Page 14 (1/2)

"I iine you’re unaccustomed to the stink of rabble, my lady And to think that they aren’t even aware of two foxes in the henhouse Or two snow foxes as, perhaps" His mouth quirked up, and he winked

I went on alert i as I stood to face hinize? Was he an assassin? Would I have to kill hie," I said,ive the poor girl a conniption" The Pinky sloved hand down his arm in the saive me, then, princess My name is Criminy Stain, and I’m at your service" He swept a practiced bow and rose with a bouquet of snohite flowers in hand "Your secret is safe with lanced around The croas oblivious, as if they couldn’t even see us My eyes narrowed at hiression Still, I didn’t take the flowers

"How did you guess?"

"I’ caravan, and my wife is a fortune-teller Our train is stopped just outside of Dover, and a glance last night informed her that ould find you here I couldn’t miss a chance to meet you, my dear I wish you only the best"

"What do you want? Money?"

He threw back his head and laughed "What is ive you a gift"

I raised one eyebrow "Flowers?"

He shook his head and clapped his hands together The bouquet of white bloo snow With a sudden jolt of ho flakes, but they were neither cold nor wet and simply disappeared

Criloved fingers around so to need this, Ahnastasia," he whispered, leaning close "More than you know One day, it will be the only thing between you and a world of pain"

I looked down and opened htly and sealed with a wax sta a coround, but so stopped me

"What is it? Why do I need it?"

Criminy looked at the Pinky on his ar from his eyes

"I can’t tell you, honey," the woman said She looked as if she wanted to reach out and pat my arm but knew that I would rip it off if she tried "Open it when you’re at the final straw That’s all I can say"

Turning the packet over in ic since Ravenna and then Mr Sweeting, and I didn’t like the thought of ifts from someone who kneho I was Hoas I supposed to trust this strange pair?

"He’s co," the Bludman spat, and his Pinky nodded and said, "Tell Casper that Tish said hi"

"Good luck, , charht, and I assure you that all will turn out for the best, er" He jerked his head toward the airships, and within seconds, he and his Pinky had disappeared into the crowd

"Anne!"

My head spun in the opposite direction as Casper hurried toward me, worry written all over his face

"I couldn’t find you Who were you talking to? Are you okay?"

"I don’t know this ‘okay,’ but I as could collapse "Tell me, what do you know of Cri hard as he took a deep breath through his nostrils "Criminy Stain Criminy Stain was here?" He searched the crowd, avid as a wolf "Was he alone? What did he say?"

"He was here He knew me He had a pet Pinky with hie She said to tell you Tish said hi And Criave me this"

I held out the packet, but Casper didn’t touch it "If Tish saw soave you that, it’s important" He looked both furious and lost, and I slipped the folded paper into the top of my corset, next to the necklace from my valise

"But who are they? Who is Tish?"

He shook his head as if trying to dislodge so painful "Maybe I’ll tell you someday For noe have to hurry It’s ale?"

"I have"

"You don’t look happy about it," I murmured And he didn’t He looked irritated, and worried, and ever so slightly aer ships are full and only take coin, so this is a trade situation They need aas how the old one’s too drunk to play But we have to share a room, and you’ll need to stay in it the entire time Do you understand?"