Page 62 of Kiss of Ice

“Well, we’re pretty much done. One more house.” Ren glanced upwards anxiously. Clouds had gathered overhead and the day had darkened considerably. “It looks like rain. Let’s hurry.”

The last home belonged to a harassed mother of eight. The children crowded round Ren, the youngest still in diapers. Ren chatted easily with the older woman, unfazed by the cacophony of noise and the sticky fingers tugging at her hands. Eventually she reached into her satchel and brought out a paper bag bulging with pastries.

“One for each of you.” She smiled as the children fell on the treats with delighted cries. “They look well, Rina.”

The mother glanced at her offspring with a tired smile.

“They’re all ‘ealthy, thank the gods. The eldest is champin’ at the bit to leave ‘ome. But where to? Where are the jobs?”

“Excuse me, madam.” The two women turned in surprise as Kam spoke. He hadn’t said anything up till that point. “May I ask what kind of job your son is qualified to do?”

“Well, I mean, ‘e’s notqualified.Not as such.” The woman was flustered. “But ‘e can read and write and ‘e ‘as common sense. He could get work as a labourer or a field worker.”

“And those are worthy jobs, to be sure. But would it not be more useful if he were to be trained in a more skilled profession? Perhaps undertake an apprenticeship? Surely the financial rewards would be more beneficial?”

Rina looked at Ren.

“Is ‘e joking?”

“No, he’s just a bit slow.” She turned to Kam. “Apprenticeships are really hard to get. They usually go to someone whose family can pay for it. People from unskilled backgrounds rarely make the leap into a skilled profession, not unless they can find someone who’ll train them for free.”

“I see. Apologies, madam. I am indeed a bit…slow.”

“It’s all right young man. You’re lucky you ‘ave your cousin to take care of you. When will we see you next, Ren?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to be busy for a while, I think.”

“Did you ‘ear the Emperor’s getting married?”

“Oh?” Ren and Kam stiffened. “Any, um, any idea who to?”

“Someone from one of those stuck-up jinn families. I’m sure they’ll both be ‘appy in their ivory tower.” She nudged Ren. “They should come and honeymoon down ‘ere. That’d make their ‘air curl.”

“What do you think of the Emperor?” Kam asked curiously.

“I don’t think anythin’,” sniffed Rina. “Never seen ‘im. Never ‘ad anythin’ from ‘im. I’m sure he’s perfectly nice, ‘e just doesn’t make a difference to me. My life is taken up withthislot.”

She gestured at the children who were in various stages of playing, crying, or breaking something. Wearily, she picked up the smallest child and sniffed his diaper.

“We should go,” Ren whispered to Kam. They left the house, Ren gently extricating her skirt from the small clutching hands imploring her to stay. Outside it was raining heavily, turning the gutters and gullies into torrential streams.

“Damn.” Ren sheltered under the eaves. “I was hoping to hitch a ride back but there won’t be much traffic in this. We’re going to have to stay somewhere tonight and catch a lift in the morning.”

“Seven hells, not in afulldung cart?”

Ren laughed.

“Don’t worry, your Majesty. We can pay for passage on the postal coach. Much more civilised.”

“Thank the gods. I’m not sure my nose would ever recover.”

“Come on. There’s an inn half a mile from here. They’ll have rooms.”

Twenty Five

The tavern had seen better days. The tables were scratched and the chairs were held together by string in some places. But there was a good fire going in the large hearth, fresh stew on the stove and decent beer on tap. Kam ordered a tankard.

“Drink?” he asked. Ren shook her head.

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