Amon shrugged. “Gillen’s a bully and a thief. I finally put a stop to it, so now I’m on Gillen’s dirt list for sure. If my da wasn’t captain, I think Gillen would’ve beat the boy to death. He told me how I was new and didn’t know the streets, and I’d learn.”

“So they do this kind of thing all the time?”

Amon nodded. “Several times, just since I’ve been with them.”

“So what happened? With Cuffs, I mean?”

“I insisted they take him back to the guardhouse and question him properly. But he broke away and escaped while we were crossing South Bridge. Jumped into the river, so he may be drowned.” Amon smiled sourly. “This Cuffs isn’t stupid, whatever he’s done. If I was being dragged back to the guardhouse for interrogation by Mac Gillen, I’d do whatever it took to escape too. ’Course, now Gillen and them think it’s my fault he escaped. And it probably is.” He sighed.

Raisa leaned forward, trying to read Amon’s face. “Do you think he was guilty?”

Amon stared out at the water. “Seems likely. But you don’t find out the truth by torturing somebody.” He looked up at Raisa. “The point is, people in Southbridge and Ragmarket are scared to death of the Queen’s Guard, and for good reason.” His gray eyes went flinty hard. “Me, I’d like to tie up Mac Gillen and leave him in a Ragmarket alley overnight. See what’s left of him in the morning.”

Amon’s changing, Raisa thought. I hardly know him anymore. He’s seeing things, and doing things, and learning things while I’m penned up here like a hothouse flower, learning what fork to use.

She put her hand on his arm. “I’ll see that Gillen’s dismissed,” she promised.

Amon grinned, his first real smile of the evening. “So you’ll tell the queen you were chatting with me and I suggested Gillen be let go? I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “No need. I already spoke with my da. If there’s anything can be done, he’ll handle it. But the Guard is full of Gillens. It’s a haven for thugs. There’s only so much a captain can do. It didn’t used to be this way.”

Raisa stood and paced back and forth. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. How can I be princess heir of the queendom and not know what’s going on?” She stopped midturn. “You say people are starving?”