Dawdling around the shop all day would’ve been easy if it weren’t for this specific reading selection. Not that Viv wasn’t enjoying the book, because she was. Unfortunately, certain passages, pages, and wholechaptersmade her flush all over. Moreover, she caught Fern eyeing her progress, and the rattkinseemed to knowexactlywhen those moments might occur. It made her uncomfortable, like someone was watching her bathe.
“I think I’m going to read this in my room,” Viv declared, marking her page number and settingSea of Passionon the side table.
“Hm. Need some private time?” Fern smirked, which Viv didn’t think she’d ever seen her do before.
“No. But you’re watching me like you expect me to steal something.”
The rattkin shrugged. “Just… gauging your interest.”
Viv hoisted herself to her feet with the help of her staff. “In the… themoistbits?”
Fern burst into laughter, startling Potroast out of his nap.
“What are you up to? This really doesn’t feel like I’m helping at all.” Viv hobbled toward her.
The rattkin was going through a massive printer’s catalog and making marks in her inventory book. “Well, just having you here is keeping me—”
At that moment, a tall sea-fey woman opened the door and stepped cautiously inside.
Viv preempted Fern. “Sea charts?” she asked with a broad smile.
The customer looked startled and furrowed her brow in confusion.
“What can I do for you?” asked Fern, shooing Viv to the side.
When the woman departed with three books in hand—a long journey ahead of her, apparently—Viv stood watching out the door, drumming the frame with her fingers.
“What?” asked Fern. “It looks like you’re about to suggest furniture again.”
“Just want to sort out how to help more. I feel… itchy. At least, when I’m not reading.” Viv interrupted Fern before she could say anything. “And yeah, I meant it.Thatchapter is a ‘my room’ chapter.”
“You know, there have been more customers in the last two days than in the previous week—not counting you,” said Fern.
“Really? Still seems pretty quiet.”
The rattkin wrinkled her nose. “Yes, well, welcome to the life of a bookseller in gods-damned Murk. Maybe they see you in the window and figure the place isn’t about to close? Orcollapse?”
Viv ran a finger down the remnants of red on the front door. “Could be a little paint would give them the right idea.”
“It just wears so fast in the salt air. Seems like throwing money away to repaint it, when there’s so much else around here that needs the silver.”
“Like what?”
“Like new books.” Fern tapped the catalog. “Most of my inventory is old. Nothing wrong with classics, but…” She shrugged. “The stuff coming out of Azimuth these days is just fresher. Kind of daring. Also, there are a lot of series coming out, and if you buy one, then you need thenextone. I could definitely do with more repeat customers.”
She closed the catalog with a snap. “Gods-damned expensive, though. And then there’s the space problem.”
Viv studied the packed shelves. “Too bad you couldn’t make more room…”
“Hm?”
“Just thinking. Don’t mind me. Look, I need to limber up.Leg’s getting stiff, and I haven’t been staying fighting fit the way I need to. Going to head back for a while and see if I can do something without falling on my ass this time. Okay with you?”
Fern flapped a hand at her.
“Back in a bit.” Viv waved and headed back to The Perch.
Strapping her saber to her waist was like pulling on a pair of comfortably broken-in boots. How many days had it been since she’d worn it? Viv had lost count.
