Bloodhound (22 page)

"I think I know what the answer will be, but I will ask. Cooper, have you any notion of how to play this new card game, Gambler's Chance?" Goodwin asked, changing the colored threads in her needle.

I shook my head. "I've heard of it, but I haven't seen it played."

"Pox," Goodwin muttered. "I would have liked to learn it
before
I got to Port Caynn." She smiled crookedly at me. "I suppose I'll have to learn it on the fly." We continued to talk over small details of our hunt to come. The sun moved enough to provide us with shade as we made a list of the places we would go in Port Caynn.

The boat slowed on the lake. We had encountered the clog that began where the lake narrowed and the boats downriver approached the jam at the bridges. I took out my journal and began to write of the first half of this day, to have this much done before we report to the Deputy Provost.

Goodwin has noticed what I'm doing, but she says nothing. Her fingers dart over her work while her eyes go to dicing games on other boats nearby. Slapper flies now and then for amusement, returning for more food. Achoo sleeps.

I must finish. I see Dale coming back. At least the next two hours won't be boring, with him to talk to.

Ladyshearth Lodgings, Coates Lane

Midnight.

We did not reach Guards House, headquarters for the Deputy Lord Provost in Port Caynn, until well past four of the afternoon. We'd come in view of the Sunrise Bridge by one, but it had taken us two more hours to glide under that, then the Sunset Bridge, to tie up to the river docks, and see our things unloaded.

Before we parted from Dale, he'd left me with a list of five places where he might be found.

"And you'll remember them, right?" Goodwin asked as we watched him angle off through the crowds on the dock. "He's a gambler and he wants to further his acquaintance with you." She glanced at me. "We've begun already, Cooper."

"I'm not that fond of lying to folk," I told her. "Not telling someone I like why I'm really here is the same as lying."

"We're on a hunt, Cooper," she said. "When you're on a hunt, you do whatever it takes. Think back to the Opal Murders, and the Shadow Snake. This is the same. Folk will die of hunger if we don't nab these colemongers." Some cove shoved into her, not looking where he went. Goodwin shoved back. "Mind your step, cityman!" she ordered.

The cove turned on her, hand raised. Achoo was between them in an instant, her lips curled back from her teeth, her ears flat, her hackles up. I moved in next to her as me and Goodwin quickly checked our purses, in case he'd been a foist. Our coin was safe.

The cove spat on the dock and retreated.

"Beggin' yer pardon, mistress." A thick-built cove had come up to us. He touched his broad-brimmed hat. "Master Dale Rowan said yeh needed a carter t' carry yer things wherever ye're wishful t' go. He give me a siller noble for th' work, mistress." He grinned, showing blackened teeth. "Though ye're welcome t' give me a bit of extry consideration, like."

Goodwin eyed the cove. "Dale Rowan sent you. And how do you know him?"

The carter looked surprised. "Ev'ryone on the docks knows Master Dale, mistress. He's on an' off th' river once or twice a week some weeks, mayhap more. He's an open hand with th' coin, is Master Dale. Tips on the races, too."

"Free with coin and a gambler," Goodwin said, hands on hips. To look at her, you'd think she commanded a household and children for her day's work, and never missed a speck of dust. "His wife must be one discontented woman."

Our bluff cove laughed at that. "Master Dale's not married, so his coin's his own, and his nights too," he told us. "It'd take a curious kind o' mot t' keep
his
interest for more'n a week! Now, mistress, will yeh be havin' that help? I'd hate to give his siller back."

He gave us a funny look when Goodwin directed him to Guards House, but shrugged and said it was all the same to him.

Our carter negotiated several narrow streets behind the docks. At last we made the turn onto Kings Way, the broad, open way that was what the Olorun Road became when it entered Port Caynn. Three carts could pass down the street without hindrance, which was a fine thing, because it was thick with horsemen, sedan chairs, herdsmen taking their flocks home, vendors, and all kinds of folk on foot. There were far more people here from foreign places than in Corus. The sight of all those Yamani, Scanran, Copper Isle, and Carthaki faces and costumes took me back at first. There were also more Bazhir in the port city, come with horses, goats, and sheep to sell or looking for animals to buy. I'm sure there were Gallans, Tusainis, Barzunnis, and Marenites, too, but they tend to look more like us than the others.

Quick enough I spotted some filches and cutpurses, then a clump of doxies and spintries on a corner by their bordel. I began to feel more at home. The mumpers had their posts on the ground. The best way to see them was on the bridges. I had forgotten how many bridges there are in Port Caynn. If the bridge is big enough, as they are on Kings Way, folk set up businesses there, like the mumpers.

I picked out servants and Rats trying to pass as servants for purposes of burglary. Best of all, I saw Dogs, strolling along with batons swinging, eyes on everyone and everything.

"A sharp-looking crew for Day Watch," I told Goodwin quietly.

"They get the best up on Kings Way," she said. "They put on their good face for the visitors."

On the cart climbed. We were coming to the only part of town I really knew, since I'd visited it on both my trips here with Lord Gershom. The ridge that divides Port Caynn in two is crowned by High Street. Lengley Castle, where the district governor lives, stands at the south end, overlooking the sea. Guards House is north of the governor's palace. It has a good view of both sides of the ridge, the part where the river docks are, and the part that makes up the deep harbors. Both times I was here, while my lord met with his Deputy Provost in Guards House, I would run up the stairs to the observation deck and look out at both sides of Port Caynn. I'd pretend I was the Rogue or a Deputy Provost.

As we turned onto High Street, I saw the cold gray stone block of Guards House to our right. I wondered at the strange way they did things here, so different from what I was used to. All of this city's court hearings are done in Guards House. Prisoners stay in each kennel's cages only a short time before they are taken to Rattery Prison, which stands at the north end of High Street. Were I Provost or Lord High Magistrate, I would have arranged things so my Dogs didn't have to travel so far from their kennels and homes to go to court, but every city has its own way of doing things.

Our carter drew up before the gates of Guards House. A pair of Dogs came forward as Goodwin slid down from her seat. She showed them the gold insignia she wore around her neck. "We've orders to present ourselves to my Lord Deputy Provost," she told them. "Sergeant Nestor Haryse was to set an appointment for us – Goodwin and Cooper."

The Dogs unloaded our gear while I saw to Achoo and Slapper. Goodwin slipped our carter some extra coins, which won us a big grin.

"Bless you, mistress, and you, girl! Stands to reason a friend o' Dale's would be as openhanded as him!" He gave us a cheerful wave and turned the cart, heading back toward the river docks.

One of the guard Dogs led us inside, to a desk sergeant. He took charge of us and our gear, sending word of our arrival to Sir Lionel. He also gave the fish eye to Slapper and Achoo. I ignored the fish eye. If Dogs have to report here as soon as they arrive in town, the sergeant must see they come with all kinds of gear and family.

We didn't wait long before the runner came back, saying we were to follow him to Sir Lionel's office. That was when I turned to my animals. "You're to wait," I said, quietly, so Master Fish Eye didn't hear. "Understand?
Tunggu
. I
mean
it. Folk don't cut me extra yardage here.
Tunggu. Turun
, while I'm thinking of it." Achoo lay down with a patient sigh. Slapper relieved himself on my trunk.

I followed Goodwin, looking back as I left the room. Mother's mercy, both of them stayed where I'd put them. Pounce
never
would have done that, just because he was a cat.

The runner showed us into Sir Lionel's office. The walls and ceiling were made of fine, polished wood, the moldings well carved. The only other decorations were maps of the city, one for each Guard District. There were maps, too, of the outlying districts. Unlike Corus, which is a command of itself, the Deputy Provosts are in charge of countryside as well as the cities and towns where they are situated. Sir Lionel's reach covers the same area as the district governor's, north along the River Tellerun to opposite the city of Arenaver, east to the Great Road North, then south to the outskirts of Corus.

For all he is a Deputy Provost and a noble, his office is plainer than my Watch Commander's. There are no carpets on the stones of the floor. There are no hangings on the bare spaces of the walls. The windows have horn panes, not glass. For now they stood open, letting in courtyard noises. One bookcase has some volumes of law. The candlesticks are brass. So too are the inkwell and quill stand.

Two men came in. Nestor was one, dressed in full uniform. He gave Goodwin and me the tiniest of nods. The other was Sir Lionel of Trebond, the Deputy Provost for Port Caynn District. Goodwin and I bowed. He was two inches taller than me, with deep-set brown eyes, a long nose, and a thin mouth. He was lean, and his cheeks were red and weathered. His ginger-colored hair was combed straight back from his high forehead and hung in a slight curl below his ears, as if that curl was all it was allowed. I had a notion he was a hunter, better with hawks than with a boar spear. He dressed well in a calf-length tunic of gray wool. The embroideries at his hems and cuffs were modest, black and white sea lions on strips of blue. The needlework looked like something a daughter might make for him.

Goodwin stepped up to Sir Lionel's desk and held out our orders. He took them, holding them a moment while he looked her over, like a man about to buy a horse. Then he did the same to me. I tucked my hand in my skirt, where I could feel the lump of my fire opal through the cloth. I squeezed it. I'd not had to impress anyone for a long time now.

"Corporal Goodwin I know, though hardly out of uniform," Sir Lionel said. He had a thin, tough voice. I would not want to be guilty of breaking his rules. "You would be Rebakah Cooper, then," he said, and raised his eyebrows. "You are too young for such a mission."

I could feel myself blushing. I knew that, but Lord Gershom had disagreed. Wasn't that good enough for his Deputy Provost?

"Permission to speak," Goodwin said.

Sir Lionel nodded.

"Cooper is a good Dog, and she's my partner," Goodwin explained. "She's been partners with Senior Guardsman Tunstall and me in the bad cases we've hunted down this last year. She would surprise you."

"We'll see." Sir Lionel broke the seal on our orders and read them. I tried not to fidget. I wasn't used to being left standing like this, any more than Goodwin was. Either Sir Lionel had a stick up his bum, or other districts go to pains to say you might be good in your home district but
we
do things different.

I risked a peek at Nestor. He stood with his legs planted apart, his hands clasped loosely in front of him. He looked as if he could stand like that all day and never cramp up. I eased my feet apart some to balance my weight better.

Sir Lionel set down our orders. He finally said, "You may sit, all three of you." We settled in the uncomfortable guest chairs.

"We've had some trouble with counterfeits, largely in the better class of houses of pleasure and some of the jewelers' shops," Sir Lionel told us.

Houses of pleasure? Good Goddess, the man meant bordels. Why didn't he just say so?

"If, as the report sent to me claims, the coins are spread by gambling, I have heard nothing of it. Still, successful gamblers like to spend their winnings. Those are the first places they go. We've heard no warnings from the Silversmith's Bank." Sir Lionel's eyes went to Nestor. "You have a thought, Sergeant?"

"Only that it's hardly to the banks' advantage to report an increase of coles, Sir Lionel," Nestor said. "They'd be the first ones under investigation. Their stock of coin would be locked up until it could be examined for fakes."

"True enough," Sir Lionel replied. To Goodwin and me he said, "I will meet with those of my Watch Commanders that I trust with this news tonight. We'll create a plan to hunt the counterfeiters here. Lord Gershom has made it plain that he wishes the two of you to have a more roving hunt, letting your instincts take you across Guard Districts if need be. To that end, I am turning you over to Sergeant Haryse's guidance. He can give out the tale that you are assigned to his watch district, though you will not be assigned to a particular watch. He is also familiar with the less... law-abiding parts of the city, and is respected there. Sometimes I think he is
too
fond of those areas, which is why he will not accept promotion away from the streets."

"I feel as if I do more good in the street, Sir Lionel," replied Nestor. "All of my friends are there."

"Impudent Dog," muttered Sir Lionel. To us he said, "Sergeant Haryse will handle your communications with my office and with my lord Gershom. It would look ill for two loose Dogs, as you must appear to be, to deal regularly with Guards House. I believe Sergeant Haryse has found you lodgings. He will also advise you in all other matters, including assistance, should you need it."

"Discreetly," Nestor murmured.

"Above all, discreetly," Sir Lionel agreed. "We do not wish to start a panic. You must take care not to start false rumors and panics, Guardswomen. We have a peaceful city here, and I will not tolerate the creation of agitation among my citizens by you outsiders."

"Permission to speak," Goodwin said a second time.

"Granted," replied Sir Lionel.

"With respect, Sir Knight, you are uncomfortable with our presence," Goodwin went on, as formal as I'd ever heard her. "Given the long history of cooperation between Corus and Port Caynn, I'm not sure why. Only good has ever come from our districts working together."