He uncurled his hand, and the imprint of a ring of sigils glimmered a faint blue there. The symbols writhed on his palm, reshaping in little licks of light.
“A ley-compass,” said Tandri, pointing at it. Viv started at that.
“Well, yes!” he replied, clearly pleased at her recognition. “But what I’m finding here is truly anomalous. We see scattered minor line nexuses throughout the city and westward toward Cardus, but I’ve found a nexusright herethat is giving some terribly interesting readings. Ley lines pulse, of course.”
“Of course,” agreed Tandri.
“But this nexus holdsfirm. It’s really quite extraordinary. So I’m taking some measurements, assembling some notes. This could be the foundation of afascinatingpaper, detailing their interactions with ward-glyphs.”
Viv had a sick feeling in her stomach and couldn’t stop herself from glancing to where the Scalvert’s Stone was hidden. She couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t responsible somehow, and if this student continued with his readings—the mention of acompasswas unnerving—then where might that lead him?
“Thatisfascinating, Hemington,” said Tandri.
“It is? It is, isn’t it.”
“But, thisisa place of business,” she continued. “Of course, we’d love to have you as a customer, but the seating here is really intended for patrons….”
Hemington adopted an expression of annoyed consternation. “I… don’t really drink hot beverages.”
Tandri ignored his protest and smiled at him sweetly. “… and fortunately for you, today’s samples are free.”
“Yes. Well. I, uh. I suppose,” he grudgingly allowed. “I… will… take advantage of that.”
“Excellent. I’ll bring you a cup.” She rose to return to the counter, but then turned back. “Oh, and as a reminder, this is the last day of the promotional period. Only a half bit for our flagship beverage. Thanks ever so much!”
* * *
As Tandri brewed a cup,Viv whispered, “You were an Ackers graduate?”
“Not a graduate, as such. Just took a few relevant classes.”
“Relevant to what?”
“To personal interests,” she replied evasively.
Viv didn’t press.
Tandri delivered the drink to Hemington, who stared at it dubiously and made no move to drink it.
After tapping her chin for a moment, Tandri took up the chalk and added another line to the menu.
*Purchase Required to Enjoy the Dining Area
* * *
Hemington eventually departed,leaving his untouched drink on the table. At least he had the decency to hover over it for a moment, clearly trying to decide which was least embarrassing—leaving it where it was or bringing the full cup up to the front. As he slunk past the counter, he noted Tandri’s fresh addition to the sign. “You know, Iwouldbuy something. It’s just, as I said, I don’t much care forhotdrinks. Perhaps if there was something toeat,” he said, a note of pleading in his voice.
“Hm,” said Viv, in her best impression of Cal. “I’ll take it under advisement.”
After he left, though, she glanced at the stove the hob had installed, and something niggled at her, a nascent idea.
She let that percolate as she went to retrieve Hemington’s mug.
The shop had mostly emptied, although one old dwarf sat tucked away in the back, nursing his drink while he slowly ran his finger over a broadsheet, moving his lips as he read.
Viv turned and stopped short. An enormous, shaggy creature sat in the center of the shop, sprawled in a square of sunlight. Tandri stood on its other side, eyes wide.
The beast had to weigh ten stone and was as big as a wolf, but it looked like nothing so much as an enormous, shaggy, and slightly sooty housecat.
