The man gave him a measuring look and a slanted grin. “What’s it worth to you, missy?”

Alec reached into the little purse at his belt and took out a copper.

“That the best you can do?” the tough asked derisively.

Micum handed him another. “We’re poor folk. Please, won’t you help us?”

The man pocketed the money. “She lives below, third door on the left.”

“Much obliged,” Micum said, and followed Alec back downstairs.

Atre breathed a sigh of relief as Alec and his companion disappeared down the stairs. Brader stepped out from the empty room he’d hidden in.

“Now, that was very interesting,” Atre murmured, scratching under the bandage.

“How so?”

“Unless I’m very much mistaken, that was young Lord Alec under that kerchief and dirt and that forced falsetto. Seems he’s more of an actor than he let on.”

“Did he recognize you?”

“No, of course not.”

“I’ve never seen the big fellow with them.”

Atre gave him a thin smile. “I have. He was at Lord Alec’s party.”

The door in question was one of the few that was closed. Micum knocked, but there was no answer. With a quick look around to see if anyone was watching, he tried the latch, but it was locked.

The door directly across the corridor was closed, as well, and no one in the rooms on either side seemed to be paying any attention. Micum shielded Alec as best he could while he pulled a pick from under his kerchief and jiggered the simple lock. No sooner had he touched the latch, however, than the door was jerked violently open and Micum jumped back just in time to miss being brained by an iron poker. As it was it caught him a glancing blow across the left shoulder, the barb on the end of the poker tearing his shirt but missing the skin below.

He thrust Alec out of the way and blocked the next swing with his stout cudgel.

“Thieves!” the man cried, trying to drive Micum back but hampered somewhat by the door frame. “Housebreakers!”

Micum knocked the poker from his hands and gave the fellow a light thump in the belly with the end of the cudgel, just enough to set him back on his ass. A woman screamed. Alec looked around nervously. They were attracting far too much attention.

“Where’s my mother!” Micum bellowed. “I know she’s here!”

The man blinked up at him. “Mother? What in Bilairy’s name makes you think I’ve got your damn mother here?”

“I have it on good authority that she was brought to this place,” Micum growled, apparently using aggression in place of making any sense. Giving the man a shove in the chest with his foot, he stepped into the room and the woman screamed again.

“Help!” the man shouted.