---
Edda adjusted her hair and checked the lane like habits asked her to. "I will go east," she said. "Then to the black market. Then to the shop."
"Do not say 'black market' out loud in markets," Fizz advised. "People get excited."
"Do not say 'shop' out loud in shops," Edda said back. "People raise the price."
They parted at the corner. Edda slipped into the crowd and vanished like a stitch in cloth. John and Fizz turned toward the academy, the calm big building from outside.
They walked the known streets. It felt strange to have them feel known. The baker with a loud laugh waved his towel. The water seller nodded because he had decided John was the kind of man who nodded at water sellers. A boy with ink on his fingers ran past and shouted, "Late!" to no one, and three other boys shouted, "Same!" even if it was not true.
