“The nature of your visit, and of what I would like to speak to you about, necessitated caution. I did not wish to have your approach to my shop observed by the less savory denizens of this port.”
Zeela’s assistant removed a shallow glass jar from a shelf and transferred a translucent yellow paste from a larger container with a flat spatula, coordinating all four hands in her task. She placed the jar on a scale, ran her delicate fingers across the spring-loaded needle that indicated its weight, and twisted a lid into place.
“Your shop is being watched?” Talis felt foolish as soon as she asked. Of course it was. The real question was why that should change their behavior at all.
“There have been offers made, a price set for your death. It seemed prudent, in order to have you arrive all together.”
Zeela accepted the jar from her assistant and placed it in Talis’s hands, along with the reclaimed purse. The smell of rosemary and mint moved with her. Talis couldn’t help but take another deep breath. She felt the tension leaving her aching shoulders.
“A gift for you,” Zeela said. “My apology for the inconvenience.”
Fortunate, as Talis was certain the little jar cost as much as that bi-clutch Sophie wanted. Too bad the thief hadn’t led her to as generous a mechanic.
“Thank you,” she said as she accepted the items. “You no doubt know of my other, less dismissible, inconvenience.”
“Inconvenience, perhaps, but quite a prize all the same.” Zeela contracted her nostrils and made a small series of exhaled chuffs. Laughter.
Talis untied the cord on her neck and placed the ring in its bag onto the counter between them. “Apparently so valuable that none of this city’s entrepreneurs have the connections necessary to find a qualified buyer.”
Zeela’s hands moved over the pouch without touching it. “The cost is about more than just currency, as you know, Captain Talis. Pressures have been applied to prevent you from making an exchange.”
Talis desperately needed this visit to go well, but the prick of a suspicion planted itself in her head. Zeela might be a ruthless enough businesswoman to have sent those thugs to Jasper to intercept her. The child that led Talis there was proof that Subrosan orphans acted as Zeela’s eyes and ears on the streets. It was common practice for anyone with power in Subrosa. Assassination less so, but it was a technique employed with regularity among Vein competitors. Talis hoped Zeela’s outward grace reflected a preference for more delicate handling of such situations. And that her appreciation for ancient things would extend to one of Helsim Breaker’s people.
“As is its value.” Talis bargained with the suspicions she had about the ring’s history, and on the actions of those who had been after it thus far.
“Indeed. You have a reputation, but not the sort that attracts such dramatic threats.”
Talis crossed her arms and wished she’d had a couple more drinks on Talbot’s credit back at The Docked Tail.
“Maybe I’m losing my touch.”
Zeela pursed her lips but picked up the ring in its pouch, resting it on her open palm.
“You are correct, however, about the value. I have found you a buyer.”
Talis almost felt dizzy with relief. This was it, then. After what had quickly escalated into the worst day she could remember in a long time, after her crew’s barely contained mutinous thoughts, after worrying how her ship was going to stay in the sky. Just like that, she’d found her fence. Stumbled onto her, really. She wouldn’t have to pawn the thing off for a pocketful of change on her way back down to the docks after all.
Zeela disappeared through a silk and velvet curtain into the shop’s private area, taking the ring with her. Talis expected her to reemerge with appraisal tools or paperwork, but one of the clerks lifted the hinged countertop for Talis to follow.
The twisting hallway behind the shop was pitch black in comparison to the low candlelight of the shopfront. Talis paused, completely lost as the curtain closed behind them and the blackness swelled around her. After a minimal pause in which Talis still found time to feel the panic rising to clutch at her, a golden glow emanated from the carpet and grew brighter until she could see Zeela adjusting a round dial on the wall to her side. The walls were wainscoted to the level of Zeela’s lower elbows, and wallpapered above that with decadent golden damask. She gestured with one arm in its flowing sleeve, and Talis followed the shopkeeper down the hall and around two turns.
At the end of the passage, a strip of bright light showed at the bottom edge of a door. The buyer was sighted, then, Talis surmised. Possibly another Rakkar, Talis figured. Likely not Breaker, Bone, or Cutter.
Hopefully not Cutter. A Cutter buyer could prove to be a member of The Veritors of the Lost Codex. An agent for Hankirk. As desperate as she was to sell the ring, she wasn’t sure what she’d do if that was where this was headed. She swallowed and her fingers found their way up to clasp at her prayerlocks. Hoped the Veritors wouldn’t lower themselves to dealing through a Vein acquisitions agent.
She needn’t have worried about the Veritors. Zeela pressed the unlatched door in on its hinges, and as it swung into the room, four Yu’Nyun turned to greet them.
Chapter 13
Whatever guesses Talis might have made about Zeela’s connections, she had not anticipated the aliens.
Her mind blanked. Forgot to tell her feet to stop moving. Momentum carried her into the room, and one of the aliens stepped forward to meet her. That sudden movement finally got her to brake before she walked right into it.
From descriptions, rumors started by those who claimed to have seen them, she expected the Yu’Nyun to be tall, lanky, and bony. They were that. Except for the bony part. Exoskeletons are made
