to do as they were bid.
Outside, we found Pounce waiting. He followed us into the shade of a nearby tree. Tunstall gave him an ear scratching while I looked at Garnett's list.
"We already know about Mistress Tansy, so we needn't worry her," Tunstall said when I gave the paper back to him.
"My cousin Philben is on that list," I said. "And this Urtiz fellow doesn't live so far from my lodgings."
"Seek out at least one before watch today and talk to him like a neighbor," Tunstall said. "I'll see who I can find out of the other three names. Don't tire yourself out." He looked at the sun, shading his eyes with his hand. "It's going to be cursed hot again. You'll need your strength for duty tonight, and I'm sure you have errands and such."
"It's no bother," I told him. "I don't have anything special to do."
Maybe, and maybe not , Pounce said at my feet. Maybe I have plans for you .
This was one of those times when Tunstall understood him. "Do they involve me, hestaka ?" Tunstall asked. Ever since Pounce saved his life at Midwinter, Tunstall has called him hestaka . It means "wise one" in Hurdik. That's what Tunstall calls the hillman speech. Whenever Tunstall says hestaka , Pounce fluffs up his chest and looks smug.
No. My plans include only Beka , Pounce replied.
"Then I will leave you to your day. Cooper, don't let your guard down with that cousin. Even family goes wrong."
"I know that," I said as Tunstall turned to leave. "Tunstall?" He looked back. "I know we promised, but... will you really let Garnett off? By my rough count he's sent at least one hundred and four bad silver coins back into the city's money. There's probably more that he didn't mention. Men have gone to Execution Hill for less."
Tunstall patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, Cooper. I just didn't want him scaring our six into running before we talk to them. I will give Day Watch the word to pick up Master Baker Garnett this afternoon. He'll be spared the worst. We'll speak for him. But he'll tell the cage Dogs everyone he passed those coles to, if he wants to walk or use his hands easily again."
I nodded, feeling better. Garnett knew as well as any that the more bad coins got into a city's money, the shakier all our money got, yet he'd looked after himself first. He would have to pay for that.
"Off you go, Cooper. I'll see you at four." Tunstall ambled down the street, hands in his pockets. He looked every inch the country cove enjoying the city, if you didn't notice his body was set so that if someone hit him from the side, he wouldn't be knocked over. I would have bet a week's pay his eyes were roving, taking in everything around him. Dogs don't survive in the Lower City, on duty or off, without paying attention. Of course, as long as Tunstall's been a Dog, he's never really off duty.
I still had Pounce to manage. "What's this you're telling me about plans?" A passing gaggle of lads stared at the girl who talked to her cat. I glared at them. They laughed and raced on by me.
We set off down the street, Pounce trotting at my side. You think too much, that's your problem. Have I led you astray before?
I could think of dozens of times that his advice had gotten me into trouble. "Yes." I wiped my forehead on my sleeve.
You're being petty. You always come out all right .
"I had the highest healer's bill of any Puppy in Corus," I reminded him. "How many broken bones and slashes have I gotten because you yowled, 'This way'?"
Yet you preen like a pigeon when they call you Terrier. You don't mind the bruises and cuts then .
"Why do I argue with a cat?" I always ask myself that, when I know there's only one answer: I don't learn. I can't even say it's because he's a talking cat. He's a cat, and cats just aren't reasonable. "Cousin Phil's likely to be hiring out at the Daymarket, this time of year." We turned onto Jane Street. "Best catch him there. If Delene hears of him gambling, she's liable to lay him out with a pot."
'Twas then I heard a four-legged
Outside, we found Pounce waiting. He followed us into the shade of a nearby tree. Tunstall gave him an ear scratching while I looked at Garnett's list.
"We already know about Mistress Tansy, so we needn't worry her," Tunstall said when I gave the paper back to him.
"My cousin Philben is on that list," I said. "And this Urtiz fellow doesn't live so far from my lodgings."
"Seek out at least one before watch today and talk to him like a neighbor," Tunstall said. "I'll see who I can find out of the other three names. Don't tire yourself out." He looked at the sun, shading his eyes with his hand. "It's going to be cursed hot again. You'll need your strength for duty tonight, and I'm sure you have errands and such."
"It's no bother," I told him. "I don't have anything special to do."
Maybe, and maybe not , Pounce said at my feet. Maybe I have plans for you .
This was one of those times when Tunstall understood him. "Do they involve me, hestaka ?" Tunstall asked. Ever since Pounce saved his life at Midwinter, Tunstall has called him hestaka . It means "wise one" in Hurdik. That's what Tunstall calls the hillman speech. Whenever Tunstall says hestaka , Pounce fluffs up his chest and looks smug.
No. My plans include only Beka , Pounce replied.
"Then I will leave you to your day. Cooper, don't let your guard down with that cousin. Even family goes wrong."
"I know that," I said as Tunstall turned to leave. "Tunstall?" He looked back. "I know we promised, but... will you really let Garnett off? By my rough count he's sent at least one hundred and four bad silver coins back into the city's money. There's probably more that he didn't mention. Men have gone to Execution Hill for less."
Tunstall patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, Cooper. I just didn't want him scaring our six into running before we talk to them. I will give Day Watch the word to pick up Master Baker Garnett this afternoon. He'll be spared the worst. We'll speak for him. But he'll tell the cage Dogs everyone he passed those coles to, if he wants to walk or use his hands easily again."
I nodded, feeling better. Garnett knew as well as any that the more bad coins got into a city's money, the shakier all our money got, yet he'd looked after himself first. He would have to pay for that.
"Off you go, Cooper. I'll see you at four." Tunstall ambled down the street, hands in his pockets. He looked every inch the country cove enjoying the city, if you didn't notice his body was set so that if someone hit him from the side, he wouldn't be knocked over. I would have bet a week's pay his eyes were roving, taking in everything around him. Dogs don't survive in the Lower City, on duty or off, without paying attention. Of course, as long as Tunstall's been a Dog, he's never really off duty.
I still had Pounce to manage. "What's this you're telling me about plans?" A passing gaggle of lads stared at the girl who talked to her cat. I glared at them. They laughed and raced on by me.
We set off down the street, Pounce trotting at my side. You think too much, that's your problem. Have I led you astray before?
I could think of dozens of times that his advice had gotten me into trouble. "Yes." I wiped my forehead on my sleeve.
You're being petty. You always come out all right .
"I had the highest healer's bill of any Puppy in Corus," I reminded him. "How many broken bones and slashes have I gotten because you yowled, 'This way'?"
Yet you preen like a pigeon when they call you Terrier. You don't mind the bruises and cuts then .
"Why do I argue with a cat?" I always ask myself that, when I know there's only one answer: I don't learn. I can't even say it's because he's a talking cat. He's a cat, and cats just aren't reasonable. "Cousin Phil's likely to be hiring out at the Daymarket, this time of year." We turned onto Jane Street. "Best catch him there. If Delene hears of him gambling, she's liable to lay him out with a pot."
'Twas then I heard a four-legged
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