Chunk 2
Still didn't get as much as I wanted done today, but more than yesterday. :)

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Just as they passed, the man looked up at him and they stared into each other's eyes. Luka felt a jolt of shame go through him -- what was he doing just standing there, watching that pack of fools haul this man off to do who-knew-what to him? And for what? The crime of having no friends in the city? Or the crime of being unable to afford a set of new clothes, bought all at once and matching?

More like the crime of being an easy target when they needed one, when the ones they really hated were outside the walls and out of reach, in the Molani army. Or inside themselves and doubly out of reach; they hated their own fear and the cowardice that implied so they had to attack something, someone. A fearful man did stupid things, he always told his students. This was a lesson come live and trooping past their walls.

Luka stepped out into the street and strode the few steps it took to move around in front of the passing clot of men. He'd spotted the silversmith as the leader, so far as the rumbling gang had one, so he called, "Evening, Halvic Silver. What are you doing there?"

Halvic stopped and the gang came to a stumbling, jostling halt with him a few moments later. One of the men Luka didn't know gave the prisoner a punch to the back of the head, apparently just because he wanted to. Stupid place to punch a man with a bare fist, but about what Luka expected from these idiots.

"Evening, Luka Steel," Halvic retorted, not looking terribly pleased about the interruption. He was willing enough to pause and brag for a bit, though, because he went on with, "We've captured a spy! Right in our midst, sneaking about and spying for the Molani!"

Luka raised both eyebrows, putting on an expression of surprise. "Right here in the open? And you yourself found him?"

Predictably, Halvic puffed out his chest and smirked. "I did! Thought he looked suspicious, creeping about on no particular business and by himself. What honest man just walks the streets at random, staring about at everything and everyone's business? And has no friends to speak for him?"

Luka could have given him a list of possibilities, starting with any visitor in the city on business who found himself with no duties for an hour or two and ending with thousands of people who'd fled inside the walls for refuge, leaving their work outside and separated from friends and family in the crush and chaos. He managed not to roll his eyes, though, and asked, "So what did this man have to say for himself? Surely he had some story to tell?"

Halvic snorted. "Some tale of woe, to be sure. Searching for his brother, he claims. A fine excuse to be sneaking and staring at everyone, to report to his masters."

Not at all a plausible story, Luka thought wryly. He stepped past Halvic and planted himself in front of the prisoner, fists on his hips, near but not quite on the hilts of his two swords. "So who is this brother of yours?" he asked. "And who are you for that matter?"

The man looked him up and down and shrugged. He straightened his shoulders and returned Luka's gaze steadily, but Luka could see his fists trembling. A proud man, then, doing his best not to show his fear.

"My name is Roscha," he said. "I'm looking for my brother Rescha. He looks just like me except he has a scar just here." One hand moved as though to indicate where brother Rescha's scar was, but jerked to a stop, still imprisoned by the hands gripping him. The words had the rhythm of something said many times, though, like a joke said over and over among family and friends. Not really funny but made so by repetition.

"What do you and your brother do? And why look here?"

The man shrugged again. "I look here because the whole tupping world is here! More people in this Tris-abandoned city than I ever thought existed." The man glanced around and then talked faster, as though afraid he'd be cut off before he had a chance to tell his side of things. The men around him were scowling and looking impatient and Luka thought he was likely right.

"We'd been shearing the sheep -- we work for Marka Obrik, south of Cranic -- when we heard there was an army coming. We scoffed but then more strangers came through, fleeing, and all had the same tale. Well, mostly the same," he admitted. "But same enough. They were all coming here and we thought it a good idea. Rescha went ahead with his wife and the children and I took the sheep up to the high pasture. We thought to keep them from feeding the invaders, you know?"

And to keep from losing their sheep, Luka thought. Although if they worked for another man then the sheep weren't theirs. He nodded and asked, "So then what? Where did you plan to meet?"

"Here!" The man waved his arms in frustration, a helpless little flapping of the hands with both his arms held. "I told you, we'd neither of us been anywhere so big before, so we just said we'd meet in Parakovac! I thought I'd just ask if anyone had seen a man who looks like me! We're strangers here, everyone would notice strangers and point the way." He gave a short, barking laugh the sounded half bitter and half hysterical.

"A fool's tale!" snapped Halvic. "What idiot would believe such a thing? Who would think to just come to Parakovac and ask to be shown to his brother?"

"A country fool who'd never been out of his village." Luka let some of his impatience show. This was ridiculous and he was ready to thump Halvic just in principle.

"I've been to Beboj!" the prisoner protested. "To the market there! Twice!"

Luka rolled his eyes, then stared hard at Halvic. "See? The man has never seen more than two hundred people at any one time. He probably thought the city would be, what, two or three times the size? Maybe ten? No spy would be that ignorant, Halvic."

Halvic puffed up and glared right back. "And who are you to judge? This isn't your business."

"So you're going to take him to the barracks, then? Or to the mayor? Or to the king?" Taking him to the army probably wouldn't be bad. A sergeant would likely have the sense to give them all a good clout for wasting his time and send them on their way.

"They're occupied with the affairs of the city and the war, if it has escaped you," retorted Halvic, his voice dripping sarcasm. "We're going to the square to hang him as he deserves."

Oh, for.... "No," Luka said. "You're not." He shifted his hands to his swords and glanced up at Tochi, made sure he did the same. "You've had your fun, Halvic Silver, but you're not hanging a man for his ignorance."