“I have the most boring job, mostly sifting through code all day,” Yumi said before launching into a complaint about one of her coworkers.
The small talk was just that... small talk meant to keep MODA from thinking anything else was going on between them besides a friendship that crossed years and distance. They reminisced about their younger days: meeting for the first time, nights out clubbing, Yumi’s bad dates, her family, and life in Boston. Yumi even mentioned hating her job enough to consider moving into something non-software related, hoping to divert attention from her expertise in security.
A nervous energy that wasn’t usually there vibrated between them, and Aida hoped it wasn’t apparent to anyone who might be watching or listening. She eyed the flight concierge who satbehind a closed windowed door at the far end of the plane. The woman didn’t seem to be paying attention, but Aida knew that wasn’t likely true. She would report the trip details to MODA, as she had in the past.
Yumi finally decided she wanted a nap, leaving Aida alone with her thoughts. She watched her friend sleep, and then panic hit her, sharp, like a punch in the gut. They had never asked Aggie or Vulcan to give Yumi an aegis such as Sophie had given to her and Luciano. Every misgiving ran through her with the thought. She should never have dragged Yumi into this. She wouldn’t have the same calmness if a god was in her presence. What if she inadvertently gave them all away? What if that lapse got her killed? Or got all of them killed?
The concierge opened the door and came to her. She spoke in a low voice so as not to wake Yumi. “Miss Reale, may I get you anything? Perhaps something to calm your nerves?”
Aida froze. Could the woman have known what she was thinking? “Calm my nerves? Why would you ask that?”
“My apologies, Miss Reale. You looked like something was terribly wrong and I thought I might try to help.”
“Oh, nothing is wrong,” Aida said, making a mental note to find a way to keep her features calm when gods weren’t around. “I was just thinking I forgot to pack my favorite jacket.”
“Do you want to describe it to me? I can have Trista ship it overnight for you.”
“No, that’s all right. It’s a good excuse to go shopping,” she said, forcing a smile.
She watched the woman return to her post, realizing that an aegis might not save them, after all. Mere mortals could be the end of any one of them.
The next morning, Yumi knocked on the door in the sitting room that connected their two rooms. “Up and at ’em,” she called.
Aida wiped the sleep from her eyes and looked at the clock before heading to the door. “Seven a.m.?”
“We’ve a lot to do today, Miss Reale,” she said, imitating every person who had talked to the two of them since they had arrived—the doormen, the bellhop, the front desk, the service staff that passed them in the hallway all knew them by name. “I’ve already called down for breakfast to be sent, and they’ll be here in ten minutes, so throw some clothes on.”
Breakfast was silent as Yumi and Aida texted each other on their personal phones to plan the day, not daring to talk about their plans aloud. Occasionally, Yumi would regale Aida with some TikTok video or other, purely for appearance’s sake.
This is going to be impossible, Aida texted.There could be meanders all over the city.
Yumi, as always, was more optimistic.Vulcan said that there are five meanders, and theyare located insome of the city’s most important public places. I pulled a list of the top ten locations by number of visitors and antiquities to get us started.
What if they aren’t at the spots on the list?
Yumi shrugged.That’s for me to figure out. Worry not yourpretty littlehead, Miss Reale.
Aida glared at her friend over their tea and croissants.Please tell me you’re going to stop calling me that.
Certainly, Miss Reale. Your wish is my command.Yumi passed Aida her phone. On it was a GIF of a beautiful woman curtsying, with the words,Yes, Your Majesty.
Aida couldn’t help but laugh.
They were leaving the hotel when a voice called out across the lobby, stopping Aida in her tracks. “Miss Reale!”
Aida turned and saw Mo coming toward her. The dread she first felt upon hearing her name dissipated with every step closer,leaving her with a deep sense of calm. She objectively knew that she should feel worried about Yumi’s potential reaction, but no anxiety came to her.
“Hello, Mo,” she said with a smile. “I wondered if I would see you.”
“I didn’t expect you here so soon after your last visit. And you brought Miss Tanaka with you.” He reached out for her hand and kissed it. “I am honored to meet you.”
Aida wondered at his odd, cordial demeanor. Was it just a show for her friend? “Yumi has never been to London,” she said placidly. “We’ll take in the sights for a few days.”
“So, this is Mo!” Yumi exclaimed with a girlish giggle. “You were right, Aida. Heishandsome.”
Mo raised an eyebrow at Aida. “Handsome? I would never have guessed, Miss Reale.”
Aida was shocked at Yumi’s tactic for managing Mo, but she always had a knack for navigating awkward situations. “Admiration isn’t the sole purview of men,” she said.
