The night passed, and the morning brought with it charcoal clouds and more drizzling. The sky was packed with clouds, shielding Zhi from Azeyma's vindictiveness. Good. Let the bitch keep to her own company for a change, rather than forcing it on everyone else. Zhi would stomach the rain for that purpose, as she skipped between her sources for the morning rounds. Despite the lack of progress with the notebook, and the frustration of the night before, she'd decided to start working on a whole other problem.
Galleon.
Her queries were carefully worded and sown. She didn't use the name he'd given her, was sure that it was a throwaway in any case, but there were enough hints that anyone gave in conversation and dealmaking to use when dealing with the rumor mill and the information network that clung to every spire and bridge. Keep it vague enough that nothing would be returned to him, but not so vague that those she visited wouldn't be able to do anything with it -- story of her life. At least if she had some weight behind her she wouldn't have to worry about getting squashed, but she was inconsequential enough that her death would be little more than an inconvenience to most. Those who did rely on her didn't have the power to stir up trouble, themselves. She'd get there one day. In the meantime, she played the game.
____________
Zhi jerked back from the page, pencil falling from her grip. Was that -- ?
It was late. The moon was high, she was certain, though the clouds were as thick as they'd been since the previous night. The rain was more sporadic now, though it showed no signs of going away completely. She'd been working long enough that she'd had to tug more wick up out of the oil in the lamp. Late enough that, thanks to her recently diurnal habits, she'd been falling asleep. It was then, as she nodded over the paper, that she'd been jolted awake by a strange sensation. Not much of one, maybe just a stray fancy, but something.
She picked up the pencil. It was too late to go looking for Lalataru. Could she do it again?
_______________
Waiting for Lalataru in front of the Gate's front door was really getting tiresome. Zhi resolved to ask him for another meeting place, or something, because the walk was really not one she wanted to be making so frequently. True, it was only what, her third time? But that was more than enough. She felt exposed. Even with the weather giving her cause to tuck her tail up into her coat, she had that creeping sensation that she would be seen by someone she knew, which translated into potential blackmail. Not something she wanted to deal with. Hard enough to handle her other jobs while dealing with this one; it gave her the jeebies to let the matter with Clove fall to Brindle, even though she knew him to be more than capable for such small work. Long as he didn't shit the bed.
Crouching in the depressingly familiar corner, she waited for Lalataru.
Galleon.
Her queries were carefully worded and sown. She didn't use the name he'd given her, was sure that it was a throwaway in any case, but there were enough hints that anyone gave in conversation and dealmaking to use when dealing with the rumor mill and the information network that clung to every spire and bridge. Keep it vague enough that nothing would be returned to him, but not so vague that those she visited wouldn't be able to do anything with it -- story of her life. At least if she had some weight behind her she wouldn't have to worry about getting squashed, but she was inconsequential enough that her death would be little more than an inconvenience to most. Those who did rely on her didn't have the power to stir up trouble, themselves. She'd get there one day. In the meantime, she played the game.
____________
Zhi jerked back from the page, pencil falling from her grip. Was that -- ?
It was late. The moon was high, she was certain, though the clouds were as thick as they'd been since the previous night. The rain was more sporadic now, though it showed no signs of going away completely. She'd been working long enough that she'd had to tug more wick up out of the oil in the lamp. Late enough that, thanks to her recently diurnal habits, she'd been falling asleep. It was then, as she nodded over the paper, that she'd been jolted awake by a strange sensation. Not much of one, maybe just a stray fancy, but something.
She picked up the pencil. It was too late to go looking for Lalataru. Could she do it again?
_______________
Waiting for Lalataru in front of the Gate's front door was really getting tiresome. Zhi resolved to ask him for another meeting place, or something, because the walk was really not one she wanted to be making so frequently. True, it was only what, her third time? But that was more than enough. She felt exposed. Even with the weather giving her cause to tuck her tail up into her coat, she had that creeping sensation that she would be seen by someone she knew, which translated into potential blackmail. Not something she wanted to deal with. Hard enough to handle her other jobs while dealing with this one; it gave her the jeebies to let the matter with Clove fall to Brindle, even though she knew him to be more than capable for such small work. Long as he didn't shit the bed.
Crouching in the depressingly familiar corner, she waited for Lalataru.