| Maya traced the tip of a sharp fingernail around the writing on the card. She'd never paid attention to Harrow cards. They were the frivolous games of a frivolous culture. She'd already checked her belongings, and found nothing missing. That was good. The Varisian who's deft fingers had secreted this in her possessions wanted her as an ally.
As it happened, she was prepared to admit that she could use some. Even Varisian.
She stood up and gathered her things. Maya was a tall woman, slender but muscular. Her face was pretty, with strong Shoanti features, but because she kept it carefully shaved and had a tribal tattoo running from her scalp down the right side of her face to her shoulder, her good looks were mostly appreciated by her own people. And that was fine with her.
Maya pulled her cloak on. When traveling alone, she found it helped to conceal herself a bit. A lone Shoanti sometimes got trouble, especially a young woman. With the strange spirit powers that burned in her, she was equal to that trouble...but right now she had more important things to do. Besides, the last thing she needed was to get on the wrong side of the watch just as she seemed close to reaching her goal.
With these thoughts in mind, Maya set out to that address, daring to hope again that she would find the child, and that justice would be meted. | 
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