At dusk, Altair changed out of her ornate dress and into a riding outfit that allowed her to move freely. Then she took Vivian and the others by carriage to Iron Gate Street in Bexland's Bridge Borough.
They had barely stepped out of the carriage when the two-meter-tall brute who always stood guard outside the Brave Man Bar seemed to lose his wits. He hurried to open the door for Altair and her companions.
As Altair reached the entrance, she began to regret coming. This was the bar's busiest hour.
The moment she stepped inside, a wave of heat hit her, along with the strong scent of malt liquor, the smell of sweat, and a jumble of raucous voices. Farther in, one ring held a rat-baiting match, while another hosted a boxing match.
After signaling Simon and the others to spread out and surround the place, Altair hypnotized a bartender into leading her to Billiard Room No. 2, where Kaspars Kanlika was.
She gave the door a light knock. It had not been locked, and it creaked open.
Altair stepped inside. Several men holding billiard cues stopped playing and turned toward the door.
"I'm here to discuss a big deal with Kaspars Kanlika," Altair said casually.
The man with the large nose, a man in his fifties wearing a linen shirt, said in a deep voice, "Come in."
As Altair walked in, the other men in the billiard room set down their cues and filed out without a word, as though they knew the routine.
Kaspars Kanlika limped over and asked, "What do you want to trade with me?"
"I want to meet the person behind you," Altair said, then added, "Someone very powerful. The kind who has surpassed human limits."
Kaspars Kanlika rubbed his reddened nose. His gaze turned