Page 124 of The Stone Initiation
“I do” She patted her handbag.
“Good, and you all have your bags and coats.” He raked everyone over. “It’s not exactly warm in Asteria this time of year.”
“Yes, Mr. Willowman,” Evelyn said tightly. “They’re prepared.” She gave him a closed-lipped smile. “It’smyjob to make sure they’re prepared.”
Willowman returned her smile with a warm toothy one of his own. “And you do it so beautifully.”
Her cheeks grew pink, and she narrowed her eyes. “I know.”
Whoa, subtext, subtext, subtext. I needed to know.
Willowman clapped his hands together. “In that case, gather round and prepare to be transported.”
We huddled in a group, and Willowman did a circuit of us muttering an incantation. The air crackled and my skin pricked, then white light stole my vision. The world tipped, my stomach tried to turn itself inside out and my eyes bugged, too big for my sockets.
I came to on my knees with someone patting my back.
“Oh dear. Oh dear,” Evelyn said. “Are you all right, dear?”
“I’m fine.” My throat was dry and raspy. “I guess warping and halfbloods don’t mix well.”
Shar helped me up. “Not just halfbloods. Plenty of gargoyles struggle with it. We’ll get you some water in a moment.”
We were in a pristine alley with the sounds of the street beyond teasing us to come see.
I’d never travelled more than a town over from Old Town, and although I’d read about the other places in the rim, this was my first time visiting one. Old Town had two sides—shitty and affluent. I’d lived in both. But the affluence of Old Town had nothing on this place.
We exited the alley onto dog-shit-free pavements lined with shiny store fronts and brightly colored awnings. Humans milled about looking well fed and happy. The atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful.
“Market street,” Evelyn said to me. “We shop here, and we eat over there,” she pointed across the road to a restaurant that looked like it would cost you your first born to eat at.
It all looked and felt so…safe. “I didn’t realize that places like this still existed.”
“There aren’t many left outside of the city,” Evelyn said, “but there are two outposts close by, and the guardians visit here often. It keeps it relatively free of supernatural threats. The tulpas have mostly been extinguished.” She clapped her hands. “Right, ladies. We meet at Gregari’s in two hours. Do not be late.” Her expression softened. “And have fun, dears.”
She crossed the street to the restaurant leaving us to our own devices.
“Where shall we go first?” one of the omegas asked Chlobe. “Ooo, the dressmaker’s. She might have that new fabric in.”
“Great idea,” Chlobe said.
Yeah, dresses, not my thing, and I wasn’t much for following the group, but I couldn’t speak for Shar, so I looked up at her and shrugged.
“We’ll catch up with you later,” Sharniza said.
We split up, and the omegas headed up the road.
“You can go with them if you like,” Shar said.
“And look at fabric? No thank you. Look, there’s an accessories shop. I need some new hair ties.”
The store was small but carried every kind of scarf, hair clip, hair tie, and several clutch bags. Shar’s eyes grew round at the sight of all the sparkles, and we spent way too much time in the store.
I’d brought my card with me, so it wasn’t an issue to pay for things.
Shar was hesitant to pick up anything at first, but after I grabbed a few things she relaxed and started to shop.
We hit the dessert place across the road next for ice-cream, then moved on to a shoe shop that happened to stock size eleven shoes for women.
