“I… that’s good. I mean, it’s not my place to… ah,shit.” Tandri hung her head, and her glossy hair fell forward. She looked up again. “You know, part of what I am—whoI am—I have a… sense about things.”
“A sense?”
“As a succubus. We pick up more of intentions, emotions. And also… secrets.”
Viv had a sinking feeling that she knew where this was going.
“Look, I know that there’s more to all this than what you’ll say. And that’s okay! Again, it’s not my place, but…. It makes me think this is more dangerous than just some crime boss wringing out protection money.”
Viv thought about the Scalvert’s Stone, but she hadn’t gotten any sense from Lack or his goons thattheyknew about it. And why would they? The Stone’s lore was obscure, and it was hardly sitting out for all to see. She’d been careful.
“I… do have something I’m playing close to the vest,” admitted Viv. “But I can’t figure any way that the Madrigal could know about it, and even if he did, the odds he’d care are low, I think.”
“Like I said,” said Tandri, “I can sense things. From you. And from all of them yesterday, something unsaid. And I have a bad feeling.”
Viv thought about Gallina’s warning about Fennus and wondered exactly what hehadsaid to the rest of the crew.
“I’ll be careful,” said Viv. “That’s all I know to do, at this point.”
“I hope that’s enough.”
The shop was fully squared away, and after glancing around, Tandri nodded to herself and, after a long silence, said, “Well… good night.”
As she turned to go, Viv blurted, “Hey, so, you want a walk home? What with that Kellin guy, and your… sense of things, maybe it’d feel safer?”
Tandri thought about it for a moment, then replied, “That’d be nice.”
* * *
The night wasdark and cool, and the smell of the river had a fresher, earthy flavor that was pleasant. The street lanterns cast yellow pools in the blue of the evening shadows.
They strolled in a relaxed silence, with Tandri leading the way, until they came to a building on the north side that was clearly a grocer’s on the bottom story.
“Up there,” said Tandri, gesturing to a side stairway. “I’m sure I’ll be fine the last few steps.”
“Of course,” said Viv, suddenly awkward. “See you tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow.”
After watching her ascend and slip into the building, Viv walked around Thune for several hours before returning to the darkened shop, where the last embers in the stove had gone cold.
18
Viv handed Laney one of her own plates with a fresh and steaming roll on it—something she’d been doing for a few days now. Laney always left a clean plate on Viv’s counter before closing with four shiny bits on it, and every morning, Viv returned it less the coins and plus a pastry.
“Well,thankya, dear!” cried Laney, taking the plate with eager hands. “You tell that rattkin lad if he wants to trade recipes sometime, I’ve got some corkers.”
“I’ll be sure to let him know,” Viv replied, wondering what Thimble would make of Laney’s cakes.
“Jes’ so proud to have you as a neighbor.”
Viv glanced back at the shop. “I hope so, because it looks like you might be stuck with me.”
Laney nodded. “Good to see you settlin’ in. All that t’was needed was a partner.”
“A partner?”
The old woman’s eyes grew distant. “My ol’ Titus used to say we filled each other’s gaps. ’Course, when he said it, it soundeddirtier.”
