sod have the decency to clean this?”
I felt like yanking on the blue pull. “He’s not a sod, and yes, he did, quite nicely.”
“Nicely my ass.” She dipped the end of the sponge into the bowl on the soap stand, coating it well before going to work on my back. “No such thing as a
“You’ve met all of them at Rumsen Main, I suppose.” I picked up another handle and went to work on my front.
Once I was properly soaped up, I tugged on the purple pull and lifted my face into the warm stream. I might have stood there for a year, it felt so good, but once I’d washed all the soap away, I released the pull and wiped my hands up my face and over my head.
“Get in and soak,” Rina told me before she went to another slat stand to wash herself.
I climbed down the short steps into the pool, letting my cooled skin grow accustomed to the heat before I slipped down and let the water close over my head briefly. Once I’d soaked enough, I straightened and went to sit on one of the submerged benches, where Rina joined me.
“You’ll come stay with me until they nail the bastards after you,” she decided as she reclined back against the tile rest. “You can have poor Liv’s rooms.”
“Can’t,” I told her. “I have to go back to Walsh’s on Friday for dinner.”
“What? Dinner at Walsh’s?” She sat up and stared at me. “You fancy a trip to the loonhouse? I can save us all a lot of grief and have Wrecker take you there directly.”
“They wouldn’t have me.” I splashed her a little. “I promised the lady I’d save her marriage. She’s in a bad way, Rina, and some of it’s my doing.”
“Oh, and she’s seen to it that you’re covered in diamonds, has she?” she demanded. “Kit, someone just tried to kill you. Twice. If you’re lucky and lay low, maybe they won’t try a third time and succeed.”
“I’ll be careful.” I turned to her. “You can help me.”
She smacked the side of my head. “There. Did that help?”
“No.” I rubbed the sore spot. “You know enough dusters to find out if someone’s been buying red.”
“Someone like?”
Mentioning the dream would only get me smacked again. “I think it could have been Dredmore.”
“Lucien Dredmore’s mixed up in this?” She groaned as she fell back. “Of course he is. I suppose you accidentally ran afoul of him. How many times does this make it? Forty? Fifty?”
“He nabbed me on the Hill after I had tea at Walsh’s,” I admitted. “He warned me off them.”
“Lovely.” She made a contemptuous sound. “I’ll send him some posies to express my gratitude.”
“Dredmore knows something about Nolan Walsh and his financial business,” I said thoughtfully. “And he never dirties his hands with paltry scams. Has to be something much bigger to tempt him.”
“That black-eyed beast wants only one thing,” Rina snapped. “You. And he’ll tell you whatever he likes if it means having you.”
I sank down. “I won’t let him.”
“He’s never made a real effort, you daft twit.” Rina turned on me. “Come on, Kit. You know the man’s got more funds than three governors. His servants are nothing more than a gang of kneecappers and necktwisters. If he decides to pluck you off the street like a bun from a corner cart and take you to that tomb of his on the cliffs, who’s to stop him? Who’s to care?”
“Bridget. Docket.” I gave her a hopeful look. “You.”
“Oh, yes. A loomgel, a nutty mech, and a pissed strumpet.” She rolled her eyes. “Why am I worried? You’re safe as houses.”
“The honorable wife of Lord Duluc, the cleverest of disgraced mechs, and Queen of the Night,” I corrected her softly. “My dearest mates in all the world, who would never let Dredmore take me from them.”
“I love you like my own sister, you know.” Rina took hold of my hair and used it to wriggle my head. “I’d march down to the garden gates of hell for you, if that’s what it takes. But, Kit, it’s Dredmore after you now. Even the devil himself would have enough sense to step out of the way.”
“He won’t have me,” I insisted. “Nothing bad is going to happen. I promise.”
“I’ll know for certain.” Rina climbed out of the pool and went to ring the bell. When one of the bathhouse maids appeared, she said, “Send for my man.”
“Why are we leaving?” I asked when she returned. “We just got here.”
“Out with you.” She tossed a towel at me. “We’re going to see the Eye.”
I slogged up the steps. “Whose eye?”
“Besides yours, the only honest one in the city,” she said, her expression grim. “We’re going to see my teller.”
Chapter Ten
I argued with Rina from the bathhouse to the front steps of a quiet, sober-looking redstone in the heart of the bookmakers’ district.
“How long have you been letting this charlatan take your coin?” I said as she rang the bell. “And why didn’t you ever tell me you were buying portents?”
“I don’t pay the Eye in coin. We have an evening together now and then to settle our accounts.” She turned as a houseman answered the bell. “Madam Eagle and a friend to see the master.”
We were shown into a dark hall lit only by candles and made to wait there as the houseman went to the back of the house. I noted the marks marching along the wainscot railing. They weren’t runes, but something like them. “For pity’s sake, Rina. I thought you were smarter than this.”
“The Eye is very dear to me,” she said, wagging a finger under my nose. “If you care to remain in
“Work.” I felt like spitting. “Swindling you out of sex for nothing.”
“Do shut up, love.” Rina smiled as a small man in an oddly cut white robe emerged. The lack of light made it impossible to make out his features. “Master Harvison.”
“Madam Eagle.” He bowed low before turning to me. “Madam’s friend.” He did not bow to me but glanced at Rina. “She is not a believer.”
“Neither was I when I first came to you, Harvi.” Rina put a hand on my shoulder. “But my dear friend is in desperate need of your wisdom.” When I opened my mouth to disagree, she stomped on my foot. “I would consider it a personal favor if you would see for her.”
“Please,” Harvison said, gesturing down the hall. “Join me for tea.”
We followed him into a shabby but comfortable little den. I’d never seen such furnishings, all made of gleaming lacquered woods and delicate little cushions. A table that sat too low to the ground had a brazier set in its center and a tray with tiny cups. A bowl of dark herbs and some twisted brown roots waited to be used, probably to poison someone.
He lived among the best bookmakers in the city, but I didn’t see one book. There were plenty of scrolls, however, each tied with twines of various colors and stacked on end in big porcelain pots. Magic spells were usually written on much smaller rolls, but perhaps his handwriting required more paper for his nonsense.
“Please, be seated.” Harvison went around the room lighting oil lamps, until they shed enough light for me to clearly see his face. One dark eye gleamed, sharp and bright, but where the other should have been was only a smooth stretch of skin.
I leaned toward Rina. “He’s only got one eye,” I whispered.
“No, young miss. I have two,” Harvison answered for her. “The other lies beneath the flesh you see. So it has been since I first drew breath.”
I watched him fill two cups with his brew, but when he reached for a third I spoke up. “None for me, thank you. I’m a little off tea right now.”
“You’re insulting my friend,” Rina hissed.
“She is being only cautious,” Harvison said. “Something experience teaches us, but fear strips away.” He gave me his full attention. “You have been crossed by magic many times.”
