“And they’re really loving creatures. Smart, too.”

Interesting. “Can they be trained?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve taught Black Tail to retrieve items. And I’ve a bunch that I’ve taught how to play hide and seek—they can find anyone, anywhere, but my friends say using the rats while playing the game is cheating.” He shrugged. “And…” He lowered his voice. “I sent Cat Toy to sneak into my sister’s room. You should have heard her scream.” He laughed.

“Shyla probably did,” Orla said dryly. “Along with everyone else in Zirdai.”

“Is that what triggered the level twenty cave-in?” Shyla asked, playing along.

“No, that was Ilan’s mother yelling at him for scaring his sister.”

“Worth it,” Ilan said before dashing off.

Shyla laughed.

Orla poured them tea. “If you’re buying water from the black market, you’ll need sand rats as well. Ilan will sell you a few of his.”

Good to know and a reminder for her to get back on track. She asked Orla about acquiring resources. Gesturing to the people around them, she asked, “How do you find enough clothing for them all?”

“We own a herd of gamelu. We shear them and make our own fabric.”

Completely shocked, Shyla stared at the woman. “You own a herd? How is that possible?”

Orla sipped her tea. “We’re vagrants by choice. Some of us are even upstanding citizens who pay taxes, tithe to the church, and own herds. Once we supply our people, we sell the rest. We also own a herd of velbloud. Our sun cloaks are highly sought after,” she said with pride.

Recovering, Shyla asked, “Is that how you got the eggs and meat for first meal?”

“Yes, but the herds don’t provide enough to feed everyone so we have to find supplemental sources.” Orla brightened. “We’re saving to buy two more herds.”

Astounding. “What other ways do you earn coin?”

“Ah. We sell a variety of goods, including information. Our scouts keep an eye on the guards and deacons and will pick up gossip. The Invisible Sword paid us for any news that could compromise their organization.” Orla set her cup down. “The hardest thing to manage is the waste from the collection bins. We’re too deep to schlep it up to the surface to dry out.”

Shyla remembered having to cross through the worst stink she’d ever smelled when she had visited the commune on level sixteen. “What do you do with it?”

“We carry the bins to various collection stations in Zirdai and swap them for clean ones.”

“And the deacons don’t notice the extra…er…waste?”

“It’s an unpleasant job given to those who have sinned in some way. I doubt they think in depth about what they’re doing as they cart it up to the growing caverns to be turned into fertilizer.”