She stripped off her leather gloves and slipped around the tortured man, dropping a long, blood-spattered knife clattering to the table, then crossed the room to the vacant couch. Anji watched as she reached into the space between the couch and moldy carpet, sliding a sturdy leather case out from beneath the frame. She rose and tossed her blood-stained gloves onto the table beside the knife. “You’re far out of your jurisdiction, Miss…”

“Kit,” said Kit, eyes glued to the leather case. “I—we’re headed back to Linura,” she said, her voice firm for all it had quavered out in the hall.

The woman gave them an amused frown. “Long trip.” She cracked the case open and wagged a knowing finger at Kit. “It just tickles me when city Spurs employ users,” she said, taking out two green-glass vials. Anji felt Kit straighten at her side, but nobody else in the room seemed to notice. “I always tell my crew,” she said, gesturing at the hulking man on the couch, “how are you supposed to move the stuff if you’ve never tried it? What do you tell a slop looking for something they’ve never had? ‘It’ll make you feel … things’?” She giggled and looked Kit up and down. “Though you’re looking fairly far along.”

“I’ve started weaning off.”

The woman’s grin widened. “Of course,” she said in a singsong voice, and pointed to the man in the chair. “If only my friend here had a similar taste for restraint.” She raised her voice. “Hear that, Bras? Small doses! Dilution! Or we have to cut the shit right off you!” She swiveled back to Kit and Anji, still standing in front of the door. “That’s … one hundred Rhoda, if you please.”

Anji started, but Kit flashed her a look, then reached into her purse and set two neat stacks of bills at the table’s edge. She inched farther forward and accepted the two vials, which she stowed in the folds of her leathers.

“Appreciated much,” said Kit, bobbing her head. She tied the purse and motioned for Anji to precede her through the door. The door Devas still guarded.

The woman clicked the case shut and sat back on the couch, one leg folded over the other. “Don’t rush off now, Kit,” she said, a hand to her chest. “Compared to Linura, we’re positively rural, but not without our manners.” She snapped her finger at Devas, who immediately dipped his head, abandoned his post, and pushed through another door across the room.

“Clean this up, will you?” The woman flicked a hand toward Bras, his shoulders shaking in silent sobs. Bras looked up as the bald giant lumbered to his feet and began unstrapping him.

“Help me! I didn’t—”