“Abi!” the young woman exclaimed with pleasure, her eyes sparkling, despite the fact that she looked tired and there was definitely dust in her hair. “I was hoping I would be able to thank you!”

“For what?” Abi replied, heading for an empty table, and bringing Lee along by the elbow. It was light fare tonight, soup (and bread), since the kitchen staff assumed correctly that many of the Trainees would have stuffed themselves at the Fair and not be in the mood for anything substantial. Abi helped herself from the big bowl and platter in the middle of the table and waited for Lee to do the same.

“I wanted to thank you for your advice about the Fair, of course,” Lee replied, when they had both provisioned themselves. “It worked wonderfully! And the booth owner asked me to come back any time.”

“Take that with a caution,” Abi replied. “Don’t go back after dark without a boy. Girls alone are assumed to be available.”

“Available for what?” Lee asked naively and blushed when Abi told her—bluntly. “Oh. Dear. I owe you thanks all over again!”

Abi drank off her entire mug of cold tea at a gulp and refilled it from the common pitcher. “You’ll be fine by day. Just be back before the sun goes down, or have a nice strong boy along.” Then she smiled. “I take it you had a profitable day.”

“More money than I’ve ever had before at one time!” Lee said with glee, and with Abi listening attentively, she chattered for some time (between bites) about her success and some of the people who had enjoyed her playing. “Oh! And the best part!” she ended. “I met someone in the advanced classes whose partner just became a full Bard and is leaving! They had a similar duo, they already had a tavern spot once a week; she liked my playing and wants to partner with me!”

Abi smiled. “It sounds as if you have sorted everything out you need to do to earn your money. At least, until you make full Bard. Then you probably won’t have to worry ever again.”

“Yes, and if it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have known how!” She sighed happily. “I owe you a very big favor now.”

And I just might collect it by asking you to be one of Papa’s agents, she thought with amusement. Lee’s next question surprised her, though.

“You’re in the Artificers, so you know all about buildings and things right?” she asked.

“Not everything,” Abi corrected. “But quite a bit.”

“Well, I have a silly question, but it’s not about the Fair. It’s something that’s been bothering me since I got here.” Now Lee looked very embarrassed.

“Say on.”

“So . . . you know about the indoor latrines?” The last word was whispered.

Well, this has taken an interesting turn . . . “What about them?”