‘You’re one of Lassner’s, are you?’ he began.
Pinnatte remembered what Ellyn had whispered to him just minutes earlier. ‘You’d be best advised to run away to another part of the city and find honest work for yourself, young man. But I can see you’re not going to pay any heed to that advice, so if you’re bent on being bound to my husband rather than being free, stand up straight and answer clearly when he speaks to you. Don’t be insolent, but do try, at least, to look him in the eye.’
Pinnatte found the latter very difficult — Barran’s gaze had crushed stronger by far than he — but he did manage to stand straight and answer promptly.
‘Yes, I am, sir.’
Barran maintained his stare, looking up and down Pinnatte as though he were a piece of furniture he was contemplating buying. Then he sat
