They reached Kirmouth in the early afternoon of the fifth day out from Taerside. The city’s walls were almost white in the midday sun, looming behind the cluster of stalls that lined the road leading up to the gates. Carts, carriages, riders and walkers passed both ways along the highway, which was well-maintained this close to the city. The walls extended to either side, shrinking with distance as they encircled the city itself. The river for which it was named lay on the other side of the city, far enough away that it was invisible from the Taerside road.

Behind the stalls lining the road, the ground was covered with caravans, tents and carts, and horses and donkeys grazed what grass was left a little further out. The stalls themselves sold a huge variety of things, from vegetables to jewellery and tools to children’s toys. Kite couldn’t tell whether the stallholders were from Kirmouth or elsewhere, but she saw plenty of people going to and from the city gates for shopping. The market outside the city gates was clearly popular with the residents.

“Leave it!”

She turned to see Saryth hauling Jig away from a stall with lovely embroidered leatherwork. The thief was looking mournfully empty-handed, and Kite couldn’t hide a chuckle. Saryth was being very attentive - he’d already pulled her away from a cart festooned with handy knives and a stall selling jewellery. Now he gave her a grumpy glare.

“You’re not helping.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re just like a brother and sister... A three-year-old sister.”

That caught Jig’s attention.

“Hey! I’m thirteen!”

“Then stop behaving like a child,” Kite snapped. She could hardly blame Saryth for getting irritated. Now he was the one laughing.

“If that’s what a sister is like, I’m glad I didn’t have one,” he said. Then he stuck his tongue out at Jig. Yep, just like siblings.

“You were an only child?” Kite asked.

“I think so. I don’t remember any family.”

“Were you born at the Duke’s castle, then?” Kite hadn’t wanted to pry into his history, but if he was willing to talk, she wanted to know. Jig was also listening, behind a pretend sulk.

“No, the first person I remember is an old woman. She travelled around from town to town with a tatty old cart. She sold me to the Duke one summer.”

“How old were you?”

“I don’t know. Five, maybe.”

Kite looked aside. His matter-of-fact description was somehow more disturbing than if he’d been upset.

“Hoy!” She jumped. Saryth was bodily hauling Jig back from a stall selling shawls. “I know what you were doing!”

“I didn’t do anything!” she protested. “Truth!”

“Sweet reason,” Kite muttered to herself, “how much further?”

By the time they reached the gate Jig was refusing to speak to either of them, which suited Saryth just fine. The wall was dauntingly thick, towering above the large gateway, which was unguarded. He stared up as the flow of people carried them through and into Kirmouth proper. Crowded streets swarmed with people and the ubiquitous small carts pulled by donkeys. The buildings were made of pale grey stone with dark tiled roofs, and here and there a bridge connected buildings across the side streets. It was flatter than Taerside, a welcome relief to tired legs, but small crooked staircases abounded, leading to first floor balconies or upper apartments, or just to a different route around the city. It looked like a confusing place to find your way around, but Kite walked as confidently as she always did, and Saryth and Jig followed her, weaving through the streets and turning occasionally until Saryth was completely lost.

“Where are we going?” he asked eventually. For all that it felt smaller and more cramped than Taerside, there was a lot of city inside Kirmouth’s walls.

“Here, I hope,” Kite said, stopping at a small door set in a semi-circular tower which backed onto a long tenement. She knocked, and it was opened by an older man with greying beard and hair. He smiled at them without recognition.

“Hello. How may I help you?”

“I travel in search of that which is lost,” Kite said, with an odd, formal turn of phrase. The man nodded thoughtfully.

“And I live in hope of its being found,” he said, equally formally, then, “come in, come in! It’s good to see you!”

He beckoned them into a small hall with a tiled floor. A hanging curtain to the right and a spiral staircase leading upwards suggested more living space than had been apparent from the outside.

“Are all of you -”

“No, just me,” Kite said quickly. “I’m Kite, this is Saryth and this is Jig.”

“Call me Pyetr. Are you hungry? It’s just about lunchtime.”

The hanging curtain divided the hall from a small dining room, and after shedding cloaks and footwear, and making quick ablutions, the party sat down to lunch. It wasn’t obvious whether Pyetr had expected visitors, always expected visitors, or was quick about arranging food, but there was plenty to eat. Jig set about stuffing her face, as she had done at every meal since joining them on the road. Saryth helped himself to bread and cheese, and small tart tomatoes, and tried to eat more tidily. Pyetr waited until they had mostly finished eating before asking questions.

“So, where have you been so far?” That was directed at Kite.

“Agaria, Corwaith, the Barren Hills, Westleshire, Irshand and Taerside.”

“And you two?” He turned his attention to Saryth and Jig. “Where do you come from?”

“Corwaith.”

“Gmfaersighmf,” said Jig through a full mouth. Exasperated at her manners, Saryth elbowed her in the ribs, but that just made her choke. She frantically grabbed for her water glass. Kite winced, and Pyetr looked tolerantly amused.

“Taerside,” Jig managed eventually, flushing. She put her hands in her lap, her plate empty. Saryth finished his mouthful and did the same. Pyetr stood up.

“If you’ve had enough to eat, I wonder if you would be so kind as to lend me a hand clearing up, Kite?”

“Of course,” Kite said, at the same time as Saryth and Jig both spoke up.

“I’ll help!”

He glanced sideways at Jig, frowning, and she glared back.

“That’s very kind of you, Saryth, Jig, but we’ll be fine. Why don’t you take a look around Kirmouth, if you’ve never been here before?”

“Thank you,” Saryth said, uncertain. Wandering around a strange city didn’t sound very attractive.