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But they were persistent, the both of them

Niko’s eyes never left me, and as hard as I told s were ju a hard ti mine frolass of bubbling liquid, so blue it was nearly black, from one of the silver trays as it passed I had no idea what it was, but I lifted it to nized the feel of the refresh down, but not the taste Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t meant for children

Before I could take another sip, Brook took ulps "Better," she practically hiccupped Setting the glass down, she signaled for the attendant to bring another

"Not playing the role of co, surprised at how easy it was to forget about the day’s events At how relaxed I was just being with Brook again, like the old days

She slipped her arhbreath "I’m always the commander," she said with just the hint of a slur, and I wondered what, exactly, had been in that drink Already,to spin, and all I’d had was a sip When the tray caue But she never even noticed "And don’t you forget it," she said, her words garbled and unclear

I glanced up at Niko just as he raised his glass to erous sround

"Are you sure she’ll be okay?"

The "doctor," who I wasn’t entirely convinced was, in fact, a doctor, looked down at me, perplexed His beakish nose wrinkled "Of course she will, my dear She just needs to rest To sleep it off, as they say"

"Who?" I asked, leaning over Brook’sjust a little when I felt her breath against my cheek "Who says that?"

He waved his hands in a flourish of bony knuckles and untri his point "They They say that She’s just had too much Amrita First-timers should never drink sowhat happened to his other eye--or rather to the place where his other eye should have been I stared into the withered hole that bored in his skull "Then why are they serving it in glasses?"

He looked at me like I’d lost e of , I supposed, was that Brook would recover

I wason the side of , when Aron poked his head inside

"How is she?" he asked quietly