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I blinked "Money? But --"

"You’re a god You should be able to ht allow ame; it did not suit my nature at all Perhaps I could act out a children’s tale or lullaby, that one about the golden ropes and the pearl lanterns … "Would you take jewelry instead?"

She roaned and trotted after her "Listen, I said I could s that are valuable, and you can sell the with that?"

"I can’t sell the to sell soet me killed If I took it to a pawnbroker, everyone in South Root would know I had et robbed, orI don’t know anyone in the merchant cartels who could fence it for me, and even if I did, they’d take half or more in ‘fees’ And I don’t have the status to impress the Order of Iteo to one of the godlings around town, maybe, but then I’d have to deal withlook "My parents are old, and I’m the only child What I need is et the roof fixed and ain so he can stop worrying so ive me any of that?"

I stumbled after this litany, a little stunned "I … no"

Hyhed and stopped, reaching up to rub her forehead as if it pained her "Look, which one are you?"

"Sieh"

She looked surprised, which was a welconize your na tio"

"Gods, no wonder you’re such a horror You’re new in town" This seeer, and she looked ht, what’s your nature?"

"Tricks Mischief" These were always easier to explain to rasp as a specific concept Hyh, so I took a chance and added, "Innocence"

She looked thoughtful "You er ones are simpler"

"They’re not simpler Their natures are just more attuned to mortal life, since they were born afterannoyed again "Look, people in this city have lived with your kind for a long tiet how you work; you don’t need to lecture" She sighed again and shook her head "I know you need to serve your nature, all right? But I don’t need tricks; I need , sell it yourself, and bring me that later, that would be fine Just try and be discreet, will you? And leave me alone until then Please"

With this, Hymn turned to walk away, slower this tiether out of sorts and wondering how in the infinite hells I was going to getfair was as funda a child, and if I allowed the wrong I had done her to stand, it would erode a littlethat prior toit now? I had no idea ould happen, but it would not be pleasant

I would have to obtain money by mortal means, then But if there were jobs to be had, would Hy knives froe of the city in its current incarnation, and no inkling of where to begin ain

The streets were quiet and ehtish aspect as the one while I tormented the , its pulse quickening with the start of day Ghostly white buildings, long unpainted but soundly made and still beautiful in a run-doay, loomed out of the dark on either side of the street I saw faces peering through the s, half hidden by the curtains Through gaps in the buildings I could see the mountainous black silhouette of a Tree root Roots hemmed in this part of the city, while the Tree itself looht here, no rew