***

Royce sat on the bleachers in Imperial Square, observing the patterns of the city. Wintertide was less than two weeks away and the city swelled with pilgrims. They filled the plaza, bustled by the street vendors and open shops, and shouted holiday greetings and obscenities in equal measure. Wealthy, blanket-wrapped merchants rode in carriages, pointing at the various sights. Visiting tradesmen carried tools over their shoulders, hoping to pick up work, while established vendors scowled at them. Threadbare farmers and peasants visiting Aquesta to see the holy empress huddled in groups, staring in awe at their surroundings.

Betrayal in Medford. Royce read the sign posted in front of a small theater that indicated nightly performances during the week leading up to Wintertide’s Eve. From the barkers on the street, he determined the play was the imperial variation of the popular Crown Conspiracy, which the Empire had outlawed. Apparently in this version, the plotting prince and his witch sister decide to murder their father, and only the good archduke stands in the way of their evil plans.

Four patrols of eight men circled the streets. At least one group checked in at each square every hour. They were swift and harsh in their peacekeeping. Dressed in mail and carrying heavy weapons, they brutally beat and dragged away anyone causing a nuisance or accused of a crime. They did not bother to hear the suspect’s side of the story. They did not care who trespassed on whom, or whether the accusation was truth or fiction. Their goal was order, not justice.

An interesting side effect of the crackdown, which would have been comical if the results were not so ugly, was that street vendors falsely accused their out-of-town competitors of offenses. Local vendors banded together forming an alliance to denounce the upstarts. Before long, people learned to gather at the squares just before an imperial patrol was expected to arrive or followed the men as they patrolled. The spectacle of violence was just one more holiday show.

Two good-sized pigs, attempting to escape their fates of Blood Week, ran through the square trailed by a parade of children and two mongrel dogs chasing after. A butcher wearing a bloodstained apron and exhausted from running paused to wipe his brow.

Royce spotted the boy deftly dodging his way through the crowd. Pausing briefly to avoid the train chasing the pig, Mince locked eyes with Royce then casually strolled over to the bleachers. Royce was pleased to see no one watched the boy’s progress too closely.

“Looking for me?” Royce asked.

“Yes, sir,” Mince replied.

“You found him?”

“Don’t know—maybe—never got a name or a look—got these though.” The boy pulled some parchment from his shirt. “I snatched them from a house on Heath Street. It has a new owner. Can ya read?”

Royce ignored the question as he scanned the parchments. The handwriting was unmistakable. He slipped them into his cloak.

“Where exactly is this house?”

Mince smiled. “I’m right, aren’t I? Do I get the coin?”

“Where’s the house?”

“Heath Street, south off the top, harbor side, little place right across from Buchan’s Hattery. Ya can’t miss it. There’s a crest of an oak leaf and dagger above the door. Now, what about the money?”

Royce did not respond, but focused on the boy’s overstuffed tunic, which glowed as if he had a star trapped inside.

Mince saw his look and promptly folded his arms. Tilting his head down, he whispered, “Quit it!”

“Did you take something else from the house?”

Mince shook his head. “It has nothing to do with ya.”

“If that’s from the same house, you’ll want to give it to me.”

Mince stuck his lip out defiantly. “It’s nothing and it’s mine. I’m a thief, see. I took it for myself in case I got the wrong house. I didn’t want to risk my neck and get nothing. So it’s my bonus. That’s how professional thieves work, see? Ya might not like it, but it’s how we do things. You and me had a deal and I’ve done my part. Don’t get all high-and-mighty or go on about bad morals cuz I get enough of that from the monks.”

The light grew brighter and began flashing on and off.

Royce was disturbed. “What is that?”

“Like I said, it’s none of yer business,” Mince snapped and pulled away. He looked down once more and whispered, “Stop it, will ya! People can see. I’ll get in trouble.”

“Listen, I don’t have a problem with a little theft,” Royce told him. “You can trust me on that. But if you took something of value from that house, you’d be wise to give it to me. This might sound like a trick, but I’m only trying to help. You don’t understand who you’re dealing with. The owner will find you. He’s very meticulous.”

“What’s that mean…meticulous?”

“Let’s just say he’s not a forgiving man. He will kill you, Elbright, and Brand. Not to mention anyone else you have regular contact with, just to be thorough.”

“I’m keeping it!” Mince hissed.

Royce rolled his eyes and sighed.

The boy struggled to cover up by doubling over and wrapping his arms around his chest. As he did, the light blinked faster and now alternated in different colors. “By Mar, just give me the money will ya? Before one of the guards sees.”

Royce handed him five silver coins and watched as the boy took off. He ran hunched over, emitting a rapidly blinking light that faded and eventually stopped.