Page 61 of Sunsplitter

Aisinay dipped her head and sniffed. Her snort affirmed: top-quality metal.

Usually, Fi loved when shipments came in. The hum of the Thomaskweld market. The adrenaline of haggling. The weight of energy chips in her coat pocket.

More fun with Antal at her side, scaring the shit out of anyone who tried to cut a raw deal, ghosting his palm over her ass when no one was looking. Today, Fi appraised the shipments alone. Antal was off attending an immortal conference on another Plane.

He probably had the worse assignment. She’d pout about it, anyway.

“Why are you scowling, Kolbeck?” Clarence, the latest smuggler-turned-metal-importer for Antal Territory, appraisedFi with dark eyes, hands in the pockets of his coat. “It’s good metal. You said to bring you the best, and I did, all the way from the Cloudbreaker Mountains.”

“It’s excellent metal, Clarence.” Fi snapped on her businesswoman smile. “And to think, you were hesitant when we chatted in Calvariz.”

“Still hesitant. Until I see the payment.”

His eyes widened when she pulled out three palm-sized cards of dark metal. Most energy chips used as currency on the Season-Locked Planes were charged with silver human magic, but these had daeyari red glowing in the glass panel down the side.

“Freshly charged by the Lord Daeyari himself,” Fi said. “He appreciates you helping us build a better territory.”

She beckoned some trade wardens to cart the heavy boxes away. Clarence edged out of their way, a wary look for the midnight jackets that usually tried to stop smugglers coming into the city. A year ago, Fi had been the same. One scrappy runaway, come to wear daeyari black and red, giving away energy chips that she once would have clawed for.

“You in the city for a while?” she asked Clarence.

“We’ll see.” He stashed the chips in his pocket. “I’ll track you down later. You still owe me a coffee, Kolbeck.”

“Your treat,” she agreed.

He disappeared into the crowded market. Wise man, leaving Fi to deal with the trade wardens. She turned to inspect their progress.

Kashvi stood not two feet behind her. Fi hissed an inhale.

“Fuck.” Fi clapped a hand to her chest. “How are you so quiet? You’ve got twice as much muscle as me!”

Thomaskweld’s governor nodded to the crates of conductive metal. “Another good shipment. Should be able to clean upthe rest of the energy conduit upgrades with this. Your little smuggler brigade is turning into a good investment.”

“We clean up nice.” Fi shrugged. “With proper incentive.”

Kashvi studied her. Next, the empty spot at Fi’s side, no Antal.

“How are you?” she asked, low enough to put anyone’s guard up.

“Fine,” Fi said. Definitely too fast. “I’ve got a new smuggler on the roster. Fresh metal for the city. You’re saying nice things to me for once. What wouldn’t be fine?”

Another long look. Kashvi sighed and clapped a hand to Fi’s shoulder.

“Let’s get a drink.” It wasn’t a question.

With the trade wardens squared away—one order from Kashvi had them working double time—Fi laid a guiding hand on Aisinay’s neck and followed the governor through the river market. The Void horse perked finned ears at every fish stall. When Fi heartlessly urged her to keep walking, Aisinay nibbled the silver buttons on Kashvi’s coat.

“That means she likes you,” Fi said.

Kashvi scowled as a horse snort ruffled her hair. “Charming as you, Fi.”

A hum of live music drew them to a tavern on the river quay.

“Alright,” Fi said. “Be careful. The current here is really strong—”

Aisinay lurched forward, hooves clattering on cobble as she crossed the quay and vaulted over the metal railing, into the river. A moment later, she resurfaced, tail swishing happily as she dodged ice floes slipping downstream.

Easier than lodging her in a stable.