Page 61 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"Ah, Mister Reis, so good of you to come to our establishment," the man said, all of his bluster vanishing.

"What seems to be the problem?" he said, coming to stand beside Zoe.

"This man won't let me go in and checkbaba'slocker," Zoe replied. She gave the attendant a scathing look. "Even though I have a receipt, and it's been fully paid for the past twenty years."

The man looked to Kahil. "It's not like that. That locker is in a private area, reserved for our special guests. No women are allowed in there."

"Then there should be no problems with me retrieving it," Kahil said. The man still looked nervous, so Kahil smiled. "I am not here to investigate you or the bathhouse. We are just here for the contents of the locker. I won't look anywhere that I shouldn't."

The man seemed to realize he had no choice in the matter and nodded. "She can't go with you. This way, Mr. Reis."

Zoe didn't look amused, but she still sat down in the waiting room and picked up a magazine. Kahil followed the man past the main bathing areas and through a locked wooden door. The magic hit Kahil straight away, and he knew what the man had meant by it being a private area. It was for the magical community only. He could smell opium in the air and the occasional hit of hashish, but he did as he had promised anddidn't look too closely at what was going on through the doors of the steaming areas.

"I was starting to think that no one would ever return for this locker. I wasn't game enough to do anything with it until the rental money ran out on it. You never know how long the lifespans of our clients are," the bathhouse attendant said. He took a golden key from his pocket and unlocked the polished wooden door. Kahil stopped him from opening it.

"Thank you for your help. I will take it from here," he said and tried to give the man another friendly smile.

"Of course, take as long as you need. You can find your way back to the reception, yes?"

"I won't be long," Kahil reassured him. There was no way he would leave Zoe alone for longer than he had to. His beautiful girl had a way of attracting trouble.

Kahil opened the locked door and found a red leather folio with an envelope sitting on top of it. He didn't feel any warding magic, so he pulled them out. His name was written on the envelope in Oman's now familiar writing. He opened it and pulled out the blue paper.

Dear Kahil,

If you are reading this, my vision of my death has proven accurate. I am sorry that we never got a chance to get to know each other better, and for the wild goose chase I have sent you and my dearest Zoe on around Istanbul.

This is the final piece of the codex. I have no others hidden around the city. Please give it to Zoe so that she can put all the pieces together once more. I don't know what your relationship to her is—my vision wasn't that clear—but I know that you care for her.

Please guard her for me, or ask Kerem to do it. I don't know who killed me, and I fear that she won't be safe until this codexhas been passed on. I wish I never heard of the cursed thing, and I trust no one with it but my Zoe.

Hug her for me, will you?

Tell Kerem that I'm sorry I didn't listen to his advice.

Oman Kartal.

"Well, fuck," Kahil muttered, reading through the letter again before putting it into his pocket. There was nothing else in the locker, so he shut the small door and went to find Zoe.

The attendant was back at his post behind the counter, his eyes watching Zoe carefully like he didn't trust her.

"Thank you. You may rent the locker again," Kahil told him, making him jump in surprise.

"Please come again, Mr. Reis," the attendant said. His eyes dropped to the folio, and Kahil moved it from his sight.

"I wouldn't concern yourself with what I have," Kahil warned, a growl creeping into his voice. The man had the wisdom to look away.

Zoe got up and followed Kahil outside. He passed her the folio. "This is the last one."

"How do you know?" she asked, and Kahil gave her the letter.

"He saw me coming to get it."

Kahil glanced around the street, suddenly feeling too exposed. He didn't trust the attendant not to blab to his clients. He was too well connected to the magical world to not know about the Sais Codex.

Now you are getting as paranoid as Oman.

"Read the letter once we get back to the shop,balim. We need to move," he said, taking her hand.

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