“Not bad,” agreed Viv.
A voice then joined the lute, high and sweet and soulful.
“Hang on,” said Viv. “Who isthat?” She ducked her head around the corner and gawked. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
It was Pendry, his singing voice unaccountably melodious and pure, a startling contrast to his bulk and blockiness.
…The price of what I meant to do
Was higher when the day was through,
And when I took a different road,
I almost couldn’t feel the load…
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before,” said Tandri. “Maybe traditional-sounding, but not traditional. I’d wager he wrote that.”
“Huh.” There were no expressions of shock amongst the diners, and Viv even caught a foot or two tapping along. “Sorry I ever doubted you,” she murmured, partly to herself, but mostly to the Scalvert’s Stone tucked away beneath the floor.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing. Just another stroke of good luck.”
* * *
Later,Hemington approached the counter and rather awkwardly ordered one of everything.
“You want a coffeeanda latte?” asked Viv, eyeing him with suspicion.
“Er. Yes.” He paused and fidgeted for a moment. “And then, I had something I wanted to ask you.”
Viv sighed. “Hemington, if you’re looking for a favor, just ask. I don’t want to brew coffee you’re not going to drink.”
“Oh, well, excellent,” he said brightly.
“You’re buying one of these though,” she said, sliding a Thimblet over to him.
“Um. Of course.” He paid for it but didn’t seem to know what to do with it.
“Well, what can I do for you, Hem?”
“To start, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call meHem.”
“I believe you’re the one asking for a favor. In a shop where you don’t actually want anything we sell…Hem.”
He grimaced. “It’s not that I don’twantanyth–! Oh,nevermind.” He took a big breath and tried to start over. “I washopingyou’d allow me to lay a ward here, as part of my research.”
Viv frowned. “A ward? What for?”
“Well, it’s really my primary area of study. And with the non-fluctuating confluence of ley lines here, and the amplifying effect they have on Thaumic constructions that align with the material substrate, it–”
“Maybe a more straightforward answer, Hemington?”
“Ahem. It will beentirelyunnoticeable.” He absently bit the Thimblet.
“But what will itdo?”
“Well… it could do anynumberof things. That, in and of itself, isn’t important. And it willnotdisrupt your customers, or anyone else. You shouldn’t even see it!”
