Tex and Yaya were up early but taking their time. Harbreeze Bakery was a long way from the Elfsong Tavern, and heading to Sorcerous Sundries required doubling back. Tex was an excellent narrator again. But at a particular corner she was quiet. Yaya noticed how she spun her pike in her grip. Seemed like any other spot in the Lower City. Not quite the slums but not so grand either.

  Sorcerous Sundries was a logical starting point. The woman at the front, Tolna, looked like she needed a few extra hours of sleep. Her eye makeup was crooked, and she barely looked up when they walked in. Yaya was used to merchants fawning over her. Tex was usually accused of stealing.

  Yaya walked over to the nearest shelf. The woman in the middle of two staircases appeared to be ignoring them. But Yaya felt a sensation at the edge of her mind. Like someone peering in. She smiled.

  Yaya pictured the unknown Tiefling woman from Tex’s sketch. She imagined that Tiefling and Tex, on that pile of pillows in the top room. Nothing but breath between them. The image in her mind sharpened. Details became clear. Yaya could almost smell the brimstone.

  “Bloody hell,” she heard Tolna exclaim, “you’ve got quite the filthy mind – don’t you?”

  Tex turned. “Sneaking a glimpse, were ya?”

  Tolna brushed a bead of sweat from her neck. “Not you, that one.” She pointed at Yaya. “Might need to Cone of Cold myself after those images.”

  Yaya folded her hands behind her back, her nose slightly upturned, “Stay out of my mind then.”

  “Well,” Tolna adjusted her gloves, “maybe. Maybe I might tune in for part two.”

  They approached her counter. “But you’re not here to share your fantasies – what can I help you with?”

  Yaya reached into her inner pockets and pulled out the scrap of cloak from the Dary House. She pushed it towards Tolna.

  “Who bought this?”

  Tolna picked up the scrap of cloak. She touched a crystal orb on the counter next to her, it glowed as she made hand signals over the cloak.

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  “Touch of Conjuration magic on this one.” Tolna concentrated, her eyes glowed a slight lilac. “Did you see the item used?”

  “Yep.” Tex leaned over the counter. “Some kind of teleportation.”

  “Sounds like a Cape of the Mountebank. Very rare and very expensive magical item.”

  Yaya looked around the shop. “Not something that you sell I suspect.”

  “Mostly books here,” Tolna touched the cloak scrap again. “But maybe my boss has some idea. He should be here soon. Want to wait in his office?”

  When Yaya went to turn, Tex put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

  “Nice try Tolna,” Tex smiled, “but I’m not some dumb out of towner. I know this is your shop. You might not recognize me, but I know you.”

  Tolna looked closer at Tex, her eye twitched, “You couldn’t be her. I heard you betrayed your own kind. Shouldn’t you be rotting in the gutter where you left the rest of them?”

  Magic crackled in the air. The hand on her shoulder squeezed, hard. Tex’s claws dug into her. Vicious red and purple arcs raced across her skin, swirling around her pike. Wild magic. Out of control.

  A fog cloud surged out from Tex. Yaya couldn’t see anything through the murk. Tex moaned, in pain, and dropped to her knees.

  Tolna laughed. “You really are her. Catch you later, Texas.”

  Warm streaks dripped from Yaya’s shoulder down her arm. She kneeled next to Tex who was struggling to catch her breath. Touching her mistletoe, she conjured a single glowing white hand again, but this time, she reached down and touched Tex’s cheek. A strange calm settled over Tex. As if all her fears vanished under Yaya’s touch. She could feel warmth sinking into her. It was a powerful feeling. She understood why Yaya liked it. Relied on it. Used it when the world was too much.

  “Focus your mind,” Yaya said in the dark, her hand still on Tex’s cheek. “This is your magic. You brought out from the Weave. You can send it back.”

  Tex liked her small magic. When people felt braver after hearing her on her pipes. When she healed a skinned knee. This was something different. She didn’t ask for this. But like so many things about her life – she was cursed to carry it anyways. Yaya’s thumb stroked her face.

  She released the rage. Her body weakened, but her mind sharpened.

  The fog disappeared.

  Tolna was gone along with the scrap of cloak. It was just Yaya with Tex’s head in her lap on the floor of the shop.

  “I hurt you.” Tex saw red lines soaking into the sleeve of Yaya’s dress.

  Yaya stroked Tex’s cheek again, “Yes. But that’s just a scratch.”

  Tex reached into her satchel and touched her bagpipes. A soft yellow light floated out of Tex’s mouth and towards Yaya’s injured shoulder.

  “Thank you.”

  The light closed the scratches and Yaya rolled her shoulder. Good as new.

  Yaya removed her hand from Tex’s cheek. “I like your magic.”

  Tex smiled. “But wait till you hear my music.”

  They stood and brushed the dust off each other. Yaya looked to the second floor and Tolna’s office. Tex nodded and they headed up the stairs.

  “One song.” Yaya conceded. “You did keep your word about the lemon cakes.”