Home > Bound by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #2)(10)

Bound by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #2)(10)
Author: Jasmine Walt

I gave my plate a bewildered frown as I continued listening to the conversations in the room. About half the people here seemed to be talking about finances -- investments or vacations or paying off debts – which I wasn’t used to hearing from shifters. Most of us don’t have a ton of money, and the conversations I remembered when Roanas used to bring me here usually revolved around the shifter community’s discontent with the status quo. But today everybody seemed hopeful, optimistic even.

“Hey there.” A male tiger shifter with dark, shaggy hair and orange eyes sat down on the bar stool next to mine. “Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”

“I’m not from around here.” I smiled, dragging my attention from my thoughts and focusing them on the male next to me. “Just visiting from Parabas, actually,” I said, pulling the first town that came to mind – the city up north that Lakin had transferred from.

“Oh really?” the male’s eyes brightened. “It’s beautiful up there – so much greener than Northern Canalo.”

“True, but Solantha Bay is lovely too,” I gushed, easily slipping into the role of tourist. I’d spoken to enough of them that I knew how to behave like one. “The Firegate Bridge is just spectacular. Have you ever walked across it?”

We chatted together for a little while as I finished my pancakes, and though I tried to keep things friendly it was clear the guy was trying to hit on me. So after I was done, I reached into the money pouch tied to my belt to settle up so I could head out.

“Oh don’t worry about that,” the male said, pulling out a pandanum coin and several bronze ones from a large money pouch. “I’ve got it.”

“No kidding.” I stared down at the pouch, wondering how I hadn’t noticed it before. “Say, I noticed a lot of people seem to be flush in these parts. Did the Canalo government give some kind of handout to the shifters here?”

“Oh, you mean this?” the male laughed, hefting his pouch. “No, this definitely isn’t from the government. This is thanks to Sandin Federal Bank.”

“Sandin Federal Bank?” I blinked. They were one of the largest human-owned banks in the Northia Federation. “They’re handing out free money now?”

“Practically,” the male said with a grin. “They’ve been advertising interest-free loans specifically for shifters, and a lot of us have cashed in on them.”

“Seriously?” I sat up straight and looked around the room again. “That explains why everyone’s talking about going on vacation.” Maybe I could cash in on some of this “free” money too. I was certainly going to need it if the Chief Mage wouldn’t let me get back to making a living soon.

“Yeah, no kidding. My parents are planning a trip to the East Coast.” His eyes twinkled. “Maybe I’ll go up and visit Parabas sometime, see if you’re in town.”

“Oh sure,” I said with false enthusiasm. “You should definitely do that.” I made a show of checking my watch. “Sorry, but I’m gonna be late for a meeting. I’d better go.”

“Wait!” he grabbed my arm. “Are you sure I can’t buy you a drink later?”

Later on, he wouldn’t even recognize me. But rather than turn him down, I scribbled a fake phone number onto a napkin, then made a quick exit, heading for my bike in the back. I had one more stop, and then I needed to haul my ass to the Palace before the Mages Guild decided to do it for me.

5

This time Comenius’s shop was open for business, the front door propped open to allow the cool sea breeze to waft inside. I stepped into the shaded, homey interior, inhaling the scent of herbs and candles, and smiled at the sight of customers inspecting the various charms and potions and making purchases. I remembered when Comenius had set up shop here several years ago as an unknown. I’d been one of his first customers, wandering into his store to see what he charged for protection charms because the guy I used to go to was charging me an arm and a leg. The two of us had connected quickly, and we’d even tried to make a go of a relationship, but that didn’t last. Still, we were good friends, and I was glad to see how far he’d come.

“Naya!” Comenius smiled at me from behind the counter, his pale blue eyes lighting up. He was tall and lanky, dressed in a dark green tunic and brown trousers, his ash blond hair curling ever so slightly around the edges of his square jaw. “It’s been too long,” he said, coming around the counter to embrace me.

“Hey Naya!” Noria Melcott, his part-time assistant, paused in the middle of ringing up a sale to wave at me with a grin. She looked the same as ever, her wild red curls exploding around her small, freckled face, still wearing the same loud short-sleeved shirts and multi-pocketed pants that hid all kinds of tools. A techie to the bone, Noria loved to work with gears and gadgets, and I was surprised she worked for Comenius instead of a shop that could put her talents to use. But I wasn’t about to object – at least this way I could see them both at the same time.

“Hey you,” I called back as I embraced Com. His woodsy herbal scent engulfed me, and I took a moment to inhale deeply. Comenius’s presence was always soothing to me; it was one of the reasons I was drawn to him even though these days we weren’t more than friends.

“I dropped by yesterday to see if you wanted to hang out, but you weren’t here,” I scolded, drawing back so I could peer up into his square face. “What’s up with that?”

   
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