'Have him ask for Gregor and Bolt, if they're available!' Taya shouted. Cristof nodded once, shoving through the door.
As soon it shut behind him, Taya turned on Gwen.
'You enjoyed that,' she said, accusingly. Gwen gave her an innocent look, then burst into raucous laughter.
'Oh, I did. You both looked so disappointed! If only you could have seen yourselves! Absolutely priceless!'
Taya tried to resist, but then she started giggling, too, until both of them were reduced to helpless laughter and snorts, glancing at the door to make sure Cristof wasn't going to come back in and find them like that.
'That's not fair,' Taya said at last, wiping her eyes. 'I like him.'
'Clear proof that love is blind,' Gwen retorted. 'What in the world would a nice girl like you see in that squawking crow?'
'He's brave, and honest, and intelligent—'
' — bony, bad-tempered, poorly dressed, outcaste—'
'Oh, Gwen! He's not perfect, but… the perfect one turned out to be a murderer.'
'Hmph.' Her landlady sighed. 'You know I'm only giving him a hard time because I can. But I worry about you, Taya. You're flying in such dangerous skies, with all these criminals and spies and bombs….'
'It's all over now.'
'Is it?' Gwen looked dubious. 'And what will you do when that awful decatur is executed and your crow puts on his mask again? It would be one thing if I thought you were just having a fling, but I know you better than that. I don't want you to get your heart broken when reality catches up with you.'
'Reality.' Taya straightened her shoulders. 'I can outfly reality any day.'
'Not even the fastest icarus can do that, dear.' Gwen sighed. 'Well, enjoy yourself while you can, even if it is with an outcaste. And don't forget to take your pain medicine, if you're going to be gone for any amount of time.'
Taya nodded, grabbing her other crutch and limping up the stairs.
Cristof's mood had improved by the time they were settled into the hack. The message boy had found Gregor, and the cheerful coachman greeted Taya with enthusiasm and Cristof with respect. They jolted into motion. Cristof steadied his toolbag with one hand, stretching his legs across the narrow gap between their two facing seats.
'Where are we going?' Taya asked. 'If you have work to do, I don't mind getting lunch on my own. I didn't mean to invite myself like that.'
'No? I thought we'd go to that foreign restaurant you like. The Cabisi place. I didn't eat there the other night, so I thought I should try it today.'
She smiled. 'You have time?'
'My suspension is still in effect. In fact, this time they took away my lictor's papers to ensure it.'
'I'm sorry.'
'It's all right. I don't know what I'm going to do after this, anyway.' He looked out the window, then flinched and looked back. Taya glanced out and saw that the hack was making its way down Cliff Road, revealing a sweeping vista and long drop. 'I'll never be able to work as a spy again.'
'You don't sound too upset about it.'
He absently tapped his fingers on his toolbag. 'I'll find something else to do.'
She hesitated, but the opening was there, and she had to take it.
'Will you go up to live like an exalted again?'
'No.' His answer was fast and firm. 'I can't go back to a mask and robes anymore. Could you go back to working in a factory, after living like an icarus?'
'But that's different. I'd be giving up my freedom if I did that,' she protested.
'And I'd be giving up my freedom if I covered myself again. You have no idea. It's not just the public restrictions, although those are bad enough. It's all the other rules and traditions and expectations. No… the Lady made a mistake when she incarnated me as an exalted. I'm not ready for it yet.'
'Maybe the Lady wanted you in the caste for a reason,' Taya suggested. 'To make it more honest, or to shake up the traditions, or something like that. Maybe it's your duty to live like an exalted.'
'Do you want me to go back?'
'No!' She looked at him and saw that he was serious, so she became serious, too. 'But I want you to do what's right. If you have to go back to help your family, then you should.'
'My family doesn't need my help. Not the kind of help that requires me to put on a mask, anyway,' he said, forestalling her protest. 'Besides, it's too early to think about returning to Primus. We don't even know what's going to happen yet.'
Taya glanced at him. It was clear what was going to happen, and they both knew it. But she didn't argue.
'All right.' She made an attempt to lighten the mood. 'I was wondering what you might look like with long hair and jewels, though.'
'Ridiculous.'
'I was
'
'I mean, I look ridiculous.'
'Well, somebody needs to do something about your hair. You have to stop cutting it yourself. Even that little sweep girl of yours could do a better job.'
'Jessica? She'd cut off my ears.'
'She was cute. ‘Clockite.’ I like that.'
'She's a pest. I can't get rid of her.' He sounded put out. 'For some reason my shop fascinates children.'
'Well, it's filled with all kinds of fascinating things. Did you show them the flying birds?'
He muttered something. She laughed.
'I don't know why you can't just be nice to them, for a change.'
'If I'm nice, they'll come around even more often than they do now, and I'd never get any work done.'
'I see. So by that logic, if I decide I don't want you hanging around—'
He gave her an alarmed look, and Taya realized he wasn't confident enough for that kind of teasing. She adjusted her response.
' — then I'll have to suggest something unpleasant, like taking another flight together.'
'Yes, that might scare me away.'
'Too bad. I liked flying with you.' She put on a thoughtful expression. 'I liked landing with you even better.'
He closed his eyes and sighed. 'I don't suppose there's any chance you really mean that.'
'You'll never find out if you keep sitting so far away from me.'
He swallowed and opened his eyes again.
'I am aware the correct response would be to swing across to sit next to you,' he said, sounding pained, 'but if I tried, I'd hit my head on the ceiling, or fall on top of you, or do something equally graceless that would embarrass us both.'
She laughed. 'You're thinking too much again.'
'Thinking isn't a habit I'm likely to break.'
Taya shook her head, exasperated. A minute later the hack rattled to a halt and Gregor sang out the name of the restaurant.
'Allow me.' Cristof unfolded himself first, exiting and setting his toolbag and her crutches onto the cobbles. He helped Taya slide out. The manuever was a little inelegant as she tried to avoid putting too much weight on her
