"What we need," Ward said, "is a decoy."

"Leave it with me," Mildew said.

Carmen and Slops had arrived at Flag Wood ten minutes before, and Ward had already filled them in. Carmen could tell Mildew had been against involving them – that Ward had insisted. She knew this as well as she knew anything.

"How will I get in?" Ward said.

"How will we get in," Carmen said. "I'm going with you."

"No you're not," Ward and Mildew said at the same time. Slops laughed.

"You'll need someone to watch your back," Carmen said. "And Slops'll be helping Mildew, won't you Slops?"

Slops opened his mouth to reply, but Mildew cut in: "I won't need his help."

Slops's face fell.

"You didn't think we needed his help with the Oliphant either," Carmen said.

Mildrew frowned and looked away. She arranged her face into a tight smile before turning back. "Okay gerbil-boy."

"He's not a -"

"Shut up. You're comin' with me. And Ward? Don't worry about how to get in. Leave that to me."

"So the only question is when we do it." Ward said.

"Sinday," Carmen said.

Mildew raised her eyebrows.

"The prisoners rest on Sindays," Carmen explained. "They work every other day. They're supervised then: there're more guards, and they're more alert. Sindays the prisoners are either in the prison temple or the yard or in their cells."

And my mere won't be there on Sinday, she thought.

"Me and Lightfinger didn't work," Ward said.

"You were in remand," Carmen said. "General population is different."

"And you know this how?" Mildew said.

"My mere."

"I thought she was a janitor or something?"

"Yeh."

"Is that -"

"Have you got better information?"

Mildew shrugged. "Guess it'll do."

Ward and Slops exchanged a glance.

Mildew got up from the plinth they were all sitting on and hunkered down on the ground. She scratched out some lines in the dirt with the broken blade of her chiv. "This's the prison. Front gate: here." She drew a circle. "You two," she pointed at Ward and Carmen without looking up at them, "are gonna be hidden here, in Killing Field. When it's time -"

"How will we know?" Ward said.

"You'll know. Now there's a chance a guard or two'll stay. You'll need to take care of em."

"How?" Carmen said.

"Ever used a barker?"

"No."

"Ward?"

He shook his head.

"About time you learned then. Don't worry, you prolly won't have to fire it. But you never know. And you'll be more convincing if you look like you know what you're about. Once you're in there though it's up to you. We can't do nuffink. Get down to the dungeons. Find the door. I figure you'll have twenny minutes to get in and out. That's nothing."

"It's plenty," Ward said.

Carmen knew what Ward was thinking. They had only to reach the dice. They wouldn't need to get out again. But if the dice weren't there, or if they didn't work... "Are you sure you want to do this Ward?" she said.

"I have to get them back."

"If they catch you again -"

A haunted look fell over his face. But then his jaw hardened. "There's no choice. And you're not coming with me."

"Either we both go or nobody goes."

"It's too dangerous."

"But not for you, right? What is it? Think I'll slow you down?"

"No. I told you why."

"Well I don't care. How do you think I'd feel – we'd feel – if we let you go down there alone and you never came out? Do you ever think about that?"

"Of course I do."

Carmen realised she was on her feet. "No you don't. All you think about is your stupid dice."

Ward's cheeks flushed. "I do care."

"I'm coming with you," she said, sitting back down so hard that it hurt her buttocks. She crossed her arms and glared off into the wood.

"Glad we got that sorted out," Mildew said.

Ward and Carmen smouldered. Slops looked at his hands.

"See you both at the Cathedral Freeday," Mildew said.

"For what?" Carmen said.

"Barking lessons of course."

Woof woof.