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Rhone.”
    Edana froze. She waited for Fen to yell about everything that had happened because she’d asked him to steal River. Instead, he moved to the backpack and rummaged through it for the coins.
    “Thanks. It should help for a while. I’ll have to think of something else. The river’s not far from the outhouse. I guess I could learn to fish.”
    “That’s it?”
    “What?”
    “I had you steal a dragon from the man who wanted you to steal a dragon and you went back there even though you knew what he was going to do. You knew when you agreed to keep River you were going to have to go back to him, didn’t you?”
    Fen shrugged. “What’s the big deal?”
    “He nearly killed you!”
    “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
    Edana wailed in surprise, “Not the first time? How could you stay with him?”
    “It’s easier to swim with one shark than a pack of them.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “I had two choices. Work for Rhone and put up with his beatings. I was fed most of the time. I had somewhere kind of safe to sleep. The other street gangs didn’t bother me. On the street, by myself, I’d have been anyone’s prey. I prefer to know where the attacks will come from. Besides, it wasn’t so bad. The last boy who failed him didn’t make it through the beating.”
    “How did you?” Edana went white at the thought of the boy who’d died. She thought how easily it could have been Fen.
    “I knew what to say to make him think the streets were a worse punishment.”
    “How could you have known it would work?”
    Fen stared at her, his brown eyes fathomless pools. “I didn’t,” he said quietly. “It was a gamble. You gave me the chance to get out of there. You gave me a way to be my own master. It was worth the risk. On the streets, seventeen is ancient. That makes me past middle age by street standards. It wasn’t that big a risk when you think how close I’d be to the grave if I’d stayed.”
    Edana shook her head. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally found the words she wanted to say. “I didn’t realise it was so bad. Why did you stay so long?”
    Fen laughed. “And how was I to leave? I have no skills other than that of thief. I look like I’ve spent my whole life on the streets, and I nearly have. Who wants a common thief working for them?”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
    “No one does unless they live it.”
    Edana was once again speechless. “I didn’t realise what I asked of you,” she said after a bit.
    “I know. But I chose to go ahead even though I knew what’d happen.”
    “How do you feel?”
    Fen grinned. “Amazing. Last time it took me a month before I could do much more than shuffle around. I think she’s even straightened my nose.” His fingers reached up to run along the ridge.
    “You still have bruises. They’re yellowed, but they’re still there.”
    Fen shrugged. “I always have bruises. I can’t get out of the way of Rhone’s walking stick every time.”
    “That won’t be a problem now.”
    “No.” Fen’s grin came quickly. “I won’t miss it.”
    “I have to return home soon. Is there anything else you need before I go?”
    Fen shook his head.
    “I’ll be back tomorrow with more food. And I’ll bring a slate and chalk so I can teach you to read.”
    “What for?”
    “So you can learn how to care for dragons. My father has a massive library on dragon care and other dragon topics. Don’t you want to learn how to take care of River?”
    “You could read them to me.”
    “I won’t be able to get away every day. My family will wonder what I’m up to,” Edana explained. “Everything’s very disordered at the moment because River was stolen. Things will get back to normal soon and I’ll have my tutors coming most days. Then I’ll only be able to visit one day a week.”
    “Fine. I’ll learn if I have to,” Fen grumbled.
    “You’ll appreciate it eventually. It’ll raise your class level. With a