Page 48 of Hawk & Sparrow

“Uh … just looking for Elmer. I need the key to the patent archive.” Vesper did her best to lower her voice. The custodian had dark brown skin and wore his black hair in long thick locs that reached his elbows. This had to be Lloyd. He was frowning.

“The patent archive?” he repeated. His words were touched with a low, slightly musical accent. “That’s only cleaned once a month, and it’s in my section.”

“Oh.” Vesper realized too late that she hadn’t thought out her lie at all. “My mistake, then, I must have misunderstood.”

Lloyd squinted. “What’s your name? I’ve never seen you before.”

“Name’s Max,” Vesper said quickly. “I’m new.”

Lloyd shook his head. “No one said anything about a new guy on this shift, and I’m not taking a pay cut because the boss can’t afford the hours for three people.” He shook his head and turned. “I’m going to get in contact with our supervisor.”

Vesper watched his retreating back, horrified. She racked her mind trying to think of anything she might say to make him turn around. After a few seconds, she said the first thing that came to mind.

“How long have you lived in Basalton?”

Lloyd stopped walking and looked over his shoulder, frowning. “What?”

“How long have you lived in this city?” Vesper pressed. “You’re not from here, not originally. I can tell by your accent.”

Lloyd turned around to face her again. He crossed his arms, looking immediately defensive. “I’m a legal Victerran citizen.”

“But it’s not where you’re from originally, is it?”

The man opened his mouth, but Vesper spoke up before he could.

“That necklace you’re wearing.” She pointed to a simple cord with a small wooden fish around his neck. “That’s the sign of Saint Moziah, isn’t it?”

Lloyd squinted. “What do you know of the water saint?”

“Not much,” Vesper admitted quickly. “But when I was a little girl, I used to hear stories. There was one in particular that I liked, the story of a man who gave his life for his children by sacrificing himself to a giant rainbow fish that swallowed him whole. For his courage and selflessness, his people made him a saint.” Vesper paused. “At least, that’s the version I know.”

Lloyd was staring at her, cautious. “Who told you that story?”

“My grandfather,” Vesper said. “It was a story his father told him, and one he passed on to me and my sister.”

Sudden understanding dawned on the man’s face. “You’re Calidan.”

“No. Not really,” said Vesper. “My great-grandparents immigrated to Victerra when they were young. I never knew them, and I’ve never been to the Calida Isles. The stories are all I have.”

For a long time, Lloyd said nothing. Then, slowly, he shook his head. “Blood is blood.”

“What?”

“Blood is blood,” he repeated more firmly. “Your ancestors are of the Isles, and so you are of them too. No one can take that from you, ever.”

Vesper swallowed hard. Her parents had died before she could ask them more about their family’s heritage. Lloyd’s words resonated with surprising force.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “Thank you for saying that.”

Lloyd cocked his head to the side. He no longer looked angry, only slightly bemused. “What are you really doing here, child? You’re no cleaner.”

Vesper took a deep breath, then made a decision. “I need to get into the archives,” she said. “It’s for a project, a really important one. I tried to come during the day, but the man who manages it wouldn’t let me in because I’m a woman.”

For the first time, Lloyd looked properly disgusted. “I will never understand Victerrans and their closed-minded attitudes toward women. In the Isles, we would do no such thing.” He shook his head, then reached into his pocket and produced a key.

“This is the one you need,” he murmured.

He said nothing else as he walked away, leaving Vesper in the hall alone again.