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pretend it isn’t for you, and they’ll grumble about you, but they’ll still enjoy themselves. I know you don’t like to be treated this way, but if you let us throw such a party in your honor, then the housing is yours.”
    Malja tried not to look anything but pleased. “You have a deal. When should we —”
    “Tonight. Before anybody can argue. We will start the preparations at once.” To Fawbry, Canto added, “Set them up in one of the homes on Red Street.”
    Fawbry popped to his feet. “Happily.”
    As they headed toward the door, Canto said, “Make sure, Sheriff Fawbry, that you know where your loyalties are. Your words were out of turn, and I only tolerated it because of your long-standing friendship with Malja. But if you cannot be loyal to the people of Carsite, then you cannot be our Sheriff.”
    Fawbry frowned. “No need for that. There’s plenty of room for me to serve you both.”
    Malja stayed quiet, but she knew what Canto thought — for she thought it as well. Eventually, this would become a problem for Fawbry and he didn’t know it.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
    The Carsites desperately needed this party. Well before nightfall, they had transformed the town streets into a full-blown festival. Spicy foods sizzled while musicians tuned their instruments. Children darted from stall to stall, looking at toys and clothes and whatever people decided they could drag out and sell. Laughter rolled across the growing crowd like a distant thunderstorm.
    Malja stepped back from the second-story window of the apartment Canto had loaned them and faced Fawbry. He sat on the edge of the narrow bed that occupied most of the small, plain room.
    “I am sorry,” she said.
    “It’s not like you planned for Harskill to show up and offer to whisk you away.”
    “Was Tommy upset?”
    “More angry than anything else. But he adjusted. Probably made him a little stronger.”
    “And you?”
    Fawbry sighed. He looked at his hands and rubbed his thumb over the back of the other. “I never expected to be partnered with you for this long. I always thought that one day I’d awake and you’d be gone, so when it happened, I was fine. Maybe even a little relieved.”
    “Relieved?”
    “Life around you is dangerous. Exciting and adventurous, yes, but oftentimes life-threatening, too. I was looking forward to being Sheriff in this little place. Finding a lovely woman and becoming part of this community.”
    “You say that as if you’re no longer looking forward to that. What changed?”
    Holding an open hand toward her with an incredulous frown, he said, “You, of course. You came back. And you brought those people with you.”
    “That doesn’t mean you can’t —”
    “It absolutely does mean that. I’ve known you long enough now. This can only bring trouble.”
    “She’s a little girl. Innocent and unsullied by the worlds. Should I have let her be a pawn in some stupid game? Should I have let her die?”
    He shook off the conversation and headed for the door. “We’re about to have a party. Let’s try to get in a festive mood. The rest of this ... it won’t go anywhere and we can always argue about it tomorrow.” Fawbry froze, his shocked and confused expression locked on something down the hall.
    Malja pushed him out of the way. The Artisoll’s room was only a few steps down at the end of the hall. Her door stood ajar, and inside sat Tommy and a young woman. Malja burst into the room and saw Stray sitting on an end table in the far corner.
    “Where’s the Artisoll? Who’s this?”
    Tommy and the young woman held their hands up against each other as if staring into a mirror. They both wore stunned expressions, seemingly amazed at the touch of their palms against the other. But Stray looked equally amazed — no, Malja sensed more pride than amazement.
    “By Korstra, somebody tell me what damn thing has happened to the Artisoll.”
    Stray pointed to the young woman. “She’s right