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you, Melba.”
    She shrugged. “He said me ma were a whore who tossed me out on the street and he took pity on me.”
    “And you believed him?”
    Melba had never thought much about who her mother was. Why would Maddox lie to her? She shrugged.
    “Why would a small-time thief master who struggles to feed the few boys he runs burden himself with a girl?”
    Unease fluttered in Melba’s belly. When Maddox supped a half o’ale too many, he often cursed the trouble she had caused him. She’d always believed he took her in because he had a kind heart. Although he was gruff and made her do her share of running the messages, he treated her fairly.
    She looked down and curled her fingers around the starlight stone in her lap. The smooth shape fit snugly in her palm, somehow comforting. Gold and red shimmered through the crystal and tiny shiny stars flashed across its surface, but she wasn’t in the mood to enjoy her treasure. “If he didn’t take me in through pity, why else?”
    “Why do thieves do anything, Melba?” he asked softly.
    Coin .
    Her chest tightened unbearably. Had her life in the baker’s shop been the result of a deal?
    Suddenly understanding hit her. Master Turk knew her history. How had she been so slow to catch on?
    She glared at him. “Tell me.”
    He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I need to question Maddox before I’m sure of anything.”
    Melba leaped up and ran to the glass doors overlooking the river. She couldn’t breathe in this stuffy room full of old books. She rattled the door but it wouldn’t open.
    Master Turk’s hand gripped her shoulder. A warm relaxing feeling slid through her and she calmed down. When she dropped her hands from the door handle, he pushed a small key in the lock and opened the door. He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “We each have shining moments and shadow moments. Master Maddox may prove to be a shadow moment for you, Melba, but I promise that you have many shining moments to come.”

    ***

    Later that evening, Turk ran down a roof and jumped into the yard behind the Fish and Flag Tavern. Shouldering open the heavy door, he slipped into the back corridor. He brushed some specks of brick dust from his jacket as he walked to the private room he reserved for interviews.
    He’d reckoned Maddox would be more likely to meet him on territory he believed to be neutral. The old man probably didn’t realize that the Shining Brotherhood owned the tavern and Cuthbert, the man who masqueraded as the owner, was pledged to Turk.
    Cuthbert’s ruddy face appeared around the door to the bar and he tugged on his shaggy gray forelock. “Evenin’, Master. Would you be wanting a sip or a sup?”
    Turk examined the small bare table in the interview room. Maybe a drink would relax Maddox enough to loosen his tongue. “A jug of ale and two cups.”
    Cuthbert looked over his shoulder and grunted a command, then returned his attention to Turk. “Maddox is ’ere, sir.”
    Turk surveyed the three chairs set around the room’s empty fireplace. He dragged one away to the far side of the table and set the other two facing each other. “Send him through. After you bring the ale, let there be no disturbances.”
    Cuthbert dipped his head and shuffled away. After the ale arrived, Turk poured himself a tankard and took a sip. He’d never been a lover of ale, and certainly not of overindulgence. The Shining Brotherhood had taught him the benefit of self-control in all things.
    Someone scratched on the door.
    “Come!” Turk shouted.
    The door creaked open and Maddox stood in the gap, his grizzled beard and hair unkempt, his greasy cap clutched to his chest. “You wanted to see me, sir.”
    “That I did.” Turk gestured him in. “Take a mug of ale with me. I’ve a question or two for you.”
    “I’ve not trod on your toes I hope, sir. Never meant to if I did.”
    “No, Maddox, my toes are intact.” Turk passed the mug of ale to his guest before leading