Mastiff

  I stopped at the shrine beside the door. I ignored the Mother Goddess figure. She frowned at me in any case. My business was with the family shrine. All the way at the top was ancestress Rebakah and her black cat. I quickly replaced them with copies I’d had made, and tucked the real ones in my pocket. I meant to put them up where my honored Provost’s Guard ancestress could watch her descendant, the Rogue of all Tortall. It is a joke I’ve been laughing over for years and hope to laugh over for many more.

  * * *

  Proud of himself, limping only a little from his ferocious battle with the former King of Thieves, George Cooper left his mother’s house and sauntered down the street. Two fellows, both carrying swords, joined him on either side. Ahead of him and behind him, other guards took their places, ensuring that no one decided to attack the newest thief-king while he was still recovering from his rise to the throne.

  In the shadows of an alley ahead, a purple-eyed black cat watched George Cooper approach.

  You are indeed a clever fellow, Pounce—who would one day soon be called Faithful, and had many more names besides—thought as he watched the youngest Rogue in all Tortallan history saunter along. And your cleverness will be much needed in the time to come. But it does not serve my wishes that you remember that your Beka’s counselor was a purple-eyed black cat. You’re wary of god-touched people, and the sight of me might scare you away from the one who will upend your life. So—forget the purple eyes, George Cooper. Your ancestress had a black cat that went everywhere with her. No more, no less.

  May 24, 430 H.E.

  The Dancing Dove

  Corus, Tortall

  I write with the figure of the old huntress’s cat watching me. I used to think there was something odd about it, something almost magical, but no. It’s just a very well-made carving of a black cat. Whoever cut it even made the tiny face look a bit clever. Of late I’ve gotten in the habit of carrying it with me in my pocket. Ancestress Rebakah has her shelf high over my head, but I don’t think she grudges the cat’s company to me.

  I met the oddest little fellow today, Alan of Trebond. He’s come to start as a page at the palace. He’s got a tough oak burl for a minder, Coram Smythesson. That one’s a smith and former soldier and no fool at all. He warned young Alan I’m a thief. The lad, being full of spirit and sauce, didn’t mind that at all. My Sight was all around him, making him glow like fire. There’s something about him.… I think we might do one another good. I told him so. It’s laughable, a little lord like that and me doing good for each other, but my Sight doesn’t steer me wrong.

  He’s a redhead. I hope it’s true, about redheads and tempers. He’ll need one, the way those pages and squires pick on each other. And he’s got purple eyes. I never saw the like.

  * * *

  On his desk, in the pits that served the cat figure as eyes, twin sparks of purple glowed, then vanished.

  Cast of Characters

  Rebakah Cooper (Beka) fourth-year Provost’s Guard

  (Dog), protégée of Lord

  Gershom of Haryse (the Lord

  Provost)

  Pounce normally a constellation called the

  Cat, Beka’s advisor and friend

  for the last eight years

  Achoo Curlypaws scent hound assigned to Beka

  AT PROVOST’S HOUSE

  Gershom of Haryse Lord Provost of Tortall, Beka’s

  patron

  Teodorie of Haryse Gershom’s lady, patroness of

  Beka’s brothers and sisters

  Diona, Lorine, Nilo, Beka’s younger sisters and

  Willes brothers, all training for work in

  noble houses

  Mya Fane Beka’s foster aunt, cook at

  Provost’s House

  PROVOST’S DOGS AND ASSOCIATES IN CORUS

  Sergeant Clara Goodwin Desk Sergeant, Evening Watch,

  Jane Street kennel, the Lower

  City Guard District

  Sir Acton of Fenrigh Watch Commander, Evening

  Watch, Jane Street kennel, the

  Lower City Guard District

  Senior Corporal most senior street Dog, the Lower

  Nyler Jewel City Evening Watch, Yoav’s

  partner

  Senior Guardswoman street Dog, Jewel’s partner

  Osgyth Yoav

  Senior Guardsman street Dog, Westover’s partner

  Wulfric Birch

  Ersken Westover street Dog, fourth year, Beka’s

  friend, Kora’s lover

  Ahern Walker Holborn’s former partner, Flash

  District

  Holborn Shaftstall five-year Dog, deceased, Beka’s

  betrothed, the Lower City Day

  Watch

  THE HUNT

  Achoo Curlypaws

  Beka Cooper

  Pounce

  Senior Guardsman Beka’s partner

  Matthias Tunstall

  Farmer Cape Provost’s mage from Blue Harbor

  Lady Sabine of Macayhill lady knight, Tunstall’s lover

  THE COURT OF THE ROGUE, CORUS

  Rosto, called the Piper Rogue of Corus

  Aniki Forfrysning swordswoman, rusher, chieftain in

  the Court of the Rogue

  Koramin Ingensra mage, serves the Rogue, Ersken

  Westover’s lover

  RESIDENTS OF CORUS

  Tansy Lofts Beka’s oldest friend from

  their slum days, now a

  respectable wife, mother, and

  businesswoman

  Granny Fern Cooper Beka’s paternal grandmother

  Kaasa dust spinner in Dogs’ cemetery

  PROVOST’S GUARD IN PORT CAYNN

  Sir Tullus of King’s Reach knight, Deputy Provost, Port

  Caynn Provost’s Guard

  Sergeant Terart Axman Desk Sergeant at Guards House,

  hound breeder

  Sergeant Nestor Haryse cousin of Lord Gershom, a Day

  Watch Sergeant in Deep Harbor

  District, Okha Soyan’s lover

  THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD

  Prince Baird of Conté King Roger’s younger brother

  Prince Gareth of Conté Roger and Jessamine’s only child

  Queen Jessamine of Conté Roger’s second wife, mother of

  Gareth

  King Roger II of Conté husband of Jessamine, father of

  Gareth

  Ironwood of Sinthya King Roger’s personal mage

  Orielle Clavynger Queen Jessamine’s personal

  mage

  Lunedda Gareth’s nursemaid, murdered

  Tassilo Gareth’s King’s Own guard,

  murdered

  AT QUEENSGRACE

  Aeldra of Queensgrace countess, wife to Dewin, Sabine’s

  cousin

  Baylisa of Disart lady-in-waiting

  Dewin of Queensgrace count

  Elyot of Aspen Vale master mage, educated in Carthak

  Graeme of Aspen Vale baron, Elyot’s older brother

  Fay talkative baker

  Fess very old dust spinner

  Iris talkative baker

  Lewyth of Disart lady-in-waiting

  Linnet Beck six-year-old slave

  Niccols castle steward

  Parris Eckard silk merchant

  Rosewyn noblewoman

  Wyttabyrd lady-in-waiting

  AT HALLEBURN

  Daeggan slave boy, tough

  Dolsa Silkweb illusion mage, great mage

  Lady Nomalla lady knight

  of Halleburn

  Lord Thanen Nomalla’s father, Sabine’s cousin

  of Halleburn

  OTHERS

  Beldeal irate headwoman, War Gorge

  Marsh

  Ormer local guide, War Gorge Marsh

  Cassine Catfoot Farmer’s Master, female great

  mage

  Looseknot Farmer’s first teacher

  Elfed captain of the King’s Own

  Iceblade Regengar peregrine boat mage
br />   Lazamon of Buckglen lord chancellor of mages

  Martinin of Macayhill Norow’s only son, Sabine’s brother

  Lord Norow of Macayhill Sabine’s father

  Palisa Vintor Dog from Arenaver

  Okha Soyan popular male-dressed-as-female

  singer/entertainer, Nestor’s lover

  Glossary

  afore: before

  aught: anything

  bailey: courtyard in a castle

  bait: food and water for horses at a rest stop

  barbican: fortified gateway

  barrel trapper: kidnapper

  beard: oppose boldly or impudently

  Birdie: informant

  blessing: birth control device or charm

  bogle: ghost

  bolster: long, narrow, stiff pillow or cushion

  Book of Gold, The: oldest census of the noble houses of Tortall, dating back to the founding of the realm

  boot: metal boot placed on a victim’s foot. Wedges are hammered into the inside of the boot, pressing on the lower leg until they break bones. Metal boots can also be heated to burn the victim’s leg.

  bordel: house of prostitution

  budget: pouch or wallet

  by-blow: illegitimate child

  canoodling: sexual activity

  caudles: soothing drinks given to excited or crazy people

  cipher: shorthand method used by Dogs, with symbols for entire common words

  cole: false coin

  colemonger: someone who makes or passes false coins; counterfeiter

  Common: language spoken in Tortall, Barzun, Tusaine, Maren, Tyra, and parts of Saraine and Scanra

  coney: victim of a theft or any crime; sucker

  copper noble: coin equivalent to ten coppers

  corbie: raven

  cot: small house or cottage

  cove: man

  coyne: vagina

  cozening: cajoling, wheedling

  cracknob: madman

  craven: cowardly

  cresset: metal wall fixture containing wood or oil to be burned for light

  cuirass: piece of armor protecting chest and back

  dance a set: fight

  destrier: warhorse

  detail: assignment

  Dog: member of the Provost’s Guard

  dozy: sluggish

  Drink: form of torture in which water is poured down the victim’s throat and nose to simulate drowning

  dust spinner: small dust whirlwind, what our world calls a dust devil

  elsewise: otherwise; or else

  fambles: hands

  Ferrets: street nickname for Crown spies

  folderol: nonsense, foolishness

  fussock: donkey; old mean woman

  gab: speech

  Galla pasties: turnovers with beef, cheese, pine nuts, currants, and spices

  get bit: be cheated

  gixie: girl

  gob: mouth

  gods’ fool: crazy person

  gold noble: coin equivalent to ten silver nobles or four gold bits

  gormless: gutless

  Great Gods: most powerful gods in the pantheon: Mithros; the Great Goddess (three aspects: Maiden, Mother, Crone); the Black God of Death; Oinomi Wavewalker; the Smith God; the Trickster or the Crooked God; Gainel (Master of Dreams); Wind (god of all winds); Pelmry (bird-clawed god of scribes); Apetekus (god of slaves); Wilnedur (goddess of slaves)

  ground cover: anything on the ground: grass, trees, bushes, gravel, stones, and crops

  Happy Bag: weekly bribes for Provost’s office

  Heskaly’s drum: instrument used by the trickster god of the hills to make people crazy

  hoddy-dod: slang for snail; someone who is slow

  Hunt: criminal investigation; pursuit of criminals

  hunter: hound trained to hunt escaped prisoners and slaves

  Hurdik: language of Tunstall’s native hill tribes

  jabbernob: chatterbox

  Jane Street kennel: Tunstall and Beka’s home base

  jerkin: hip-length sleeveless jacket

  jumped-up: raised above one’s station

  kennel: Provost’s watch house; police station

  ladyhorse: destrier (warhorse) bred smaller and lighter for lady knights

  looby: fool

  lure: scent sample used to give Achoo the right scent to follow

  mains: main dishes for meals

  Master: Mr.; mister; old title of honor for a mage

  mayhap: perhaps

  mot: woman

  mumper: beggar

  new Tom: overeager stranger; one who thinks he knows the game

  nimmer: swindle

  nuncle: pimp

  pallet: narrow, straw-filled mattress

  pig’s knuckle: barely competent worker; major insult

  Puppy: trainee in the Provost’s Guard

  rack: torture device on which the victim is placed with arms and legs spread. Turns of the handle and grips stretch the victim until his or her joints dislocate, then separate. Muscles are also stretched to a point at which they no longer contract. Some racks also have a spiked roller that can do bloody damage when the victim is placed facedown.

  randy: always having sex on his or her mind

  Rat: captive, civilian, criminal, or prey (to Dogs)

  raw one: corpse; body

  rushers: thugs

  sap: lead-filled six-inch leather cylinder; bone-breaking weapon

  sarden: blasted; damned; detestable

  scry: watch something magically in water, a crystal, or a mirror

  scummer: animal dung

  scut: idiot

  seek: hunt down a criminal or missing person

  Sign: sign against evil; an X intersected by a vertical line to form a star on the chest

  sign: in a Hunt, some indication of the prey, such as a footprint or handprint; marks of urine, feces, or vomit; or pieces of clothing

  slum stew: liquid garbage

  stripes: marks of the whip

  swive: vulgar term for having sexual intercourse

  tack: harness for a horse, including bridle and saddle

  take someone over Breakbone Falls: administer a very severe beating

  tarse: piece of meat

  thumbscrew: vise that crushes the victim’s fingers or toes

  ticklers: fingers

  tightfisted: cheap

  trencher: “plate” cut from a stale loaf of bread, used to hold food

  trull: very low-class woman; the dregs

  turncoat: traitor

  twilsey: refreshing drink made from raspberry or cider vinegar and water

  wander mage: mage who travels, picking up work here and there

  wench: less-than-respectable woman

  ACHOO’S COMMANDS

  Come here Kemari (kehMAHRee)

  Down Turun (tooROON)

  Easy Mudah (MOOdah)

  Eat Makan (mahKAN)

  Friend Kawan (kahWAHN)

  Go Maji (MAHjee)

  Go fast Cepat (SAYpaht)

  Greet Pengantar (pehnGANtahr, gan like can)

  Guard Jaga (JAHgah)

  Heel Tumit (tooMIHT)

  No Tak (TACK)

  Quiet Diamlah (deeAHMlah)

  Relax Santai (sahnTIE)

  Seek Mencari (mehnKAHRee)

  Sit Dukduk (DOOKdook like bookbook)

  Slow Pelan (pehLAHN)

  Smell Bau (BOW, like cow)

  Stay Tinggal (tingGAHL)

  Steady/easy Gampang (gamPANG)

  Stop Berhenti (buhrHEHNtee)

  Up/rise Bangkit (bangKEET)

  Wait Tunggu (toonGOO)

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  My heartfelt thanks goes to Dr. Daniel Wnorowski; Daniel DiMartini, P.A.; Cheryl Bryant; Dr. Sami Abdul-Malak; the aides, housekeepers, nurses, and therapists of Menorah Park in Syracuse, New York; and Ted Lambert of Orthopedic Rehabilitation Associates of Syracuse, New York. All of you saw me through my surgery and subsequent therapy with knowledge, kindnes
s, efficiency, and professionalism. Thanks for putting me back on my feet (knees, actually) and back to writing again!

  My thanks to my Random House crew: Mallory Loehr, who continues to be wonderful; Lisa Findlay, who edited Bloodhound; Schuyler Hooke, old friend and new editor for Mastiff; and Chelsea Eberly, who runs interference.