Needle Rain Read Free Page B

waterfront warehouses and buildings. She squinted against the wind and concentrated on counting the seagulls and terns gliding on the breeze.
    “Here.” Sonja shoved a paper bag toward her. “Breakfast. I can tell you ain’t had breakfast. Your stomach growling is deafening me.”
    Inside was a half-eaten potato fritter.
    “Bull! What you got? Give the girl some of that sandwich!”
    Startled, he offered her a meat sandwich so squashed it was near impossible to see what the contents were.
    Heloise eyed it. “No, thanks, Bull. You need it more.” Before he could offer again she took a bite from the fritter, chewed quickly, and gulped it down. “Thanks, both of you.”
    “Nah, it’s nothing. Next time you starve.” She chuckled. “Remember to bring food.”
    When they turned left onto Dedication Way, the air changed from the hurry-scurry urgency of the trading district to become gentler, calmer. Dominating the skyline was the Monument to the Highest Gods, its emerald spire reaching to the heavens. Priests in the tunics and robes of several religious disciplines walked along the roadside paths.
    One priest stopped and stared up at them. His burgundy robe and his tonsure – half his scalp smooth, the other half with waist-length hair – marked him as a dedicate of Amora.
    Heloise took a deep breath once they passed the monument. The district of Magience practitioners was up ahead.
    This early, the doors to the clinic were closed. It was an immaculately clean, white-washed building, two-stories high, with a white stone wall around it. Wave-green stained glass adorned the front doors.
    “I can see how it’s worth two and a half thou grints.” Heloise whistled in appreciation.
    “Yeah, it’s nice. Now let’s get in there. Bull, why don’t we knock on the door.”
    A young woman in a pastel blue dress, with a ribbon tie beneath the bodice, answered the door.
    “Good morning.” Heloise put on her best friendly look. “We’re here to see Mister Drager on a business matter.”
    The woman’s polite smile turned to an anxious frown but she didn’t move.
    “An urgent business matter. Regarding the payment of some fees.”
    “Oh.”
    While she dithered, Heloise, Sonja, and Bull sidled through the door.
    The first step: Get In The Door.
    Check , thought Heloise.
    The woman stared wide-eyed at them. “I’ll ask Mr. Drager if he will see you. Clinic starts soon so he may be unavailable until later.” She hurried off, past a desk and through a silver-and-glass beaded curtain. Her footsteps echoed down a long hallway.
    Heloise nervously tapped her fingers against her thigh.
    Soon, the young woman returned and took them through the curtain and down the hallway to a room furnished starkly with bright satin floor cushions and a centrally placed low square table. On it were a plethora of writing implements, notepaper, pens, plus an abacus and, displayed prominently, a hand-tinted photograph of a pretty young girl – the daughter, probably.
    A man attired in a close-tailored suit rose from a cross-legged position on the floor. The suit was sea-blue cotton with an embroidered dark design but no other embellishments to its elegance. His hair was straight and fell like a black waterfall to his shoulders. Though Bull was heftier and slightly broader of shoulder, this man was the tallest in the room, a novelty for Heloise, she was used to being taller than most men.
    She glanced downward. A small golden tattoo on the back of his left hand marked him as a Needle Master. This was Thom Drager.
    The décor and clothing style were Sungese. Since the man was obviously not Sungese, she found herself wondering how he’d acquired his tastes.
    For just the smallest of moments, pity and sorrow swept her. Some clients moved her not at all, but this man...what a waste.
    “That will be all, Grace.” The young woman left the room. “Please, be seated.” His voice was warm and welcoming, and his eyes met Heloise’s for a long second