#ahveriah

Well, that's not happening.

Ran into a girl selling pies as I was heading out.  Hadn't seen her around before, but always interested in the newcomers around here-- especially when they're cute.  Chatted her up, she said she just arrived a few days ago and that he name was Phylla.  (Hah, kinda funny, she reminded a little of Fia and their names are even similar.  New Fia?)  She had some pretty nice stuff, like this fancy knife with a jewel in the handle she was cutting her pies with.  Not the best plan to be flashing something like that around here unless you're trying to get mugged.  She looks like a soft target.  I told her about Val's place.  It's one of the few places here I'd consider safe... safe-ish?  She doesn't put up with a lot of shit and seems to make a habit of sheltering deserving people from the worst of the Umber.  We don't really get along, but I hope she appreciates someday that I send potential customers her way.  She said she'd consider it, but also didn't seem that worried.  I don't think she understands where she's wound up.  This place devours people.  It's all predators here.

He was so excited about it too.  Quin never got chosen for anything important, and yet Lucien finally had some big job for him.  Something he couldn’t tell me, but still found a way to brag about.   Hope he leaves me something nice after this all goes wrong...  I’ve put up with him for two years, I think I earned it.

It's no big deal. I mean, even if I can't waltz into the noble district, I can class it up by going to New Bridge.  There's no law against leaving the Umber.  Hope I can stake out a good spot! I'm not above pushing and shoving.

Shockingly, I got the night off.  Gotta admit that didn’t do much to ease my mind, but on the other hand I couldn’t have asked for a better night to be free.  Some bigshot from across the sea was visiting Ahveriah tomorrow.  Sorta like a prince, although that’s not what they call it... Anyhow, the whole city was throwing a huge party in his honor and, for a change, some of the high spirits even managed to trickle there way down into the Umber. I can’t say there weren’t any muggings, but less than you’d expect given all the targets around.  We don’t get much cause for celebration around here, so even the criminals couldn’t pass that up.