The vendor laughed. "Ah, worth a try. How about eight?"
Meng Bai took out five and set them down. "This or nothing."
The vendor eyed the stones, then the bird, then Meng Bai, and finally shrugged. "Deal."
Ashy swooped down and plucked the gem from the table, cradling it in her wings like a newborn chick.
"She's going to want a shelf for that later," Meng Bai murmured, amused.
"Or a throne," the vendor chuckled.
As they turned to browse further, Meng Bai paused as his senses tingled slightly. Just for a moment, the wind shifted unnaturally—an imperceptible flicker in the flow of ash and heat. He turned toward the alley leading to the small inn. Still nothing visible. But the feeling didn't leave him.
He returned to Daoist Chu, who was now standing by the tavern entrance, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
"Did you feel it?" Meng Bai asked quietly.
