Missing Elements (The Lament Book 3) by P.S. Power Page A

herself. Probably better than Pran had,
honestly. Her voice was less strained and just as loud.
    "That won't be a problem. In
fact, if you'd like, Judge Brown, Pran and I will do that right now? Are you
staying in the commons quarter?"
    It turned out he was, but he
seemed embarrassed, either by that fact, or that he was being delivered home,
like an invalid. Pran went to get her things, since she'd need them, if she
wasn't supposed to sleep in the office. When they were out the front door of
the building, after a slow climb down the stairs, she looked at her Master, who
had the Judge holding on to her arm, not needing to carry as much with her. She
had a small folio porter with her, which was a strange case that only artists
used, with hard wood sides inside a canvas bag. It was meant to keep papers
from being crumpled, while not being too heavy to travel around with. Normally
they were used for drawings and paintings, but apparently High Bards used them
for notes and things like that, too.
    The commons quarter was nice
enough that Pran doubted the Judge would feel embarrassed about his
accommodations. The two story high buildings were almost right across the
street, and were similar to one another, but had different decorations on the
outside and took up several rows, if what she were told was right. The traffic
bustled through the whole city, compared to what she was used to seeing, most
of the people going to their homes or rooms. She could tell based on what they
were carrying, which wasn't enough to be out making deliveries for most of
them. They did pass Donal, the cart man who was clearly finishing his own day.
    She called out.
    "Hello! Did the day go
well?"
    "Aye! The horses did their
job and carried people, and I did mine, making the streets here a wonder to
behold. How did you find your new Master, boy?" He winked at the others, clearly understanding who Clarice was, and recognizing a Judge in robes when he saw
one. He was a city man, and had seen it all before, most likely. Really, that
probably meant he'd be a good contact for her, didn't it?
    "Not too poorly. I
managed to get a bit of work, in two days, playing for a wedding. Twyla and
Paul... Um, Twyla is the daughter of the High Airship Councilor. Do you know
him?" It probably seemed an insane thing to say, but oddly enough the man
smiled and gave a nod.
    "I do indeed! I'd heard that
little Twyla was to wed, just last week. I should see if Riley can wrangle us
an invitation. Are you going, Clarice?" The cart fellow looked over at the
High Bard and addressed her casually enough that it was clear they'd met before,
and more than once. Which was really just bizarre . After all, most
people didn't stop and talk to the men and women that kept the streets clean,
did they?
    Then, how would she know that?
The places that she'd been hadn't really had anyone to do that kind of thing.
Maybe it was what you were supposed to do? Check in with each of them as
you walked down their street? It would be a great way to make certain you were
keeping tabs on everyone, wouldn't it?
    Clarice smiled and let her head
nod a few times.
    "Oh, indeed. Kabrin and I
got an invitation the other day. I wasn't aware that Bard Pran would be playing
for it, but that's something to hear. She's brilliant . Also a girl, if
you can see past the short hair. There's a real story to that though, which I
bet Riley can fill you in on. It's one of those kinds of things, and best not
spoken of in public." She turned to look at Pran and winked, pretending to
be playful, but holding something under that. "There are art supplies in
it if you can work out who Riley is in the next week. I wager you won't."
    Pran looked at the woman, and
wanted to roll her eyes. The whole thing practically screamed what the
situation was, didn't it? Why even play a game with it, if Pran could just go
in the next day and ask a floor boy about it? That meant it was something that
the woman next to her didn't think one of them would