Read Online Dreamstrider by Lindsay Smith - Free Book Online Page B

narrowed it down to two choices. Five major Houses have blue and silver livery, but only two of them own any craft capable of making the voyage across the strait.”
    “That’s splendid!” I exclaim, but we’ve reached the alleyway, and someone hisses at us from the nearby alley’s mouth. Brandt does a quick scan of the street to ensure no one’s watching us, then we slip into the shadows of the alley.
    “Freddy!” Brandt fishes a sweet roll out of his bag. “How about a treat for my favorite songbird?”
    “Shh, shh, keep it down!” Freddy rubs at his empty eye socket while his good eye watches the street. “I looked into the two Houses you named in your message.”
    “And?” Brandt asks, biting into his roll.
    Freddy squints at us. “They both got ties to the gangs. No surprise there. But House Twyne, trust me, you don’t wanna mess with them. They deal with the Stargazers and plenty of other nasty sorts besides.” Freddy cringes. “I wouldn’t cross any business partner of theirs, personally. The Stargazer boss is a madman, blood-crazed. I heard he ate his own lieutenant once for betraying him—made an example of him. Serious bad news.”
    I look away, shame calcifying inside me. Brandt and I know the frightful vengeance of the Stargazer boss all too well, but Brandt keeps his expression loose. “Sounds like a dumb story the Stargazers themselves made up. You can’t believe everything you hear, Freddy. Good thing you got friends like us watching out for you.”
    Freddy crinkles his nose. “Sure. You’re a real pal. I risk my neck for you—”
    “House Twyne,” Brandt says, steering him back. “Suppose someone wanted a closer look at their records. Something that might prove they’re tangled up with the Stargazers.”
    Freddy shrugs. “Okay, it’s your skin. Your best bet is probably inside Twyne Manor itself—the Lady doesn’t trust the banks, keeps all her accountants on retainer. She’s got some fancy ball comin’ up—masquerade for the Summer’s Retreat. She’s not hirin’ any tunnelers to work it, though, so good luck getting inside without an invitation.”
    “I’m sure we’ll manage.” Brandt stretches, exaggerated, a cascade of coins tinkling somewhere inside his clothing. “Well, Freddy, I wish I could say you’ve been helpful, but—”
    “Wait, wait.” Freddy grips Brandt’s wrist. “I—I heard a rumor this morning that Jorn the Destroyer was lurkin’ around the Crescent Docks. Is it true?” Freddy stares hard at us. “Jornisander’s working for the Ministry?”
    I exchange a glance with Brandt. The Minister assigned Jorn to shadow me with the Farthingers, but only as long as he took his usual precautions to disguise himself. If his former gang, the Stargazers, caught wind of him so close to their tunnels …
    Brandt shrugs and takes another bite of pastry. “Would you want me telling whoever asks that you’re working for us?”
    “Come on, don’t be that way.” Freddy looks from Brandt to me, but we keep our faces neutral. “Look. You didn’t hear it from me, but…” Freddy sighs. “Not everyone thinks Jorn’s a stool pigeon, despite what the Stargazers say. And I’m not just saying it ’cause I’m one myself. Some folks think he did a lot of good. He really put some fear in the big bosses.”
    I rock back on my heels. Jorn had tried to organize the tunnelers to fight for the Writ of Emancipation before, though the Incident, and my failure, unraveled his efforts. “And some folks think Jorn’s methods were no better than the bosses,’” Brandt says. “What’s your point?”
    Freddy glances toward the alley’s mouth. “My point is … Jorn or no, the Destroyers are carrying on with what he started, and depending how this whole Writ of Emancipation vote goes, they may be about to get a lot louder.”
    Sora had hinted as much, too. As if the Commandant weren’t enough of a threat to Barstadt’s peace, the tunnelers are threatening an