Wild Magic

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Faan pushed the door back, hesitated in the opening. “Pan?”

The big man looked up from the boot he was cleaning and working back to suppleness. “What is it, honey?”

“I know where Reyna is.”

“Where?” He set the boot down, rested his large knotty hands on his knees. “You want help? Is it trouble?”

“Diyo. All of that. We’ll need a litter. Do you have a friend you can trust to help with this?”

“Have you told…”

“No one. No. Please. After we bring him back, then’s the time.”

“Why?” He got to his feet as he spoke, turned his back to her, and pulled on a pair of trousers; he slid out of the houserobe and reached for an old tunic, dark brown, washed so many times it was softer than down.

Faan stared at his back for the few moments it was bare, shivered suddenly. “You always ask why.”

“And haven’t I taught you the same, my honey?” He turned round, sliding loops over the neck buttons. “So?”

“Because I have to. do… something then…”

“What?”

She shook her head. “You can’t help, Pan. Not this time. I’ve got to see Reyna first, see if…” She shivered.

He touched her cheek. “You’ll do what’s right. I know that. Mil me where.”

“A house in the Low City, it’s under the end of the Iron Bridge.”

“Low City?” He frowned. “What…”

“I’ll explain after we’ve got him back here.”

“We? Nonsense. Charou and I’ll go get him. You wait here, have the Kassian ready to help him.”

“No. We have to do this without noise. The guide will show itself to me, not you. And we have to use the Wood Bridge and not touch Iron. That’s…” She fumbled for a word. “That’s vital. It’s god business, Pan.”

He ran a hand over his bald head, smiled suddenly at her, the.street urchin’s grin that sat so oddly on his square solid face. “God wars, eh? Blessed be Tannakes. More gods like him and life’d be simpler and safer.” He reached a long arm out, gathered in his staff. “I’ll wait. You go get that cloak of yours with the hood. Shouldn’t ha’ gone out with your arms naked like that, your head uncovered. Just asking for trouble, eh? Scoot.”