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I LED HIM TO one of my favourite bars: located in a secluded, tree-covered courtyard surrounded by commercial buildings that were closed and dark at this time of the day. As was almost mandatory for Barresh, there was a fountain in the courtyard, with little tables surrounding it. I half-expected him to say that the venue was not secure enough with all the balconies overlooking the courtyard, but his guards must have judged security adequate because he said nothing about it, although he did appear distracted for a little while, probably listening to a report via his feeder.
I ordered my usual: a local liquor made from flowers. As I suspected, Asha wanted zixas, and this was indeed one of the places that had a permit for serving it.
We chose a table near the fountain’s edge, where a l
