The barkeep seemed annoyed at her intervention, though there was a deference in him that hinted to the young woman’s social status. “Respectfully, Miss Cordie, this is no business of yours.”
The young woman, Cordie, put her hands on her hips, an air of defiance in her green-blue eyes. “And if I choose to make it my business?”
The barkeep looked nervous now. “These Eclipse-born are unaccompanied,” he said defensively, “and have no damper cuffs to boot. You know the rules.”
“Yes, I do in fact know the rules. The law allows establishments like yours to demand Eclipse-born be accompanied, sure enough, but the requirement of damper cuffs has been illegal for some time now, Hayworth. You know better than that.” This was delivered in a conversational tone, her polite smile never slipping. The barkeep fumbled for words, but Cordie beat him to it, adding, “Honestly, Hayworth, you disappoint me. Can’t you see these two are sodden wet and looking for a place to get warm?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Cordie. Rules are rules. I can’t risk the Regulators bearing down on me now, what with the Bicentennial going on. You know they’ll come down harder on all of us in these times.”
“Then I guess we’ll be taking our leave.” She heaved a withering sigh. “Such a shame to think I’ll have to find another tavern to patronize. You know how much I like to come here after a long day at the art studio. But I simply cannot abide by this sort of prejudice.”
“Miss Cordie…” There was a note of desperation and regretnow in the barkeep’s voice; no doubt he was scared to lose a patron as well-off as she seemed.
“Good night, Hayworth.” To Baz and Kai, she said, “Come along, gents.”
Cordie pulled Baz and Kai through the door as if they were old friends and led them down the dark street. She laughed when they were out of earshot, studying them from head to toe. “Tides, you two are amess. Did you fall to the bottom of the Deep?”
“I’m sorry—who are you?” Kai asked.
“Right, where are my manners?” The girl stuck out a gloved hand. “I’m Cordie. Third-year Aldryn student, House New Moon.”
Kai gingerly shook her hand. “Kai.”
Cordie offered her hand to Baz when Kai refused to say more.
“Er, Baz. House Eclipse.”Obviously.
She arched an amused brow. “I can see that. Sorry about the barkeep. He has one foot still in the past, that one.”
So do we, it seems, Baz thought.
“He’s not wrong, though,” Cordie continued. “The Regulators are going to be far more severe with their rules. Cadence is usually great for Eclipse-born, but with the influx of delegates from other countries, no one wants any accidents happening.” She scoffed. “Still, I assure you that kind of hostility isn’t a reflection of every student here at Aldryn. Some of us are much more accepting than others.”
“Glad to hear it,” Kai said flatly, like he didn’t quite believe her.
Cordie looked the two of them over. “May I ask where you’re from?”
Shit.Surely they couldn’t say they were Aldryn students—not inthistime, at least.
“Um—”
Kai’s elbow dug into Baz’s side, cutting him off. “Luagua.”
Cordie’s gaze flickered to Baz, and he knew she must be thinkinghe clearly did not look Luaguan. Before he could think of some excuse, she asked, “And did you swim here from Luagua, then?” Her tone was tinged with amusement. “Tides, you must be freezing. I assume the sea swallowed up your luggage, too?”
Kai chuckled. “Something like that.”
Cordie clasped her hands together. “You’ll be needing some clothes, then. I’ll fetch you something to change into. I assume you haven’t registered at the college yet?”
“Registered?” Baz echoed.
“You don’t have your badges.” At their blank expressions, she added, “For the Bicentennial. All of us are asked to wear them to indicate which college and country we hail from. See?”
She pointed to an enamel pin affixed to the lapel of her coat, which Baz recognized as Aldryn College’s emblem: open hands holding up the eight phases of the moon, which formed a ring around a dagger that dripped blood onto an open book.
“Right,” he said. “We, er, hadn’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Well, come with me, and I’ll help you get sorted.”
