"THERE YOU ARE!"
They sprang apart as Lucien bounded into the piazza, arms full of bags and looking ridiculously pleased with himself. "I bought things! So many things! None of which I need!"
"That's the spirit of tourism," Oliver said, appearing with Elin.
"Did Shadow steal cheese?" Lucien asked, spotting the cat.
"Yes," Mailah and Grayson said in unison.
Elin crouched down, somehow coaxing Shadow to release the cheese in exchange for what looked like prosciutto from her pocket. "There. Crisis averted."
"You carry meat in your pockets?" Mailah asked.
"Shadow tax. I learned fast."
They paid the mortified cheese vendor double what the wheel was worth, which seemed to pacify him. Shadow, completely unrepentant, had claimed Elin's shoulder as her perch.
"We should probably head back before she bankrupts us," Oliver suggested.
"Or gets us arrested," Grayson added.
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Lucien asked.
