Fairs' Point (9 page)

“
You’d be surprised,” Rathe said, thinking of Eslingen, and LaSier managed a sour smile.

“
Ah. There’s Nelis. I’d best fetch Besetje. Can she stand with you?”

“
Of course,” Rathe answered. He remembered that from when Besetje was a child, how much the press of bodies in a crowd had distressed her, one more reason she’d never make a pickpocket. Not that the fairgrounds were uncrowded during the races, but a trainer stood on the other side of the ropes, in open ground.

LaSier returned a moment later, Besetje’s hand firmly held in hers, and planted her in front of one of the pillars that held the roo
ftree. “Stay there,” she said, and looked at Rathe. “She mustn’t leave.”

Besetje said,
“I know.”

Rathe nodded, and took a step back so that he would be in pos
ition to grab the younger woman’s sleeve if she lost her composure. She looked calm enough, though—aggressively neat and tidy, her hair scraped back into a tight braid, what must be her best skirt and bodice still smelling of the moth-repelling herbs, but relatively calm. She put her thumb to her mouth, worrying at the nail, then realized what she was doing and tucked her hand into her skirts.

“
I don’t like it,” she said. “It’s not fair.”

She hadn’t bothered to lower her voice, and several of the other women shot her disapproving looks.

“Well, it’s not—”

Estel handed the baby to one of her friends, and did up her bo
dice, looking out over the crowd. “Right, then,” she said, and the room came instantly to order. “Bertal, state your business.”

Faar sat up straighter in his chair, his hands closing tight over the arms.
“Thank you for hearing me, Estel,” he said, “especially since I know this matter’s been settled once already. But things have changed. I’ve lost my job, and been told not to expect it back once things improve again. There’s not much else I can do but watch the door at a shop or a tenantry, and I’ve not found another place that would take me. I give you my word I’ve looked.”

“
I don’t doubt it,” Estel said.

Faar nodded.
“Thank you for that, too. But the fact is, I’m behind on my rent, and I owe the owner of the low-flyer I paid me to get to work each day. I need more help, and I’m coming to you to ask for it.”

“
It’s your right,” Estel said. “You’re Tievet’s husband and the father of her daughter. Besetje, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“
She’s asked me to represent her, Estel,” LaSier said.

Estel nodded, but Idomey lifted her head.
“Let the girl speak for herself. What’s she afraid of?”

“
I’m not afraid,” Besetje said. “And I want Aunt Cassia to speak for me.”

“
And she’s brought the points,” Idomey said. “Estel, this is getting out of hand.”

“
Rathe’s here because I asked him,” Besetje said. “And because he knows what happened before. And I still want Aunt Cassia to speak for me.”

“
Either she can speak for herself, or she’s not competent,” Idomey said.

“
She’s competent,” Estel said shortly. “That was decided long ago.”

“
And yet you let her go.” Idomey spread her hands. “Abandon her responsibilities.”

“
That’s not what happened!” Besetje saw LaSier’s frown, and closed her mouth tight, her shoulders pressed against the pillar.

The woman LaSier had identified as Nelis cleared her throat ge
ntly. “Perhaps I might clarify?”

“
Go ahead,” Estel said. “Best tell who you are, though, there’s people who don’t know you.”

Nelis nodded.
“I’m an astrologer and Rostanha’s kin—her man that was is my brother—and I cast the horoscopes the last time the family met to discuss this matter. The choice made then was the right one, and you can see it from the girl’s success.”

“
She’s been paying the agreed-upon support,” LaSier said. “There’s not a demming in arrears.”

She stared at Faar, and the man dipped his head in agre
ement. “That’s true, I never said it wasn’t. But I’m in dire straits, and it’s not enough—”

“
And Besetje won’t come up with the money?” Idomey asked.

“
I don’t have it!” Besetje said.

“
Besetje’s a trainer,” LaSier said. “It’s the Dog Moon. Of course she doesn’t have any cash to spare. And before you say it, Idomey, how was she to know the world would run mad? Of course she didn’t have anything extra set aside.”

“
She knew her father’s condition,” one of the other women said. “She had to think it could happen any day.”

“
Or never,” LaSier countered. “It’s not that his health has failed, it’s this Dis-damned repudiation.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the other women in the room, and Rathe thought LaSier had won her point. Idomey thought so, too, from the look of annoyance that flickered across her face.

“Very well,” she said, “but it doesn’t change the core of the matter. She owes her father support, and she won’t give it.”

“
I can’t,” Besetje said.

“
You could come back to the family,” Idomey said. “There’s work here that pays better than training dogs.”

“
She’s the worst pickpocket we ever had in training,” Estel said. “Her stars are against it, and she hates the work—Rathe can speak to that.”

“
Well?” Idomey turned to look at him for the first time, and Rathe spread his hands.

“
It’s true, mistress. She was too easy to spot, and easier to catch.”

Beside him, Besetje made a soft noise of complaint, like a dog whining, but managed not to speak.

“Very well,” Idomey said, “but now that she’s grown, there are other jobs—”

“
Why take her away from something she’s good at?” one of Estel’s supporters asked. “She’s with DeVoss, that’s a damn good place.”

“
Her father requires support,” Idomey said, stubbornly, and LaSier lifted her head.

“
Actually, Besetje and I have worked out a bargain, Estel, if you’ll agree.”

Idomey rolled her eyes at that, and Rathe bit back a smile. An
ything LaSier proposed tonight was hardly going to come as a surprise to Estel.

“
I’ll loan her the money—at interest, of course, but a very decent rate—to get her through the Dog Moon, and then she’ll take over Bertal’s support and pay me back over the summer.”

“
And what if she loses her shift on the races?” Faar demanded.

“
How stupid do you think I am?” Besetje demanded.

“
Don’t talk back.” Faar glared at her across the tavern, and she scowled back, looking more than a bit like one of her own terriers. To Rathe’s surprise, however, she took a breath and turned to face Estel.

“
I’ve not risked more than I can afford to lose. Even if nothing comes home well, I’ll be able to take care of him before Midsummer. It’s just that all my free cash is tied up in entries and box fees. DeVoss will certify that, if you ask her.”

There was a silence, almost of surprise, and then a murmur of approval. Idomey bit her lip, recognizing defeat when she heard it, and Estel looked at Faar.

“You heard Cassia. Does that suit you?”

Faar nodded slowly.
“Yes. And thank you.”

“
It’s our duty,” Estel said. She pushed herself to her feet. “That settles it, then. Cassia, you’ll make the loan. Besetje, you’ll take over the maintenance payments—when?”

“
No later than midday of the Horse,” Besetje answered promptly.

“
Agreed,” Estel said. “Idomey, unless you have anything more to say—”

The other woman shook her head.

“Then you can leave us to our suppers and not trouble honest women further. Nelis, Rathe, thank you for being here.”

It was clear dismissal, and Rathe made a sketchy bow.
“No trouble, Estel.”

Rathe made his way back through the emptying streets in a skeptical frame of mind. Estel had stage-managed the affair very cleverly, but he doubted she had done more than defer the problem. Idomey was bound to try again. That meant he owed Monteia a warning letter, since Hopes currently had jurisdiction over the ’Serry, and he should also ask Claes to keep an eye on Besetje, for her own sake—though probably it would be better not to involve Fairs’ Point if he could help it. Claes had too much on his book with the races, and Voillemin would be glad to cause the girl trouble if he knew Rathe stood patron to her. A quick note to Monteia, then, he thought, and let himself in the courtyard gate.

Sunflower was asleep in his basket and Eslingen was sitting at the table, a sheaf of broadsheets discarded beside him, studying a thick pamphlet by the light of Rathe’s best lamp. They both looked up as the door opened; Sunflower dropped his head with a sigh, but Eslingen tipped his to one side, the movement so dog-like that Rathe couldn’t help a grin.

“Went well, did it?” Eslingen closed the pamphlet before Rathe could get a good look at the title page, turned it upside down. He could see the broadsheets, though, headlines proclaiming the advent of the new Guard, and in spite of himself his mouth tightened. But that was only to be expected, the broadsheet writers weren’t going to ignore such a promising topic even in race season. It was not something he wanted to discuss tonight.

“
I suppose.” There was the end of a loaf on the shelf beside a well-wrapped wedge of cheese. Rathe cut himself some of each and came to join his leman, who pushed the wine jug across the table to him. A second cup stood ready, and Rathe poured himself some, topping up Eslingen’s cup as well. “I don’t think it’s settled, not by a long shot, but at least there’s something of a truce.”

“
I’d count that progress,” Eslingen said.

“
Yes, well. Depends how long it lasts.” Rathe drained his cup faster than he’d meant. “And you?”

“
DeVoss doesn’t run maidens,” Eslingen answered, “but she says her assistants do. I’m to take Sunflower to them tomorrow to see if any of them will take him on.”

“
So that’s why you’re studying.”

Eslingen looked confused, and Rathe reached across to tap the pamphlet.

“DeVoss is honest, she won’t let her people cheat you.”

“
It’s not that,” Eslingen said. “I just—I wanted to learn the language.”

Rathe nodded, his mouth full of bread and cheese, and E
slingen looked thoughtfully at the pamphlet.

“
This is your missing man, isn’t it? This Beier.”

Rathe nodded again.

“The printers at the Pantheon were in a bit of a taking about it,” Eslingen said. “Apparently someone tried to put out a sheet in his style under his name, but it was spotted right away.”

“
He has a unique talent,” Rathe said.

Eslingen turned over the pamphlet.
“
An Explanation of the Simplest Points of Veterinary and Non-Veterinary Horoscopes, Written for the Ignorant and Vicious, in Vain Hope of Amendment
.
He didn’t pander to his readers, did he?”