Sol beams at me. “I’m surprised you thought of that. Humans usually only think about themselves. We provided provisions, including additional tents and healing, late last night.”
Oh. “That’s . . . really nice of you,” I say.
Sol tilts his chin in an arrogant manner. “I know.”
I roll my eyes and keep walking. “It’s not nice if you’re only doing it out of pride.”
He catches up to me. “I’m only teasing you, Lyra.”
“I know.” I lift my nose and smell the air. “Yum.”
“What are you smelling?” Sol sniffs. “Sweat? Pollution? Feces?” and after a moment’s pause, “food?”
I laugh. “Food.” I can smell pollution, but luckily not the rest. “Go get me some food.” I point to a truck. “They’re selling steamed buns. My favorite.”
“I thought you said pizza was your favorite food.”
He remembers our first date, apparently. It’d be hard not to. It was a ridiculously awkward event—for me—where we sat in a dining hall. I’d picked at my food while Sol peppered me with all sorts of questions. “All food is my favorite.”
“Well, you are a female,” he says in a matter-of-fact way. He peers at what I assume is the menu, even though we’re standing across the street. “Pork, chicken, or veggies? Of course, you’ll want veggies.”
“Where did you get a stupid idea like that?” I push him. “This girl’s a carnivore.”
“You shouldn’t be.” Sol lets me shove him. “Too much meat isn’t good for your health or the environment.”
“Pfft. Just go get me one.”
Sol clicks his tongue at me. “Steamed veggie bun, coming right up.” He strolls away toward the truck and doesn’t see me stick my tongue at him.
While Sol is—surprisingly—waiting his turn in line to order, I turn around and dive into a nearby alley. I’m shocked that worked so easily. Maybe he’s hungry, too. I need to talk to Vera and relay the information I was ordered to procure.
Isn’t this what Stella did to Eldaren? Elves can have one-track minds, it seems, and I stifle a giggle as I break into a sprint. I have maybe sixty seconds before he realizes I gave him the slip.
Liberty’s a big place, though. He’ll probably lecture me when I return to the base. I might feel guilty, except he’s buying me a stupid veggie bun.
I head over to the bowling alley.
Charles is there, his face buried in a comic as he sits hunched over the counter. There’s no one else here except for his assistant. That doesn’t surprise me. Sol didn’t mention anything about it, but Diamond Lucky Bowl’s main operation isn’t bowling. Charles sells plenty of illegal goods and is also a member of the Colonials.
I walk over and lean my elbows on the counter. “Hey.”
Charles looks up, blinking as he pulls his mind away from the story. “Oh.” He smiles. “Hey, Lyra.”
He’s a bit older than me, probably in his mid-twenties, but has a scrawny, nerd-look about him that makes me wonder if he’s ever had a girlfriend.
“So,” he says, putting the book aside. “How’s it going, hanging out with the elves and all of that?”
I shrug a shoulder. “Eh. It’s just part of my job, you know?”
“Yeah.” He nods, and his gaze flickers back to the comic. What a nerd.
“I’m still alive,” I continue, “so I guess I can’t complain.”
Charles chuckles. His glasses slip, and he pushes them back up the bridge of his nose. “Do you have something to pass on?”
“Yup.” I pull a note out of my pants pocket and give it to him. “You’ll want to pass this on to our superiors.” I have another message that’s identical to that one, still in my pocket. Vera is usually faster at relaying information, but I like to have a backup, just in case.
“Sure.” Charles sticks it under the counter. “I’m expecting a visit in the next couple of days.”
“Hey.” I lean my elbows on the counter. “Have you heard of a girl named Stella?”
Charles tilts his head, eyebrows furrowing. “Stella…” His forehead smooths. “Oh, right. I have. The chick who hangs with the elves, right? There’s a huge bounty on her head.”
“What?” I stare. “By whom?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea. But it sounds like it’s big enough that half the city has it out for her. That’s what I heard, anyway.”
“You don’t think the Founders want her dead, do you?” I say anxiously.
“I don’t know,” Charles says. “I don’t see why. I don’t think they could afford it. And anyway, they don’t have to put bounties out.”
That’s true. As a Colonial, we carry out orders when called. So it’s not the Founders. That’s a relief.
“Though with the amount of money her head is worth, maybe our leaders will be out for her, too,” he points out.
“Huh.” The anxiety is back, tightening my stomach. I need to talk to Vera and see if I can get a meeting with one of the Founders. Unlikely, but it’s worth a try. I need to get to the bottom of this. We need to protect Stella if someone is really after her.
I need to think on this. “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you, then.” I turn away. “Later.”
“Bye.” Looking over my shoulder, I see he’s already gone back to his comic.
Stepping outside, I find myself face-to-face with Sol.
“There you are,” he drawls. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I frown, trying to hide the surprise and uncertainty I feel, seeing him here. I didn’t know he’d find me so quickly. Or maybe I’d never lost him at all. That thought is unsettling. Was he listening through the door? “What are you doing here?” I say.
“I’d like to ask you the same question.” Sol passes me a steamed bun wrapped in paper. “I got you food.”
“Is it veggie?” I take it and eye it uncertainly.
“No, I stooped to barbaric human tradition and ordered chicken.”
I smile and unwrap it. “Thanks.” I bite into it, my mouth immediately assaulted by steamed greens.
“But I
