Sai's back disappearing behind his family's door left Yabona feeling wistful.

It was a heartening thing to have a conversation with another human being that wasn't exchanged threats or insults. It was pleasant to talk. It was better yet to eat.

So, more to her debt.

First a rescue, and now a meal. That was surely worth twenty mon, wasn't it?

How much did her Father make, before the notion of soldiering infested him? When he was nothing more than a leather-worker? Vague half plucked memories came back to her. Him grumbling about not clearing thirty at the market, for what amounted to a weeks work. Mother pinching his cheeks as he sat slumped on a chair.

Fair price or not, the question was how to accrue it. Thus far her criminal ventures had been confined exclusively to stealing food, scraps to survive. Her hands surely then could pick a pocket, or cut a purse, provided she had a knife. However being that close to ones mark left her feeling nervous, even now in the alley outside of Sai's apartment, merely considering the act. So she was quick, what if her mark was too? A strong hand around her wrist, and then chains or welts.

She sighed.

Thinking of tomorrow was unwise, she had learned hope could be corrosive. Too many nights dreaming of a better tomorrow only to be thrust from sleep into the same sorry present. Tonight she needed a place to bed down, and it was too dark to find somewhere choice. Furthermore Sai's ward was new to her, she was sure she could find her way back up to the dojo and temples, if she had to, but that was her only marker. She walked some few blocks out of principle, the thought of Sai coming across her in the morning sleeping in the elements gut twisting, and picked one alley that was alike every other, and followed it to its conclusion in a box some short distance later. There was a bit of protection from the road here, as the buildings compromising the end of the alley were not entirely uniform, there was a lip that she could squeeze behind and thus remain hidden. Nor, as far she could tell, were there any doorways here that might disgorge an unhappy tenant or shop master to set upon her in the morning.

So for tonight: Sleep, and a recounting. It had been a fine day. Water, freely given; food at a cost of twenty-mon.

She slipped her arms into her garb, providing very little warmth, and was asleep on the cold dirt before long.

A person could get used to a great deal.

She shivered into a shuddering sleep.

Fitful dreams of a doll made of straw.

There had been a bow, hadn't there? Tied around its neck.

It smelled of Mother.

**

It took some wandering, come morning, when the natural bustle of such a sizable body of people awoke her, to find a likely place. Several blocks from where she slept there was something of a market, a half paved space full of hawkers ordered concentrically around a fountain – a large boisterous thing of some smooth white stone, carved into the image of a fish spitting water - wares displayed on blankets, little more than trinkets. Substantial shops around the square, the entire space dominated by what appeared to be a three story inn, judging by the sign hanging above the door with a carving of a bed beneath stars. The writing she could not read.

The people here were well off, their clothes were clean and well fitted, there were no urchins like herself. The occasional person would glance at her sidelong, but she wasn't accosted, there was no one running for the guard to chase her off, there were even traces of guilt on some of those faces. She tried not to eye belt lines or necks for purses, but was unable to do this discretely. Her hands began to shake and to quiet herself she strode over to the fountain, dipped her head in and drank deep. The water was pure, cold, delicious. When she removed her head there was a little cloud of grit in the water, a man sitting next to his wares, closest to her shook his head. She grinned at him. He refused to meet her eyes, perhaps thinking of a niece whose fate no one knew. The mainland might have been secured years ago, but there were still battles across the sea, still men and women gambling for a quick chance of loot or the reward of some plot of land in a newly formed colony on soil conquered from a recent enemy. There were still people without homes, there were the factories where hands were worked numb for pittance. There were kids like Yabona aplenty.

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It would take some hours yet before the crowds reached their apex. It was only just morning, well-to-do folks could afford a little extra rest. Now the people about the square were numerous, but not bustling. It would be hard to fade away, it would be hard to find a mark. She did what she always did when she had to think; she slid her way into a bit of shade, and she crouched down and her eyes grew distant and her mind clear and she waited for the instinct to take over. It was long in coming. This wasn't a matter of life or death, her stomach was still content from last nights meal – nothing yet would be dire for a day or two – and the instinct was sharpest when the need was greatest. Still: debts to pay.

She took a deep breath; the crowds too deepened. It would be now or never, and so she stood up, and melted her way into the bustle. It was hard to see, crammed so tight as she was, and remarkably no one seemed to be concerned about their purses. It could be startlingly easy to take what she needed, she might even eschew her old rule and return here day after day. Truly, all she had to do was reach out and...

She had it. Hand about a clanking purse, and an arm on her bony wrist. The man who caught her was large, his garb open about his bare chest, and his head clean of hair. He was smiling, he shook his head.

Yabona jerked, tried to run, but he held on tight. He knelt down, and the crowd parted for him, flowed around him.

“You should be more careful,” he said, eyes level with her own, his calm, hers full of panic.

She jerked again, and he let go. She nearly fell, scrambling back out of the crowd to many grumbles from those whose legs she had bumped. The man laughed, clapped and rubbed his hands and stood himself back upright. Yabona could see him above the rest, he was watching her, grinning. She backed into the alley rubbing her wrist. He started to pick his way toward her.

She took stock of her options, where she might run, and before she could decide he was standing in front of her, blocking the mouth of the alley, blocking the sun. He had his hands on his hips. He looked like a giant. She started to back away.

“Err,” he said, and he scratched at his bald head. He reached into his clothes and produced a piece of dried meat. He crouched down as he took a bite, smiling, and then offered the cut to Yabona.

If it was a trap, she was already caught. It did not look like there were any opening behind her, she was boxed in.

“I am good with strays,” he said. “Back home, we had this rat problem. So many rats. And so we got a bundle of kittens, and soon they grew, and soon they ate all of the rats. And then we had a cat problem. They were very shy, they would not let you near, but, with a bit of food...” He took another bite, and winked. He threw the cut at Yabona, who caught it out of instinct, clutching it in two hands close to her chest. He laughed.

“Go on,” he said.

She met his eye for awhile, testing, and finally nibbled. He stretched and yawned.

“What's your name?”

“Yabona.”

“I am Gin. I am very rich,” he patted his purse and laughed.

Yabona tensed, vexed, maybe this time should could get it, run right past him. He seemed to have lowered his guard, it would be easy.

“And I have need of help,” he sighed.

Yabona relaxed, reluctantly. “Help?” she said.

“I have a very big house, and there are too many rooms to clean. It is stressful. I think maybe you are needing help as well?”

“You want to offer me work?”

“You are very clever! Too clever to go stealing purses in broad-day light, in nice districts.”

“Forty-mon!” Yabona blurted, and seemed surprised at herself.

Gin was shocked, and then laughed deeper than before, he had to brace himself on the wall with one of his thick arms. “You must clean very well.”

“Anyone can clean,” she said.

“Ah, but not every one is willing. Okay, Miss Yabona. Your wages are settled, you will help for two moons for this, I think. Is this fair?” He began to count coins.

The sight of the money caused Yabona to lurch foward, instinct here taking over, at last. She pretended to think, to count in her head. “Two moons for forty-mon. Yes, that is fair.”

He tossed her four iron coins, she clutched them tight.

“My inn is right over here, you will meet Azami, she will tell you what to do.”

“Tommorow.”

Gin raised an eye-brow.

Yabona dashed forward a step, “I will start tomorrow, I have something I need to do.” And she was a bundle of exited energy wrapped in rags.

Gin shaded his eyes to the sun and looked upward. He slowly cracked a smile. “Tomorrow then. Mother bless my gullible heart. My inn is right across from the fountain over there, you cannot miss it. A big house, you see.”

And then he left, shaking his head and muttering affably to himself. No doubt thinking she would shirk her duty, indeed it would be all too easy. Simply never step foot into this ward ever again. Tempting, but then, with such a sum she wouldn't have to worry about food for awhile, and perhaps there would be more. She did not know for true if it was a fare wage, or if she had gouged him. These workings of the world so alien to her recent experience, wages and work and warmth.

If she was smart the remaining twenty could feed her for a long while. She broke out into a grin as she dashed back towards Sai's home. She was not so sure she was smart. But her heart soared, a debt paid – a friend made.

Hope could be corrosive. But the acid was warm, at times.