A young lady at a stand with ribbons and all manner of hair adornments, busy arranging her wares, looked flustered and worried. Lirssa nodded to herself, and leapt back down from the look out, drew up her winning smile and walked over to the lady. "Many a cart has ribbons and wares such as these miss, but yours are by far the best." The lady stopped to stare at the young lady who had seemed to appear out of no where. Lirssa went on, fingering one of the ribbons. "Now, you don't want to get lost in the shuffle. That'll look sore upon all of them, and what a mistake for the buyers to have spent coin before they find your cart. It's a said predicament this spot here in the middle of a lane where the push of the crowds takes them right by without a glance." The worrying look in the lady's eye increased, and Lirssa beamed, "But you have good luck today, I wager, and if you will allow me to help you, I can make sure they stop to see your wares. Stopping the right step towards buying, and I'll wager that'll be done, too."

Suspicion darkened the woman's blue eyes, "And just what do you want out of it, you rascal?"

Lirssa aped a mortified look, hand to the side of her face in shock. "Want' Me" Nothing but to help you, miss. It's the season of giving, and what is better, me helping you or finding my way into trouble" You'd be doing me the favor." Bubber had taught her well in her youth: give them something free and they'll pay you enough in the end.

"What is it you do then" What makes you think they'll stop here just because of you?"

The light brightened in spritely green eyes, and without a word, Lirssa did a back flip, and true enough some people stopped to look, even a few merchants across the pathway looked up from their business. The lady was won over, brushed a blonde lock of hair out of her eyes, and nodded. "Then help me finish setting up, and get to the business of this day."

"Yes"m," she held in the laugh and arranged the wares with extra care. Selecting a few ribbons and convincing the woman to let her weave them into her hair. She promised it would be worth it.

There were some shoppers taking their ease, watching her tumble along the edge of the fountain. The curve was a particularly tricky part of the tumbling, not like a straight line, but she manages to land the final double back and catch the applause and some of the coins as well. "It's a fine midday, and don't forget to eat to keep hale and hearty. As the poet says, words are fine to dine for the soul, but meat and drink fill the belly!"

Laughter scattered about, she cartwheeled along the edge and sprang to spin, when the concussion of a blast shifted her balance. The sound was a giant's whip crack, but the heat like a wave of djinn's breath across her. It was all so fast and so slow mixed together in a there and now. A twisting turn, her head bumped rather than crashed against the fountain edge.

Little of the debris reached the area she was, but the wailing and rising cries for help chorused over the crunching boots over debris. All manner of people rushed to help in they way they could. Lirssa was one of them. The ringing of her ears and flashes of dizziness ignored, she helped with hurt and frightened children and under the direction of a healer, guided them all to a clinic.

The clinic was bustling with activity and noise. Motion was constant and the moans of pain crashed against her over and over like a sea upon a shore. She kept a smile and ran doing what she was told. "Bandages," came one. "Water," another yelled. "Sheets," "Blankets," "Ice," "Thread," and all other cries came at her and she rushed to fulfill the needs of others.

Day rushed into night and there was nothing more to her for running. She had to get away for just a little bit or there would be no light to share. She had to find a little room to breath. The streets, old home, called to her and she listened.

Clapping hands together in fierce determination to keep them warm, Lirssa shared cold looks with the sky. "If ya gonna snow, will be gettin to it?" The Marketplace was alive and dead, like a bit of rotting wood that still had sprigs of green growing from another end. The mood just as uneven, she was convinced it was from the fickle undecisive sky that brought it about.

It did not help that handsprings and twisting flips were all the more precarious with weather having fits of cold temper. She needed an overhang or dry area that was not the haphazard creation of reconstruction. She walked the length and width of the Marketplace for a suitable place to lay down the blanket rolled about her shoulders, and continued her debate with the sky. "If you'd snow, I could have a good snowball fight or snow play...something." She kicked at some sullied past remnents of snow and ice. "Can't throw that. It's just nasty." She retorted to an imagined suggestion from the sky. "Need something fresh!"

The sky was not going to oblige at the moment, so she dropped the cloth in a hazy corner between two buildings that had meeting overhangs. Boots removed, a stomp and wiggle of feet as they met the chill, hands clapped together more, and she began to twist and turn her body to warm up into the first spring of a flip and then claimed the silk flowers in their dark reds and purples to juggle and dance. Movement might bring some coin, but more she wanted to see people smile again — and keep warm.

The morning of the Winter Market Lirssa woke with a scratchy throat and a fever. No amount of pouting, pleading, or threatening was going to budge her mother from letting her out of bed, much less out of the house. The grumpy tantrum Lirssa tried to pull also got her a punishment of restriction to the house and grounds for two days after she was well, too. Her mother and father knew very well that such a restriction was much more suitable punishment to their energetic daughter than any other consequence they could imagine.

Lirssa tossed about in bed, sheets ashambles from the frustrated flopping of her legs, and though she did not realize it, she slept more than anything as the illness did its work and her body fought back. The fortunate herbal remedies of her mother helping along the way, but nothing could fix the complete and utter disappointment of missing the Winter Market fun.

At least her parents had sent a note to let the foster mother know she would not be coming. It was not enough to heal the wounded little heart as she dreamed of happy lights, snowball fights, and sweet, warm drinks.

The weather was being persnickity, and with the looking down the noses and snouts of folks at the inn, Lirssa wasn't going back there any time soon. She didn't like hanging around the foster homes when there was not reason for her to be there. They had enough to keep under hand without her being there juicing the kids up with her energy.

Rain did nothing for earning coin either. She could do some tumbling tricks, but most weren't going to stand in the rain to watch her. Rainy days weren't really good for much except going to school.

The teachers had gotten used to her showing up when the weather was bad. At first they had tried to be hard on her, showing her all she had missed while she was away. The problem was with her sponge of a mind and her enjoyment of reading, the conversation usually turned from showing her to her telling them. After a few of this turn abouts, the instructors had come to accept that as long as she was given the information, she was getting the education, whether it was from them or the books.

What she did get from going to school that she didn't get elsewhere was learning to get along with those her own age. Like an ugly duckling, she didn't belong with adults and she didn't belong with children. She knew too much and too little all at once. When the children went to play their games, Lirssa would try to join in the fun. Sometimes they would let her, but sometimes they wouldn't. Calling her names and getting her temper up, Lirssa never came to blows. She just called them uppity adults in short pants, and stomped off.

One little girl, though, had saught her out. They shared their meals, and Lirssa rattled away as the girl giggled at the funny stories. Little Elspeth was a quiet thing, but Lirssa made sure no one ever picked on dark haired, dark eyed, soft spoken friend. Lirssa, of course, tried to make sure no one picked on anyone.

The days were getting warmer, and Lirssa was happier for it. She had spent a good portion of her earnings during the winter. If it had not been for the parade, she would have been hard pressed to feed the little pack of dogs she discovered on one of her sojourns to her old haunts. It wasn't something she was going to ask her parents to help her do, and she sure wasn't going to bring them all home. So, she had it in her mind to feed the poor creatures as often as she could.

Rib showing, fight scarred, scared dogs of all sizes, five in all, made their home against the wind and weather in a narrow alleyway barely able to let a grown man walk down without brushing shoulders on either side of the brick buildings. At her approach, heads lifted, a few weary tails wagged, as her familiar scent gave them the excited thrill of familiarity.

The food had been paid for, plus an extra or two fish heads from behind the butcher's shop, and it was fresh and bloody. Its scent was easily recognized, and all standing now, nuzzled at her pack where the meat had been wrapped in paper. "Hold on with ya now, I won't have ya eatin" my fingers, too," she giggled. Eager mouths took their treasures and chomped and gulped their way through the minor meal.

Such a fresh scent was not mistaken by other prowlers of the alleyways. A warning hackle raise of two of the dogs, their size and shape of mixed mastiff and shepherds, and soon all the dogs were on alert. Lirssa turned to see the source of their anger.

Three dogs, their coats the matted, shaggy look of more street hounds, closed off the alley exit. Their grim tipped hackles spiked along their shoulders and down their backs. They wanted their share of the treats. Unkempt nails clacked against the stones in threatening drumbeats.

Lirssa tasted the worry and fear in her mouth. Its acrid flavor hard to swallow in a throat closing up as adrenaline began its push through her body. Her canine friends included her in their pack of defense. The dane, his long back tense with the confrontation stepped up to join the two mixed breeds. Removing her bag from around her shoulders, she gripped the strap in both hands and held it ready to swing. "Go away!" she yelled at the intruding three dogs.

Her cry had no effect. Guilt and blame griped at her like some unseen hand closed around her heart. If these dogs came to harm because of her. What if the children she tried to help came to similar fates" Was she even doing anyone good"

The dam of the tension burst, dogs sprang upon each other, snarling and snapping. Ferocity the scrabbling game of overpowering and rending. With all the force of her arms, she swung the bag, its weight light, the glass balls of her trade popping and shattering. The hilts of sheathed juggling knives clanged and beat when they came in contact with a dog.

Pain in her leg brought out a scream and just then three people came running up to the alleyway to see what was going on. One took off and the two others came into break up the pandemonium of biting and growling beasts and child. Tears of anxiety streamed down a sweaty face as Lirssa looked up at the man in armor. "I just wanted to help them." The pain in her leg, a bite from one of the big brutes come to attack her friends, throbbed and stung like lightning strikes up her body. She tried to step forward but stumbled. She would not cry out again. She had broken bones before. She had hurts before. This was nothing, she kept telling herself.

"Come on, lass," the man caught her up. Her canine friends began to growl again with the low guttural warnings of danger to their pack. "Easy there," he said to the pack, "easy. We'll take care of her."

"Don't hurt them," Lirssa commanded but it came out in a squeak.

"We'll see to them, lass. Come on now. Let's get your leg tended.? The man carried her out as his partner wrestled and jostled with the four hounds still walking, carrying the fifth and smallest's little lifeless body, careful to not let the little girl see.

Lirssa sat on the chair disappointed. Her parents had made their arguments against her wishes for magical healing of her leg, and became even more adamant when she gave them the honest reasons why. Their following lecture was not what she wanted to hear in addition to being denied her desire to have the cast off and a healing adept mend the leg.

The brooding had started her to thinking. The thinking started her to moving again, crutches, now ribboned to make them flutter with her motion and the breeze, in hand. It was a long road into town. Along that way, the words of her parents and even long dead Bubber went round and round in her mind.

She was so consumed with the thought it took her a moment to realize someone was coming up behind her at a trot. Turning her head about over her shoulder just as Michael Pointers came up beside her. "What're you doing outta school?" Suspicious of this strange happenstance, her mouth turned sour and eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, well, Hi to you, too, Lirssa." He snapped back. "I'm running errands for my Da. You sure make good time on those things. Why aren't you in school?" He added with a superior look. "You can't tumble like that."

That got her back up. "What do you know" I can too tumble if I want to, broken leg or no."

"That's stupid. You'd break something else in the trying." He was very certain of this knowledge. It was a forgone conclusion.

Lirssa stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh is that so?" Crutches drawn out from their support, she shoved them at him. "Hold these."

Shocked, the crutches hit Michael straight in the chest and he coughed out his breath. "Lirssa, don't-"

Paying him no mind, she took a few hops to get her speed up and started a handspring into a back flip-flop and meant to go into a backflip. The weight was wrong and her center of balance was off. She felt it, and, instead of tucking into the final trick, she opened up and let the energy of the motion carry her in a series of wobbly backward hops.

Pale faced, Michael ran up to her. "You're crazy! You coulda killed yourself!"

"But I didn't!" Everything she wanted to yell at her parents came out at Michael. "I know what I'm doing! And you can't tell me what to do and what not to do. I make my own decisions, got it' Can't always stay safe!"

Michael thrust the crutches back at her. "You're never safe! You're the wildest person I know! What is with you?!"

Lirssa took the crutch and smacked Michael on the head with the soft, leather cushioned part. "You're rude!"

He ducked and rubbed his dark haired head where she hit him at the side of his head and he grabbed back for the crutch. "Ow! Me" I'm rude? You just hit me with your crutch!"

"Hey!" Another voice called in. "Leave her alone!"

Lirssa and Michael turned with a blink of surprise. Lirssa even moreso than Michael, her mouth agape as she saw Peter and Missy standing in the road behind them. Even in their oversized but well kept clothes, they looked pathetic with their sallow skin and hollowed cheeks. Peter had his fists clenched, white of boney knuckles showing, and Missy was mocking the stance with less enthusiasm or confidence.

"Caw..." Lirssa breathed out just stunned.

It was a cheerful day. Lirssa squinted a grin up at the sun as if they were thinking the exact same thing. The wind was going to make juggling difficult, but she would leave off knives for today. A knick or two did not trouble her, but bloody fingers did not make for a good performance. With the glass balls still not replaced, she was left with the scarves or the bouncy balls. Scarves in wind also did not make a promising combination, and at the conclusion of the silent debate with the sun, she nodded and started to stretch out at the corner of the building before seeking out her spot in the Marketplace for displaying her talent.

As she stretched over her left leg, she frowned at its weakened appearance. It would take time to get it strong again. The light scars of where the teeth of the dog had punctured the skin stood stark white against the paleness of the rest of her leg. Pushing the red leggings of her motley back down to cover it, she stood up and hopped to test her ankles. Her hair was jingling with the seven bells she tied with ribbons along the rows of braids that started at the front of her hairline and merged together until they came to one ponytail in the back. It had cost a few coins to have the peddler lady do her hair, but she had known Tamri for years now. It was a long standing agreement.

Sharp green eyes, bright as a summer meadow skipped about the Marketplace to pick her spot. It seemed the area around the fountain was consumed by people lounging near the cool of water. If she could find someplace nearby there it would make for a fine audience in place. In order to fish out the right spot, she darted out into the slow moving herd of people, stopping and starting as they made their purchases and met with friends for the day.

Slipping like a fish through water, she stopped dead in her tracks as she spied Peter and Missy out at the corner again. They looked a little better, no doubt having been rewarded with kinder treatment for their success. The anger still spat and sparked in her like an hot coal sprinkled with water to see them bound to that man.

"Move along, little one," a man directed as he marshalled his girth about her. She had been like a stone in the stream, forcing people to trouble themselves in passing her slim form. Lirssa blinked, ducked her head in apology, and jolted her limbs into motion out from the vein of the Marketplace.

A serviceable space, though not long enough for any of her series of tumbling runs, was formed by two vending carts at odd angles. She drew away the satchel from her shoulder and tucked it into a shadowed corner. A shake of her head, the bells set to chiming, she stood tall in the center of her space, then with a slow stretch of her leg, up beside her head, she gave one turn about, and then bent backward, her legs split in the air above her as she stood on her hands. A shake of her head, the bells chimed out again. Some people, more observant than others, gave a pattering of applause as she moved on into the next trick, balancing on one hand as she twisted her body to the side.

Lirssa felt the delighted sparkle in her chest as bright as fireworks. Their applause would draw more eyes and more applause, and if the day turned out very well, she would have coin in her purse again. More coin was just what she needed for her plans.

Lirssa held Missy's hand as they wove their way through the throng of people towards Miss Annie's ribbon cart. The day had a fresh clean feel in the air of the afternoon. The sun played peek-a-boo behind clouds hurried along by a nice breeze. A breeze prone to pick up and carry all the variety of aromas sprinkled through the maze of vendors and carried on the body of people. Missy sneezed and looked up at Lirssa wide eyed with fear. "What?" Lirssa giggled, "Don't you think I sneeze, too' We aren't on a secret mission, ya silly. Sneeze all ya want." Missy rubbed at her nose with a shy duck of her head, but there was a smile there. The little girl, Lirssa guessed no more than seven, clung to her as near as her clothes. It being tunic and leggings today instead of motley, the clinging could have been worse. "Missy, I have a shadow, ya know. I won't let anyone hurt you." A confident smile and squeeze of the girl's hand. "Lirssa!" Miss Annie called spying the girl with a hopeful glint to blue eyes. "Good to see you. Come to earn a bit of coin?" "No ma"am, come to spend a bit of coin. We need," she stopped. Holding up a hand to bid Miss Annie wait a moment, she bent her strawberry blonde head to Missy in soft conference. "Twenty you think" Think they'll get that much to make twenty?" Uncertain and afraid to assert her own opinion, Missy shrugged boney shoulders and shook her head unknowing. Lirssa was not letting her off the hook, though, and pressed further. "Well, if Peter and Michael are getting the flowers-" "Why are they getting the flowers" Shouldn't girls get the flowers?" Miss Annie was giving a curious sort of smile catching parts of the conversation. "No, boys can get flowers, too, and did you really want them picking out ribbon' Twenty ribbons?" There was a deep frown of consideration that whitened already pale little lips, but then Missy nodded, "Okay, twenty, I think they can get enough for twenty." Satisfied that Missy had tried for an original thought without the fear of asserting it, Lirssa gave a bit smile to Miss Annie, "We need twenty ribbons about the length of my arm from here," Lirssa drew her hand across the inside of her elbow, "to here," she marked the line of her wrist. "May we pick out the colors, please?" Miss Annie was not about to let an opportunity of having Lirssa nearby pass her by. "What do you think to doing a bit of work, and I will give you ten for ten you purchase." Lirssa narrowed her eyes, pouted her lips and tapped her chin approximating the thoughtful look Bubber used to give when thinking over a bargain offered. She was not satisfied without more details. "Give you half an hour." "An hour," Miss Annie countered. "Three quarters an hour," Lirssa bartered back. "Done," Miss Annie's hand out for the shake, and Lirssa took it up for a shake. "Now Missy here is a smart lass, she can help keep things straight when folks start pawing about your wares." Lirssa did not give Miss Annie or Missy time to argue, but shuffled Missy around behind the cart and pointed out how to keep things in order. Missy gave Miss Annie a timid look up through golden brown lashes, and hid her hands whispering up to Lirssa, "My hands are dirty." "Wash them," Lirssa whispered back and pointed to the fountain close by. Then knowing full well Missy would not go by herself, gave a look to Miss Annie that they would be right back, and took care of the issue without a beat lost in lollygagging. Hurrying back, Lirssa set Missy back behind the cart once more and then stretched her legs and back in brief before going out before the cart and calling out with a cheerful grin and clap over her head. "Ribbons and bows " darling delights for every occasion!" A tumbling run, the tunic belted around her waist flopped its loose length into her vision at times, but she did not do any of the high dangerous tricks. The crowd parted and turned to watch, drawing their eyes to the cart where Miss Annie smiled and held up ribbons for display and Missy tried to make herself as small as she could while continuing to straighten even areas that were not mussed.

In the three quarters of an hour, Miss Annie had brisk trade and Lirssa was warmed with the effort and calls, but both satisfied with the bargain they had made. "Now then, twenty ribbons, you said, and a good deal on top of the ten free I offered at the start." Miss Annie smiled to the girls. "Make your selections and we will work out a cost."

Giggling and grinning, the girls showed each other choice after choice: pink embroidered, lacy blue velvet, shimmering purple silk, and so many more. With their purchases made, the girls ran to the secret meeting place at the first oak south of town where they hoped the boys would have made their bounty of wildflowers and greens to be bound. They were halfway through their plan, and things were going very well.

Lirssa was dripping wet and laughing. She had convinced Michael to join the rest of her little gang of foster children and street kids, including Peter and Missy, for a swimming journey in the springs of the Glen. All of their clothes clung to wiry bodies as they splashed through the water and climbed the rocks.

"I'm not givin" up!" Peter yelled after Lirssa, chasing her up and down the rocks. Her acrobatic skills gave her the advantage and helped to avoid skinned knees and feet. She stayed just ahead of his grasp.

"Ooh, be careful!" Missy cried up at them. Her feet dangled in the spring water, still not sure if she wanted to get in with all the other children. All of her soaking had come from the others splashing.

Edging toward and outcropping, Lirssa leapt and plunged into the refreshing water, hearing the bubbling splash of Peter just after her, grasping for her arm. "Gotcha!" he grinned as his hand closed around her wrist and pulled.

Michael was fed up with the game and came charging over from where he had been watching them run. "Let her go."

"No," Peter's hand closed hard around her wrist, glaring at Michael in defiance.

"Ow, Peter, that hurts." Lirssa twisted her arm free and trudged through the water to flop down on the grassy edge by Missy. "You all going to the ice cream social and fireworks?"

Michael and Peter were still prickling and did not answer. Missy's little fingers caressed the grass, flicking the blades of green. "I don't know if we can get away tomorrow."

Rolling over, Lirssa put her hands behind her head and looked up at the sky. "Pah, tell him what a great place to go with all those people distracted by fireworks. You could make a haul for him."

"But then we'd have to, wouldn't we?" Peter dropped onto the grass beside her. "It isn't so easy, and we can't keep going through garbage putting him off from getting" wise."

Lirssa blinked down at him and then blinked again. She was softening and rounding in places she had been rail flat before. The way her sky blue linen tunic revealed this made her suddenly self conscious. She sat up and folded her arms across her leaning forward against her knees. "We'll think of somethin"."

"You'll think of something, you mean." Michael muttered as he watched the other children having a good time, carefree and playing.

"Same thing," Lirssa scowled back and set to doing just that. "Let's all meet at the social. I've got a plan a"formin".?

When the Master of the house came into view, he was as thin as a lamp post, built like an iron spike and looked as ready to strike down into anyone that argued against him. "What's this?" he repeated.

Lirssa squared her shoulders and gave a nod. "Sir, my name is Lirssa," she never gave out her last name. It would do no good dragging her parents into such unscrupulous situations. It felt right deep down, but Lirssa knew what adults would think of her attempting this action. "I am here to speak to you about Missy and Peter and paying off their family's debt."

A smile, no more than a slice across his lower face, slid into place. "Why of course, Miss Lirssa, do come in." He turned and the light from the hallway and entry lamps illuminated a scar along his neck that shadows had hidden before.

"No, sir, thank you. We can do the business right here. I understand you have good cause to be claiming the labor to pay off the debt. It is a hard thing for people to pay off a debt with their concern on the children, and they cannot be much use to you without yet knowing a trade." Lirssa tried for nonchalant even with her heart drumming out a faster pace. "I can be handing over one hundred now to clear it all, and let's call the bargain done." Her hand out to seal the deal.

The Master scoffed, a wheezing sort of snicker. "One hundred" After what I have invested in clothing, feeding, and teaching them a trade" Certainly not."

Drawing back her hand, Lirssa did not haggle. One hundred is what Peter said was his parents" debt. "Sir, I will have you know that my legal representative has informed me that in matters of debt, the paying of that debt is bound by law to free those indentured for its lien." That Mister Lucky had also said it was highly unlikely anyone who had even claimed children as lien would release them at all, and they were as good as slaves did not need to be mentioned.

"Law?" The Master crossed bony arms, laughed a high pitch cackle like a mad raven, and leaned over to capture her gaze with his bright, round blue eyes. "What law here, Lirssa" I will grant them over to you when you meet my price and not before."

Lirssa leaned forward, nearly setting petite nose to long pointed one, "Mister, you just made me mad."

With the summer months on, Lirssa had taken to going around barefoot. It was comfortable and reminded her of happy days at the tournaments with Bubber cheering for the knights and fighters, feeling the grass, dirt, and wood of the railings beneath her feet. Cobblestones were a bit hot, but as she tumbled and twisted through her routine beside the fountain she kept her hands and feet from touching the stones for long.

A decent gathering had horseshoed around her. Delicate ladies were fanning themselves, skeptical gents trying not to look impressed, or lecherous, at the bizarre contortions, and all being generous with their applause and coin. The day warranted a good favor of smiles and audience, and Lirssa kept going though she could feel the heat of her limbs going into exhaustion.

It was a good thing they were tossing the few coins after each turn and tumble. The bottles Lirssa had collected the night prior from the inn were not yet washed and cleaned for the selling. She had been distracted by the strange goings on. In fact, it distracted her still, and while in a handstand, she shifted her weight to stand on one hand. Her legs twisted out to the side, and her free fingers reached to check the key in her pocket.

Mister Lucky had given it to her, warning her to be careful, and that she could use it when in trouble. It was still there. The key was warm against the skin tight cloth of her leggings, green in the matching motley of her jerkin. Many things about last night distracted her thinking. She had spent the entire night in her tree house turning the key over and over as she tried to figure out what had happened, until she blinked awake in the morning to find the key clutched in her hand.

Whatever happened last night in the inn had been bad. That much she knew. Never in her life had she been afraid of Mister Lucky, but she had never seen him so angry before " the way he looked at that man who had disappeared. He hated him. Well, if he hated him and Mister Alain hated him, by golly, she hated him, too.

Her arm ached and she realized she had near folded down on herself while she had been thinking. Her knees were by her ears and as close to a human pretzel as one could get. Unfolding and hopping to her feet again, she shook her head to sound the bells of her ribboned hair and gave bows and curtsies to the applause. Handspringing through the crowd, she flipped back up onto the edge of the fountain, eager to feel its cool spray, and it always had a nice dramatic effect, too.

From the new view, she could see Val slipping through the traffic of the Marketplace and waving at her. Another bow, she resigned to what she had earned so far and hoped it would be enough to cover some of Mister Glenn's supplies for the banister. Springing down again with goodbye waves and smiles of thanks, she gathered up her satchel of juggling knives and scarves, among other things, and rushed to meet Val.

"Hurry up," he gasped with wide eyes, 'some fella's shown up looking over the place. He looks all sorts of scruffy, and he's got a wagon with stuff in it!"

Confused, and with the warning in her mind from Mister Lucky to be mindful of strange things, she grabbed his hand and pulled him around in a whirling turn to dash back the way he had come.

(more directly about the house is under the A house into a home thread in the S.P.I. folder)

Examining her hand, the pink still there, but no blisters to be seen, she rose to go to the house for the afternoon before she returned to make her night hours performance. The streets were as busy as ever, but she made good time arriving at the house. There were few adults around, and those were focused hard on their work. With a smile and a wave, Lirssa greeted them all but did not break their concentration.

Val passed by with a nervous sort of smile. He carried a bar of metal in his hands in the direction of Mister Johnny who was managing to still get work done though Sampson was near monkeylike in his clambering nearness to see the man's skill put to use. "We gotta speak with ya "bout somethin"," he whispered in passing.

When Lirssa turned, her lip curled and brows pulled in confusion, "Wha?" Val just gave a nod back to the house.

She turned back to the house that now looked ominous with its three stories, the Victorian style gables and ornaments no longer as heartening. If the children were having second thoughts about living here, well, there were always others, but it would make it that much harder to convince the next batch. Green eyes cast upon the new set pavestones of the walkway that led to the wide porch and the open door there.

Jess opened the door with a visible shiver. She was scared, and Lirssa could see it. Well, it wouldn't do any good to be cross out right without knowing what was going on, so she gave the girl a smile and let her lead on to where four of the other children were waiting in the now finished parlor. "Hello. Val says you got somewhat to be said?"

Benji was poked and prodded, nodded and whispered to by the others until he gave in to be the de facto spokesperson. "Yeah, well, you see"the thing is this, Lirssa," he cleared his throat.

Lirssa's jaw clenched and her spine stiffened. Crossing her arms and setting one foot to patting, she was gearing up for a fight.

A worried look cast back to his companions now shrinking down where they sat on the floor, but one gave another nod and a nudge of a foot for Benji to continue. He was a young boy, near as he could guess, about eight years old. The dusty blonde hair often hung in his grey eyes, and he took no pains to clear it away. "Well,?" he tried again, "we don't want to go back out to the streets anymore. We want to stay here. Now."

The heads of all the children there nodded like a bunch of birds bobbing on the ocean. Lirssa was about to lambast them for being cowards for not leaving their old life only to have to do a complete re-think. "Oh, well, it isn't done, and it isn't safe. You'd all be packed here with no one to look after ya."

"We got that now," grumped Esther, her freckled nose crinkled. "This place is on regular patrols like. And we won't go upstairs till the adults give an okay. Not like we don't live out in dumps now less safe than here. Come on, Lirssa, you gotta say it is okay."

"Adults won't like it. Not one bit." Lirssa warned, but then gave a nod. "Okay, well, we'll need some provisions, and I'll stay this night with ya just to see how it goes."

Delighted smiles and puffs of breath sprang up all around. Lirssa giggled and then became serious once again. With a sharp raise of her hand in warning, "Gotta keep it from them, and I know some of ye've gotten awful fond of the grown ups, cause their good folk, but you gotta keep it secret. Now," grinning again, "guess I'll go spend this money I earned to get us some sleeping gear. Esther and Benji, come with me, because then I'll just stay to earn some more. Rest of you, get to doin" whatcha should."

With a turn about, the three of them headed back to the Marketplace and for a shopping spree, a completely new experience for Benji and Esther who studied Lirssa as she worked her way and paid with confidence for what they needed.

Afterall, she heard Mister Alain tell Mister Johnny he might be stopping by. That meant they needed to have a plan in place to hide their staying overnight in a split second notice. Wild with excitement, her heart racing with the thrill and the pumping of her legs, she ran through the city, dodging the near-do-wells with agile leaps and twists when they thought her easy prey.

She knew this city too well, even with its constant changing. Some places always had what was really needed, and there hadn't been a time yet that she couldn't find a ladder to climb and skinny across a roof or a passing person to run behind and hide in the shadows of buildings and greenery.

When she arrived at the house, its windows, some decorated in elegant bars with their figures in rampant, were dark like so many hollowed out eyes. She slipped in through the not yet complete fence and crept up to the house with a soft whistled tune. A hand darted out of the door and jerked her inside. "You be here!" Jess squealed.

"Shh!" Lirssa motioned the girl to calm down and then went to find the others. They were all huddled around in the parlor, some of the girls staring at the new nightshirts like they were alive and might bite them. "Why aren't you two dressed?"

Esther spoke up, her own new nightshirt starched stiff like a ruff rising from the boney shoulders. "They's too scared to put "em on."

" "M dirty, Lirssa." Anasta looked up mournful.

"Well, clean up then."

"Only working pipes for the bath is upstairs," Val supplied the reasoning.

Lirssa was having none of it. "Kitchen sink is working."

The two little girls looked aghast. "We can't be washin in there." Anasta began to shake with fright at the thought. "Wash food in there and stuff."

Rolling her eyes with a great big sigh that slumped her shoulders and hung her arms loose like a puppet with broken strings, Lirssa groaned, "Butter and beans, will ya just do it' We'll clean it out after. Come on then. I can't be fussing after you all every inch of the night. We gotta make sure we have clear ways to hide this stuff around here so the grown ups won't suspect."

With Esther's help, the girls went to clean up, and from the sound of giggles later that Lirssa had to shush down, they lost their apprehension of cleaning up in the sink. Their small little bodies fit in it with room to spare, and Lirssa frowned to see the clean line of ribs and shoulder blades.

Not long, though, and she would see them plumped up and making something more for themselves, and hopefully a good family might find them, too.

"You didn't!" gasped Esther, eyes wide and mouth agape.

Lirssa didn't know if the girl was more shocked that she had been in a brothel or if she had accidentally told adults that she had been. Either way, the reply was the same. "I did. 'Course, I should have known, but they dared me!"

Jess was curled up with one of the street dogs, the gentle old Dane, at the edge of the garden where Esther and Lirssa had sat to take their ease. "I wouldn't have gone," the little girl whispered as she rested her head on the dirty, grey fur of the dog, running garden grubby fingers along the coat.

"Me either. Those places are," Esther did not say what they were, but the look on her face as if she had eaten something sour could not be mistaken.

"Anyway," Lirssa sighed, rolling her green eyes, "the point is, I've been thinkin' I need to learn to hold my tongue. I just know it's going to get back around to my mother and father. I'll be in for it then."

"You should have let them dare 'til they were blue in the face," Esther countered, pushing back her hair from her shoulder. "You're gonna be in so much trouble."

Lirssa flopped back onto the patch of grass beneath the shade tree. "Look, you know what its like on the street. I gotta keep up appearances. Besides, it isn't anything I've not seen before when I was out on the cobble beds myself. Bodies are bodies, ya know?"

The two little girls cringed again and Lirssa finally got an inkling there was more to it with those two. Something deeper about places like brothels where fingermen and pantsjumpers abounded. Something about being out on the street where bodies were just bodies to some folks, and things to be used and abused. Changing the topic with a smile, "So, killer excited about the ballet' I best be making my way over some time to make formal introductions and such. Esther, you and Val should come, too."

The change of topic brightened Esther up immediately, though Jess was still into the shy withdrawal. At least she had a hint of an unsure smile. "Val won't go. He's afraid being in a ballet someone will find out his name." Esther giggled and Jess grinned behind a hand.

"Who cares his name is Valentine?" The two girls started laughing outright, and Lirssa just rolled her eyes. "Honestly, children," and folded her arms while the girls got their giggles out.

Jolyon stopped at a vendor showing a few bottles among his other ratty ended wares. A glance to the young girl at his side, "I had wondered about that, truly. Do you not like school?"

She opened her mouth to answer and thought twice. Afterall, Mister Jolly was a learned man, and near to always had some books about him. She was pretty sure if she looked in his satchel know there would be some the way it bumped against his leg. Still, she was an honest soul most times. "True speaking, Mister Jolly, no." With a big gulp of breath, she was not going to let it lay there like that, all flat and unexplained. "I like learning all right. Actors and mummers used to teach me all sorts of stories and poems when I was little. Bubber said I should not be just a tumbling idiot. Just, school is so hard. It isn't..." she bounced a bit on her toes as her body tried to exemplify what she could not exactly find words for, "...peppy?"

It was impossible not to snicker. Jolyon even allowed himself to laugh, then shook his head to the eager merchant and started to walk again. "I must admit I can never recall my schooling being peppy either. You do have a rather eclectic sort of grasp of language. Sometimes using words quite beyond your years, but I suppose that comes from the plays and poems."

"Listening helps, too." She piped up as she went jauntily along at his side. "Of course, I go sometimes. If the weather is bad or I'm hurt and can't tumble. I go then, but most times I just learn from around me. Only Miss Sheffield, she's my teacher, says I'm starting to get behind on my mathematics and sciences. I suppose I gotta start going more." The cringe went through her whole body and kicked out a leg as powerful the revulsion was.

With a sympathetic pat to the little girl's motley covered shoulder, "We all have to do some things we would rather not. I think you've a strong enough spirit to withstand the onslaught of schooling, should you set your mind to it. Afterall, you had the spirit to write your thoughts to the ballet troupe, and I hear it has turned well for you."

A skipped hop and she was turned about to walk backwards with every confidence in the world, beaming her smile up at him. "It sure did! The children from the house get to be in it. And what?s more," she gulped, the thrill of it stealing her breath, "they are going to give us some of the money the earn to support the house!"

"Very well, done, Lirssa." Jolyon congratulated the obviously delighted child. "See, now what is a half day of school to one who can do such as that?" He wanted to see her in school. Of all he had witnessed around him, what the children of the streets, neglected and abandoned to the indifference of a chaotic world, needed was education.

It did not suit Lirssa to think of that one bit, but think she did as they walked. She watched Mister Jolly stop at vendors and would give him a nudge when she knew the vendor was overstating his price. The nudge would transfer through his satchel of books. That satchel of books gave her a thought that brought a sly smile. She tugged on the satchel clasp, trying to be oh so careful and get a peak at what he was reading.

Grateful for Lirssa's subtle indications, Jolyon felt he was making a decent amount of progress in his exploration today. It was a thought to bring the little girl with him on more of his shopping trips at the Marketplace. With her help, he could save a coin here and there. The latest bump against his book bag, drew his attention from the latest enthusiastic merchant. "Say there, Lirssa, something you need" I'd rather you ask than just go roaming about my bag."

Blushing up at the man, she announced quite proud of the thought, "Mister Jolly, you can be my tutor."

The tinkling chimes of a clock sang up the stairs from below. Lirssa shut her book with a clap and almost tossed it aside. Only she recalled just in time that it was not her book but Mr. Jolly's lent to her. Taking more gentle care, she sprang from her bed and set the book with others on a small desk. Her father had made the desk for her when she announced she had a tutor. It had been such a surprising treat that had yet to wear off. Fingers traced the lines of the light cheerful wood and she hopped away with a big grin to her small wardrobe in the corner.

It was close to afternoon with a day sunny if a little cold. That did not matter. Other than the trip into town, she did not anticipate spending much time outside. Of course, unless there was a good opportunity to earn some coin, or a child needed her, or.....Well, now that she thought about it, there could be a lot of reasons she was outside for long. She grabbed her cloak, a new deep green with fake fur trim along its hood and tossed it to her bed. The new motley was drawn out with a great deal more reverence.

Miss Lydia had done her magic again. Lirssa was not quite sure what the material was, though Miss Lydia had explained. She had been too excited for the first wearing to be paying too close attention. It was the most perfect shade of raspberry, though Miss Lydia had called it something else, that Lirssa had ever seen. Gold and green trim added fine detail, but most of all the outfit covered her, stretched and bent with her every move. It even had the most wonderful black gloves with the fingertips revealed.

Her homespun clothing went flying as she dressed and she beamed as she looked down at the perfect fit once again. Soft soled boots, new as well and had cost a pretty penny, were pulled on over the black stockings. The quarter hour chimed from below. "Butter and beans!" Time was escaping from her. She grabbed her cloak and bag of tricks from the edge of the bed. Forgoing the stairs, she called down to her parents, "Be back later. Don't wait supper!" and shimmied down the rope outside her window.

Feet hit the ground and off she ran towards town and the clinic beyond. It would take her a little over an hour at a steady lope to reach her destination, but by then she would be warmed up and ready to go.

Lirssa sprang over to him and handed him the green glass ball. "I need you to roll it to me as hard as you can when I point to you with my foot, okay?"

The boy nodded. Seeing it was only rolling something, a girl with tired brown hair that needed a good dose of sunlight, raised her hand. "Can I help, too?"

"Sure!" Lirssa handed her another ball. Soon enough all the balls were in children's hands. "Now," Lirssa held up her hands like a conductor of a symphony, "there are four juggling balls out, right?" Bobbing heads replied. "So," she reached back and got her other pure glass juggling balls, they were a bit lighter but also breakable, "let's see if we can get them in the pattern along with these." And she started to juggle, pointing a toe and one child, who gamely rolled it to her, the same foot, now free of boots, would drop to the floor, let the ball roll up on her toes and she would pop it up into the pattern.

After all the balls were in the pattern, the children delighted with their inclusion of the game, Lirssa began to change out the patterns, using the anti-glass balls in the more daring tricks like catching it on her foot behind her and kicking it back up over a shoulder into the pattern.

By the end of the entertainments, Lirssa felt actually a little worn out, but the smiles were all she needed to re-energize. All smiles, but one boy in the back glum and sullen who did not seem to watch at all. As she packed her things up, Lirssa watched him sit there while the other children were helped back to their rooms or on to other areas. Satchel on her shoulder, she stopped by him. He turned from her and she shrugged, drew out a ribbon from her hair and set it on the arm of the chair beside him. "We're all connected you know. Invisible ribbons drawing people meant to meet together. It will draw you on to where you should be." And she left with a spring to her step.