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She looks my way then the other. I rub my eyes again and now I see who I was fighting. Mazabuta has blood trickling from his nose and mouth. One of his eyes is swelling too. He looks at me and growls.
“Gada,” I swear, raising my hands up and showing him my palms. “My fault.”
He wipes the trickle of blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. He glares at the glistening blood then at me. He growls again and shakes his head.
“Mine,” he says clearly meaning Annalise.
“Yes,” I say, nodding in agreement.
“Are we good,” Annalise asks, speaking lizard.
“I am,” I say. “I apologize.”
She nods to me then looks at Mazabuta. He frowns and nods.
“Yes,” he says.
Annalise smiles and lowers her hands.
“Hi, I’m Annalise,” she says, pressing one hand to her chest.
“This is Bhoja,” Mazabuta says, stepping in beside her. He puts an arm around her waist and pulls her close so that their hips are touching. “He is watching one of the others. Which begs the question, why are you here?”
One quick glance is all it takes to see that this is not the place to have a conversation. The merchant is giving us angry glares as he works to clean up the mess we made. Any moment the guards will be here and I do not have time to deal with them.
“We need to leave,” I say.
Mazabuta looks around then nods. He goes to the merchant and kneels at his side. They speak softly for a moment and I see irons change hands. The merchant looks happier as we slip out the side of his stall.
There is no doubt that the Maulavi will know what happened, or at least some version of it. My tails are still with me, keeping their distance though, which for now is the best I can hope for. They haven’t been given orders or seen enough of a reason to arrest me. Yet.
I lead the way through the streets to the Fallen Beetle. Inside we take a booth. I’m anxious, not really having time for this, but I also cannot leave him without an explanation as to what happened. And if there is anyone I can ask questions of, it’s him.
Our talk is inconsequential until all three of us have a drink in front of us. The thing that the Beetle is best known for is being a place to have a quiet conversation. No place in the city is free of prying eyes, but the Beetle is the most of any.
“What are you doing?” Mazabuta asks, leaning over the table and speaking low.
“I am being followed,” I say, daring a glance at the bar.
One of them is there, doing his best to blend in, but I know what he looks like so there is no hiding for him.
“You’ve got one of the humans?” Annalise asks. “Who? Is she okay? Do you need help? Can I see her?”
Her questions come rapid fire fast and I have a hard time following them because of the language. I look over at Mazabuta but the smile on his face and the way he barely takes his eyes off of her makes it clear that he is thinking more of his love for her than any confusion she might be creating for me. I raise my hand and shake my head.
“Slow,” I say.
Her cheeks turn a soft pink. She nods then smiles.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m excited. The Maulavi have prevented me from being able to see any other humans. I guess I miss them more than I knew.”
“I understand,” I say, glancing at the spy at the bar. He’s watching us closely, barely hiding the fact that he is. “I do not think it is a good idea for you to see her right now.”
“What’s her name?”
“Niyah.”
“Oh, I don’t know her.”
