24

Matty eyes her. "And you would be?"

"My name is Kit," she says, sketching a masculine bow instead of a curtsy, as fits her uniform. "And from what I've seen, there have been an awful lot of things going wrong in the city lately. The cart that overturned in the old market—"

"Where the streets are narrow," Nichol says.

"The fire tonight—"

"I said that comet was a bad idea," Matty mutters. "For what it cost, we could have had back the bear that does dances. I've heard it's learned to juggle."

"And how many people have reported bad luck, lately?"

"Everyone," Diar says. "I'm telling you, there's something wrong in the city."

"The king and his heirs are at odds," Nichol says. "That's enough to unsettle the gentry. And they unsettle the rest of us."

"No politics on a show night," Matty says firmly. Her gaze falls on you. "What about you, kid? Do you believe in a curse?"