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Tallowsport,” I told him.
    “Then why were they after you?”
    All the children eyed me suspiciously, now.
    “I came to the aid of a shop-keeper they were threatening. I take it Atherton Roseman demands extortion from all the shops?”
    “He calls it a city tax,” the girl said. “But people have to pay the regular taxes too, t’ the city and the High Liege. And this ‘tax’ goes straight into Tony Rose’s pockets, according to my…”
    She pursed her lips, turning away. But when she turned back there were no tears in those bleak eyes.
    That much hate precludes tears.
    “I take it your parents, all your parents,” I gestured to the shadows, “stood up to Master Roseman?”
    “That’s how you get t’ be an orfink,” One-eye said. “’Least, here in the city.”
    “But… Did the town guard never intervene? The High Liege’s guard?”
    Never had I heard of a place where the law of the land had vanished so completely. Lords and barons pay the Liege directly, but he sends tax collectors to the towns. They act as his eyes and ears throughout the Realm, and the guards who accompany them are both well-trained and loyal. As you’d expect, in men who guard the crown’s money.
    “Nobody stops the Rose, Master Stranger-in-town,” the girl said. “I don’t know where you come from, but if you interfered with his enforcers you’d better get back home before he finds you.”
    “They have no way to find me,” I assured her. “My friend and I were just passing by. And from what you say, I’m fairly sure that the reason we came to Tallowsport was to bring Atherton Roseman to justice.”
    This man had to be Jack Bannister’s employer. Not only did logic tell me that, but Jack had spoken of him with the same resigned fear that sounded in the children’s voices. They didn’t give my announcement any more credence than Jack would have.
    “Bring him t’ justice?” The blond boy was too young to be able to sneer so cynically. “I’d give odds against you even getting out of town alive.”
    “Well, I mean to try.”
    “Then it’s been nice knowing you,” One-eye said. “Anything partic’lar you want on your headstone?”
    I laughed. They all jumped, as if such a sound was never heard in these gloomy shadows.
    But the girl’s eyes had widened. “You mean it? You’re going to take on the Rose?”
    “I am.”
    They were all staring now, and the girl’s next words took me completely by surprise.
    “Let us help. We know this town. We’ve been spying on him.”
    She was completely, heartbreakingly, terrifyingly serious.
    “I’m sorry. But you’re only children.”
    “We’re tougher than you think.”
    Her jaw set in a way that almost made me believe it.
    “And you owe us, stranger. We saved your life back there. ‘Least you can do is let us help take him down. Or at least hurt him. We’d do anything. Anything you need.”
    “I’m sorry, my partner and I work alone. But be assured, if there’s anything you can do to help I shall call on you.”
    They knew I didn’t mean it and their faces fell, like children denied some promised treat.
    I wanted to take every one of them home with me—or at least to some place where they’d be safe, and learn to laugh once more. If I could bring this Rose down, someday I might be able to. And to worry about leaving them here alone—though I couldn’t help but do so—was more presumption on my part than anything else.
    They had, after all, rescued me.

Six thugs took off after Michael, like dogs after a cat. But these dogs were nursing several injuries, and the cat had already gained considerable distance.
    On the other hand, he wouldn’t be able to lead them on forever—and when they lost him, they might return. I’d better get things moving.
    By “things” I meant terrified, probably stubborn, people.
    I crossed the street to the chandler, who still leaned against the wall.
    “Can you stand up?”
    He flinched when I knelt beside him, but I