Elisser pulls up a stool and sits at the table. Without asking, she reaches for the ceramic jug and pours herself a full cup of Boris's cactus wine. She tilts it back and drinks like she's putting out a fire in her throat.
"Aaarrhhh… Damn." She wipes her mouth on the back of her sleeve. "All right, boy. Tell me. What's wrong with the shuriken."
The dynamic in the room has flipped. Five minutes ago she was the examiner. Now she's the student—and she knows it. The grey eyes that scanned me with contempt when she walked in are scanning me with hunger now.
I lean back. Let her wait one extra second.
She returns the crystal and the karambit to her apron pocket. The shuriken stays on the table between us, the four-pointed star catching the firelight.
Now the second part of the show. Eventide takes the stage.
I pick up the shuriken with my left hand. With my right, I draw Eventide.
