“Sit. Will you have food or drink? It’s already paid for.” The young man had the freckled face of a pale man who has spent a good deal of time in the sun, and a bone-deep weariness made his features melancholy. A woman walked in with a tray of bread and cheese and a pot of hot coffee with four cups. She set it down and went out.

The coffee smelled delicious, and I hadn’t eaten decent cheese for months.

“I suppose it can’t hurt,” said Bee, seating herself next to Rory.

I plopped down next to our new companion and cut off a hunk of cheese to go with my bread. The coffee was rich and sharp.

“To answer your question, the attack on the law offices happened right after the Solstice riots three months ago. A march was held on the first anniversary of the Northgate poet’s hunger strike. Why do you want to know, lass?”

“Why would I tell my business to the likes of you, a man loitering on the street like any sort of scoundrel?”

“Whsst! You’re a fiery beast, lass. It will take a strong man to harness you.”

“It would take a strong man to not speak of harnesses!”

Perhaps I gestured aggressively with the knife, for his laughter ceased. His mouth settled into a grin that twitched with both bravado and an emotion like anger. Men didn’t ever like to look as if women frightened them.

“If you want information, lass, you might think a moment about whether you want to antagonize a man who’s willing to tell you things. And to feed you most generously, in a city where plenty of folk go to bed hungry and wake up hungry with no hope of even a scrap of bread.”

I sighed gustily. “My apologies. We’re looking for the troll lawyers.”

“Not so difficult, was that? But I’m thinking you don’t recognize me. For I surely recognize you two lasses, and the man with you, too. That’s why you’re in here and not out there.”

He had two fingers missing on his right hand. Abruptly, I did recognize him.

“You were the one with the coal cart, Brennan Du’s man. You challenged Lord Marius, to catch his attention so he wouldn’t find us. He had you arrested. Your name is Eurig.”

“That is me in truth, lass.” He flashed a more flirtatious smile, perhaps thinking that a woman who remembered him so keenly had been struck by his looks and presence, when in fact I had been trained in a household of spies and messengers to have a good memory. “I remember the day as bright as yesterday even though it was over a year ago.”

“We were never able to thank you for the sacrifice you made for us. What happened after you were arrested?”