Page 55 of The Bone Season

‘Oh, yes, if I may. After forty years, I thought I had seen everything this city has to offer, but this is unfamiliar. Where did you get it?’

‘I’m sure you’ll understand that I can’t share that, Duckett. Just like I’m sure you wouldn’t tell me where you grow your aster.’

‘A wise decision.’ He set the pill down. ‘If you bring me whole ones, I will trade each for an item. No errands necessary.’

‘Tell me what it is, or I walk away.’

Duckett held the pill near a flickering lamp. ‘I can tell you that it is an herbal tablet, and that it is harmless,’ he concluded. ‘Is that enough?’

‘It’s something,’ I said. ‘Three items in advance, and you’ve got a deal.’

‘Done. You are a shrewd negotiator.’ He put the pill down and returned to his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. ‘What else are you?’

‘I’m an acultomancer.’

‘You’ll have to forgive my ignorance.On the Merits of Unnaturalnesswas published long after I came to this place – I’ve never seen a copy. I remember a time before the seven orders,’ Duckett said. ‘Remind me, what does an acultomancer do?’

‘My numa are needles. I cast them and interpret the patterns.’

He chuckled. ‘A pretty lie. Does it ever work?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘Not on me. With age comes experience in such things, and I sense you do not rely on a numen. It seems we have a very interesting crop this decade.’ A smile tempted his mouth. ‘You are the envy of us all, living at Magdalen. A beautiful old residence, with a most selective master. What do you make of the Warden?’

‘I would have thought that was obvious.’

‘Not at all. There are a variety of opinions on our overlords.’ Duckett ran his thumb over his monocle. ‘The blood-consort is considered by many to be the most … striking of them.’

‘Well, I don’t base my opinions of people on that sort of thing.’

‘You agree, then?’

‘He can look however he likes. I’ll still find him repulsive.’ I picked up some canned heat, then put it down. ‘You say you’re the oldest human in this city. How did you survive this long?’

‘No more information, I’m afraid. Our deal is cut.’

‘Fine. I’ll take my items.’

Duckett watched me consider his stock. I chose a thick fleece blanket, a box of aspirin, and a dripper bottle of fusidic acid.

‘I certainly hope to see you again soon,’ he said. ‘It was good to do business with you, 40.’

‘Paige,’ I said curtly.

I walked out of the shop. His gaze stung my back.

A man deprived of power who had found a way to make his own. The performers must be knocking on his door all night in winter.

His questions had felt like an interrogation. Why he had seen fit to remark on how Wardenlooked, of all things, I had no idea. Then again, forty years in this prison would unhinge the sanest person.

If he had been in here that long, I must have little hope of finding a way out.

As I left, I tossed the fusidic acid to the polyglot. He looked up at me and tilted his head in question.

‘For your eye,’ I said.

He blinked. I kept walking.

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