One of the thanatists, a woman, rushed forward and kicked the tailor full in the face. Blood splattered over the gritty hardwood floor, and the tailor dropped flat.
The tailor couldn’t seem to lift his head. “It’s all bought up, Mick. I can’t even get material to spin new thread. The Dials are empty.Allthe markets are empty.”
The woman kicked him again and stomped her boot down on the back of his head. The tailor’s nose and lips crunched against the floor, pushing gouts of blood out around his face.
“I seem to recall assurances,” said Mick, “when you put your name in my book, to supply eight shillings’ worth of bunda thread.”
Owen nodded slowly. “I’m sorry, Mick. I thought I could get the silk and nettle to spin it.”
“Your mark there’s good on the name of your wife and daughter. What say you?”
The tailor struggled to raise his head and looked at Mick. His mouth and chin were slick with blood. “Please?—”
The thanatist woman stepped toward him again, her long, blond braid swaying behind her.
“What did he do?” I asked, stepping between Owen and the woman. The two other thanatists immediately flanked me. Tall men, but not muscular. One had a grey mustache and beard; the other was clean-shaven with a cleft lip. The woman turned to Mick. “This one have your
protection?”
Mick eased back in his chair. “You need my help, fresh fish?”
I handed Cassius my knife and squared on the woman. “You beating this man on account of a debt?”
She spat on Owen’s back. “He’s a pigeon-livered delinquent.” “How much does he owe?” I asked.
“We ain’t looking for coin.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” I said, “but here’s the thing. This is my thread-man. If you insist on hurting him, you’re kind of forcing me to do something about it. Or, I can make good on what he owes. Mick gets paid. No one gets hurt. And I keep the good hands of my thread-man.” The other two goons stared at me while she looked me up and down. “You’re new,” she said. “You reek of it. I think maybe someone needs to teach you wherenotto shine your light.”
I’d never been one to go looking for a fight. But I’d been on the short end of the odds many times myself. It was hard for me to look the other way. Sometimes, you just had to step in.
“Yeah, probably,” I said. “But by the time that happens, a couple of you might regret wanting to do the teaching. See, I know Precedent Law forbids knife use against another thanatist, and this here”—I motioned to the four of us about to take it to fists—“is the most normal thing that’s happened to me in days. I kind of hope you want to go the hard way with it. So, what’s it going to be?”
Owen hadn’t moved. He just lay there on the floor, blood pooling below his face. Around us the other patrons shouted for us to “pitch into” one another.
The woman finally grinned. “A topsider willing to die proud,” she said. Then she and her two cohorts fell back.
I dug out my silver, having no way of knowing whether it was enough, and dropped the bag on Mick’s table. I’d have nothing to buy catalysts with, but I’d have to deal with that later.
“That’s everything,” I said. “Take it and strike the tailor’s name from your books.”
Mick riffled through the bag. “It’s light.” Then he smiled. “But I’ve never seen anyone stand down a Dusker. That mighthave been pay enough.” Nevertheless, he shoved the bag of silver in his pocket and made a note in his ledger.
“Dusk Parade.” Cassius handed me back my knife. “One of the five schisms. Brigands who would as soon watch the world burn.”
I picked up the lantern. “Every badass is still an ass.”
“I do not think it always necessary for you to express yourself with invective, Jack.” Cassius meant it, but his face held the hint of a smile, too.
Owen dragged himself up, and a couple of Mick’s rats rushed in to throw sand over all the blood.
“St. Giles carpet,” said Mick. “Fit for a king. Owen, you’re free to go.” The tailor hobbled out of Rats Castle.
Cassius turned to me. “While a decent gesture, Jack, you now have no money left with which to secure the Orcus thread.”
“Orcus thread?” said Mick, raising an eyebrow. “Is that why yer here?
What in all the Strata would you want that for?”
