Page 28 of The Bone Season

‘Dare I ask why?’

‘Did you not hear?’ she said drily. ‘Arcturus Mesarthim hasnevershown interest in training a human. It’s the most excitement we’ve had in a while.’ She struck a match, setting a flame in the stove. ‘I’ll warm up some broth. The others won’t share.’

‘Why not?’

‘They don’t like jackets, with good reason.’ She set a pot on the stove. ‘They’ll want to judge your character before they trade with you.’

‘But you don’t care.’

‘I always give new arrivals a chance.’

Liss heated the broth. Once it was steaming, she divided it between two bowls. I offered her my numa, but she shook her head.

‘On the house.’

I took a sip of the broth, a thin concoction of oatmeal and shredded leaves. It was gritty, but warm.

‘Here.’ Liss passed me a hunk of stale bread. ‘Skilly and toke. It takes the edge off, at least.’

‘Thank you.’ I nodded towards the central room. ‘There’s food in there.’

‘A rare display of generosity for the Bone Season,’ she said. ‘Our usual rations depend on what sort of performing we do. I get more than most, but it’s never enough. We’re always hungry. Always cold.’

‘How do you manage?’

‘I forage, myself. Others risk stealing from the residences. I hear Merton is best,’ she said. ‘You can slip a few eggs from its coops, or scrump apples.’ She served herself. ‘You could try fishing, if you’re patient. Some poach squirrels and pheasants with traps, but that never ends well. Not in the woods.’

So far, stealing from the residences sounded like my best option. It fit my skill set.

‘I assume the red-jackets have plenty of food,’ I said.

‘Aye. They get chicken from Balliol, venison from Magdalen, all sorts. The amaurotics prepare their meals. They sometimes help us, but they’ve been less willing since December.’

‘What happened?’

‘In winter, the killing cold blows in, and we can’t forage any more. An amaurotic – Nita – took pity on us,’ Liss said. ‘She used to leave food in a basket at the back of Queens. It kept us strong for weeks, but someone reported her. I’ve not seen her since.’

‘Some humans are loyal to the cause, then.’

‘Just like Vigiles. Be careful who you trust.’ She moved her feet closer to the stove. ‘So you’re at Magdalen. What’s it like?’

‘A gilded cage.’

‘It’s a very exclusive residence. In all my time here, there’s never been more than three humans living there. You’ve pushed it to four.’

‘How many residences are there?’

‘Seven that traditionally accept humans. Those are Balliol, Corpus, Exeter, Merton, Oriel, Queens and Trinity,’ Liss said. ‘The Overseer has the whole of Kettell Hall, which is here on the Broad.’

‘And the other buildings?’

‘Those are reserved for the Rephs, except when the amaurotics are cleaning them. You saw the Residence of the Suzerain. There’s also a storage facility on Fish Street, the House.’

‘And what’s Gallows Wood?’

‘When the Rephs came, the outlying districts of Oxford were demolished, replaced by a forest that now surrounds what’s left of the city.’ Liss drank some broth. ‘Gallows Wood is where the Emim hunt. The red-jackets patrol it to stop them reaching the lamplight. Apparently its far reaches are full of mines and trap pits.’

‘And beyond that?’

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