Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce Read Free Book Online

dog yelp. I looked about us. Across the street I saw the scent hound Achoo with her newest handler, Ercole Hempstead. Hempstead yanked at the hound's leash, dragging her when she clearly did not wish to go. My tripes twisted in pity for her. Achoo had been her happiest last year, when she'd been handled by my friend Phelan Rapp. Then Phelan had quit the Dogs to join Rosto's side of the law. Achoo had gone from one handler to another, each of them less patient with her than the last, though veteran Dogs always said that when she was put on a scent, she never failed to track down what she was asked to find. I'd heard that she hated hound kennel life after living with Phelan in his rooms, but all of her other handlers insisted that hounds be kenneled. And it seemed that they didn't have the right character to match with hers. Given my own record with partners, I felt plenty of sympathy for her.
    Watching her now, I thought that Achoo looked like she just wanted to sniff around where she stood. Who could blame her? She was a scent hound. But Hempstead was having none of it. He raised the free end of the leash and struck her with it. She yelped, cowering. He was a big, burly man, and she was a skinny creature who stood no higher than his knee. That blow must have hurt .
    I ground my teeth. "Festering slavemonger's byblow...," I whispered. I'd like to give him the end of that rawhide!
    Will you do something? Pounce demanded.
    I looked at Pounce. "He's a ranking Senior Dog, and a handler. He'll order me about my business."
    Another yelp from Achoo hit me between my shoulder blades.
    If you don't stop him, you are not the girl I believe you to be .
    "You do sommat, you're so clever," I muttered, but Achoo's whimpers called me across the street. I dug my hands in my pockets as I approached them. "Excuse me, Senior Guardsman Hempstead," I said. "I know this hound. She does better with gentleness."
    He glared at me. He was going to write me up, I could see it on his face. "Mithros's shield, you dare – ah. Goodwin's pet. Tunstall's girly. Think you're as good as a Senior Dog and experienced handler, do you?"
    I ducked my head. "No, sir. Only, I was told you got this hound but a week ago, and I've known her in times past." Achoo slunk past Hempstead to nudge my hand. I took it from my pocket to pet her ears. A glance told me she was hard-used and half starved. Her curly white fur was matted. She used to weigh more than thirty pounds, but she looked like she might weigh only twenty now. I felt cold all over. I cannot abide anyone who mistreats animals. "Sir, she likes to stop and smell things, when she's not on the job. For fun, like, or practice."
    "She's got no discipline. She's useless! Won't obey a command in plain Common instead of some foreign jabber! No sense of who's master!" He leaned in. I could smell the drink on him. He was swilled, and the hour not even noon. "Just like you. Terrier ." He laughed.
    "She's a good worker. She's one of the city's best scent hounds." I hate tosspots. 'Twas a drunkard got one of my friends killed when we was Puppies. "She deserves better even if she is silly off watch. Plenty of us are silly off watch, Senior Guardsman." I stepped on thin ice, but Achoo licked my hand like I was her only friend. Her ribs showed through her coat.
    "Then I'll just tell Sergeant Ahuda you've the handling of her, eh?" He grabbed my hand and shoved Achoo's leash into it. "You, all untrained in scent hounds, you can work this miserable scut. They should sell her for bear meat anyway. You work her, then come tell me my trade. We'll see how clever you are!"
    He walked off, laughing.
    I'm glad he's gone , Pounce said. A man like him should fall into a midden and break both legs . His tail switched to and fro. Maybe I'll take a little trouble and arrange it .
    I stared at Pounce, wondering if I ought to say he should not joke about such things. I thought the better of it and raised the leash in my hand to look it over.