Chapter Seven
When Kriss carried the touchlyre into the common room that night, heads turned, and people nudged their neighbours and pointed. Andru, however, continued wiping the bar as though Kriss didn’t exist.
He looked around the room for Tevera but didn’t see her. He shoved aside a stab of disappointment. It’s early yet. Then he frowned. On the other hand, she’d better hurry if she wants to find a place to sit. He couldn’t see an empty table anywhere, but as he stood by the equally packed bar looking for one, a rather fat spacer drained his drink, slid off his stool, and lurched away, and Kriss grabbed his vacated spot before anyone else could. Zendra waved as she passed by on her way to the kitchen. A few minutes later she emerged with a tray bearing a bowl of stew, a hunk of bread
