Excerpt: The Twelve Eyes of Ahnyar Maht

"Be calm," Joral said. I only need to talk to you for a minute, but don't make any move to escape me, understood?"

"Why would I do that?" the person said and then he recognized Chara's voice. "I've been trying to catch up with you for the last three blocks."

"Chara!” He dropped his grip and she turned to face him. “What are you doing here?"

"You go first."

"I told you I'm trying to find a brother of my Order."

"Ha! They must pay you guys a lot better than you dress if you think he'd be living here."

"I'm just passing through here trying to find a way up into those hills."

"And I told you that I wander all over the city, and even though I don't make any friends doing it, I see a lot of stuff, and could certainly help you find things, like the north door that would put you on a path leading anywhere in those hills."

"Why didn't you say you wanted to help me yesterday?"

"I would have if you weren't in such a hurry to bug out when we couldn't give you any quick answers. I figured you just decided there wasn't anything to interest you with a dirty kid and an old lady. Though you know something, I don't think grandmother is really that much older than you and if you gave her the chance to have a bath and, oh, maybe any kind of decent life for the last ten years, I bet she'd be beautiful."

"Chara, that really has nothing to do--"

"I know, Mr. All Business, you have no interest in women, per se, but I'll bet you'd listen longer to someone who didn't look like she'd been tossed in the discard pile long ago."

"I don't think of Anfisa as an old discard any more than I think of you as a kid."

"Oh yeah? Well don't get any big ideas."

"That isn't--"

"I know, I know. I keep thinking you might be part human."

"How old are you anyway?"

"Twelve. I think."

"Practically all grown up."

"I hope not. I mean, I'd like to be a little bit taller before I'm done. Hey, you think eating regular might have something to do with that?"

"Would you let me feed you again?"

"A chance to dine with a big strong fellow like you? What girl wouldn't roll her eyes up and say, 'goo'? But we've got some hills to climb, remember? So let's get moving."

Chara took his hand and set off a a good pace. After half a block she flashed him a big grin. "See? On a second date I even hold hands." Then she laughed at the expression on his face and pulled him along faster.