The boy shrugged. “The ones who seen ’em didn’t take much note, except for they was dirty, and making silly bargains for dross.”

“Which means they weren’t young or pretty,” Seregil noted. “So, a bead, locks of hair, and an attempt on your colorful headwear. What do you make of it?”

Kepi let out a scornful snort. “They’re loons.”

“When did they show up in the Ring?”

“Real recent, folk say.”

“Since the closure of the Lower City?”

“Maybe. It ain’t been long.”

“Does anyone know where they came from?” asked Alec.

Kepi bit off a mouthful of bread and shook his head as he chewed loudly. “If they do, I ain’t heard it.”

“Alec, I think our friend here could use a little beer with his meal.”

Kepi grinned, showing off a newly missing canine tooth and bits of bread stuck in his remaining teeth. “Much obliged, my lord!”

“Are they seen mostly by day or night?”

“That I don’t know, but I can find out fer you.” Kepi wiped his plate clean with the last bit of bread.

“See that you do.” Seregil took out a half sester this time and held it up. “And I want to know if they’re in the Lower City, or if they’ve been there. This is a matter of great importance, Kepi, and I need this information as soon as possible. A friend’s life depends on it.”

Kepi tied his head scarf back on at a rakish angle and headed for the door.

“You can stay here until the rain stops,” Alec offered. It was still coming down in sheets and lightning forked across the sky.

Kepi gave him another skeptical look and disappeared into the storm.

“What do you make of all that?” asked Alec, sitting down on the warm bricks before the fire.

Seregil sat on the stool, gazing into the flames. The angle of light made his grey eyes look silver, and Alec felt an unexpected wrench of memory but pushed it away.

“A bunch of mad traders who bargain in hair, among other things, and give out yellow stones?” Seregil murmured, absently winding a lock of his own dark hair around one finger. “It’s certainly something out of the ordinary.”

“We should go to the Ring and have a look for ourselves. Hair could mean necromancy.”

“Not yet. We have a dinner engagement with the archduchess tonight, and I want to see who else is going to be there. Let’s see what else Kepi finds for us. No sense fishing where the fish aren’t biting.”

Chapter 31 - Hunting Ravens

THE dinner with Alaya that night was interminable for Alec, knowing that precious time was passing all too quickly for Myrhichia. The longest the stricken lived was a week, and not all of them lasted that long. They’d lost a day already.