The sword in his hand was as massive as he was. Ruulians were known for their temper and their tendency to act without thinking. This particular specimen was no exception.

He snarled, lifted his blade, and...

The blue-skinned woman lifted a finger and the weapon froze mid-swing.

“Please bide a moment,” she said casually as she closed her eyes.

The Ruulian gaped at his hands as he tried to force them down, but they refused to budge.

After a few seconds, the woman’s eyes popped open.

“I apologize for the delay. However, we must finish this some other time. I am needed elsewhere.” She turned to leave, then paused and looked over her shoulder. “Please also accept my apologies for any perceived slights. They were not intended as such. Thank you for your understanding.”

She walked out of the room. Only then did she release the pressure on the Ruulian’s brain. She heard him growl and curse, but she knew he would not rush after her. She’d made sure he wouldn’t by placing all the appropriate blocks in his thick skull.

At any other time, she would have enjoyed the dance, but she had more pressing matters to attend to.

She stepped out of the shop and hailed a hovercab. The driverless vehicle stopped in front of her. She went in and tapped the address on the dashboard.

It was only a short ride to the Regency. Her destination was two streets across from there, but she preferred to finish on foot. On the plus side, there would be no trace of where she had really gone.

Of course, that was not entirely true. There were cameras everywhere on Talanassi. But she did not worry too much about those.

When the hovercab dropped her off, she waited for it to drift away before she hurried across the street.

Five minutes later, she pushed the door of a seedy tavern.

The place was crowded—as it always was; the air thick with smoke; alien music blasting from the speakers hanging all across the ceiling.

She had come here often, and still hated it as much as the first time.

“Ho, ho, ho!” cried out a familiar voice. “Look now, Miss Blue has returned. What brings you to our humble establishment today?”

The woman turned to face the obese man who she knew to be the owner.

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“There is nothing humble about your establishment, Ledash.”

Her tone was flat and calm.

“Always your merry self, I see.”

She ignored the jibe and went straight to the point. Time was of the essence.

“I hear you have a special visitor.”

Ledash quirked a brow.

“Now, now, Miss Blue, you know I want no trouble in my—”

While he talked, she pulled a pouch from her pocket. She took a handful of coins and dropped them in the man’s chubby hands.

The owner stared at them.

“That’s a lot of credits, Mrill...”

It was rare for him to use her name, so she knew she had his attention.

“I know silence has a price, Ledash, and I’m willing to pay for it.”

“So I see, so I see.”

The coins quickly disappeared into his pocket. With his now empty hand, he pointed at a door.

“He’s in the back. But please don’t spill blood over the carpet. It’s brand new and—”

“Thank you.”

She walked past him, heading straight for the small red door.

“Idgor is on guard,” the owner called out. “He’s not fond of you, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hurt him.”

Mrill did not answer, nor did she pause.

She opened the door and stepped into the hall. There was another door at the end, with a small man standing in front, leaning against the wall. When he saw her, he straightened and snorted.

“What are you doing here?”

“I come to see the Wizard,” she answered calmly.

He peered at her suspiciously. “Are you scoffing?”

“No.”

The other squinted. “I think you’re scoffing.”

The blue-skinned woman held his gaze and said nothing, her face expressionless.

The other’s body trembled as he pushed himself from the wall. “I... I think you need to see the Wizard. Come.”

“That is very perceptive. Thank you.”

Idgor turned around, opened the door, and stepped through. She followed as he led her into two more rooms.

In the last one was a large round table. Six men sat around it, playing cards. They looked up when they arrived.

One of them blinked when he saw her.

“You’re blue!” he exclaimed.

Her eyes paused on him for a moment.

“You’re black,” she said flatly.

He blinked again, then burst out laughing.

“You got me there. What—”

She turned toward the smaller of the six. This one had short green hair and was making a point not to look at her.

“I come for you, Wizard.”

The man shrugged.

“Do I look like I care?” He snapped to get the others’ attention. “Could we get back to the game? I don’t have all day.”

“Neither do I,” said Mrill.

The Wizard ignored her as he brought two cards down on the table.

“Full flush. That’s another thousand credits I take from you, Gavron.”

The black man glanced down and cringed.

“You can’t be serious! How many—”

He felt himself stop mid-sentence. He wanted to form the words, but his lips wouldn’t move. When he tried to turn his head, then his hands, he realized his body refused to do what he wanted.

The others at the table were similarly frozen. Except for the Wizard.

He clicked his tongue and dropped his cards. Leaning back in his chair, he finally looked at her.

“I’ve heard of you,” he said with contempt. “You’re a bounty hunter. I thought you might come for me, so I took some precautions. It’s always good to know your enemy.”

Mrill tried to pierce the man’s shield, but it was powerful. She wondered how he did it. She had read up on her target, and she knew he had no psychic powers. To pull off something like this, he must be using some sort of device.

Too bad for the carpet.

She reached back and grabbed the handle that stuck from behind her shoulder. When she pulled on it, it unfolded into a five-feet sword.

“The reward is the same whether you are alive or dead,” she said blankly as she walked toward him.

She would have her dance after all.