Gilded Latten Bones

ground already trodden but she seemed inclined to lurk in the shadow of the truth, now.

'In that warehouse. In that room. That stuffed animal belonged to Kevans. Though I haven't seen it for years.'

'You're sure?' I reminded myself that the simplest and most obvious explanation is usually the right one.

'There were other things that reminded me of the Faction. Rupert got the same feeling.' So she had seen the Prince at her party.

'You need to talk to Kevans. Straight up, woman to woman, no drama. Then see Rupert again. Be square with him. He'll be square with you if he's really a friend. You might even talk it over with Barate. You're operating on emotion right now. Mostly on fear. You need good information. And you need to decide where you stand on the crime itself, personalities aside.'

'I hoped you could gather the information.'

She wasn't hearing me. 'Don't take the dark side in this. It will just destroy you.'

Her jaw tightened. She was going to get stubborn.

'Talk to those people. You have to realize that they'll go hard after whoever created that lab. The Hill is probably a turned-up ants' nest. Nasty people are going to start poking haystacks and turning over rocks.'

Her expression told me that she hadn't really considered the reaction of her own class. Those people take a dim and lethal view of rogue sorcery.

'You're sure you won't help me?'

'I can't. Not how you want. Not however much I would like to. I have to stay here, with my friend. That goes to the bedrock of who I am. I'm here even though it could mean the end of my relationship with a woman who. .'

She cut me off. She didn't need to hear that. 'All right. I won't put you in harm's way. I'll do the digging and use you as a sounding board. You just tell me what to do and how to do it.'

Startled, I realized that we were not alone. I'd caught the ghost of a sense of amusement from down below.

'I've told you the first thing. The most important thing. Talk to people. An honest exchange could save us all a ton of trouble.'

She didn't like that idea.

'If this is going to happen you have to put aside your quirks. You have to gut it up and go face-to-face. Promise me you'll see Rupert, Barate, and Kevans if you can, tomorrow.'

I felt a ghostly touch of approval.

This would be interesting. I could play Dead Man in the web, directing the hoof work while I crocheted doilies.

'All right. I can't go out but I can help. You ready to put money into this?'

'As much as it takes.'

'Curb the emotion. Emotion won't solve anything. Besides seeing the Prince, Barate, and Kevans, here's what I need you to do.'

The intensity with which she listened was embarrassing.

33

I was groggy from lack of sleep when I toddled down for breakfast. I missed a step, lost my balance, and might have busted something if my flailing right hand had not snagged the rail on the left side of the stair. I ended up on my belly, shaking, aching in one bruised knee and embarrassed when Singe appeared at the foot of the stair.

'You all right? What happened?'

'Gravity ambush. I think I'm good. Though I might end up wearing a peg leg.' I was starting to hurt where I banged my left hip on the edge of a step. 'Let's see if I can make it the rest of the way without killing myself.' I turned loose of the rail.

'If you are going to kill yourself, don't do it here. I'm too weak, and Dean is too feeble to shift a corpse.'

I sensed amusement from old butterbutt.

Dean had come out to investigate. 'We could cut him up into smaller pieces.'

'That would make a mess. But we could infiltrate him into the resurrection scheme that's got everybody excited.'

'Everybody?' I made it down without further mishap.

Dean said, 'Tea's ready. Sausages and rolls are warming.' He slipped back into the kitchen.

Singe said, 'Good thing you weren't carrying your pot when you did that.'

'Yeah. Good thing. But why would I be. .'

'Because Dean is having trouble getting up and down. He needs to keep both hands on the rails.'

'Got it. Now tell me about everybody being excited.'

'The news about the murders and the resurrection lab got out.'

Not surprising. Too many people knew. Which I mentioned.

'You're right. I hear the public reaction has been strong. Maybe that's because they've gotten spoiled, shaded by the Civil Guard and the Unpublished Committee. Unorganized crime isn't a commonplace anymore. Something like this spooks people. They want it fixed. Fast.'

We moved into the kitchen. Dean was just settling my breakfast onto the massive little table. He placed a bowl of stewed apples opposite me, Singe's favorite food. My hip bone barked when I sat down.

I asked, 'How is Morley?' I'd drop in as soon as my belly was full.

'Unchanged. But healing. Doing well, physically.'

'But?'

'Something inside doesn't want to come back. So I'm told.'

'He did try, early on, at the other place.' I had a momentary notion about him getting lost in Faerie, a willing captive of illusion.

'And then he decided not to try anymore.'

'Is he working on it?'

'Of course. He says it might take a long time. It's some of the finest, most delicate work he's ever done. What do you think of the rolls?'

'I like them. Spicy. Sweeter than I'm used to.'

'They're from a specialty bakery I found in Fointain Lane. Looks like you're done. Get on with your chores. You slept in so you've only got an hour before the meeting.'

'What chores? What meeting?'

'We talked about this. You need to make up your room, deal with your pot, and gather your dirty clothing so it can be laundered. Then you have to deal with the trash. The dust-man's wagon will come through the alley this afternoon.'

Changes, changes. They come in a blink of the eye these days.

My eyes must have been the size of saucers. I got the sense that Old Bones would have busted out laughing if he wasn't so far gone he no longer exercised a respiratory function.

Welcome to the new regime in the house on Macunado Street.

Like the new regime in TunFaire as a whole, writ small.

'What meeting?' I asked again, maybe a little too plaintively.

'I sent for some people who can help the Windwalker.' I had not breathed a word about my night visitor. 'You'll have to acquaint them with the facts of the situation. And you'll need to make sure they understand possible ramifications if they do get involved.'

'All right, you. What have you done with Pular Singe? And what are you talking about?'