Lord Havelock Vetinari never thought he'd see the day in which he would walk through the city with a string of children following hard upon his heels. He deliberately took the alleys and back ways, telling himself it was for speed, not to remain hidden with his charges. Every so often he would glance behind him, but the children followed doggedly, uncomplaining of the quick pace or twisty directions.

At last he reached the palace and with a curt command opened the gates. He ignored the bafflement he could see on so many of the guard's faces. Up the stairs and into the kitchen he led them where he soon found Mildred Easy, one of the maids who was good with children.

"Please take them to one of the spare rooms and look after them Miss Easy. They could most likely do with lunch as well." He paused and studied the astonished expression on Milly's face. "You are also relived of your other duties while they are in your care. Entertain them in any way you wish."

"Yes milord."

He followed her astonished gaze and saw it resting on the girl he held cradled in his arms. She was so light he had barely noticed he still held her protectively to her chest. "Oh, and I would like someone to notify Tom Daniels that he is wanted at the palace. I will send down the address shortly."

"Yes milord." Milly said again, wondering if his lordship had gone slightly crazy. But the children were her first concern, they were far too thin. "May I take the young'ns to cook for a bite, milord?"

The Patrician smiled wickedly, "yes, I'm sure he'd be delighted to cook for someone other than Wuffles. By all means, take them. I shall be in the mostly blue room."

True to its name, the mostly blue room was well, …mostly blue. The walls were pale blue while the ceiling was painted to look like the noontime sky. Icy blue, almost white curtains fell from the picture windows. Seascapes were hung around the walls, laid out like rolling waves. The plush carpeting was navy blue and nearly and inch thick, and very warm. Even the large oak bed Mariel was laid in had a royal blue velvet canopy and blue satin sheets.

Quickly Lord Vetinari got out a box of salves and bandages and began to examine his patient. There were numerous small scrapes and bruises speckling her arms, those wereeasily taken care of. An improperly set bone in the left arm was far more concern, and at last he decided to re break it and set it properly. Gently he felt it snap like a twig, and guided it back in to place, splinting it with precision. A bit of sticking plaster went on the cut above her eye, but there was nothing to be done about the two black eyes already blossoming on her face. His lordship had just finished washing the last bits of plaster from his fingers, and ready to continue work when the door crashed open and a wild eyed young man burst into the room followed by a flustered maid.

Lord Vetinari dismissed the maid with a nod. The boy, meanwhile ran to the bed moaning, "Mary, oh Mary, is she all right?"

"I take it you are Tom." It was not a question.

"I am." The Patrician noticed the way Tom held her limp hand so tightly within his own. "Will my sister be all right? What happened?" He begged, trying to keep tears from his voice.

Slowly the Patrician related what he had seen, assuring the boy that she would not die, at least not yet. While he spoke, he gently rolled Mariel over to her stomach and began to unbutton the back of her dress. As he uncovered the skin of her back, he stopped aghast. He heard a sharp inhalation of breath, but was not sure if it was the boy's or his own.

"Oh, Mary," Tom whispered hoarsely. "I never knew. We never knew. I'll kill him. How could he. We never knew."

Her back was a lattice work of scars. Some were old, some very new and still raw. Stripes of pink puffy flesh meshed with welts. Large bruises covered a shoulder blade, another wrapped around her hip. There was not an inch of skin left unmarked. A few of the older ones were obviously infected, they oozed a yellow pus, and were red and inflamed. She must have been in agony every time her dress scraped over her back. Every time she carried the heavy goods to and from the market. Every time the ham-like fists flew in a drunken rage.

Appalled, Vetinari slowly, almost tenderly, began to apply healing balm to her many wounds. By the time the final bandage had been wound around her thin and frail body Tom was seething with rage, and even Vetinari could feel his steady hands tremble slightly. Clasping the boy by the shoulder he led him to the fire at the far end of the room. He rung for tea, and pushed a steaming cup into the shocked lad's quivering hand.

"Tell me about your sister."

And slowly, Tom did.

---------------------------------------------

Mariel knew two things before she even opened her eyes. The first was that she was warmer and more comfortable than she had ever been in her life. The second was that she hurt far more than she could ever remember. Every nerve ached. At last she took a deep breath- and opened her eyes.

She blinked twice in surprise at the deep blue canopy draping overhead. Slowly she sat up, ignoring the various aches and twinges that shot through her. She surveyed the rich furnishings of the room with confusion. A new gown lay draped over a chair, Mariel unthinkingly pulled it on over the snowy shift she wore. Her old gown, covered in mud and gore was gone, most likely for good. Her fingers stiffly fumbled with lacing on the back of the dress when a pair of cool hands brushed them away.

Mariel stood, feeling little more than a child, as the long dexterous hands pulled the laces just tight enough and tied them off in a fluid motion. She shivered as the cold skin brushed the back of her neck, tweaking in the top button.

"You may turn around now." Said the dry voice from behind her, seeing as she did not move.

Cautiously she turned, half afraid of what she might find. The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork stared down at her. Attempting a clumsy curtsy, Mariel felt herself overbalance again. Damn, she thought as she started to fall when a strong hand gripped her upper arm. Helping her upright the Patrician slowly led her to one of the plush armchairs by the fire.

"Thank you." Mariel said, flushing slightly. Every time she saw the man she seemed to be falling over. He must think she was a total idiot.

"Your father has been taken to the Tanty." Lord Vetinari's emotionless voice broke into her thoughts. "He shall remain in custody there for quite some time I should imagine. However, he will not be held indefinitely." The Patrician allowed his face to betray nothing as the girls face went from triumphant joy to ghostly pale. Her face was so white that her eyes seemed to grow bigger, into deep mirrors of fear and shattered dreams.

"The little ones," she gasped in horror. "Tom and I can protect ourselves but he will go after the children." Glancing around the room she realized at last what was missing. When she spoke again her voice had an edge of panic to it. "Please, where are the children? Jonathan? Gracie? The twins? Where are they…"

"The children are fine, for now. I believe they are currently playing charades with Miss Easy in the green room."

Later Mariel may have questioned why she took the word of on of the cleverest and trickiest men in Ankh-Morpork on something so dear to her. But his words calmed her, and she let them wash over her like a soothing balm to her heart.

"What will you do?" His Lordship enquired in an offhand tone.

"Well, we shall work… and leave the city I suppose…?" Mariel could not hide the doubt in her voice.

"Perhaps I can offer another alternative." Mariel blinked and stared at the man seated across from her. But neither his face nor his voice betrayed anything she could discern. "I know of an opening for an apprentice in the carpenter's guild. It would be ideal for a young man of sixteen or so. The guild offers great protection for those in its employ…"

"For Tom…" Mariel could not keep a happy cry from her voice. "Of course! He's always wanted it but the fee…" With that she dropped off, her throat constricting. The guild fee was over a hundred dollars, they still could not pay it.

Watching her closely Vetinari continued. "The Morporkian is looking for a cabin boy. It is one of the most prominent of our trading ships. And the crew will let no harm befall one another."

Vetinari could barely hear her whisper, "Jonathan."

He continued as though there had been no interruption. "Both Miss Susan's academy and the teacher's guild are always accepting students as well. They produce fine governesses and tutors."

"And the girls." Mariel breathed. She lifted her wretched face and met his grey gaze. "What do you want from me?"

Lord Vetinari managed to keep the surprise from his face. Most people he dealt with did not catch on nearly so quickly, they would assume it was a gift or a plague, but never a trade. "I find that I am in need of a secretary and a clerk," he replied candidly.

"What about Drumknott?"

"I have given him control of a rather delicate area which leaves far less time for the duties he usually carries out. His new position also demands that he travels a great deal and I will need assistance while he is away."

"You made him a spy." She said it bluntly, without dithering around the point. "And you need to fill his old job."

"In essence, yes."

"Why me?"

Vetinari was pleased with the pointed questions, she obviously had a quick mind, most likely trainable as well. He decided to settle for a half truth, "your brother, Tom, told me much about you. It was on his recommendation."

Mariel glared at him through half lidded eyes but decided not to push the question. "In return for my work you will protect and hide my family?"

"You have my word."

"Will I ever get to see them?" She couldn't hide the quaver in her voice as she asked that most important question.

"Not for quite some time. They will be safer that way."

"The little ones, they will be so afraid," she murmured.

"They may see each other…"

"Just not me?"

"No."

Collecting herself Mariel squeezed out every drop of resolution she had before facing the Patrician. "You have a deal." She paused before continuing with her eyes flashing dangerously and a hint of steel creeping into her voice. "If so much as one hair on their heads is harmed…"

Locking gazes with her own, the Patrician spoke softly, "They will be safe."

And she believed him.