“Nothing would survive that fall,” the other guard muttered, behind him. From his perch on the branchway’s edge, his partner pointed out the plumbing belt. That was that, then.

After a brief discussion, the older guard cleared his throat and launched a nice fat gob over the edge. Gravity did its job and it fell, just like the boy.

“Good riddance!”

“It’s peeing down. Let’s get out of here.” If the boy was dead, their problems were solved. Even better, their master might just be persuaded to give them a bonus and a barrel of beer.

“How’s your head, Alnus?”

“Do you really care?” The smaller guard clenched his fists.

“Knocked out by a mere kid! That takes talent, that does.” There was a nasty glint in Salix’s eye. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Yeah, well at least I caught him in the first place!” They’d be ribbing him for months now.

“… and let ’im go! You must have the thickest skull in the business, plank-for-brains!”

“Oh, cheers, Salix. I appreciate your concern….” He could feel the bump already rising. Why couldn’t he have been the one to push the boy off? The stupid squit had deprived him of revenge. Still, at least it was taken care of now, and once they were dried and warmed up, a good night of drinking might just take care of the throbbing between his ears.

2• ONE HOUR EARLIER

Petronio was desperate for a crafty smoke. At the School For Surgeons, the masters had of course lectured on and on about the dangers of tobacco. Ha! What did a bunch of crusty, dried-up old men know? After all, he thought impatiently, he and his fellow students were still being asked to dissect pathetic little squirrels. For Diana’s sake! When would the masters give him a chance to cut open a real corpse? However, now that lessons were over for the day, he was free to ignore the dire warnings and indulge in a little petty pilfering to satisfy his craving. He stopped to listen carefully before slowly opening the door to his father’s study. Councillor Grasp was busy entertaining downstairs and there was no one else around.

Petronio’s gaze wandered around the room. The desk was neat and tidy, with folders stacked in a perfect line against the right-hand edge. Tapestries covered the walls, depicting his father single-handedly defeating pine wolves and whole packs of wild boar. A smile dimpled Petronio’s face as he stroked his fake-beard extensions. The closest his father had ever got to killing a wild animal was spearing it … with his fork as it lay on a gold plate handed to him by a crawling servant. Still, it impressed those who came to do business with the Councillor, and “business” was what gave them this luxury house in the very crown of the tree.