Breaking Step (Dungeon Runner 3)

Tibs exited the shop, annoyed at the clothier.

She'd been ecstatic about his and Don's patronage. She promised, and delivered, according to the sorcerer, a reasonable price for the clothes she'd make them, but how she swooned as she measured them, along as the crowd that formed to watch the Heroes of Kragle Rock quickly turned grating to the point he found he was filling cracks in the ice.

Even Don seemed to grow annoyed at the assembly and the stories of their exploits being told to any within listening range.

Don kept grumbling well away from the shop, through Market place, and Tibs ignored him in favor of thinking about the upcoming function, and ways he could use it to get information on Marger and how to draw him to the town. Maybe he'd be there, and Tibs would get his opportunity. Don said this was about impressing someone, and who better could she impress than the guild leader? Why else have him and Don—

He froze as corruption entered his senses. A lot of corruption and far too close... the problem with wanting details over the general sense of where everyone was. One person, Delta, possibly Gamma. They stopped moving, so Tibs changed direction.

"Tibs?" Don called.

He kept booths between him and them, and when he finally saw the person, she wasn't what he'd expected.

Her robe was a blue slightly darker than the sky, with a trim the orange of sunset. The belt was the dark purple of corruption and had pouches attached to it. They contained essence, a lot of them. Each he could identify, as well as many he couldn't. Some were concentrated in the way amulet did, while others had the sense of 'normal' essence contained in objects, but with there being almost only one of it.

She laughed, and he realized she was speaking with a shopkeeper. He handed her roasted meats on a skewer, and Tibs's stomach rumbled. When had he eaten last? This morning? He had run roofs after going over too many papers, then, after zenith had gone to his room to change before returning to the papers, and the guard had arrived.

She ate, said something, and the food seller beamed.

"What is it?" Don whispered, concerned, as she bought a tankard from the woman in the booth next to the food seller.

Of course, he didn't notice her.

Her gaze passed over them as she looked around, eating. They were far enough she, like Don, shouldn't—her head snapped back in their direction and she smiled, approaching.

"Are you Don Arabis?" she called. "Corruption sorcerer in training?" She had an accent the way those who didn't use essence to be understood had, but it was slight.

Don frowned, but straightened. "I am. Who are you?"

She bowed. "I am Anuja Kasaju; here on behalf of Tine Lemaire."

Don stiffened. "What does the head of the Derbinor Academy want with me?"

"Word of the pool that formed in this town reached us, and I was sent to confirm its existence, which I did, and to negotiate its purchase from its owner."

Tibs didn't react when Don looked at him. No one should know how he—

"That's you, Mister Arabis," she said.

"Me?" Don asked in surprise, and Tibs filled the cracks.

She smiled. "No need for circumspection. The amount of work required to work that out is a testament to your capabilities."

"But you still found out," he said cautiously.

She finished her tankard and placed it on the display, where the fabrics left a space. "I inquired with those within the town who know those things. They pointed me to a merchant. While he proved adeptly terse, I was able to... gather enough to conclude he acted as an agent for one of the Runners. That was clever of you. If you'd attempted to take ownership directly, the guild would have taken it from you the moment they realized what it is."