His. Saw, Barmy Blake said in a voice like rock talking. The huge basher said no more, continuing on his way into the far recesses of the hall as though hed never spoken at all.
Laughing Jack gave the bashers retreating back an uncertain look. Blake wasnt named Barmy for nothing; he was as unpredictable as a wild animal and capable of terrifying berserker rages. If Jack decided to make an issue of Jimmys right to the sword after the basher had spoken up for him the Nightwarden might well find himself in a world of pain, senior lieutenant to the Nightmaster or no. Jack turned his sneer once again on Jimmy.
Keep it then, but its to be locked up. He jerked his head toward the weapons lockers.
Soon as its cleaned, Jimmy agreed. The rules allowed for that and they both knew it.
The Nightwarden turned away and stalked off. Jimmy turned his eyes to Blake who sat by himself at a table, a tankard in his beefy paw, gazing at nothing. He didnt bother to go and thank him; you didnt do that with Barmy. But he made a mental note of a favour owing, more honourable and more useful by far than any spoken thanks.
Well, theres a pretty thing.
Jimmy looked up and smiled at Hotfingers Flora, so named because of her early success in stealing pies that their owners mistakenly thought were too hot to handle. Unfortunately for Flora the insensitivity that allowed her to do so made her a very poor pickpocket despite Jimmys best efforts. At sixteen, and pretty, she was turning to a different profession.
She sat beside him and twined her arms around his neck, slipping her legs onto his lap, and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Hello, Jimmy, she purred, fluttering her eyelashes at him, one chubby hand rubbing his chest.
He laughed. As if Id keep anything valuable there, he said.
Flora pouted, then smiled gamely. Pulling her legs off his lap she pointed at the sword. What are you going to do with that, eh?
Jimmy gave it a swipe with the oiled cloth and held it up to glint in the torchlight. Im going to keep it, he said positively.
She looked at him speculatively, then glanced around the large hall. There was quite a fight out there tonight, she said. Words already spread the Princess and some other nobles escaped to the west. She made a face and then added, Radburn and his bastards will be fit to be tied if thats the truth of it. When the Duke gets back She left the thought unfinished, but her expression showed a gleeful anticipation of what the Duke might do to the head of his secret police. The marketll be a quiet place with so many Mockers laying up licking their wounds. Flora gave him a wicked look. Got any wounds you want licked, lovey?
He laughed and gave her a friendly nudge. Inside he felt the slight tickle of excitement a rising flirtation often gave him, and flirtations with Flora often ended in bed. Flora hadnt been Jimmys first, but not long after. Hed been around whores his entire life his mother had been one but Flora came from a better class than most; her father had been a baker before he died, so she had been raised a proper girl until she was ten. She could talk like a lady when she needed, which sometimes got her a better class of client. And she was prettier than most, with large expressive blue eyes and her light brown hair tending to curl around her face. She had a delicate chin and a nose that was just so. She also had a lovely smile. It was a shame she had no skill with her fingers, thought Jimmy, more than once; shes just not suited to earn her living on the street.
Flora had said that she felt safe with him, and he assumed, without the slightest resentment, that it was because she was a foot taller than he was. As for himself, well, he liked Flora and he greatly enjoyed their private times together. He smiled at her blatant invitation and moved a bit closer. But then she gasped and her hand flew to her lips. Oh! she said. I forgot, I, um, have to meet someone in an hour. She snuggled against him. But I can be all yours until then.
Jimmy thought it over; first theyd have to find somewhere private, which given the lack of time they had meant somewhere uncomfortable and smelly, and Flora would have to leave early to keep her appointment so that was far less than an hour, perhaps only a few minutes. Still, it wouldnt be the first time he and one of the girls had ripped off a quick bump in a dark corner while the others slept nearby. Hed been raised in a place where couples grabbed pleasure when and where they could all his life but while Flora was one of his favourites, he didnt feel the usual hot rush, just a little tingle.
He was really tired. Besides, the Princess was travelling further and further away with every moment, and his heart sank. Suddenly a few minutes in Floras arms was the last thing he wanted. He didnt like feeling this sadness
Not that Im certain just how I do feel. But it wouldnt be fair to inflict this strange mood on his friend.
Sad to say I cant spare the time now, mores the pity, he said with a grin as he put the pieces of the scabbard back together. Never thought Id live to say that. But now that he had said it he felt downright noble.
Flora giggled. Not to worry, she whispered, therell be other occasions.
He gave her a one-armed hug and a kiss on the cheek. Oh, Flora, my flower, you are too good to me. Besides, I would probably disappoint you. All I have strength for is to look for a place to sleep tonight. I feel like Ive been up and about since the day I was born.
You may have been about, but I havent seen you, Flora grumbled. Whereve you been?
I was thinking the same thing about you, Jimmy lied easily. I thought youd been hired into someones pleasure house. If he wasnt going to take advantage of Floras invitation he wouldnt suffer if she went off in a huff.
No, she said, looking away haughtily. Im doing very well on my own.
He looked at her; the new dress was pretty, but of cheap cloth, coarsely woven and coloured with dyes that would run and turn muddy soon: nobody had wasted good alum on fixing them. She wore a pair of dainty slippers on her feet, and a spangled scarf decorated her brown hair, more new things than shed ever owned in her life. But she looked tired and not too clean.
The shine would be off her in six months, he knew, and in a year shed look thirty. Life in the pleasure houses of the city was no holiday, but it was worlds better than the street. At least the girls had some hope of a future.
He couldnt forget what had happened to his mother. Murdered by a drunk just because she was on her own and so there was no one to stop him. He understood better than most that, for women, independence sometimes came at far too high a price.
No youre not doing well, he said quietly. Youre risking life and limb every time you go with someone. Look, Flora, if this is what you really want to do Im the last person to try and stand in your way. But listen to a little friendly advice. Youre pretty enough that any house in this city would take you, and the better houses will take care of you. You speak well enough, almost like a lady, you could get hired at The White Wing, Im thinking.
Flora tossed her head with a tsk!, but he could tell she was listening.
The pleasure houses will watch your customers for you, so you dont get sloppy drunks or bastards wholl beat you up for fun and not pay you. Better by far than the street. He looked at her seriously. Better by far, of course, to do something else.