“Thank the Maker,” she said. She crossed the room and pulled him into her arms, awkwardly patting his back. “The Guard’s looking for you,” she said, smoothing down his hair. “They been all over Ragmarket, asking after you. Sergeant Gillen, he’s in a fury. They said you busted some Raggers out of gaol.”

How come he always got the blame? “Not exactly,” he said, thinking Mam must have been really worried to skip the lecture. “Have they been here?”

She shook her head. “But you can’t stay here, you know,” she said. “He’ll catch you sooner or later.”

“I know. I’m going back to Marisa Pines. I’ll stay up there until things calm down.” He hesitated. “What are you doing home? I thought you’d be at work.”

“I’m not working up at the castle close anymore,” Mam said, releasing him and stirring the cabbage on the hearth. “But it’s good, because it makes it easier for me to take Mari to school.”

That had been his job. To convey his sister safely to Jemson’s care.

“You’re not working for the queen anymore?” Han gently detached Mari from his leg and led her over to the hearth, sat, and pulled her onto his knee. “Why? What happened?”

“I ruint one of the queen’s gowns.” Mam shrugged. “The seed pearls were made of paste, that was the problem. Didn’t like it there anyway. Fellsmarch Castle, I mean. People were snooty. At least in Ragmarket they treat you like you’re human.”

“But what are you going to live on?” Han said. “It’s going to be hard for me to come into town, to carry for Lucius, or sell what I glean up mountain.”

“We’ll get by,” Mam said. “There’s always rags and laundry. And now they’re giving away food at Southbridge Temple two or three times a week. It’s part of that Briar Rose Ministry Princess Raisa started.”

“Princess Raisa?” Han repeated, surprised. Was she slumming in Southbridge or what? “Huh. I wonder how long that will last.”

“She’s doing good work,” Mam said. “Everyone says it’s a blessing. And it helps until I can find something steady again.”

Han thought of the girl Rebecca Morley. She knew people in the castle close. Maybe she could pull some strings, help Mam get her job back, or get another job, just as good.

Or maybe it was just an excuse to see her again.

But no. He couldn’t risk giving away his connection to Mam and Mari. He liked to think of them as safe, separate from his life in the gangs, hidden away in the room above the stable.

“Hanson,” Mam said, in the manner of a person launching a prepared speech.

Han sighed. He should have known there’d be a lecture, by and by.