HAWK & SABLE | THIRTY

"I DON'T REMEMBER the city much. Cass does." Ciri glanced around the busy bazaar, sniffing the smell of buns and tea as people walked by in a hurry or slowly. This was one of the closest marketplaces to the Palace, which was why she brought Laurence here. She faintly remembered coming here once or twice as a child, though the memories were blurry.

"It's a pretty place. Very busy."

"Too busy, I think," Ciri admitted, stopping by a stall, inspecting a silk fan. "This is nice. How much for this?"

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man who seemed gobsmacked by his unexpected customers, stammered out the price. Ciri grinned, reaching into her purse, and handed it over. Normally, a maid would do that, but she hadn't bothered asking her maids to come out with her. Neither had Laurence. The two walked alone. They were being wholly proper anyways, under the scrutinising eyes of the public.

"You like fans," he commented.

"I collect them. I have fans from all over the world. They're elegant and useful." She gave the one she had just brought a quick twirl before looping the little ribbon at the end of it around her wrist.

"You brought a bamboo fan in Kon Ria, didn't you?"

She should not be pleased he remembered. She nodded. "Lost it on the way back, I think. It was fortunate I even got that perfume back."

"And then it quite possibly saved our lives back in that cell."

She lifted a shoulder in a silent half-shrug. "Perhaps, perhaps. Though I think that's credited more to Cass's ingeniousness than the perfume. Any out-of-place scent would have worked, really. It was a perfectly pleasant perfume, though. Maybe next time I go to Kon Ria, I'll get her more."

"Maybe she can go herself for her honeymoon."

That made her smile. "Perhaps, perhaps. I'll mention that to her. Kon Ria is a nice place for a honeymoon. Marcus might agree."

"He would. I don't think he's actually been to Kon Ria before. Cass says you have family there?"

She nodded. "A few cousins." She stepped out of the way as two children ran past, giggling and screaming. "Those who didn't fancy living in Asayama with the rest of us. Not that I can blame them. We're a... loud bunch. It's where we decided to send Ned's daughter. We have a cousin there, Bianca, who'd take her in happily."

He tilted his head. "Family."

"Family," she agreed, fingers skimming a nice bolt of fabric. Pretty, but poorly made. Not for someone of her rank. She continued walking. "I thought you were the one leading me to places, not the other way around."

"I believe you still know more about this city than I do," he said with humour in his voice. "I will follow your lead, thank you very much."

"That was not what we agreed upon."

"I think you much prefer being the one choosing the location then me bringing you around blind. Stop complaining." He stood close next to her, as a gentleman courting a lady would. She rolled her eyes, hooking her arm into his. "I'm enjoying myself so far."

"Of course you are," she muttered, annoyance clear.

He grinned at that for some reason, then turned around and picked something up. Ciri arched her neck to see him pluck a flower from a florist, toss the girl some coin, and turn back to her. "You dropped your rose the other night."

"I left in a hurry."

"Yeah, no wonder. But consider this a replacement gift. You know what..." He reached forward, carefully inserting the rose into her bun. "There. You're not going to lose that again, are you?"

No. She had a feeling she'd put it in an expensive vase somewhere and keep it somewhere only she'd see. She cursed her weakness, responding with a nod.

"Smile a little. I know you want to. Turn off your brain for once." His voice was a whisper in her ear as he pushed her forward. She gave a little stumble, scowling, but picked up her pace. "Your little brain is very clever, yes, but sometimes, it thinks far too much."

"That's why I'm alive. Everyone over-thinks in our occupation. It's practically in the job description."

"Yes, but too much just causes your head to combust," he replied, face perfectly straight. "We wouldn't want that to happen now, would we?"

"My head hasn't combusted yet, it's not going to combust now." She tried to keep her voice firm, stifling the onslaught of giggles threatening to escape the confines of her mouth. "Why are you thinking about my head combusting?"

He shrugged innocently. "It's an entertaining thought."

"Clearly," she deadpanned, "you require help. Perhaps Lord Farnsworth and Cass could put in a word for you with Mr Cadieux. You are clearly far too violent to be reliable on a job."

"No, no," he waved his hand in the air, "I'm just too bored, now that all is said and done here."

"You realise that is the last thing you should tell the person you're travelling with, and who has been charged with keeping you company?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you offended?"

"Very." She nodded gravely. "You should apologise."

"I could do that... or I could buy you that hairclip you keep eyeing."

She hadn't noticed herself doing that. She jolted, blinking. When she looked up, his smile was blinding and knowing. "Damn you," she muttered. "Stop being so nice."

"Never. It's part of my charm."

"It does nothing but cause me irritation."

He shrugged. "Keep telling yourself that. So, the hair clip?"

They were nearing the stall now. Ciri picked up the clip she had been subconsciously looking at. "Topaz, I think."

The stallkeeper neared, nodding. "Excellent eye, miss! It's topaz from Vayante."

Ciri eyed Laurence, humour in her tone. "I probably shouldn't be buying Vayantean products, should I?"

He shrugged. "If it's being sold in a bazaar in the middle of Hong Cheng, it was either brought here before the war began, or it's from one of the still independent areas. It's not as if the princess is going to blame you for wearing something that pretty."

The words had caused the stallkeeper's expression to turn into one of both joy and terror.

"No, I suppose Longyu wouldn't blame me." She inspected the hair clip under the sunlight. "Exquisite work. Did you make it yourself?" she asked, motioning to the jeweller's kit at a nearby table.

"No, not me. My daughter. I just sell. I used to make them, but ah, my eyes..." She rubbed them. "She's on a break right now."

"Is it just you and her?" Ciri asked, tilting her head.

The woman's responding smile was sad. "My husband died long ago, I have no sons. It's just been the two of us, mother and daughter, operating this little business. We make a tidy living, I think."

"You should make a decent living?" Laurence questioned, puzzled, picking up a brooch. "These are beautifully made. I've seen plenty of expensive jewellery in my lifetime. Praise your daughter for me, won't you?"

She was pleased, then looked confused. "You speak very fluent Saian for a foreigner."

"He's Arecian," Ciri explained. "Fairly rich, which I'm sure you could tell, received a good education."

She nodded. "Of course, of course. My daughter speaks a bit of Arecian, not very fluently. Do you speak it, miss?"

"Of course. I studied abroad for quite a few years." She picked up a pair of earrings, each with a light blue sapphire and coloured spinel stone dangling down. "From Joskum? Cass might like this."

"Not her colour. Your sister looks good in darker shades. Try Lady Asteria."

If the shopkeeper wasn't surprised before, her eyes were positively bulging now. "Lady Asteria Lu?" Asteria's reputation preceded her, apparently. Or perhaps her father's did.

Ciri smiled. "A dear friend. We studied together. Yes, these would fit her. Might as well pick something for Danna, Io and the others while we're at it. Do you have anything a bit simpler?"

"Yes, yes. We tend not to display those on weekends..." A bit of fumbling and she took out a few boxes of jewellery. "These might be a bit too simple..."

"No, no. Iolanthe is young, and not of noble birth. She's beautiful enough naturally anyways, doesn't need something too fancy to take the attention from her beauty. Something like... this. She'd look good in purple." She held a pair of amethyst earrings between her fingers. "Laurence?"

"They work. This necklace for Miss Daneira?" The object of his choice was a simple silver necklace with a small alexandrite stone cut in a round shape. "Fits her temperament."

"My, you sound positively Saian." Ciri laughed. "We'll take this too, then. Irina and Myrina. Maybe a little something for Justine and Rhys too."

They found a ruby bracelet for Irina, bright and bold like her personality. For Myrina, a pair of pearl earrings. Green tourmaline bracelet for Justine, simple and elegant. A ring of orange sapphire for Rhys.

They stuck around there for a little while, picking jewellery, ending up handing over half a fortune.

The matron grinned when they finally turned to leave, satchels in hand. "Thank you, miss, sir!"

Ciri smiled. "No problem. I'm sure they'll all enjoy these. We'll be taking our leave now."

The woman was still beaming when they left. Laurence turned to her. "You bring a lot of presents back."

"They better appreciate this," she muttered, glancing at the bag. "This took far longer than it should have."

"That shop would be set for months to come."

"A bit of charity, you could consider it, with some nice prizes in return, wouldn't you agree? We should probably get you something too. You are our guest, after all."

"Perhaps some charms. You have those, yes?"

"Of Hongyun? I can get you some. You might prefer asking for some at the temple within the Palace, though. Myrina would appreciate it."

"My goal in life. Pleasing Lady Mai."

She frowned. "Do not tease her. She is trying her best."

"Is there a reason for her devotion to religion? Not that there's anything wrong with it. I'm just curious."

Ciri shrugged. "She didn't have an easy childhood. Religion is a sanctuary for her. I cannot blame her, exactly, and she doesn't force her opinion on anyone else. It does not affect anyone except herself anyways."

"Does it affect her assignments?"

Ciri shook her head. "Never. Irina trusts her with her life, and I can see why. Reliable as a rock. Don't think she's ever failed a single mission. There's more to her than meets the eye."

"Doesn't strike me as the type, but whatever works, I suppose." He straightened his coat with the flat of his palm.

"Looks are often deceiving," is what she responded with, keeping the satchel of jewellery close to herself. Spy or not, she was still vulnerable to the pickpockets and crooks sneaking around. In their attire, they'd be immediate targets.

"Which we'd both know well." He conceded the point with a tilt of his head. "So. What now?"

"We could eat somewhere," she suggested. "Are you hungry?"

"Are you?"

"Give me a proper answer. Yes or no."

"Yes." He rubbed his hands. "What are we going to eat, then?"

She sighed. "You really have nothing planned, do you?"

He grinned, cheerful and carefree. "Was I supposed to? Come on. I'm fine with eating anything." When he offered his arm, she hooked hers in his, eyelids flying shut temporarily before she led him towards a nearby food stall, the scent almost making her salivate.

Damn the food here was good, it could give Ryan's cooks a run for his money.

✢

THEY SPENT THE rest of the day together, frolicking around the city, then went back to the Scarlet Palace. The weather was cool, the wind's breeze softly caressing their cheeks. They sat at the porch of Laurence's quarters, where chairs had been laid out. A maid ran by once in a while, bobbing a curtsy, cleaning up the place, preparing for Cass and Marcus's arrivals tomorrow.

"This is nice," Laurence said, staring into the courtyard.

"My great-aunt likes to spend her evenings like this." Staring off into the distance, dreaming and envying the past she had, and the future she thought she deserved. Nostalgic and hungry for what was and what could have been. If only you hadn't picked the wrong side, Ciri always thought to herself. What kind of opulent glory would they be enjoying if that had happened?

Well, she wouldn't be running around like this. Her great-aunt would have kept her close by or explicitly in ballrooms. Cass too.

"My father preferred walking. Pacing. He'd never been able to stay still for long. Me neither."

"You're a restless person. Bury yourself in work. You never struck me as the type."

"Looks are deceiving," he said dryly, echoing her earlier words. She smiled at that. It was a fun feeling, realising how closely someone paid attention to your words. Vaguely embarrassing too, but in a warm way.

"My parents were restless people too. Vagabonds. Travelling around the world."

"That's how they died, wasn't it? Cass mentioned it once."

"Some disease after an exotic vacation. I barely remember them," she admitted. "Cass says they didn't much care about us. Perhaps when we were older and not as much a hassle on travels..." A shrug. "Ah well, no point thinking about it. They're dead now."

"You don't miss them." A statement, not a question.

She shook her head. "The duchess raised me. Then Lady Kuroki. Was it sad? Yes. But I don't miss them, no. Do you? Miss your parents?"

He was quiet for a moment, and she thought he wasn't going to answer. "Sometimes. It's more bitterness than missing them. Him, anyways. I miss my mother, but she was always sickly, so I think I always... expected her to go early even when I was younger. I wasn't expecting the same for my father, so it came more as a shock. He always seemed invulnerable."

"I think I met him once."

"Ciri says she has, so you probably have too."

"I don't remember him," she said with a little shrug. "I must have been young."

"Six or seven, I'm guessing. Something around that. You'd have been too busy doing... doing whatever six or seven year olds do."

"Play?"she asked dryly. "I was probably running around with my favourite doll at that point, trying to be cool like Cass. Obviously, she was already running small errands by then. I was still in training, and extremely envious."

"Who wouldn't be?" He leaned backwards, as if wishing the chair could swallow him. "Everyone wants to be a spy until they are a spy."

"Most things are like that," Ciri nodded in agreement. "Funny, isn't it? We want and want and want, but when we finally get it, it instantly loses all its magic. We throw it aside, forgotten, as if we hadn't spent nights dreaming about owning or having it."

"Dramatic of you."

"Always."

"You could have a future in the theatre."

"With a face like this?" she said slyly. "Obviously."

"I know you meant that as a little joke, but you realise it's true, right?"

"Makes me sad, how shallow this world can be." She tugged at her silk sleeves. "But half my talent lies in exploiting that shallowness, so I'm not one to talk."

"I mean, same." He wrinkled his nose. "They see a pretty face and get struck dumb. All wits, gone. It's rather amusing."

"But sad," she repeated. "Very sad. How many things would be simpler if everyone had a brain they regularly used?"

"That would make things boring, wouldn't it?"

"Danger versus boredom," she mused, "which shall we choose?"

"Me, I prefer a bit of excitement, personally. You?"

She gave it some thought. "Don't know, honestly. Both seem tempting. Nothing to do for safety, or exchanging it for a life of excitement? Seems like one of those things philosophers would debate over giddily. Me, I'm no philosopher. It always made my head ache."

"I spent half my time in school avoiding philosophy. My father realised it and just had the Service educate me instead. Quite an education, if I must say so myself."

"Lady Kuroki is an avid lover of Saian philosophers. Had us chanting those essays since we were little. It's imprinted in my head," she joked. "Can't get rid of it. Constant humming in my head, it's very concerning."

His lips turned upwards. "Cass says some of Cadieux's teachings hum in her head twenty-four seven as well. I'm tempted to agree. Even now, I can hear his voice scolding me for something."

"Ah, the older generation." She tipped her head backwards. "Love them or hate them, they live in our minds rent-free."

"How would they react if we demanded rent from them for occupying our brainspace?"

"Rip us apart with some pithy sayings, probably. At least that's what Lady Kuroki would do. You look at her and see this kindly old woman, when she really has a tongue with the sting of a scorpion."

"That's every person above the age of forty," he replied. "Nothing unique about it. We just have to learn to deal with it before we join their ranks ourselves."

"Somehow, Cass already has at the age of twenty-two."

"Your sister is an exception to many rules. She's somehow simultaneously both eighty-four and ten. Impressive, honestly. Don't know how Marcus handles her, but he does. He deserves an award for that."

"Do not let him hear you say that. He'll twist that into a way for you to owe him a prize."

"I'm making a gamble that you'll keep your mouth shut, my dear. Can I keep you to that promise?"

"Hmm," she feigned contemplation, "perhaps."

"Not reassuring, Miss Diao."

"It wasn't meant to be." She picked up her teacup and took a sip. "You owe me one now."

He groaned. "So I've exchanged one set of chains for another?"

She smiled sweetly. "At least you prefer the jailer."

"Hmm. I suppose so." A grin crossed his face. "I quite like that idea, actually."

It took a whole thirty seconds for her to realise what he meant. When she did, her eyes fluttered shut and she let out a loud groan. "Why are you like this?"

"Why am I not like this is the real question. You're no innocent miss, darling."

She glared, glowering at him until he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, fine. I apologise. Is that what you want?"

She pushed her let-down hair to one shoulder. "I suppose. The apology's a bit weak, though."

"I could kiss you as an apology." His eyes, grey as the stormy seas, studied her with startling intensity.

Instead of being outraged like he might have expected her to be, she tilted her head as if considering it. "In full view of anyone? No thank you."

"When we're alone?"

She looked at him, lips slowly creeping into a small smile. "I'll consider it."