and it didn’t take long for Rag’s doubts to leave her. He was doing well, keeping silent and close and out of view. If she hadn’t known better she’d have called him a
natural
, but it was obvious he weren’t. Rag was a
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