“Euphony thought it wise,” Alyson replied.
The eyes searched hers, his yellowed with age. Then the eyes searched the crowd across the street. “You"ll need to pick up a piece as though you"re interested,” he murmured. “Ask me how much it is, then shake your head and put it down. On the far side of town is a riverbank, wait there out of sight of the road until I get there.”
Alyson felt the eyes on her back and picked up a turquoise knife and scabbard, both bejeweled. “How much for this?” She held it up as though admiring it.
It was beautiful.
“Four hundred realis.”
It was expensive.
“No, thank you.” She set it down and turned to the east. She did not look back.
It took a long time before the eyes left her back.
* * *
Alyson sat as far under the riverbank as she could go, easily far
