They had always affected her the same.
Only she could have sworn the Urchin captain’s eyes were black. She must have been mistaken.
The tide of her grief receded enough that Alora began to fit pieces together. Of every interaction she’d had with both Bash, the shopkeeper, and Ezra, the captain.
Water helps,said the captain. Bash handing her a glass.
The dark head she’d briefly seen staring into the fire while at dinner with Timothy Lofte. The Urchin finding her in the street that night.
“I don’t even know you”,she’d said.
“Yes, you do.”
He’d played her well enough, she thought. What with calling the owner of the shop an idiot. Of pretending he’d no idea who William was. But the bones, the flowers. Were they all ingredients then? Was Bash behind the creation of the memory oil? Had his father trusted him with the process?
So many answers she wished for and could never ask.
Just like that, the tide returned, and Alora fell against the wall beneath the pain of it. She hardly heard the Urchins’ continued conversation. Not until one of them began to speak of what they planned for next.
“Here are the names. I’ve written down the addresses on the backs.” It must have been the oldest of them yet. Alora could recognize the slight difference to his voice now that she’d heard it transform from one to the next. He handed out the small cards.
“Merridon never writes them in case they would be dropped.”
“Well, considering Salvoy set himself against the wrong man last week, forgive me for doing one thing different than the captain would.”
“Fuck.I didn’t—”
Another Urchin clapped his hand on the younger’s shoulder, effectively silencing him. “It’s happened before. Just don’t let it happen again.”
Alora could hear the disdainful scoff even through the mask, and then Salvoy said, “Ellie Turkens?” He turned over the card. “I’ve been here before, I think. Isn’t this an old woman?”
Alora froze, her entire body doused in fear. She didn’t dare move, or breathe, or even think.
“Does it matter? Get it done.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alora didn’t wait for the Urchins to depart ahead of her. Instead, she ran. The deadbolt sounded an alarmed screech against her hand that she hoped they didn’t hear but knew couldn’t be helped if they did. She must reach Ellie Turkens before they did. She couldn’t allow any other future.
My fault,she cried in her head.It’s my fault. When would she ever learn? She’d harmed the newly named Mortimer the same way. By asking questions when she’d known it to be dangerous. By encouraging interactions when she’d known they were unwise. If any harm were to come to Ellie because of her, she’d never forgive herself for as long as she lived. And so she ran. Down the entirety of Mugwort Alley. Across Slumber Lane, through Thistledown Square, and along the length of Rune Street until she skidded to a halt before the yellow outside of Books and Nibbles. The violet shutters were thrown open, the windows and door, too. Alora bent at the waist to regain her breath and used precious seconds to step between buildings and remove her coat. She couldn’t surprise Ellie in such a way.It wouldn’t do to stop her heart for the sake of saving her memories.
When she was as presentable as she could make herself, though she knew there was sweat dampening her hair yet, Alora straightened her shoulders and walked through the entrance. She found the bookshop’s owner as she often did, her nose in a story and delivering a cup of tea.
“Sugar, dear? Yes, it’s right here.”
Alora skirted around the table of two young women until she planted herself right in Ellie’s way. The old woman’s book pressed into Alora’s chest before she noticed anyone in her path. Hooded blue eyes flicked across the top of its pages to find hers.
“Alora! What are you doing? Oh my, whatever is the matter?”
“Mrs. Turkens, I—” A shadow passed by the window, and on instinct she reached for Ellie’s wrists. “I must speak with you.”
Urging Ellie Turkens after her required more effort than she wished. The old woman seemed convinced she could only go at one pace, and that pace was slow. Alora might have felt badly over how she pushed the bookshop owner, but she’d seen Ellie in a rush, and knew her capable of some speed yet.
“Dear, I must protest this rough grip.”
“I’m sorry,” said Alora, and released her at once. They were near the back of the shop now, not far from the kitchen. “Have I hurt you?”
“No, you haven’t. But can you say the same? Your energy is all out of sorts.” Ellie made a smoothing motion on either side of her head, close to touching, but not quite.
