Portals & Poisons

By Sara Tiger Ryan

A Kith boy stumbles out of the Sunshine Room's portal to all times at Five Whippet West and hires Miss Kitty's to find his cousin, Cima, who is still on the timetracks.
For that Sazzy hires her waywalking friend, Das .
When the boy, K'Thery, becomes seriously ill, however, Sazzy realizes there is more to the case then it seemed at first: the boy has been poisoned.
The local heal hall has no way to combat the poison. But one of their friends knows of a Legend Community healer who might be able to.
When Das returns, Sazzy discovers the poisoning wasn't a one-person occurrence. The boy's cousin was also poisoned, and she died on the tracks.
Upon hearing the news, K'Thery reveals he expected Das to find his young cousin, Navvy, and a friend of Navvy's, Sipper, with Cima.
Sazzy knows the name Sipper—it's a young cousin of hers, who has been lost for about ten years.
When one of his cases sounds far too close to hers, Dusty becomes involved. Far too involved—he is poisoned, as well.
Now Sazzy rushes around trying to find and put the pieces of the case in a sensible order so she can demand the counterpotion from the bad guys...because the Legend Healer refuses to heal anyone not of the Races.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Tiger Ryan
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463456460

Sara Tiger Ryan

Sara Tiger Ryan was born in New Hampshire. She now lives in Florida with her 2 cats. Make that minus one charming boy cat, add in a Mama cat who brought me 5 kittens--all of them adorable! Sara started writing novels in 1973 in high school study hall and hasn't stopped (for long) yet. She started out writing fantasy and added mystery. She also writes metaphysical non-fiction. Ryan was active in the small press in the mid 90's, and had her own 'zine, Star Triad.

Book preview

Portals

&

Posions

Miss Kitty Mystery 12

Sara Tiger Ryan

All characters herein are entirely fictional.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

herm is short for hermaphrodite, meaning

both sexes at once

*** This is book one in a two-book sequel. The next book is Mirage & Murder. ***

The cover picture is of Sazzy’s Suite.

All the work herein is copyright Sara Tiger Ryan, Tiger Moon Press. Smashwords Ebook Edition, November 15, 2019.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re—sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting this author’s work.

Table Of Contents

01: The Portal To All Times

02: No Good News

03: A Fate-Fabulous Show

04: A Candy Clue

05: A Call & A Visitation

06: Chance Fair, 1877

07: Aubrey Estates

08: Nasty Change Pictures

09: A New Client

10: The King's River Race

11: Sipper's Slipper

12: The Queen's First Kiss Ball

13: Miss Kitty's Results

14: Unexpected Connections

15: Midnight Visitor

16: Only Worse

17: A Healer's Unkindness

18: An Unexpected Client

19: Poison Paint

20: Hope

21: Yellow Roses

Appendices

Cast of Characters

Map of Conyor Ness

Map of Vantage

About Sara

Other Books by Sara

All My Miss Kitty Mysteries

Miss Kitty Mystery 12, Mirage & Murder, first chapter

Spale year of 1898

Fall

Vantage, Conyor Ness

Chapter 1: The Portal To All Times

1898 All The Fates Entire 7

Younger Fates Entire 1

SkittersDelightday

Sazz? Dusty called from his adjoining office.

Sazzy pushed aside the day's Crier and Cousin Rag, both of which had reported Egrel Slepel Creep's trial of yesterday and the Queen's midnight sentence, which had resulted in that unworthy's demise. To her, it had been the Queen's oddest, though quite fitting, justice yet.

She wrestled the tickets she had gotten for Dusty's younger brother from under Miss Kitty, who slept stretched out across the top of her desk, and gave the brindle calico cat a few apologizing strokes for disturbing her.

Tucking the tickets in with her-and-Dusty's happy fateday notes, she glanced at Dusty through their offices' slanted doorway in common and finally answered, What?

Did you say something?

Not unless you can hear thoughts now.

I'm hearing a voice. He paused. It doesn't sound like Chay, he added, naming the Younger Sinister Fate, who sometimes meddled in or commented upon their affairs.

She went to stand in the doorway and listened—and heard the voice herself. A faint, frightened voice saying, Oh damn, I know it's been forever, but, please, please, please, Fair Fates, Fair Fates, Fair Fates—

Oh, no, someone calling on the Fates.

Did you hear that? Dusty prompted, standing and picking up his antique iron paperweight/emergency weapon from the corner of his desk.

It's someone calling on the Fair Fates. But from where? Not from outside. Not from the hallway.

Please, please, please, I don't know any place else to get off. I don't want to stay on here forever.

There. Yes? Dusty prompted.

Sazzy took two steps into the room and stopped. Yes. She took two more steps and stopped again, then crossed Dusty's office, shoved the display case that blocked the doorway to the Sunshine Room aside, and called in, Hello?

Open the portal! Open the portal! Please can you open the portal?

Sazzy glanced at Dusty over her shoulder, then raised her hands and sketched the arch of magic glyphs in the air that would open the Cousins' portal to all times. The light in the Sunshine Room intensified and turned silvery. A moment later, a short, dark-skinned, tawny-haired person staggered out of the portal and braced himself on the file cabinet the magic blast from her Cats & Crowns case had embedded in the wall.

Miss Kitty greeted the person with a happy meow, hurried over and twined around his ankles. The boy grabbed for the display case to catch his balance, looked down at the cat, and said, Thistle? What are you doing here?

Sazzy also looked down. The boy—youth—didn't have feet and toes, he had hooves. He was the second Kith she had ever seen. L'Roy, the drummer in her cousin Lyre's band had been the first. L'Roy had always worn britches and boots.

What had the boy been doing stuck on the tracks? She had always heard Kith didn't time track well. Hello? she said again.

He looked up and stared at her with a puzzled look. Where am I?

She started with the year. 1898, All The Fates Entire 7, Younger Fates Entire 1, SkittersDelightday, morning eleven, Vantage, Conyor Ness. She paused, then gave her waywalker name. Cousin Z.

The Kith's puzzled look turned relieved—but he didn't look at all well. Seldin K'Thery n'S'Karal.

Seldin. She'd heard that name before. When? Cousin Chiary's partner: Seldin Tyllyn. The country of Ai'Bet's only timewalking family. The people of Beacon Manor. Beacon.

I think I'm going to be sick.

Dusty set the iron down and escorted the boy to the necessary.

When they returned, the boy still appeared a bit green, and he slumped in Dusty's client chair looking ready to cry. He shot her a quick look, then asked low, Do you have any potion?

How long—? She didn't end her sentence because Dusty listening made her Cousin vow flare and cut her words off.

It felt like forever.

Which meant he had been on the time tracks far too long, so likely his illness was talent-and-time illness combined. She got him a dose of time-illness potion.

He took it and counted under his breath, but didn't look much better at the end. He said, though, I need to go back on. Can you call me out in a few days? He tried to stand, turned pale enough to faint, and dropped back into the chair.

I think you need a healer, Dusty said.

I'll be fine in a minute.

If the potion was going to work, Sazzy countered, you should already be fine.

Dusty? Evan, their bookbinder tenant, called in. Mistress Miranda is here to see you.

Dusty grimaced, but started for the hallway.

Sazzy regarded the pale, sweating Kith a candleflicker, then said, Come into my office. Dusty needs his.

I need to go back on.

On time, any time, she quoted her timewalking Cousins' unofficial motto. You'll just get lost if you try to track now. You have time to rest no matter what. It won't do you any good to go on and get lost again. She waggled her fingers at him.

He took hold of her hand even as he protested, Cima is still on there. And the boys. We got separated. He paused and let her pull him to his hooves. She led him into her office, settled him in her client chair, and shut the door between her and Dusty's offices.

The sound of the display case sliding across the floor reminded her she hadn't closed off the Sunshine Room. Had she shut the portal? Yes, sort of. She took a step to close it entirely, glanced at K'Thery and didn't. He looked as if he needed the portal energy to keep from being direly time ill. She asked again, How long were you on the tracks?

Forever. We got lost. We were delivering time illness potion here and there. He slumped down in the chair. I need to go back on.

Not yet.

I can't just leave Navvy out there, he's only three!

You can hardly move.

You said you were a Cousin—

I'm—Someone recently mostly drained that magic out of me. I haven't recovered yet. I can ask Das’ help. He charges, though.

K'Thery threw a small pouch of coins at her desk. Is that enough for human kindness?

The last time I asked, Das said he couldn't reach Beacon, even the earliest time.

If I could have tracked home, I would have! Besides, I can't just go home with my baby cousin missing and not knowing what happened to Cima!

I know Das can reach Chiary's time, usually either Tylynn or Daje Raven is there. You could let your family handle it. And not throw another skimpy purse of coins at her.

I'm not a baby! I've been tracking for years on my own and doing my own life. I'm not imagining things and I am not as stupid as you are!

Huh?

K'Thery slumped even further down. He had broken out in a sweat and his eyes swam with tears.

Do you need to lie down?

I need to go back on and find Cima and Navvy—and the kid Navvy made friends with at one of our stops, who followed us on. Like Navvy did Cima and I to start. I don't even know what happened to Chicory. He was with us once. I think.

A voice from the waiting room interrupted, Fleetfoot Runners for Miss Kitty's Private Spy Agency!

Katarina, Sazzy answered.

Her hall door opened and the redheaded, freckle-faced message runner peered in. Hey, did you—? Oh, you have a client...

Sazzy slid off her desk and held her hand down to K'Thery. Come on. Time is all one. Rest first so you won't die looking.

He let her pull him to his hooves and leaned on her hard a moment before gaining his balance. He didn't look at Katatina—which might have been just as well, since the Fleetfoot Runner's eyes had gone enormous...probably because she had never seen a half naked Kith before. Sazzy said to Katarina, I'll be right back.

It's a spoken message from Merriweather Nyyle.

I have a note to go, too, she answered. Remind me. She settled K'Thery on her couch and covered him with her afghan. Katarina works for Das, I'll send him a message by her asking if he has time to help. I'm sorry, Das is the only Cousin here—in Vantage—right now.

K'Thery put his arm up over his eyes.

And, if you're as hungry as I get waywalking, Edgy ought to have dinner ready by the time you wake. And, likely, Das will answer by coming by then to mooch dinner.

I gave you the purse, K'Thery grumped. That woman said this was a private spy agency.

We don't charge to eat dinner with us.

Stripes, their slate on gray striped Hyllyn Wiche kitten wandered in from her bedroom. Here's one of Miss Kitty's kittens to keep you company.

Thistle, K'Thery argued. From home.

Sazzy just left to find out what message her one remaining best friend had sent by Fleetfoot Runners.

Katarina sat in her client chair patting their other kitten, the black and white one, Sinister Magic.

Sazzy took the chair behind her desk and tilted her head to one side.

Katarina answered, Your friend wants to meet you for tea this afternoon. Her aunt Heather has invited her to the main whimsy to learn about being Head of the Family. Your friend thinks she'll have to stay through Season, so she wants to make a good farewell to you.

What about Beau?

She didn't mention him.

And your beau?

Katarina made a face. He's as bad as Dusty's on again off again love. He's backed off again. Someday he's going to wander back and find me handfasted to someone else. Do you have a return message?

Sazzy glanced into her suite where she had just settled K'Thery. For as worn as he looked, he should sleep the afternoon. She certainly would like to see Merriweather—especially if her friend was going to be gone for the whole social season. Tell Merri yes for me. Did she say where?

The Green Fairy Cafe.

Her least favorite place...since that cafe was where her former mentor, Molly Lyy, had tried to kill her by poisoning her with a mirage derivative. All right. Afternoon two.

Katarina sprang up.

Sazzy followed her to Miss Kitty's waiting room. Tell Das I have what sounds like an emergency for him. Tell him to come to dinner.

That—ummm—boy?

K'Thery is a Kith.

Really? I've never seen one before. Katarina glanced toward Sazzy's side doorway into her suite.

He's too young, Sazzy teased, figuring Katarina was thinking about the lore of Kith being the greatest lovers of the Races of Legend.

Katarina laughed, blushed bright red, and scooted out.

I am not too young, K'Thery called out, I'm just too sick right now.

***

When Sazzy arrived at the Green Fairy Cafe just before afternoon two, Merriweather waved from a table under a wide-canopied sweep tree, sprang up, and met her in a hug. One of her other, and now former, best friends, the very blonde and slender Delicia Syiin, stood without acknowledging her and left the cafe. Beau Careburn, Merriweather's sweetie, wearing his working smock, sat with his back against the tree.

Sazzy returned her attention to Merriweather and hugged her back, grateful to still have at least one best childhood friend left.

Delicia was just passing by when she saw us, Merriweather said, tugging on her arm. Come say hello to Beau. We got a pot of the new Hyllyn spiced tea, but you can order anything you want.

I haven't tried the new spiced tea yet, but I've heard of it. Sazzy settled in the seat across from Beau. Merriweather sat between them and gave Beau a quick kiss—which he returned.

Beau might guilt himself into leaving mid our tea party, Merriweather said as she poured a third cup of tea. He's working on a really big gargoyle for a new family moving in for season. They're having Raviny paint the outside to look like moving storm clouds. I can't decide if it looks romantic or scary.

I think the Desserwards’ idea is: mysterious, Beau put in. He had stone dust in his dark, shoulder-length hair, which he had bound back in a braid and tied with a leather thong. His features, without the double-illusion he had worn when she had first met him, were comfortably good-looking.

Merriweather wrinkled her nose, then glanced at Beau.

Beau reached across the table, took Merriweather's hand, and said, We are also buying a house in town.

Mummy is disgusted because it's so small—only five bedrooms, Merriweather added. But Beau and I like it. He's going to have it fixed up while I'm gone. We want Raviny to paint it, but she might be too busy.

How long are you going to be gone?

Merriweather met Beau's eyes a long moment, then said, "We have the promiseknotting planned for Gaudy Fates Moon. It's full this year. People will already be traveling for rades.

Promiseknotting? What had happened to the handfasting?

Merriweather flushed lightly and lifted her chin. Yes, promiseknotting. If we handfast first, I'll have to put up with one relative or another constantly trying to get me to marry 'as befits my new station in life'. I don't want anyone else and I don't want to argue about it with various relatives for a whole year and a day.

At least no one can throw you out of the Family for it, Sazzy said bitterly, then apologized.

Your sister is insane, Merriweather said and patted Sazzy's arm. I certainly am not going to throw someone out of my Family just because they won't marry.

Dusty thinks it's more because...of our business...because we nabbed Molly, rather than turn a polite, blind eye.

If you had turned a polite blind eye in my regard, I would have been ravingly insane, or dead by now.

Beau took Merriweather's hand again and squeezed it, probably a silent apology for putting her through the trauma of a killer necklace, while only wanting to give her an elegant ringfasting gift.

Merriweather stayed silent a few seconds, then asked slyly, So, do you ever hear from the ravishing Tyhidar Evenheart?

Sazzy shook her head. Not since you last did.

Merriweather patted the replacement of the killer ringfasting necklace Tyhidar had sent her. This one of much finer workmanship than her original...which had turned out to be a trapped dragon girl.

Now there is something that sounds insane, Beau put in. Dragon people. Never mind the rest of it. He pushed from the table. My work is calling me. It's been lovely, Miss Sazzy. I'll see you later, lovekin.

Merriweather blew him a kiss. He returned the favor, stayed to gaze lovingly at Merriweather several seconds, then left, paying the tab on his way out.

I'm happy, Merriweather said, took a sip of tea and turned to her.

Sazzy put her hand over the heartgiving wristlet Kimeriel Magictouch had sent her from 1364, his time...with, it seemed like, no hope of ever seeing him again...except as a ghost that Byran Heartlight, the only mortal Fate, could make solid for her for a few minutes at a time. Sazzy gazed at the table top several minutes, getting her emotions under control.

It isn't Tyhidar's, is it? Merriweather asked.

Sazzy shook her head. I told you, I found it in a pawn shop in Knifekissing City.

And you aren't lying, but you're not telling the truth either.

Sazzy didn't answer.

How are you and Dusty doing?

Sazzy took a breath to answer that Miss Kitty's Private Spy Agency was doing exceptionally well and a fearsome foresight image sliced through her too quickly to catch.

Sazz? Your business isn't in trouble, is it?

She shook her head. Sorry, that was my foresight talent acting up. She paused, then added, I figured that I keep cutting it off because of my schooling at Yght's. Or all my talents...except for my art talent that seems new, and my illusion-busting talent, which seems to have just broken open to embarrass me to death.

Yes, talents that embarrass one to death. I don't see how I'll ever get control of my inconvenient dragon talents. She paused, then laughed. The bank manager comes to the house now rather than let me in his bank and have all his safes spring open. Actually, as much as Mumsy is complaining about Beau and me getting our own house, she will likely be relieved not to have to lock things up every few minutes—or answer my weird questions about the shape of a sound or the sound of a shape.

Sazzy patted Merriweather's hand, then cocked her head, the better to hear the town clock. Was that four rings?

Merriweather sat back. I need to go, too. Thanks for meeting us. I'll miss you. Take care of yourself. She stood.

Sazzy stood with her and gave her friend a long hug. I'll miss you, too. When are you leaving?

I have a transport ticket for tomorrow morning.

Have a safe trip. They walked each other out of the cafe's yard, then Merriweather headed northwest and Sazzy started south towards Five Whippet Street West...and the timewalking Kith boy sleeping on her couch.

Dusty met her in the foyer and kept her from going into the waiting room with a hand to her arm. I think we'd better take that boy to the healer's. He's been throwing up regularly since you left.

Do I need to hire a chair runner?

Get Gritter who'll forgive us for asking him to run someone this sick. K'Thery is also having chills. Which coat of yours can I wrap him in?

Not...I guess my Logan cloak—or just use the afghan I covered him with. She took a step back towards the outside door.

I'd go wearing my runner tunic, but, if what he's got is catching, I'm already in trouble. There's no sense both of us getting whatever he has.

I'll hurry, she promised and did. Two blocks later, Gritter, their chair runner friend, came down Brwk Street into view and waved. Sazzy waved back.

Where to? the rangy, sandy-haired chair runner said, slowing.

Sazzy reversed direction. Is your talent guessing when someone needs a ride?

He flashed her a grin. It might be. Although I was wrong that it was you. His last words were half question.

Sazzy explained as they covered the last block to Five Whippet Street West.

I have the healers put a warding against disease on me every spring, Gritter answered. Otherwise I'd be sick half my life from other people's colds and collywobbles.

The other thing is that K'Thery is a Kith.

And?

He wasn't wearing any britches when—when he arrived.

I've never met a Kith before—or if I did, I don't know that I did. It'll be different.

Dusty met them on the veranda. K'Thery now wore a pair of her blouse pants, with her favorite afghan wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes were fever bright, his skin looked gray, and, every so often, he shuddered.

Is one of you riding with him? Gritter asked.

I'll run next to your chair, Dusty said. Sazz, can you stay and deal with Miranda? Try to get the name of the players whose boy is missing, so I can talk to them directly and not have to wade through all her assumptions and extrapolations. Dusty helped K'Thery into the chair while he spoke, then waved for Gritter to start.

Miranda wasn't in Dusty's office, as Sazzy had assumed from what Dusty had said. She asked Evan if he knew anything. He said Miranda's appointment wasn't for another quarter wizardmark.

Sazzy ducked into her suite on the way to her office and wrinkled her nose at the rank smell. Obviously K'Thery hadn't made the necessary every time. She opened the bay windows in her bedroom and shut the door between her suite and her office.

K'Thery's small purse sat on the corner of her desk. She pulled it down and checked inside. It contained five Sri Kisses. All right, so she could hire Das— or K'Thery could hire Das, if the boy proved too ill to track on his own. Das ought to be able to get K'Thery back to Chiary's time in the 1440's, and Chiary's flittery partner, Seldin Tyllyn, ought to be able to get the boy home. So she had a semi-case.

Sazzy wrote down the little K'Thery had told her and worried briefly about a boy young enough for K'Thery to call a baby wandering the tracks alone. But, whenever she told Das, he could go back in time and find the child before the boy, at the worst, became a grotesque's lunch.

Miranda arrived a little late and breathless and, as soon as Evan called Sazzy out, the woman started complaining that Dusty wouldn't be talking to her himself. Sazzy finally pinned Miranda with her best elitedaughter gaze and said, Tell me the name of the boy's parents.

Miranda sulked a few minutes but did, then began a spiel about how the boy constantly caused trouble at the troupe, even though her husband had kindly given him a bit part.

Except to write down the few scrids of possibly useful information about the missing boy, Sazzy ignored the woman until Miranda ran down...nearly a half wizardmark later. Sazzy stood and said, Thank you. We'll be in touch.

When will Dusty be back?

Good day.

Miranda huffed a few seconds, but, when Sazzy stayed silent and standing, the woman left...and dawdled her way out, called out to Evan—who didn't answer, and finally lingered across the foyer and out the door.

As soon as the outside door closed behind the woman, Evan peered out of his half door and offered a rueful smile. If I had answered, she would have stayed and stayed. I have work I need to finish.

You don't hear me blaming you for hiding, do you? she answered with a laughing look.

Miss Sazzy? Tristan called from the back room, which he had taken over for his Cousin Crier, more commonly called: The Cousin Rag.

The paper was Tristan's reply to her Uncle Dove not publishing the truth about the Great Telling Race in the Jinn Crier last moon passing—or even, most of the time, any news of the race at all.

Assuming Tristan wanted her to write her promised dozen copies for the day, Sazzy answered by heading down the hall.

Selectdaughter Yalarra Witshard, Tristan's lady and a friend Sazzy had gained from her Killer Hair Stylist Case, sat at the far end of the long table writing. As Sazzy came through the doorway, Yalarra lifted her wizardwriter in greeting.

Sazzy started towards Yalarra and the writing station next to her.

Tristan, carrying a handspan tall stack of paper on a tray, intercepted. I really need you to draw a portrait of a missing girl from Docket Longwish's description, if you will. We're hoping putting her picture in the Rag will get her back home, since her parents think she's just run away. He handed her a list of description written in Cady Longwish's tiny, cramped handwriting.

Tristan continued placing a handful of sheets at each chair around the table. Sazzy sat next to Yalarra before reading through the description: light brown hair, large brown eyes, a petite girl with a light smattering of freckles. Cady also had written down a face-shape, and several other minor features.

She said to Tristan, I'll try, but it would help if I could talk to the parents and get some of the girl's personality in the drawing.

Do your best. Something is better than nothing. You can ask Cady about meeting the parents. He said he'd be by for dinner and see if he could Seek from your picture.

So, Docket Longwish had an ulterior motive: to get her to draw a portrait for him to Seek from without having to ask her himself.

Sazzy made small talk with Yalarra first, then turned her attention to drawing.

A quarter wizardmark later, Tristan paused behind her and complained, What are those squiggly things over her head?

Sazzy started out of her trance and scowled up at the curly-brown-haired writer and editor.

She was trancing, Tris, Yalarra scolded.

Tristan flushed, but repeated his question.

Sazzy checked her drawing and said, I don't know. She supposed they were the beginnings of foresight images, since those had been creeping into about any portrait she did lately. She didn't say so, she heard Dusty speaking to Evan and stood.

Are you done? Tristan asked.

Since you pulled me out of trance, yes. Now I'm hungry and I want to talk to Dusty.

Tristan started to complain, Yalarra chided him, and Sazzy hurried out to the waiting room to find out what had happened regarding their timewalking Kith client.

Dusty looked supremely irritated and he shook his head. The healer in the market just said he couldn't work miracles and sent us to the heal hall. (But he said to come back if the healers there decided to be horse's behinds today.) They were, but they insisted on keeping K'Thery overnight and calling in a poison expert.

That didn't sound good. Did they think he would be all right?

They wouldn't say, but my impression was they know what is wrong and don't want to say without more confirmation. Also, it took three tries to get a healer that didn't have a phobia of Races of Legend. That is what I'm irritated about. I think I'll ask Cady to go with me tomorrow and put a little fear of the city guards into them.

I don't know how Cady does it, Evan said wistfully. We're the same Race. He just looks at someone and they start to confess. If I looked at someone like that, they'd just laugh.

That would likely be his Ta'Shen, Dusty said.

Oh, Evan answered. Right. I guess I'll just stay a wuss.

It's all right, Dusty said humorously, I don't think bookbinders are required to look dangerous.

Hey, yo? Paff, their city guard friend called from the outside door. Someone get the door for me.

Dusty went and returned with a rag-wrapped pot of something steaming. Paff, still wearing his city guard uniform, complete with an amber quilted tunic banded in violet, came in behind Dusty. The guard carried a cloth covered platter.

I just barely didn't sit on the curb right outside of Edgy's door and start chowing down, Paff said. This is about the best smelling meal Edgy has ever made.

Or you're starved, Evan teased.

That too, Paff agreed.

The men headed down the hall toward the meeting room, which held a table with room enough for all the friends who usually joined them for meals.

Where's Riss? Sazzy called after them.

He's at Miz Chandler's getting dessert, Paff answered.

She wanted to get a card reading about K'Thery from Riss, their part-time scryer. Sazzy got the notes she had made on K'Thery from her desk before she followed the men to the meeting room.

Dusty stood at the back bench checking their two Magic Book Copiers and the pages that the machines were printing of his first book. Which reminded her, How's your second book coming?

It's torturing me with clunky rewrites right now.

Is it another detective story? Paff asked, as he served plates, then, before Dusty could answer, Paff sang out, All hungry kitties better come running!

A few minutes later, Miss Kitty and her two kittens arrived, leapt onto the table and attended to the dishes Paff had set out for them.

Sazzy sat at her usual place and Paff pushed her favorite purple dragon plate toward her. The roast with browned moonjots and gold roots did smell delicious. Sazzy picked up her spoon. A crash from their waiting room startled her spoon out of her hand and across the room.

Dusty spun toward the sound.

It's only me, Cady Longwish called in. A moment later he appeared in the doorway looking as if a dragon had stepped on him. He also still wore his city guard uniform.

Are you all right? Sazzy asked in the face of how gray and battered he appeared, never mind how riled his wispy dark-ash-brown hair looked, and the tightness of pain around his eyes.

Talent backlash. My stupid peti-captain struck again. I should plant him. Cady shoved from the doorway and caught the back of the closest chair, then used the backs of the chairs to reach the first empty one.

At least I don't have any talent for Volan to send me into a backlash from, Paff said.

Don't swallow your toes, Dusty answered, as Chay, the Youngest Sinister Fate, appeared sitting across the table from Paff grinning.

Even so, Paff said, "Detective Gillfeather insisted I get retested—just to prove to me I have no