Thief of Lives

Leesil knelt and took the crossbow from Vatz. Smaller than most, its length was two-thirds of the boy's height.

"How did you load this?" Leesil asked.

"I didn't," answered Vatz. "My uncle loads it for me whenever he leaves for a night."

"We're safe here," Magiere said. "You shouldn't need it anymore."

"Course I will," he answered. "I'm go

Leesil looked at Magiere.

"I don't think so," she said, putting an end to the subject.

"It probably pays better than sweeping floors or packing some fop's baggage," Vatz added.

Leesil frowned and sat on the floor next to the boy, showing him how to put his feet against the bow and use his legs to help pull the crossbow's string back to the catch.

The sound of trotting feet — flooded in from the hallway. Wy

He stepped close to Chap and said something to Wy

"Can you fix him?" Vatz asked in a challenging tone.

The elder man smiled down at the boy. "Yes, but not know he need me." The accent of his broken speech was like Wy

Magiere peered to where the domin gently fingered Chap's fur. A narrow cut along the hound's right shoulder was no longer bleeding and had closed. Wy

"What about his front leg?" Magiere asked. "Is it broken?"

Tilswith felt gingerly along the limb, and Chap let out a low whine.

"Bone feel right, but…?" He paused to speak again to Wy

"Fractured," she added for the old man. "It might still be cracked."

She quickly poured a liquid like brewed tea from the jar onto a large wooden spoon. She was about to lower it to Chap's muzzle but stopped. Looking to Magiere, she held out the spoon.

"This will help the pain and allow him to sleep. Perhaps you should try. He seems to listen to your words most."

"Not lately, he hasn't," Magiere said, but she took the spoon.

Putting one hand under Chap's jaw, she tilted his muzzle up. Leesil put his hands around the dog's shoulders to hold him steady. Oddly enough, Chap didn't struggle and lapped the fluid from the spoon.

"Good boy," Leesil praised.

Chap licked his jowls and laid his head down.

Domin Tilswith looked from Magiere to Leesil to Vatz and then chuckled.

"We not see visitor at night much. I have… salve? Yes, salve for wounds." He stopped suddenly and examined Leesil's cuts more closely. "Claws?"

"Fingernails," Leesil answered.

The domin raised one eyebrow and picked up another jar. Wy

"They're not bad," he assured her.

Once Wy

"Good stuff," Leesil remarked with a soft smile. He rolled his wounded shoulder a little, but didn't wince at the movement.

"May I take that with me?" Magiere asked, pointing to the jar. "I may need some myself… later, in private."

The domin merely nodded and handed her the salve.

"What happened to all of you?" Wy

"Blazes and bloodsuckers is what happened," Vatz grumbled.

Before Leesil could add anything, Magiere presented a less colorful and somewhat sketchy account of the night's events. When she finished, the domin spoke with Wy

"You must be tired, and we have a room for you."

"A room?" Magiere asked, somewhat startled. "We just needed to get inside and didn't know anyone else in the city. We'll stay in the kitchen until sunrise and then find an i

"We know Lanjov," Leesil suggested dryly. "Perhaps he could put us up?"

Tilswith chuckled again. Wy

"Domin Tilswith says you should stay here," answered Wy

Magiere was uncertain but relaxed a bit more. These sages reminded her of Karlin back home, who still thought his own generosity of spirit was commonplace. She looked to Leesil to see if he agreed.

"Thank you," Leesil said to Wy

He picked up Chap, and Wy

"Will this do?" Wy

"It'll do fine," Magiere answered.

Leesil laid Chap on the lower bunk to the left and gestured to the bed above it.

"Up you go, Vatz. We'll find your uncle tomorrow."

Vatz stood outside the doorway. His normally dour and serious expression had given way to worry as he glanced up and down the dark hall at the row of openings to similar rooms. Perhaps he'd expected to be placed in a separate room. At Leesil's words, he appeared openly relieved and scrambled into the bunk above Chap.

Leesil pulled a blanket over the boy and added, "Hunters of the dead stay together at night."

With a grunt of acknowledgment, Vatz pulled the blanket under his chin and closed his eyes. Magiere wondered how often the boy was left on his own and what had happened to his parents.

After helping Magiere to settle the chest, Wy

"What are… what is that?" Leesil asked, stepping closer.

Wy

Opening her hand, the light rolled down her fingers and into her palm, and though it was still painful to the eyes, Magiere saw the glimmering outline of a clear crystal against Wy

"With all that we keep here-scrolls, books, and other precious knowledge-open flame is a risk we ca

Magiere set down the salve jar on the chest and took the crystal with some hesitancy. It was cool to the touch.

"Now rub it between your hands," Wy

She did so gently, and when she opened her hands, the light was indeed too bright to look at.

"That is all you need do if it dims," Wy