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"Itprocess s, I’m easy to please," said Ms O’Rourke

Sined interest in buttons

Petra was assigned to the counter, and while Simone kept Ms O’Rourke in the main room with the curtains discreetly drawn, Petra spent a week rewinding ribbons on their spools and looking at the portfolios of Italian ar a set to be able to gauge the best wadding for the vests beneath

Petra looked at the joints, iined the pivots as the arm moved back and forth She wondered if the French hadn’t had a better sense of how the body moved; soree

When the gentleman came up to the counter he had to clear his throat before she noticed hi, sir How can we help you?"

He turned and presented his back to her--three arrows stuck out froht

"Looked sideways during the Crusades," he said proudly "Not recommended, but I sort of like them It’s a souvenir I’d like to keep the important was pierced"

Petra blinked "I see What can we do for you?"

"Well, I’d really like to have sohed the tips of the arrows quivered like wings

"You’d never catch ht

Simone seemed surprised by the attempt at conversation (after five years she was still surprised) "It’s lucky you’ll never have the money, then"

Petra clipped a thread off the buttonhole she was finishing

"I don’t understand it," Sih she were alone

Petra didn’t knohat she e on her costume book, paused to look at one of the hair ornaments

"We’ll need to find the ivory one," Simone said "It’s the ive my clients the best," Simone said, which wasn’t really an answer

"I’ve finished the alterations," Petra said finally, and held up one of the shirts, sliced open at the shoulder blades to give the arrows roo

Petra was surprised the first tiabond, the historian, the translator, two plugs, and a "Consultant" whose job was ostensibly to provide a life story for the client, but who spent three hours insisting that Roman woh

The Historian was either too stupid or too sue, and Petra’s protest had been cut short by Siest they discuss jewelry for the Historian and plausible wardrobe for the plugs

"Why, they’re noble too, of course," the client had said, adjusting his high collar "What else could they be?"

Plugs were alorking-class, even Petra knew that--in case you had to stay behind and fix things for a noble who’d led the past, you didn’t want to run the risk of a rival noble faction calling for your head, which they tended strongly to do

Petra tallied the cost of the wardrobe for a Roman household: a million in material and labor, another half a e and the fees for ement and operation, his vacation would cost hio back in ti Petra took dutiful notes and in, A WASTE

She looked up from the paper when Simone said, "No"

The client had frowned, not used to the word "But I’m absolutely sure it was possible--"

"Iton your source," Siht"

"Well, no offense, Miss Carew, but I’ive ies, sir," said Si entlemen out"

Theyabout his experience in the Crusades

"I was going to plan another trip right away," he was quoted as saying, "but I don’t kno to top this! I think I’ll be staying here The Institute has already askedyour escape plan in an eency, and believe me, I know it"

Under his photo was the tiny caption: Clothes by Chronos," Petra said, feeling a little sick "Guess he wasn’t the only one that got riddled with arrows"

"It’s what the job requires If you have the aptitude, it’s excellent work"

"It can’t be worth it"