This time, she did not stop immediately.
A proper laugh followed. Small but real.
Ah.
I consider this a beautiful victory.
I mentally lit fireworks.
No, better. I mentally exploded another mountain. How festive.
At the edge of the market stood a plaza with a large fountain shaped like four figures holding up a sun disk. The water shimmered with faint magic, rising and falling in patterns like music.
Around it, performers gathered and were doing a show. A juggler tossed glowing balls into the air while a young girl played a flute. Two masked dancers moved in wide circles, their sleeves trailing like ribbons of water.
Arsenic stared at the dancers, enchanted. Cyanide watched the crowd instead.
I noticed.
He still mapped exits, counted possible threats, and even tracked footsteps.
Such things were good for developing instincts. But it would lead to a terrible childhood.
I crouched beside him. "See that alley?"
His eyes flicked to where I pointed.
