A/N: Okay so here's chapter three. I'll try to have chapter four up soon so Beka can show up in the story sooner :D Enjoy!

Chapter Three: News from Port Caynn

The next few days brought better news for the Rogue…and his people who could finally breathe easily again. Aniki had warned Rosto repeatedly that his foul mood over the news from Port Caynn had left him vulnerable to challenges, but no one dared. Word seemed to spread of his all night knife throwing practices.

But on the day of September twentieth, Rosto seemed in better spirits…although he still had many tankards of strong ale and the muscles in his jaw refused to relax. But this time it was less from anger than it was of worry. The Lord Provost, mages, knights, and many of Corus' finest Dogs- including Ersken- had dispatched for Port Caynn very early that morning. Rosto had found out soon enough when he had happened across Ersken emerging from Kora's rooms in the early morning, dressed in his Dog uniform with Kora fussing over him. Rosto had yet to get a decent night's sleep, and had immediately gotten out of bed to upbraid whoever it was that made such noise in the hall so early. But when he had seen Ersken decked out in his Dog garb, his anger had ebbed. Then when he was told where Ersken was off to, his anger had vanished completely…to soon be replaced by worry. Was Beka alright? Goodwin had reported back to Corus, to the Lord Provost, leaving Beka in Port Caynn alone.

Alone.

Rosto cursed as he had laid thinking back in his bed. Who knew what crazy, cracknobbed things Beka would get into when left by herself? If he would've known, he could have sent some of his trusted rushers to watch her. She would have been fair angry at him if she found out, but his men were skilled at keeping out of sight, being as how that determined if they stayed alive or not. Besides, he wouldn't give a rat's bum if it made her angry. Knowing Beka, Rosto knew that she was as curious as a cat and as anxious as a hound with a good scent, and if the Lord Provost was planning a raid on Port Caynn, Rosto knew the scent was very good. Goodwin and the others were cracked if they thought Beka would patiently wait for her return! No, if he knew Beka at all, he knew her nose was stuck deep into the muck of Port Caynn's streets, never ceasing until she found what she wanted. Not only was she one of the cleverest mots he knew, but she was definitely the most curst determined. Her stubbornness was only one of things he admired about her, but at the same time cursed. Once she got some notion in that head of hers, it stuck. He'd been hard put in trying to change her mind about having a rusher for a man, that not all rushers are scummer like the ones her ma had, but she has yet to sway from that silly notion.

Apparently gamblers, however, are a different story, he thought bitterly.

This time he cursed aloud as he sat up, running his hand back through his hair. He tried to stop his traitorous mind from returning again to Beka and Dale Rowan. If thoughts could kill, Dale Rowan would be dead a hundred times over…no, mayhap a thousand.

Knowing that sleep was no longer an option, Rosto got up to throw a tunic on over his breeches. He was throwing water on his face, trying to erase the image in his mind of pummeling Rowan to a pulp- which was mighty difficult since he knew naught what the cove looked like- when a knock sounded at his door.

One of the watchers he'd sent to Port Caynn had arrived with his report. Finishing quickly, Rosto went downstairs to hear the man's news.

Mithros save him, the Trickster must take delight in toying with him! Of all the crackbrained, hare-brained, idiotic things to do…

Port Caynn's Dogs and Pearl Skinner?! He knew she was slightly cracked- enjoying the work of a Dog that constantly ran afoul of rushers and Rats and all- but this was ridiculous! She had all of the most dangerous folk in Port Caynn on her tail! What was she thinking? Hearing the news, Rosto had felt like catching the next boat to Port Caynn, fearing that the Lord Provost and the others would not get there in time. He knew that notion was folly, but he thought it nonetheless. In a way he was glad he had not found out sooner, otherwise he didn't know what crackbrained thing he might've done. At least he knew Goodwin and many others were on their way. He would just have to wait for word now.

Goddess's tears, the waiting would be enough to drive him mad! Pearl Skinner was a hard, vicious mot that would not go down easily…and he knew Beka would be right in the forefront of that mess, after having already stuck her nose where it was not wanted…and Pearl Skinner would no doubt want to deliver that reminder herself.

Rosto downed another cup of ale. He looked at his empty cup and frowned slightly. Either he was getting immune to the stuff, or someone had watered down the ale, because it was doing little to ease his mind. Putting down the cup, he began his audience earlier than usual with those wanting to voice their problems or requests in the Rogue's ear. Something had to get his mind off of what might be happening in Port Caynn.

He also knew he'd yet to get a good night's rest until he heard aught…

Waking from a fitful sleep, Rosto heard noise in the hallway outside his rooms. Checking outside, he saw that the sky was still dark, in the very early stages of lightening before dawn. Keeping his eyes trained on the door, Rosto felt for the knives thrust underneath his pillows. The sounds were surely too loud for someone with ill-intent, but assuming the better could result in getting killed. Without a sound, Rosto slipped out of his bed and padded quietly to the door. Standing beside it, he listened. Recognizing the two voices, Rosto frowned and opened the door. Aniki and Kora stood in the hallway, talking. They turned when his door opened.

"What's going on?" he asked, stepping into the corridor. He still had his knives in hand.

Aniki spoke first. "They've nabbed her. Pearl Skinner. Took her in last night."

"How'd you hear?" he asked, none too surprised. He had heard from folk late last night of the Dogs' raid on her Court. The last anyone in Corus had heard was that they had yet to catch Pearl. The distance between the two cities delayed the news, but word of a Rogue being brought down traveled faster than most. Rosto could hear some folk down in the common room, whereas it was usually deserted, being before dawn and all. This was big news.

"I spent the night down by the river docks. Word started to float in naught but a half hour ago. I stayed and listened until it was confirmed. Coming back here, I ran across some of the watchers you've had posted at the gates and docks coming to report. They're down in the common room now," Aniki told him. "I told them I'd come wake you."

After grabbing a tunic and putting it on, Rosto headed downstairs. Aniki and Kora were right on his heels.

A handful of coves and a few mots being served drink by two yawning serving wenches sat in the common room. Their talk was eager but they kept their voices low. When they caught sight of Rosto, they stopped and came to attention.

"So what is the news you have come to bring me?" he asked coolly, not bothering to sit in his chair.

"They've hobbled Pearl Skinner, Majesty," said one of the mots, Barzunni by her accent. "Heard it down by the docks, I did."

"From what I heard, she's in bad shape, that 'un," added a big cove. "Caught her down in the sewers, they did. Heard that she was so weak, they had t' drag her t' Guards House. Quite the Bloodhound we got workin' for our Dogs."

Rosto's brow creased. "Bloodhound? What hound do you speak of?" Aniki and Kora listened just as intently.

"T'ain't no real dog," the man chortled, "though a scent hound was used in the pursuit. No, that's what they're callin' Guardswoman Cooper out in Port Caynn. Apparently they didn't know she already had a nickname here." He chuckled again.

"Cooper caught Pearl?" Rosto asked, making sure he had everything straight.

The cove nodded. "Her and her partner. They're both laid up along wi' Pearl in Guards House. Didn't escape unscathed either, those two. But from all we've heard, they're still alive." He indicated the others who had come to report. They all nodded. Apparently they had heard that same bit of information.

Rosto had the others report to him, though he learned little more than the cove had already told him. It was still too soon to hear of the details.

As the sun started to rise, more and more of his people started coming in to report. Rosto was relieved to hear them all confirm the cove's report that Beka was alive, though definitely battered. By eight of the clock that morning, Corus and the Dancing Dove were buzzing with talk of news from Port Caynn, carried in by land and sea. That day, Rosto never left his dais, word after word coming to him from rushers and cityfolk alike. From his best sources, he learned that Goodwin and Beka were indeed laid up in Guards House, being worked on by mages. They were thoroughly bruised and exhausted. One cove had even found out that Beka had gotten a mean knife wound to the hip. Rosto cursed Pearl doubly for that one.

But Mithros, thank him, she was still alive!

A/N: Aw, we have a worried Rogue on our hands ;D I'll have the next chapter up soon!