Page 71 of We Were Eternal Once

“Ivory weighs differently depending on the source,” he lies quickly, taking the elephant from me. “Perhaps you’ve only experienced one sort in your travels.”

Zora’s low whistle filters through the air and I smile at him, sure to show my sharp teeth. “I do not think I am the one that lacks experience,” I say to him before turning toward Zora’s whistle.

I find her across the Palais, leaning against a wall down a dark alley. She passes a large coin between her fingers, flipping it end over end as she watches me approach.

“You are quick,” I say.

“I don’t want them to learn my face. Your hearing is as exceptional as your vision, it seems.”

“Is that what you stole? A coin?” I ask. She holds it out to me and I examine it. It’s worn nearly flat, but the unmistakable face of Julius Caesar remains.

“It looked old,” she remarks.

“It is,” I say, trying to move it between my fingers as she does. It slips from my grasp and I catch it before it falls.

“Now it is your turn,” she says.

“My turn to what?” I ask.

“Steal. I will be the distraction, and you will be the thief.”

“How? I have no idea how you stole this!”

“You wait until the vendor is not looking at you and you take it and stash it somewhere. Very simple, really.”

“This is how you teach?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“A true thief is quick to adapt, and intelligent. If you cannot handle it, I suggest we part ways now.”

“I suspect if I leave now, you’ll take my bracelet with you?”

“See? Intelligent.”

“Will I pick the target as well?” I ask.

“Of course,” Zora says, pushing off the wall. It doesn’t take long to find the next target. This vendor has an assortment of small perfumes and oils spread across his table. A smaller item will be easier to conceal, I reason, and I nod toward his stall.

“Be careful not to break what you steal. They’ll follow your stench for days,” Zora says and wrinkles her nose. My laugh surprises me. Zora lifts an eyebrow but says nothing.

“Who approaches first?” I ask.

“What would you think?”

“You. If he sees me, he will focus entirely on me.”

“Why?”

“Because I look rich and learned,” I say. Zora laughs this time, nodding.

“Perhaps we adjust what you wear for future endeavors,” she suggests.

“Perhaps,” I agree.

Zora circles the Palais and approaches the vendor, picking up items and smelling them one at a time. The vendor frowns at her, remarking on the cost of every item she takes.

I move to the opposite side, where his back is to me. Zora prattles on about buying oil for her mistress, her loud voice carrying over the noise of the crowd. I turn over a few items, selecting the one I like at last and placing it in my pocket. I reach for another when the man’s hand encircles my wrist, stopping me.

“You intend to pay for that, miss?” he asks gruffly. Behind him, Zora covers her smile with her hand, her eyebrows climbing up her forehead.