WashingAwayTheSins(continued from Familiar Shadows) Gillian found Mury alongside the Blue Bucket, well into this week’s bucking. Steam rose from the wooden tubs, filling the air with caustic stink of lye. The little woman’s back bent like a bow as she emptied the heavy bags of pre-washed linen into the murky water. From experience, Gillian knew each weighed almost as much as she did. Mury wiped her brow with her sleeve, exertion and beads acidic water coloring her cheeks lobster red. She noticed Gillian across the dock, smiling despite her discomfort. “Well there’s a pretty sight, if there ever was. But yer nah supposed be here today, darlin’. Come for a visit have ye?” Gillian smiled. "You know you and Syd are some of my favorite people to visit. Um...any laundry for Cole? I could drop it off on my way back to school..." “A pair of uniforms and some unmentionables, aye,” Mury said, grinning broadly. Then the smile faded. “Speaking of yer friend… is he in trouble, dear? That Blackcloak commander feller was back asking questions about him. And you. Weren’t no friendly question neither.” She gestured for Gillian to follow her inside; away from the ever-present and attentive street-life of the Harbour. Gillian's face paled as she fell in beside Mury. "Blackcloak commander?" she whispered. "Was his name Coteaz?" Mury nodded, “That’s his name, aye. Unpleasant feller. Found it strange that he’d be asking the question and nah his lowers.” Inside the Blue Bucket, the temperature rose about ten degrees - the muggy fish-air seeping into Gillian’s very pores. Mury didn’t appear to notice as she went behind the counter. She brought out a stack of Cole’s clothing, neatly wrapped with twine and wax paper. “Also asked about you, kitten. Nah hanging around a bad lot are yeh?” "Oh yes, you know me, hanging around thieves and murderers," Gillian joked, though it came off more weakly than she intended. She leaned forward over the counter. "Um...what sorts of questions was he asking?" Mury gave her a sharp look, wringing her hands. “He were investigating a murder. Some young thing at yer university, Gilly. That Cole boy’s name came up more than once. Had to shoo off Syd before the old fart got his rancor up about injustice and harassment.” "Great Unicorn, I heard something about that this morning. Cole is involved?" She set Cole’s clothing down and leaned against the counter, her back obviously bothering her. “And yer name came up to. Wondered if ye had known that girl. And where ye were last night.” Gillian's drew in a sharp breath and stared at Mury. "What was the girl's name?" “Didn’t say,” Mury shrugged. “But I dun hear she was one of them cat women from the Golden Circle. Unicorn watch over her.” She made the Sign of Protection and busied herself with work. Gillian covered her mouth. "Silk," she whispered. She wondered where Cole was right now. “That Blackcloak seemed pretty set in his ways aboot this,” she said, folding some starched shirts. "Dinna listen to a word we said, really." "What...what does Coteaz believe happened?" “Lover’s quarrel,” Mury said. “Ore te cover up their peccadilloes. The young lad may be involved with the Princess Rhea. Least that’s what those silly papers say. The King would have his nards on a pointy stick, if he thought someone was double-timing his daughter, sure enough.” "You said Coteaz was asking questions about me, too...how did he think I was involved in this?" “They say the girl were murdered with magic,” Mury admitted after a nervous pause. “That she done just appeared from nowhere after the stroke of midnight. Like when ye survived that explosion. Or whatever it were. And he know yer a friend of his.” Gillian startled, implications sinking in. "Just appeared from nowhere after midnight? Oberon's balls... I need to find Cole." She started to bolt, then came back to lean over the counter and kiss Mury's papery cheek. "Thank you, Mury. You and Syd. For sticking up for us. Cole didn't do it, and neither did I." Gillian did bolt then, leaving Cole's laundry still on the counter. [continued in Fishing for Sympathy] |
