It all started with Aldwyn’s whiskers beginning to tingle—the way they always did when he got hungry. Food had been getting tougher to come by these last few months. The back alleys weren’t littered with their usual fish guts or chicken gizzards, and a stray cat had to fight a little harder to get even one full meal a day.
The whisker-tingling began early one morning, when Aldwyn sat perched atop a shingle rooftop, casually taking in the scenery. His mangy coat of black and white fur looked as if it had never been washed—which was more or less true. The tip of his left ear was missing; a bite-sized reminder of a skirmish with an angry pit bull terrier from when he was a kitten.
![](data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEBLAEsAAD/4QR0RXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA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)
Looking out, Aldwyn could see all of Bridgetower. There were rows upon rows of two-storey stone buildings along the narrow cobbled streets. Robed city custodians were hurrying to finish their pre-dawn chores: one used a bell-shaped snuffer to extinguish the candles in the waist-high lamp posts lining the city’s darker alleyways; another laid down straw on the main street to quieten the click-clacking of the mules’ hooves that would soon be pulling rattling wagons along the roadways. Aldwyn’s eyes were drawn to the spired watchtower of polished white marble that stood higher than the rest of the skyline. Its guardpost had been empty for over half a century, ever since the brave and noble wizard, Queen Loranella, helped fight back the Dead Army Uprising. A flag billowed at the very top of the watchtower, bearing the Bridgetower coat of arms: a double-headed eagle, holding a bow and arrow in one talon and a wand in the other.
Aldwyn could see beyond the white walls that encircled the city as well: to the west, the Ebs River; to the east, the Aridifian Plains and the forests of the queendom. But he had never set foot outside Bridgetower, and he never intended to, comfortable on the city streets he knew so well.
With dawn’s first ray of light, a morning bell chimed brightly, waking Aldwyn from his daydream. He turned his attention to the back door of the local fish and fowl shop, waiting patiently for the fishmonger to appear with the catch of the day. Stealing was one of Aldwyn’s favourite schemes to fill his belly, but he used many others. Just last night, he found himself acting—cooing like a pigeon to get bits of cheese from a blind lady feeding birds in the park.
Sure enough, right on schedule yet again, there was the fishmonger, carrying a heavy, dripping burlap bag towards his store. And even though Aldwyn couldn’t see what was inside the bag, he could smell it: river flounder! As the old man closed the door to his shop behind him, Aldwyn started counting the toes on his paw.
One… two… three… four.
Like every morning at this precise time, the fishmonger opened the window, airing out the kitchen as he dumped the fish into a bucket beside him. Now Aldwyn could begin his descent from the rooftop. He climbed down the wall, his claws leaving scratch marks on the stone. He crossed the alley, darting around puddles from last night’s rain. A short-eared raccoon limped out from behind the corner, trying to keep his weight off an injured hind leg.
“Morning, Aldwyn,” said the raccoon. “Heard the afternoon milk wagon is taking a detour tomorrow to avoid the Shield Festival. It’s going to be heading through Hangman’s Square instead.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Aldwyn called back. “I’ll try to push a jug off the back of the cart when it rounds the Glyphstone. Make sure you’re there for lick up.”
Aldwyn had made a habit of thinking three meals ahead. He relied on everything from careful observation to back-alley alliances. Finding food was a full-time job—and an exhausting one at that. A freak hailstorm had struck in the middle of the summer, wiping out most of Bridgetower’s typically plentiful harvest. Hungry townsfolk were making use of the tripe and offal they once threw away.
The raccoon gave an appreciative nod, and Aldwyn quickly returned to the task at hand. After jumping onto the crates stacked up outside the fishmonger’s window, he waited, watching the old man clean and gut the flounder. Aldwyn was nothing if not patient; he knew from experience that there would be a moment when the fishmonger got distracted. An early customer knocking at the front door, a trip to the outhouse, or a dull blade in need of sharpening would give Aldwyn the opportunity he needed to strike.