Chapter Six

The new scullery boy was a girl. Her name was Telia. She came from a work house that offered indifferent shelter to women who had no family to care for them, but who were too proud to whore. She wore a severe wool smock that was too short for her. Wishbone walked her through the kitchen and the storerooms, showed her the pump, where the brooms were kept, and the cot in the store room where she'd be sleeping.

And then she burst into tears. After a very puzzled Wishbone found a cloth and put the kettle on for tea, she blew her nose noisily and started apologizing.

"You must think I'm very foolish," she said, sniffling. "I had a position. But the master did something that was... not proper. I kicked him in the shin, and he sent me back to the work house. He told them terrible lies about me, and they believed him and would only give me a position that no one else would accept. The work house said I'd be safe enough here, but they said that about the last place, too. I'm sure they wouldn't lift a finger if I got eaten all up like a veal calf."

Wishbone poured Telia some tea.

"Bless you," she said, and blew her nose again. The cup shook in her hand.

"Shih-aan do not eat people," said Wishbone. "And Sir would not let any harm befall you under his roof."

"How long have you been...