Hannah swept her cloak closer to her body and shivered slightly. Bum!' she thought. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum!' She hated the rain. Actually she liked the rain she just hated walking in the rain. She hated the wetness of it all, the mud, her clothes, people's dogs. A huge clap of thunder caused her to quicken her pace. She was almost there. Something rustled in the alley as she walked by. What's this?' she thought. She heard voices, they were loud-loud enough to be heard over the rain. She leaned against the wall and cupped her hand to her ear. This is as close as she had gotten to spying since she had been in Corus! Her heart pounded lightly in her chest.
He what?! exclaimed the first voice, a deep, breathy voice.
He has been hired again, sir said a smaller, less educated voice.
demanded the first voice. Hannah could picture the scene in her minds eye. This sort of thing happened all the time. Poor children got themselves into the information collecting business to keep alive, and were taken advantage of by richer, older, scarier people. Hannah thanked the Goddess for her good home and upbringing.
Uh, well, he's workin' at the Broken Egg, but not until the end of the week. Turns out old Harry owe's his mum a favor or somthin'.
The Egg?! said the mean voice I thought I had fixed him after the last one. Clearly he doesn't give up as easy as I thought. Just like his father... the voice trailed off. Another thunder clap sounded.
Sir, if you don't mind- said the small voice timidly.
said the mean voice. Hannah assumed there was some sort of money handed over. She heard light footsteps draw towards her. She dashed down the street and into the tavern.
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said Mouse as he layed down his cards. Red Baron!
No bloody way! said Fred in disbelief. Mouse took a big swig of his drink.
Shall we play another round boys? he asked.
If we do, I'll be more broke than Toby's nose. said Fred.
I resent that! said Toby, rubbing his nose gingerly.
Get over yerself said Fred. He stood and walked to the bar where Mitsy was talking to her friends. Gideon sighed. Things had gotten back to normal at least. He hoped this time it was for real. He had a job, he was back at home, and he was sitting in a warm, dry place with his friends. Now if only he could stop the empty feeling in his stomach. He looked up just in time to see a big plate of meat and potatoes come sidling toward him from the bar. His stomach gurgled excitedly.
An hour later Gideon found himself staring into Mitsy's bright blue eyes.
Really Goody. It's all starting to happen now. I know I haven't been right before, but this time it's serious. It says in my book, here- she handed him a worn leather book and pointed to a bottom paragraph. Gideon read


As the moon begins its return to its invisible phase,
Venus rises in the sky and the seeds of passion are planted.
Looking ahead will help to see the past.
As Mars enters-

he said, I know you believe in all of this, but I really don't. It's great that you are so interested in this, but honestly, you know it's just a crock of-
It's not any of that! She yelled. You'll see! I'm right, and soon you'll see! She stood up and grabbed Fred's arm. C'mon Freddy, Marietta wants to talk to me. She needs to know if she should go to the market tomorrow or wait until next week. She dragged Fred away as he cast an apologetic glance in their direction. As soon as they were out of earshot Gideon started talking.
I hate to hurt her feelings like that, but all she ever talks about is love this and passion that. It's like she is completely unaware of the fact that I am almost twenty and still living in my mother's house. I do nothing but cook and take care of my brothers and sisters or else hang out around here and wait for you guys to get drunk so I can drag you home! No girl has ever talked to me, or looked at me, at least not in that way. I wish she would stop rubbing it in my face all the time! And Fred always gets mad at me because she's his girl and- Gideon realized that Toby and Mouse weren't listening. They were waving across the tavern towards Gil and Don, who had just come in. The young men hung their rain cloaks up and headed towards the table where Gideon was sitting.
We was wonderin' if you was up for a game of cards said Don, sinking heavily into a chair.
You up for another hand? asked Gil.
Is it raining? asked Mouse. The two newcomers smiled and whipped out their purses. Toby did the same.
Great then! You deal said Don. Inez! Bring me a pint will ya? he called over his shoulder. Gideon sipped his juice and leaned back in his chair. Here we go again' he thought. He laughed and rolled his eyes This is definitely not my idea of passion!'
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Hannah looked around as she hung her cloak. Same crowd as was usually there. She sat down in a chair and pulled out her book. Today it was Carthaki. She began repeating the words to herself. She had gotten half way through the first list of hard to pronounce words when an outburst of noise met her ears.
Scum! You must be cheating! A heavy, brown haired man who looked to be in his mid-twenties stood, and looked at his friends in disbelief. How could he win again? He won again! You must be cheating! Everyone was staring. A drunken outburst was not uncommon in a place like this, but honestly. Couldn't he just accept the fact that he had lost his money and get on with it? Hannah sighed and returned to her lesson-only to be interrupted again.
I'll not play a single round with you again you filthy- yelled the big man. He was cut off by another voice. Another, younger man stood up and walked around the table. He talked quietly to the big man, and then to the people at the table. Then, he lead the big man over to door and helped him into his cloak. Soon he was out the door. The younger man went back and sat down at his table. He looked to be about the same age as she. Now Hannah recognized him as the boy she waved at on her first night. She watched for him every night, but he hadn't come in the last four days. She watched him carefully. His dark brown hair was long, but not past his ears. It was scruffy and reminded Hannah of a dog outside her uncle's house. The young man sat quietly and watched the others at his table play cards. He seemed lost in thought. He absentmindedly ran his index finger over his lip as if it helped him concentrate. Suddenly, one of his friends slammed the table with his fist, and the boy looked around, startled. She followed his eyes around the room until they met hers. She looked down quickly, embarrassed that she had been caught staring. She realized he had been doing the same thing before. As she felt her blush subside, she lifted her eyes. He was looking away now. But he was still watching her, she knew, out of his peripheral vision. She willed him to look at her again. Slowly his head turned and he caught her glance. He smiled tentatively, she smiled back. They both looked down. I wonder what he's thinking?' Hannah thought to herself. She pretended to read her book while she felt him watching her. She turned the page, so it would look real. Then she looked up again. This time she winked. He blushed and turned to get his drink. She saw it before it happened. Hannah reached out, as if she could grab the glass from across the room. Of course, she couldn't.