Beka never had to choose. She never had to choose between her rat-friends, Aniki, Kora, Phelen, Bold Brian and the rest, and the King's Law. She never had to choose between Rosto and the Dogs.
As Rosto was led in chains before the Magistrate, a runner came in, panting.
'Milord,' the runner gasped, 'Milord, you got the wrong uns!'
The Magistrate frowned, asking, 'what do you mean, lad, speak up!'
The boy's eyes became haunted, and all in the Magistrate's Court felt a little colder. 'The Terrier,' the boy breathed.
'What?' the Magistrate demanded. Rosto's heart pounded hard with every other body's in the building.
'They … the proper rats, sir, they …' tears fell from the lad's eyes; he could speak no more.
Sergeant Clara Goodwin stood up, commanding the boy to lead her to her former puppy.
The cage dogs loosed their hold on the Court rats, all following Clara Goodwin. Ersken looped an arm around Kora, Tom Goodwin held his wife's hand. No one dared look at the Rogue.
The crowd reached the corner of Stuvek St and Market Bridge. Tucked into the side of the way were several sprawled bodies, unconscious and battered. The runner whispered that they were the real rats. But it was the body sitting, unmoving, leaning against a wall covered with scummer that drew all eyes.
Guardswoman Rebekah Cooper had known that the Black God was calling her name; there could have been no doubt for the bones in one arm had broken the skin with jagged edges, there was a large, still bleeding knife wound in her shoulder and multiple slashes everywhere. Her chest had caved in, splintered ribs piercing lungs and another knife wound in her belly. Her famous, ghostly eyes burned across her city from her still, white face. Her baton was still grasped in one hand, her sap in the other.
It became clear to all that Beka Cooper had won against a gang of rats; at least ten lay near her, unconscious. Even in her final moments, Beka had made sure they would receive the King's Justice; sending a messenger to find the others.
Goodwin sunk to her knees next to her puppy, tears welled in her eyes. Rosto froze, Scanran ice covering him. Aniki stared as Kora and Ersken held each other. Lord Gershom of Haryse passed a hand over his eyes, head bowed.
The soft coo of a pigeon startled their silent mourning. The fool bird strutted along the rooftop above Beka's resting place; fluffing its fawn plumage and rolling its light blue eyes. Snapping wings open, it glided down to land on Beka's knees. It slapped Goodwin and seeming both to laugh and scold the 'lot of you for loobies, these bugnobs haven't been trialed yet!'
Beka's close friends watched as the pigeon lifted itself into the sky, circling mockingly before heading towards the Dancing Dove.
Beka might not have been forced to choose, but she wasn't done with Corus or the Lower City yet.
AU: no Farmer, no Tunstall. Haven't read Mastiff yet (still can't find it) so nothing from there.