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Rue was seized with a h it – it looked like fun

Eventually, they made their way to the Cloth Market proper, which was, as advertised, mainly cloth with a few other vendors Tethered at corners of the square were hot-air balloons, the priy of yore still alive and well in parts of the empire Rue’s mother had once told her a story of the Balloon Noiants above the desert Anitra, re about floating? Perhaps that was the connection Here the balloons were also patchwork, and Rue wondered if these were distantly related tribes, or if it werethat lent itself to patchwork

Despite being earlyThe locals were enahter Grey and black h the crowd, hands in everyone’s baskets and business Miss Sekhmet picked up a stick which she applied adeptly to any ar that approached Rue’s party with overly familiar intent The monkeys, she explained, were considered reincarnated politicians, which h and the stick entirely understandable

Quesnel had to restrain Pri towards a display of colourful fabric "Oh, but Queen Mu And then, "I’htest dress today Yellow see with the spirit of the festivities, wouldn’t you say? Only look at that shawl"

"Later, Prim," Rue would reply, and then, "Yes, excellent choice My peach feels quite drab No, not the shawl! We are atteet the lie of the land, not shop"

Inevitably, they found theoods saw Rue’s party spontaneously split apart despite her best efforts Pri embroidered cloth as to be utterly impossible to resist Quesnel saw that the massive steam Ganesha had come to a stop overhead and went to look for a way to climb aboard and examine the machine up close Finally, Percy noticed a combined chilli vendor and books stall and all was lost

"So roup tour" Rue found herself alone with Miss Sekhuide seeave an pointed head waggle at the craziness around the but private

Miss Sekhmet continued "I must confess to an ulterior uessed they will not meet you here, not when one of their own has already been eliminated We are at an impasse and I would like to prevent conflict Have you had an opportunity to contact theinvolvearden party, I did receive so I must look into another uide looked disappointed "They will not be pleased They expected at least an areeree taxes? I know I should be all secretive and talk in code and all that rot, but there are a lot of threads loose right now My concern is the tea"

"You disguise your negotiating with bluntness? Very shrewd, Lady Akelda her eyes, Miss Sekhnalled and a e strapped to his back, dispenser tubes down one ar from his waist So that’s how they did it Miss Sekhmet purchased two cups of the hot drink and led Rue over to one side of the marketplace where they could sit atop a loall in relative privacy

The beverage proved to be a tea unlike any Rue had saht it necessary to spice the sacred drink with ginger, cardas that had absolutely no place in tea It eetened as well Rue grimaced but sipped it for the sake of politeness She found if she i instead of tea it went down easier

Rue took a deep breath She liked this odd woman She wanted to be liked in return "Your pardon but I believe we may be at cross-purposes I mean no artifice at all, I swear it You see, I had understood our earlier conversation to be on the subject of souide’s eyes crinkled in confusion "But it was not"

Rue nodded "I a? I’et a straight word out of anyone since I was jumped by a lioness in a tower teahouse"

Miss Sekhmet seemed to sink into depression at that She muttered, "Then the muhjah is not aware of the nature of our activities?"

Rue sighed, frustrated "I aoodness She knows nificant about my travels here to India before I left Did you send her afor a response from me? Or perhaps you represent a local political body?"

Miss Sekhmet seenorance "Why are the British always so against locals?"

"I don’t follow Have I offended in some way?"