couldnât run, but he might get throughâ¦
C HAPTER
8
He had reached Bull Pizzle territory when he heard shouts. Sanvin Street was supposed to be safe, outside the jurisdiction of any band, but five older boys were coming toward him. Whandall began to run. They chased him down and tackled him.
âHoo!â one of them shouted. âLook what all heâs got!â
âWhere?â another demanded. âWhereâd you gather stuff like this?â When Whandall didnât answer, he hit him on the head with his fist. âWhere?â
âLordshills,â Whandall said.
âYeah, sure. Now where?â They hit him some more and sat on his head.
âLeave me alone!â Whandall shouted. He wanted to scream for help, but it wouldnât do any good. Theyâd just call him a coward and crybaby. But he could shout defianceâ¦
âSerpents!â He heard the cry from down the street. âSerpentâs Walk!â A dozen older boys, led by his brother Wanshig, were coming.
âBull Pizzle!â his tormentor shouted. Then the others were there. Whandall felt the weight lift from his head. There were the sounds of blows.
âYou all right?â Wanshig asked. âCome on, letâs get out of here.â
When they were back at Placehold, Wanshig thanked the others. âSomebodyâd better tell Lord Pelzed,â Wanshig said. âWe may have trouble with Bull Pizzle.â
âI never left Sanvin Street,â Whandall protested.
Wanshig shrugged. âSo what happened? Get anything good?â
âJust some clothes, and look, they tore them, and they gathered myjacket and shoes.â Whandall felt bitter disappointment. Nothing had gone right this time. âThis stuff is too small for them anywayââ
âNice, though.â Wanshig fingered the shirt Whandall was inspecting. âNice. You just need a way to get stuff back to Placehold. Take one of us next time.â
Even his own family lusted for what the Lords threw away!
âIt wouldnât work,â Whandall said. âIt was⦠sort of an accident that I got in and made friends inside.â Theyâd never believe him if he said that Shanda had given him all those things. Or theyâd want to know why. âNobody notices me. But the Lordsmen wouldnât let a bunch of us in.â
âHow many Lordsmen?â
âLots,â Whandall said. âTwo at the gate, but there are others just inside.â
âYeah, we heard that,â Wanshig said. âAnd they have magic too. Did you see any magic?â
âMaybe a little.â
âTen, twenty years ago, before I was born, three bands got together and went to the Lordshills to gather. None of them ever came back,â Wanshig said. âNone.â
Maybe magic
, Whandall thought.
And maybe it was only guards with armor and spears fighting together with the Lords to tell them what to do, and a ship to carry the losers away.
But he could never explain that to Wanshig.
He said, âWan, thereâs going to be a big show. The Lords will have a show in the park, and give away some presents, maybe do some magic.â
âWhen?â
âFive days, I think,â Whandall said. He counted on his fingers. âFive days counting today.â
Wanshig smiled. âGood. Donât tell anyone.
Anyone
. Weâll keep this for the family.â
âWhat will you do?â
âIâll have every Placeholder who can pick a pocket ready for them. Weâll have first pick of the crowd.â Wanshig nibbled his lip, considering. âWe canât keep Bull Pizzle out of the park. Can we make them go somewhere else? Something to get them to the other side of townâ¦â
Whandall watched his brother think.
Wanshig grinned. âDid they go through your pockets?â
âYou got there first.â
Wanshigâs grin got bigger. âSo they donât know you