Dustwalkers

Story So Far

They pass a man hawking sandal soles and buy a wrap from a young woman with bone chips before turning south. A commotion erupts with a girl and clay jar cornered by a broad man with a macuahuitl and a lean man with obsidian daggers. They distract the men long enough for the girl to escape. The broad man warns them and departs with the lean man while they carry the wrap south. Dov stands near the wall while Sera sits with the clay box and ledger. They hand Dov the wrap which he wears belted over his wrists. Sera names the Cord crew and the unnamed crew of the broad and quick men who answer to an unknown holder. They show Ossim's clay seal to Sera and return to Ossim's tap. Ossim names Kael as the holder who runs debt collection from the dye house near the east wall. They follow the east wall to the dye house where a boy sits watching the door. They pull back and walk south to the tanner's yard where Sera and Dov wait. They lay out the plan to watch the thugs for three days before striking in a back lane with a three-day limit before moving. Sera seals the ledger in the clay box. They remain in the yard through the morning as the broad thug passes unaware. After three days they describe the thugs' loop through the auction platform, vendor row, grain storage lane, and cistern wall. They state the plan to take the broad thug alone then follow the lean thug to the dye house. They move north through back lanes and split at the grain storage alley. They kill the broad thug with a knife under the ribs while Dov and Sera hide the body. Dov lifts the macuahuitl and they follow the lean thug to the dye house. The watcher boy sees them and slides off the jar after a head shake. They enter the dye house with the focus crystal active. Ekane Ananzi speaks his name with weighted voice and offers Kael and the lean thug surrender or death. Kael notes Ekane killed Bren and asks what is wanted. The lean thug submits. Ekane offers Kael half his earnings, his men when called, and everything he knows for protection. Kael identifies the seal and ledger and states this is a list of problems. Kael asks what will stop the Cord from learning of Ossim's tap and what will happen when the tithe office notices Bren is gone. Ekane releases a knife that cuts Kael's neck. Kael says there is nothing to negotiate while the lean thug draws both obsidian blades. Ekane pulls the knife free with the focus crystal and it skips off Kael's collarbone. Kael bleeds from both wounds but remains standing. Ekane delivers a final ultimatum to Kael. Kael asks what the terms are and the lean thug lowers his daggers. Kael agrees to one safehouse in the mudbrick room off the second alley east of the ration line with latch word Indigo, half his earnings, his men when called, and everything he knows. The lean thug sheathes the daggers. Three people exit the dye house with Kael's men, Ossim's seal, the ledger, and the safehouse while Kael remains alive. The watcher boy follows at the word indigo and sits outside the low door. Sera sets the clay box on the shelf inside the room. Dov sets the macuahuitl against the wall. Sera places dried strips on the box lid. Sera states that completed jobs do not constitute a family and directs the request for a name be repeated only after responses to costly wrongs are known. Dov speaks the word Yet. The protagonist keeps the ledger inside the jacket and the clay seal in the pocket. They question Pek through the door and learn his name, that he has worked for Kael since the dry season before last, and that he knows every face and quiet hour in the alley. They send Pek east for food and water. They open the ledger and ask Sera about the grain factor. Sera identifies Maret and describes his secondary storage, markup sales, transferred debt, and two handlers. The protagonist locates Maret outside the secondary grain storage and shows the ledger with Renn's seal. Maret examines the page showing his remaining debt. Pek returns with bread and water. They send Pek to Kael with the message that the grain factor will deliver weekly starting before the next noon horn. The leader directs Sera and Dov to learn from Ossim which handlers are loyal to Maret. Sera nods once. Dov stands ready. The leader steps into the second alley carrying the ledger, an incoming grain supply, the safehouse, and a route under the quarter wall while lacking numbers.