~6.10~

“So what exactly are we talking about?” the man asked, breaking in on Ed’s thoughts. “Do you know a new witch?”

“No, no,” Ed said. “I would go to Mama if I knew someone like that who wanted to come in. This is really more in Ivan’s line, I think. Wait… how did you know I wanted to talk to Ivan? I didn’t mention him until you did.”

“Because you’re talking to a random bum you barely know instead of going to Mama,” the man said. “Anyone can come to Mama. You must be looking for Ivan to come to you.”

Ed felt a flicker of hope. He’d thought he would have to wait for word to get around, but this man was either connected to Ivan or else just very perceptive and logical… of course, someone like that would probably be working for Ivan, anyway.

“So when you say it’s in his line, do you mean it’s dangerous?” the man asked.

“Not necessarily,” Ed said, trying to skirt the line… he didn’t want it to sound like he was involved in something that could be a danger to tribe, but he also didn’t want to sound like he was trying to turn Ivan onto something harmless.

He didn’t know what kind of capabilities Liv had, really, but there was no point in underselling them.

“I think more… stealthy… would be the word I would use,” Ed said.

“Hard to notice?” he asked, in a way that sounded significant.

“In a way, maybe,” Ed said, not knowing what the man meant, but not wanting to give the wrong impression. “The truth is, I think it would take someone like Ivan to really… evaluate… just what it is I have here.”

“So you want to meet him, just like that?”

“There’s a time-sensitive element involved,” Ed said. “Sooner would be better than later.”

“How soon?”

“Tomorrow night, at sunset.”

“Where?”

“Will he meet with me?”

“Someone will,” the man said.

“The downtown library, then.”