The Assassins of Altis by Jack Campbell

not nearly enough.” The crowds around them were all edging away, putting distance between themselves and the Mage. A few spared pitying glances for Mari. A pair of Imperial police on a corner were looking in another direction as if unaware of anything going on. Everyone watching thought Mari was a common like them whom a Mage had decided to hijack as a personal servant or to torture or for some other reason inexplicable to normal people. None of them were crazy enough to try to interfere, because no one in his or her right mind invited the attention of Mages. “Let’s pretend you’ve told me to come with you,” Mari said. “Go to your right, out of the market and down that street with the tavern on the corner. I’ll follow looking meek and terrified.”
    Asha’s face offered no clue as to whether she thought that was a wise plan or not. She nodded with no visible emotion, then turned and began walking, while Mari hastened to pick up her packages and follow, not entirely feigning worry since a lot of people were watching her now and that was the last thing she had wanted.
    A woman at a stall she passed called out in a low voice. “Is there anyone we should tell of you?”
    Mari shook her head. “I’ll be all right. She just wants some of the food I bought.”
    “Blasted Mages. Take care, girl!”
    Once far enough down the road which Mari had indicated, she called quietly to Asha. “The hostel is to our left, about three blocks. If you turn at that next corner we can make a few more turns along the way to see if anyone is following.” Mari took a moment to be glad that Asha had kept her eye-catching beauty concealed behind her robes and cowl. That would have attracted an extra measure of attention.
    Mari directed Asha though some more turns, even doubling back at one point to ensure no one was shadowing them. Unfortunately, with so many people on the street at this time of day she couldn’t be certain that no one had followed, but it seemed unlikely. Asha followed Mari’s directions without comment or protest, her expression when Mari could see it unreadable. Finally, Mari brought them to the hostel and ducked inside. Fortunately, the desk clerk was momentarily busy with other customers, two men with two courtesans who were falling out of the tops of their dresses. The eyes of the desk clerk and the two men were locked onto the cleavage of the courtesans, and the courtesans kept their own eyes on the wallets of the two men, so no one noticed Mari lead a Mage up the shaky stairs.
    She rapped softly. “It’s Mari.” A moment later Alain opened the door. Mari was fleetingly surprised that Alain didn’t seem startled to see Asha.
    “I sensed you approaching,” Alain told Mari, “and that Mage Asha was with you, though Mage Asha conceals herself well.”
    He was doing it again: reverting to that expressionless, emotionless Mage voice and face. Already unsettled by Asha finding her, Mari glared at him as she shut and locked the door. “Act human, blast you. I’ve put a lot of work into getting you to show feelings and I don’t want to see that go to waste.”
    Alain, startled, nodded before turning to Asha. “Mage Asha, I am happy to see you.”
    Asha raised one eyebrow the tiniest amount. “Happy?” she asked without feeling.
    “Yes, Mage Asha. You are my friend.”
    “You still think of me as friend?” Asha gave Mari a glance from those gorgeous eyes.
    Mari fervently hoped that Asha couldn’t sense all of her feelings right now.
    Asha nodded at Alain. “I have been trying to remember what ‘friend’ meant. Helping is involved. Helping with no obligation.”
    “Like you did at Severun,” Mari said. “Warning Alain and misleading those other Mages. We’ve both been worried about you since then.” It felt good to say that, because it was true, and because her pangs of jealousy still bothered Mari.
    “Worried?” Asha asked. “Is that what I have sensed in myself when I think of Mage Alain and