Missing Elements (The Lament Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

matter of knowing the right people, but if it was, she
sort of did .
    "We've met. His wife is the
Captain of The Lament. Mina. I don't know if I've met the Captain of The Sorrow
yet. We may have, actually. I do know a few people in his crew at least.
I've played for them." Which was true. Not that she knew them by name.
They might remember her however, and vice-versa. If she was that close
to them, which probably wouldn't happen, not if they were going to be in
Gladstone off the eastern coast, in a few days. Airships just didn't move that
fast. "I can see to that this afternoon? After I audition, I mean."
It was a strange thing to say, but the High Bard didn't naysay it. In fact, she
just smiled, seeming pleased to hear it.
    "Very good. I have some
appointments later, I think?"
    "At one and three.
Um..." She had to look at the paper for that, and tapped it firmly with a
single finger once she was at the right place. "High Councilor Saran, and
a Mr. Edwin Firms."
    Belatedly, Pran hopped up, and
tried to look contrite.
    "Sorry about using your desk
like that. Do you want tea, or something to eat?" Pran looked at both
women, hoping that food wasn't really needed yet, since she didn't know where
to find it. Luckily, both women were fine for the moment, it seemed.
    At least they both waved at her.
    Clarice was the one that spoke,
however, taking control of things already.
    "Tea would be good, thank
you. The mint blend?"
    That didn't take a lot of effort
to put together, and the Dyers Councilor managed to escape, now that the boss
was in the room. As soon as she left, Clarice shut the door, softly and turned
to her, an eyebrow going up.
    "Busy already! Is this
related too... Other things?" She didn't mention what those were,
but that was probably a point that they didn't need to labor over in secret too
much. The people from the past would almost certainly know all about their
plans already. That was already a known fact, actually. They did know,
and orders had come down to have her replaced with a download.
    By now it was probably also
commonly known that she hadn't been as well. It had always been unlikely that
anyone would believe that she was, but just in case Clark had wanted to try it.
Guardians committed to their jobs, totally, and really didn't have a lot of
time for people that wouldn't do the same. At least the ones she'd met so far.
Even Salle from the front door had taken his joke to the highest level, hadn't
he? If she'd pushed him wrong, he would have beaten her up too, just to make it
work.
    There was no need for that level
of secrecy, she didn't think, but it probably wouldn't hurt anything either. It
was certainly more fun that way, so she shrugged.
    "I have no clue. Shipping
things this time of year like that is strange, but if we pick the order up,
have our people do it, we can have the supplies examined. Really, it's probably
just what it seems, but I still need to meet everyone I can, and when possible,
get in on their good side. Now, I should play for you. Unless you need
something first?" Like to do her job and not have an annoying first day
Apprentice tell her what was what? That seemed pretty reasonable, now that the
thought occurred to her.
    The woman settled behind the
desk, and waited to speak until Pran passed over her cup of tea. The metal bulb
was still in it, but a lot of people took it with different steeping times. She
only knew that from watching Judge Clair, and from what a few plays had said.
She didn't drink a lot of it herself, that not having been a big part of her
life so far. Niceties like tea, or coffee.
    Luckily Clarice seemed to take it
without honey or milk. Otherwise a certain new Apprentice would probably have
to run and get it. Fair enough, but she really had no clue where to go yet. For
that matter she didn't know where to sleep, either.
    The older woman, and beneath her
pretty face makeup she was at least fifty, took the cup and then placed the tea
bulb to the side of her desk, just