Storm Child by Sharon Sant

had to worry about her then.’
    Annie shook her head.
    ‘Why not?’ Polly pressed.
‘Ernesto weren’t goin ’ to hurt her.  She’s got
real magic, he’d look after her better than he would us lot.’
    ‘You know what happens if people
find out you got magic.’
    ‘Ah, that’s rot.’ Polly folded
her arms. ‘Nobody tries to snatch us and we do magic every day on the streets.’
    ‘That’s because people know ours ain’t real.’
    ‘Our tricks are that bad, are
they?’
    Annie blushed.
    ‘It’s alright,’ Polly
smiled.  ‘I ain’t offended.  Anyone who
watches Isaac show off would be able to tell he ain’t got real magic.  It’s just the ladies what throw him money cos he’s easy
on the eye.’ She sniffed and wiped her nose across the back of her hand.
‘Besides, if kids are snatched for magic, that’s all the more reason for you to
keep the nipper ‘ere with us where we can keep an eye on her.’
    ‘It’s only a small village,’
Annie said. ‘An’ I think the people that live there are decent.  I reckon
whoever got her is lookin ’ after her.’
    Polly narrowed her eyes. 
‘You do know who has her, don’t ya ? Don’t lie
to me.’
    ‘No, Poll, I swear I don’t. 
You won’t tell Ernesto, will you?’
    Polly regarded her steadily.
‘Perhaps if you told Ernesto that you had magic he’d settle at that an’ forget
about the baby.’
    ‘I don’t.’ Annie cast her gaze to
the ground.  ‘I don’t have magic, only Georgina does.’
    ‘You got the same mama.’
    ‘We have.’ Annie said, looking up
again. ‘But that don’t mean we both get magic.  You know it don’t work
like that.’
    ‘So, you’re telling me you ain’t got magic?’
    Annie nodded. 
    Polly moved towards her and laid
a hand on her arm. ‘You can trust me, I’m ol ’
reliable Poll, remember?’ Annie looked up into her eyes and nodded
uncertainly.  ‘So if you wanted to share your secrets, I wouldn’t tell a
soul.’
    Annie stared at her.  Then
she opened her mouth to speak…
    ‘Pleased to see me?’ Isaac
strolled towards them.  Polly took a step away from Annie with a look of
vexation. 
    ‘You know how to make a girl
fright, don’t ya ?’ she snapped, glaring at him.
    ‘Charmin’.’ He grinned. ‘I
thought you’d be glad to see I’m still alive.’
    ‘When you bring me a bag of coins
and enough silk to make me a hundred dresses I might be glad to see you alive,’
Polly huffed. 
    Isaac winked. ‘ Anythin ’ for you, Poll.’
    ‘I thought Ernie would have
flayed the skin off yer back.  What’s he said?’
    Isaac’s grin faded. ‘Wants me to
get the money back.’
    ‘What are you goin ’
to do?’ Annie asked.
    He shrugged.  I’ll have to
go out blaggin ’, won’t I?’
    Annie’s eyes widened.  ‘What
if you get caught?’
    ‘ Ain’t never been caught before, don’t see why I should be now.’
    ‘Before?’
    Isaac’s expression darkened. ‘How d’you think I got along before Ernesto took me
in?  A nipper’s got to eat.’
    ‘We can do some extra tricks,’
Annie ventured uncertainly.
    Isaac shook his head. ‘Ta for the
offer, but we barely have enough time to fit in what we got to do now.  This
way’s better, a mornin’s work an’ I’ll have what we
need.’
    Annie cast a glance at Polly who
merely nodded. 
    ‘Watch your back, you great
lump,’ Polly said, turning to Isaac. 
    He nodded and flashed her another
wink before heading out towards the courtyard gates.
     
    Isaac leaned against the wall of the tavern, watching as the
world moved around him.  He hadn’t yet fixed on a target.  Despite
the coldness of the day, his palms were sweating and he rubbed them across his
jacket again.  The air in this district of Uxmouth was thick with smells that made his already delicate stomach turn: rotting
meat, animal dung, cheap, sickly colognes.  They were smells that brought
old memories washing over him, memories that he did not want: