“Since when,” Left Ned asked, “does House Gray send a stitch . . .”
Abraham pulled shoulders back so he could turn a glare at the man.
“. . . to comb the scrub for people?”
“What other House should look for people?” Abraham asked.
Neds shrugged. “There’s nothing worth your time here,” Left Ned said.
“House and name,” Abraham ordered.
“Brown,” Right Ned said before Left Ned could answer. “Harris. There still isn’t anything here that involves House Gray.”
“You are claimed by House Brown?”
“I’ve filed the papers,” Right Ned said.
“When?”
“Recently,” Left Ned said.
“Filing papers to claim House Brown is the same as signing away all your rights, all your benefits, pay, and legal voice with any other House,” Abraham noted.
“Wasn’t always like that, was it?” Left Ned said. “If you galvanized had stood with House Brown instead of selling out for the bribes and dirty deals the other Houses offered you?—”
“All right,” I said, “you two can break up that old argument. Let’s take care of the current wounds before you decide to give each other new ones. Jacket off so I can get to the cut.”
Abraham tipped his head, considering me.
“There are people who believe your father is alive, Matilda Case. It won’t take them long to come looking for him. And when they find you, unclaimed, they will take you. Without asking. Without giving you a choice in the matter. They will own you.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” I said.
“It won’t be. The longer we stay here, the less time you’ll have to run.”
“Who said I was running?” I nodded at his jacket, which he still hadn’t removed. “Off with it.”
“Do you understand who is looking for your father? House Medical, Defense, Technology, Mineral, Faith, Power.” He ticked off half the Houses. “They won’t stop until they find something here.”
“What I don’t understand is who got everyone hunting for a dead man. My father’s not here. There’s nothing to find.”
Just then the three sheep trotted in from the kitchen, making their tiny littlebaaasounds.
Abraham opened his mouth, closed it, and watched the sheep patter over to Grandma. She noticed them too, and cooed at them happily, then lifted each up into her lap, where they settled like round, wooly cats.
He opened his mouth again and it took him a second or two to put words in it. “Who stitched those?”
“My dad. He had a knack for nonsense.”
“What are they for?”
“Wool, mostly. Grows outrageously quick and keeps us in hats and sweaters. Now, are you going to take off your jacket, as I asked, or do I have to do it for you?”
“The faster you comply, the better,” Right Ned said. “She gets prickly when crossed.”
“I get prickly when people are bleeding on my furniture. We tend you, andthenwe tend the mess that’s following you. In that order. Understand?”
My tone must have finally gotten through.
