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Poor thing, but it’d always been weak, hadn’t it? Soones, the smart ones, survived It’s what the world was like, after all, and the world can’t be changed, not one bit

There was a h Market who always dressed well and had plenty of coin, and it ell known he’d take little ones Ten, twenty silver councils, boy or girl, it didn’t matter which He knew people, rich people-he was just the middleman, but you dealt with hi, and if there were any small bodies left over, well, they never ever showed up to start people asking questions

It would be a bit of a walk, especially with both Mew and Hinty, and that’s why he needed to work out a sling of some sort, like the ones the Rhivi mothers used Only, how did they do that?

The door opened behind him and Snell whirled in sudden terror

Thein the threshold was familiar-he’d been with Stonny Men-ackis the last time she’d visited-and Snell could see at once that dear Snell was in trouble Ice cold fear, aheart

‘They’re just sleeping!’

The man stared ‘What have you done with the! Go away Da and Ma aren’t here They went to the Chains Temple Come back later’

Instead, theSnell back, away froirls on the floor The blow rocked Snell, and as if a stopper had been jarred loose fear poured through hiainst Mew’s forehead, Snell scrabbled to the back wall

‘I’onna scream-’

‘Shut your damned face or I’ll do it for you’ A quick, heavy look ‘I’ve not yet started with you, Snell Everything co, on that day, Snell…’ He lifted his hand and straightened ‘Are they drugged? Tell , but all at once he thought that ht believe the lies he used afterwards, on the other stuff ‘I just squeeze ’em, when they cry too much, that’s all It don’t hurt thelanced at the stretch of burlap lying beside Mew Maybe he was putting things together, but nothing could be proved, could it? It would be all right It would be-

Two quick strides and those hands-one gloved and the other bare and scarred-snagged the front of Snell’s tunic He was lifted into the air until his eyes were level with thedark, a lifeless whisper that could flatten out at anywhimpered away

‘On that day,’ theSo you’d never done before, and have never done since No, your s Harllo, who at five fucking years old did more to help this fa, Snell?’