The World Which Is

Chapter 62

The armor fits, as I return from the 'back room,' although the pieces are mismatched. Entire armors can rarely be salvaged, and re-sizing isn't something they do here. Brandon lets out a wolf-whistle that has Silver and Helen, along with everyone else in the dining room looking at him, then me.

Of course my ears burn.

There's no reason for it. For one thing, it wasn't Malcolm who handled it, but Francis, the club's quartermaster. For another, I didn't have to get naked. Just wear the set of underclothes that anyone who wears armor seriously owns. I bought two more off the club because traveling doesn't lend itself to washing those.

"How did it go?" Brandon asks as I sit at the table. How he can make that sound suggestive is beyond me.

"It went without trouble."

"So," Silver asks. "What are we doing, now that we're here?"

"Me and Dennis are heading to the library," he replies between bites. "I'd strongly advise both of you to stay in your room, but I know my sister, so whatever you do, do it carefully. I'm not going to be around to pull you out of whatever trouble she lands you in."

"I don't cause trouble," she replies, offended.

"Back home you don't, because you know how things work, and people know you. Here, you aren't just an unknown, you're a mark."

"I can take care of myself, Bran."

"Oh, I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about Silver getting caught in the crossfire between you and whoever your 'I'm better than everyone' attitude pisses off."

"I'm not defenseless, Brandon."

"With all due respect, Silver. You aren't ready for anything this city is going to throw at you. No one who comes here for the first time is. However bad you imagine the city to be, you aren't even scratching the surface. The simple fact you think you're ready means you shouldn't step out of your room unless you can get Malcolm to recommend at least one of the people in here to act as your escort. But that isn't going to be free."

She looks around. "How much would one of them charge to...I don't know. Give me a tour?"

He shrugs, downing his coffee. "You have to ask Malcolm, but word of warning. They won't all take money as payment."

I join Silver in staring at him. "Sex?" she asks in dismay.

"Some, sure. But for other it'll be an exchange of services, depending on what you're can do. So make sure you know what you get yourself into. Mal's not going to let someone nasty get close to you, but he doesn't know every detail about the people in here. One of them might want you to use your illusion magic to let them break into a building or something. The people who come here regularly tend to be comfortable with the kind of city Detroit is."

"Aren't here regularly?" Helen asks.

Brandon grins. "Thank you for making my point for me, oh sister mine. Big difference is I'm on your team. None of them are."

"So, just stick to someone who'll take money?" Silver asks tentatively.

"Ask Mal. He's the authority on the people here, not me. There might actually be a good one among the bunch." He looks at me. "You're not having anything?"

"I ate before getting the armor." And whatever appetite I had left is gone after listening to his 'refreshing' talk.

"Good. Then we're off. Remember, you two aren't ready for this city. Wander at your own risk."

He pulls the hood over my head before we step outside, and I feel eyes on us before we cross the first road heading north.

"I really hoped we'd get there without trouble," Brandon grumbles.