get some cash into your hands.”
The cat had sleek curves and strangely feminine eyes. A little concerned about his sudden turn of good luck, the skinny boy looked the cat carefully up and down.
“Where did you come from, O Magic Wishing Cat?”
“Um, from the beast lands. What’s-her-name, the Queen of theCats, sent me.”
“Why?”
The cat gave him an irritated glare. “Because you’re such alegendary good pal to cats.”
“Really?”
The cat cocked an eye. “Did you ever just pat a cat for noreason other than the fact that it rubbed around your legs?”
“Um, yeah.”
The cat gave a shrug. “So it’s payback time. Now payattention, kid.”
The boy immediately tried to pat the cat and had his hand swatted for his pains.
“No one touches the magic wishing cat. All right?”
“All right.”
“Right!” The cat curled its tail about its paws. “Now I, themagic wishing cat, will help you win a great fortune at cards tonight, but to show your gratitude, you must be willing to give half of your gains to my nominated agent so that he may redistribute the money to the needy.”
The youth gave a shrug. “All right.”
“Good. So go play cards and listen for my voice whispering inyour ear!” The cat suddenly turned invisible, and the air seemed to hum with thebeat of little wings. “Play what I tell you to play, use the three gold piecesfor your stake, and we’ll have you rolling in dough in no time!” Wings passedlow over the boy’s head with a little whirr. “Kid, the cards are gonna burn hottonight!”
The Justicar’s dinner took half an hour to arrive, and it arrived withoutbread. A giant bowl of pickled cabbage with chopped onions accompanied the hot roast beef, as well as a bowl of beans. If everyone else was eating the same fare, then the common room would be no place for open flame once everyone went to bed. With no sign of Escalla, the Justicar shrugged and simply dug into his meal, making sure he kept aside one of the good, crackly end-pieces of the roast for the missing girl.
He listened carefully to conversations. He questioned a pair of long-bearded burghers for the location of sorcerers’ supply shops and madecarefully innocent inquiries of the waitresses. The Justicar bought drinks for three city guards and scanned their talk for anything that might have been a clue. With the evening wearing on and no leads gained, the man bought himself another drink, borrowed a stable brush from the landlord, and flopped Cinders out over his knee to brush the hell hound’s fur. The sentient pelt growledhappily inside his friend’s mind, basking in the warmth of the open fire andseeming utterly content.
Into this strange domestic scene, a thin youth appeared. Flushed with excitement, the boy staggered under the weight of two large bags of coin. He thumped one bag onto the table, seemingly exhausted by the weight.
“Hey, mister! The magic wishing cat told me to give you thismoney to distribute to the poor and needy.”
Slowly putting down his ale, the Justicar suspiciously drummed his fingers on the tabletop.
“Magic wishing cat?”
“She was sent by Queen What’s-her-name, the cat lady!” Theyouth breathed out a sigh. “So there you are! Now I’m off home!”
“She helped me win it at cards. She magically let me knowwhat cards to play.”
“Oh, really?”
The fleeced gamblers were having an angry meeting in one corner of the room. Since they were thieves themselves, the Justicar felt a sour stab of satisfaction at seeing them so suddenly impoverished. “Son, you reallyought to celebrate. Go order yourself one of the royal suites.”
“Um, all right.” The boy blinked. “If you think it’s best.”
“It’s best. And when you take that money home tomorrow, makesure you travel with good friends.”
The boy walked away, leaving the Justicar alone. He reclined with Cinders in his lap and put his hands behind his head.
“You really like this ‘stealing from thieves’ thing, eh?”
A piece of lukewarm roast beef hovered in midair, disappearing bit by bit as Escalla stuffed her invisible self with meat.
The faerie spoke with her mouth full, licking invisible fingertips. “Hey, it’s natural justice!”
“Hmm.” The Justicar leaned his head on his hand. “And doinggood actually feels good, doesn’t it?”
“You betcha!”
“Thought so. Let’s see just how much good we can spreadaround.” The Justicar summoned the innkeeper over to his side.
“Landlord, how many refugees do you think there aresheltering in the nearest streets?”
The little man with the shelf fungus hair rapidly blinked his eyes in thought.
“Oh a few! A few, a few, a few! No money on them, you see.Never come in here!” The landlord wiped his hands as though contaminated by thewhole idea. “Must be a couple dozen of them.”
“Is there room for them in the common room?”
“Of course there is! Of course there is!” The landlord spreadhis hands. “But it costs two copper pieces. Bed and breakfast, barley porridge,and a warm fire!”
“Good.” The Justicar began to count out large gleaming pilesof gold. “Floor space accommodation for twenty of them. Roast beef for all ofthem. Pre-paid for… oh, let’s see…” Ignoring agonized flutters abouthis head, the ranger counted up the piles of coin. “Three days. That gives themtime to buy that old barn out the back with the rest of the cash and turn it into a proper waterproof home.”
A wail of pain came from the empty air. Counting over a second pile of money, the Justicar shot an impatient glance toward the noise.
“And I’ll have one of the royal suites please, with a hotbath.” The man sniffed himself. “Make it three baths, with soap and towels.”
The innkeeper left. Escalla grumbled. Taking his ale back up, the Justicar looked straight at the invisible girl. He was learning the knack of finding her. She had a particular smell reminiscent of marked cards and forest flowers.
“One night only, then we switch to a normal room.”
“All right, all right!” Escalla sat on the immensely shrunkenbag of coins and went into a huff. “I’m good already! See, generous deedsaplenty, and they’re all done simply for that warm, special glow it gives meinside.” Escalla swiped a dozen coins to hide them in reserve.
Escalla made a confused little noise. “Coals?”
“He likes the taste.” The Justicar grabbed his equipment androse. “And I also think it’s time you-know-who had a B-A-T-H.” The man rolled hiseyes. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tried giving one to a hell hound.”
Settling his huge sword, the man stalked over to the door. “I’ll be back with twenty refugees. You can have first bath while I’m away.”
“Hoopy!” The faerie whirred her wings and climbed up into theair. “See you!”
Out in the streets, the nighttime chill had raised aclinging, gloomy fog. The Franz River echoed with the sound of voices as showboats came nosing slowly to the docks. With street performers finishing up their acts for the night, the alleys were swiftly emptying.
Working quietly and methodically, the Justicar found refugee families and sent them running to the inn. He cleared the alleyways one by one, until finally there was but a single hovel left. He put his head into the dismal little shelter, only to have a disheveled figure erupt and shake him by the hand.
“Son! It’s you, son! They thought you’d drowned, but I saidthey can never keep a good man down!”
