Part 39 (1/2)
”Then us not being fools-” I began, short-telance that silenced abble: ”A cantra, Fiona! New parts, backups, a new 'doc, coffee” Her eyes were back on Cly Nelbern and I knew right then I'd lost her
”Lillian!” I snapped, as much like Mam as I could
Too late ”I'll do it,” she told the dirtsider And held out her hand for the money
I sat down slow on the arht the tepid coffee-toot up to sip There was nothing else to do, the word having been given Nothing except: ”I'll be co as well, then If that coin's so wide a treasure, I reckon it'll pay berth-cost while we escort this lady 'round town”
Nelbern laughed, a half-wild sound no more pleasant than her slance into my face, and flicked the coin to Lil
”Order your repairs,” she said, standing up ”And you'll-both-be ready to come with me in one hour”
She sauntered off toward her cabin and I looked atthere with her hand clenched 'round that hed and hovered a second between sad and ured neither would mend it and stood upthe cup into the unit as I went past
At the door I looked back, but she was showing back to one
WE WANDERED, that endless afternoon, visiting trade-bars, dives, and talking-booths on both sides of the river, some places folk eyed us; sonored us entirely, and those I liked least of all
The last was near the city-line, close enough to the Te chant echoed off the dirty s and the tawdry buildings,down the short, ill-kept walk
This place at least h to let the evening light coh; the bar was chipped but polished; the tender's tattered apron had recently been washed
I was three steps into the room before I realized why it felt so comfortable It reminded me of MonaLuki: desperately shi+p-shape and tidy; and showing the worn spots despite it
It hadn't always been so When Mah to be strapped in a net slung between their seats, watching baby-eyed while they worked the Juleamed, oiled and cared-for and prosperous as you like Then there'd been coffee-yes, and chocolate-and repairs when they were needed and spare parts in third hold Lil was too young to re, just, to reme
I'd dreaone out to make the repair anyway, of course, as who, save on Sintia, would not? I'd cli with the baby and held her till Maothard about dreams
”So!” That was Cly Nelbern and here was the present I ca hers to the ht blue overshi+rt, bold with raveling embroidery, darker blue pants, ide and loose in respect of the heat, withfancy-work around the heht, with eyes showing desperation far back Likely I looked the sae of despair, needing only one ulped, brown eyes darting fro froesturing toward the rear of the little rooreeable, though it quavered Nelbern shrugged and pushed forward
”Delightful,” she said, and the edge in her voice put the shi+ne of fear in his eyes ”Lead on”
It was a s for four, but he'd clearly been expecting only her
”My-colare ”Captain Fiona and Ms Lillian Betany, of the Mona Luki”
It gavenamed there, and by the sudden dart of Lil's eyes, it chilled her, too But she stayed tight where she was, perched on a chair crammed next to the man-and Cly Nelbern se was back in her voice ”Where is it?”
He gulped, sent a hunted glance around the room at my back and firmed his face to look at her
”In the office at the Port House, Lady And that's where it's going to stay”
Nelbern didn't frohich hat I expected She picked up her drink and had a sip, eyeing hilass aside ”That wasn't our agreeh The reement,” she pursued, still in that mild-as-milk voice, ”was that you provide me with a certain item, in return for which I provide you with a particular sureeulped ”Yes, Lady”
”'Yes, Lady',” she repeated softly, then leaned suddenly across Lil, to put her face right up to his and hiss: ”Then what in the na me you don't have that file?”
”I-” he tried to pull back, but there was nowhere to go He licked his lips ”There is a-a Maiden out of Circle House, co the files She-Lady, I dare not! If Circle House finds me-”
”What I'll leave for the Temple to find if I don't have that file within the day will be far beyond worrying about witches,” Cly Nelbern snarled ”Do youof his nan other than the roll of an eye
”The Maiden,” he said, ”is nalass ”What do I care for her narown chit out of Circle House-”
”Moonhawk,” thethe back of my neck, ”is the oldest Name in Circle Moonhawk is the most powerful servant of the Goddess-every life she lives is exceptional-historic”
”Don't prate at irl had the wit to pick an elite name-she's still in school, come to Port House to study the records, you said Where's the danger-”
”The girl,” Velesz interrupted again, ”is Moonhawk's incarnation in this life, Lady Fact She is young, but the power abides within her The danger is that she has not yet relearned control The training her elders-in-world provide is to ensure that she will not-accidentally-use ht be necessary”
”Loose cannon” That was Lil, unexpected and great-eyed, but still well away froht
The ain ”Loose cannon,” he repeated and nodded, a s in the second before he looked back to Cly Nelbern ”Poithout guidance”
”Well, then we'll see to it that she has no need to expend her powers” Nelbern finished her drink and put the glass away ”I have a client, can you understand that? An-organization-that has paid me to-collect-a certain fact The only place this fact has coht is Sintia My client has paid for proof I will provide proof, whether you earn your fee or not” She looked closely at Velesz ”My client is not easily thwarted, you see? Satisfaction earns reward The wages of inefficiency are destruction and disgrace” She leaned forward, and I saw fear bloom at last in my sister's eyes and saw the sweat bead on the man's face ”Disappoint her”
”Lady-” he began, but Cly Nelbern had pushed back her chair and turned away, carelessly flinging a handful of coin to the table
”Tomorrow midday,” she said softly ”At Diablo's, in the port Have it” And she was gone
I half-rose, but Lil stayed put, the fear like lunacy in her eyes If she wasn't shi+p and blood I'd have lefther but- ”Let's ruff-like, so not to spook her, but she stared at me like she had when Mam died, and never moved a hair
”Lil-”