Bragi’s heart leapt almost unpleasantly when he spotted a cat — but it was not his cat. Nor did it look like a stray, and Bragi blinked from its well-kept coat to someone likely to be its mistress. She appeared from the other end of the alleyway in a blaze of long auburn hair, and despite his troubles he could not help but notice her very district eyes. What a curious looking person!

”Oh I, erm — yes”, he replied, with a good deal less grace than he’d wanted. He’d been distracted again, this time by the wuff of a dog at her heels. Bragi fingered the pouch of cat treats in his hand. ”I don’t suppose you’ve seen a large ginger cat around here? She answers to Maid Marian. Or just Marian. Or Shnookums, sometimes…”