Eye of the Ocean Book 3 Ji'jin Station

Eye of the Ocean – Book 3: Ji’Jin Station
“Never seen them before. Nobody has.” He shrugged again even as his hands
started to reach towards the money, not able to separate his actions from words
despite the need.
Two coins were in Bolda's palm now with two more - smaller ones without the
distinctive marks - being held openly. “Who have these strangers been talking
too?”
The man's eyes blinked from the sweat running into them and he'd forgotten
to keep scrubbing. But he answered. “Sasi-hand man, old Zimmer. Crest end
braided with the Lady's colors. Says it's all their fault. Those Speakers, both him
and his mate. Their fault that strangers are coming around, butting into other
people's business.” He rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead and
looked at Bolda uncertainly. “Got themselves a daughter that's run off.”
Bolda let all four coins fall to the tabletop. “So they do.”
After the man had collected his money and gone back to the bar, Bolda got up
and stretched. He might as well watch openly, he wasn’t fooling anyone.
He saw Eunni before she did him. Dressed like she belonged there, she had a
shopping basket over one arm and was easing through the crowd with just the
right touch of resignation and pushiness.
“Not that I really needed you to worry about,” Bolda said as he lifted his bowl
in salute. He had met her in the street, trading the pub for a tearoom while he
could still walk. The tearoom was street level to enter, same as the
Speakerhouse, but up a few steps once you came in. A window-side seat gave
him a view of the entrance. The small place was filling up but mainly Zimmer
waiting in line to get something to eat and then taking it outside. Most of the
tables were empty.
Eunni matched his salute with her own. “You? Worry about me? Why would
you worry about...”
“Well, I wasn't worrying at all until you showed up.” He blew bubbles with his
words and nodded towards the doorway. The Tillerwa had appeared, obviously
not caring that he was seen. And still in his wet clothes. Whatever had pulled him
away hadn't given him time to change. Eunni's showing up probably.
“Place was perfectly safe,” Bolda added. “You're trouble, woman.”
Eunni turned and looked at the tall man then back to him. “Flattery won't get
you anywhere.”
He snorted. “Well, that wasn't any place I was headed.”
“This shouldn't have been either. Kori warned you off hours ago.”
“Just went for a morning's walk.”
“Bolda, it's bedtime.”
At the grocer next to the Speakerhouse, a big W'slier had rolled the awning up,
but that's as far as she'd gotten. The blue door was still closed and there weren't
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca