One ear swiveled towards this new direction her name had come from. If she hadn't been right at his shoulder, chances were she wouldn't have even heard the word.
She downed the rest of her drink. Turned. Looked up. Her grin was facile, her posture as easy and relaxed as it could be in a crowded tavern. Sweat had formed along forehead and temples; her shirt clung to chest and back. Soon enough there would be pit stains. Without a breeze to move through the doorways, it was getting stuffy. Besides, the air was muggy. There'd be rain in another day or two.
Those thoughts were distant. Distracting. Zhi would not show weakness, not in such a crowded place. Not one where she was known to frequent. Running, fleeing -- it would be marked. There would be some who would see her for who she was, and more rumors would start chasing her. Who wanted to hire a runner who couldn't keep her problems private?
Someone jostled her, and she bumped into the stranger again. Stranger, not someone she knew. That could mean a good thing. She still tensed, the ghostly sensation of an imagined blade sinking into her gut teasing her belly. Nothing happened, and she pushed back against the press, taking a half step back from him so she could get a better look.
If someone intended to kill her, they wouldn't send someone so. . . flamboyant. Zhi didn't rate flamboyant. She relaxed by increments. "Buy me a drink?" She shoved the empty mug into his ribcage.
She downed the rest of her drink. Turned. Looked up. Her grin was facile, her posture as easy and relaxed as it could be in a crowded tavern. Sweat had formed along forehead and temples; her shirt clung to chest and back. Soon enough there would be pit stains. Without a breeze to move through the doorways, it was getting stuffy. Besides, the air was muggy. There'd be rain in another day or two.
Those thoughts were distant. Distracting. Zhi would not show weakness, not in such a crowded place. Not one where she was known to frequent. Running, fleeing -- it would be marked. There would be some who would see her for who she was, and more rumors would start chasing her. Who wanted to hire a runner who couldn't keep her problems private?
Someone jostled her, and she bumped into the stranger again. Stranger, not someone she knew. That could mean a good thing. She still tensed, the ghostly sensation of an imagined blade sinking into her gut teasing her belly. Nothing happened, and she pushed back against the press, taking a half step back from him so she could get a better look.
If someone intended to kill her, they wouldn't send someone so. . . flamboyant. Zhi didn't rate flamboyant. She relaxed by increments. "Buy me a drink?" She shoved the empty mug into his ribcage.
