“You might think that, Avry, but I know better. Even before the plague, people starved.” Flea glanced around. “At least there’s no immediate danger. According to Belen, it was pretty much every man for himself when the Booze Baron ruled the town last year.” Flea gestured to a pair of well-armed soldiers, watching the market with keen interest. “Estrid’s men.”

“Then her presence here is good for the town.”

“If everyone is so happy, then why are there so many soldiers around?” Flea asked.

I peered at him with suspicion. It sounded like Kerrick had schooled him on what to say to me today. “You have a point,” I said. “But we can’t linger too long or Kerrick will have a fit. I suggest we purchase the lighter items first and save the heavy stuff for last.”

“Now you have a look,” Flea said.

“What kind?”

“The shopper’s glow. If I were still a street rat, I’d try to pick your pocket before you spent your money.”

“Good thing you’re no longer one.”

“Thanks to Kerrick.”

Ignoring Flea’s comment, I strode to the merchant selling jerky. We moved from stand to stand, buying the items on the list—basic supplies and travel rations. Flea caught one of the street rats before she could steal the bag of coins from my pocket. He admonished the girl for her poor technique and pointed her toward an easier mark.

But I stopped her before she could dash off. “Here.” I gave her a few of my coins—I didn’t really need a comb or new undergarments; the ones I had would last a few more months. I still had enough to buy another set of travel clothes.

She stared at me as if I had lost my mind, then nodded a quick thanks before disappearing into the market’s crowd. Flea peered at me, as well.

“What?” I asked.

He didn’t say anything.

“That’s one meal she doesn’t have to worry about.”

“No. That’s five or six meals.”

“All the better. Come on.”

We shopped for the rest of the morning. I was surprised that only a few people wore the red acolyte robes that marked them as devout believers in Estrid’s creator. Perhaps she had relaxed her laws.

At one point I asked Flea, “Do you think Kerrick would mind if I bought a few spices? Herbs are going to be harder to find as it gets colder.” The winter season was in its infancy. The real nasty weather lurked a few weeks in the distance.

“If it improves the food, no one will mind.”

Almost finished with the list, we waited for the beef merchant to settle with the elderly lady in front of us. My arms ached from carrying our purchases. Flea was also loaded down. Now I was glad Belen and the others waited nearby.

After the lady paid for her rib eye, she turned toward us and stopped in astonishment. “Noelle! I thought they took you. When did you get back?” she asked.

“I’m sorry. You must be mistaking me for someone else.” Named Noelle, like my sister.

“Oh, sorry, dear. With my old eyes, you looked just like her. But now I can see you’re older.”

My insides turned to ice. “Do you know where she’s from?” I asked. The woman appeared uncertain, so I added, “I have a cousin named Noelle. She’s about fourteen, and my family lost track of hers during the plague.”

“Oh, yes. So many lost.” The woman tsked. “I know she was on her own. She’d do odd jobs for me, such a sweet girl. But when Estrid of Ozero’s army arrived, they recruited the young men and women without families.” She lowered her voice. “More like conscripted.” The wrinkles on her face doubled when she frowned. “That’s why I was so startled—I thought she escaped. Bah! More bad times.”

“Did she say anything about her family?” I asked.

“No. She never said a word about anyone. Just did the work, thanked me for the coins and left. When the money ran out, she’d show up, asking if I had any work for her. I sure miss her. My legs are getting too old to be gallivanting around the market.”

“Thanks for your time,” I said.

The woman waved goodbye and headed home.

“Do you really have a cousin named Noelle?” Flea asked me.

“No, but I have…had a younger sister by that name.”

“You don’t know?”

I told him a condensed version of my arrival home from Tara’s. “For all I know they could be buried in the mass grave in Lekas.”

“That’s tough.”

I tried to shrug it off. “Lots of girls have that name. The odds that it’s her are low. Besides, you heard the lady—the girl’s gone.”

“Still…” Flea scanned the market. He put his packages down. “Wait here. I’ll go make a few inquiries for you.”

“We don’t want to attract notice by asking a bunch of questions.”

“I won’t. The street rats don’t care about politics. I’ll be back.”

Before I could protest, he slipped into the flow of people and was gone from sight. Various emotions churned in my stomach as I waited for him.

What if she wasn’t my sister? Then I’d return to wondering where she might be.

What if she was my sister? Nothing I could do. Estrid’s army had her. Unless she wasn’t taken. Then we might be able to find her in town. Hope wanted to grow, but I squashed it flat. Hope led to despair.

What if Flea was caught? Kerrick would kill me. No. He would make me wish I were dead.

Unable to just stand there, I organized our purchases, redistributing the heavier items to make it easier for us to carry. Flea still hadn’t returned by the time I finished. Worry swirled. My muscles itched for action, but I forced myself to remain in place.

What if Flea didn’t come back? Do I search for him? Get Kerrick? I sorted through my meager options when Flea appeared.

“Where have you been?” I demanded.

“I’ve been gone for ten minutes,” he said.

“Ten torturous minutes.” I drew in a deep breath. “These are yours.” I gestured to a pile of packages. “Let’s get moving before Kerrick comes looking for us.”

He gathered his half. “Don’t you want to know what I found out?”

“I do. But move first.”

We headed toward the road leading east. When we had put the market behind us, I asked Flea what he’d learned.

“Lots about Estrid’s army. The people they gathered were mostly street rats. And they’re all being held at a training camp about five miles north of town.”

I sensed he had more. “Don’t keep me on edge, please.”

“Noelle was one of the street rats taken. No one knew much about her. But they knew where she came from.”

I stopped to face him. “And?”

“She’s your sister. No doubt about it.”

Chapter 11

“How can you be so sure?” I asked Flea.

“The street rats kept mistaking you for her—except the one who tried to pick your pocket. They said she was from Lekas. That’s in Kazan, isn’t it?”

“Why did they tell you all this?” I’d been searching for any sign or clue to my family’s whereabouts for three years. For this to just pop up now…seemed suspicious. Perhaps a trap?

“I was a street rat.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And I spread a few coins around. Happy?”

“That makes more sense.” I kept a firm grip on my emotions. Flea might not doubt who she was, but I did. “Did you learn anything about the training camp?”

“It’s guarded, but not locked tight. Let’s face it, most of the recruits went from worrying about their next meal and where they would sleep when the snows came to having food, shelter and warm clothing.”

“But they have to fight for Estrid.”

“Like I said before, street rats don’t care about politics. Treat them good, and they’ll be loyal. Besides, it’s not like anyone’s at war or rebelling or doing much of anything.”

“Now. What happens when Tohon and Estrid decide they want to occupy the same town?”

Flea didn’t respond. He put a finger to his lips just when I heard the sour rustle to our left. I grabbed the hilt of my knife, but relaxed when Belen emerged from the forest. We were soon surrounded by the others.