allegro/chapters/chapter-52.md

---
title: Visitors
teaser: &teaser >
    They finally arrived at Stone Over Moon Waters with two days to spare. The three women come up with their next steps.
summary: *teaser
---

> Stone Over Moon Waters was named for the stone shrines that dotted the thirty-eight islands of Moon. Their purpose has been lost in history and no one knows who carved them. --- Paramol da Jast, _Origin of the Moon Shrines_

Linsan couldn't move fast enough as she scrambled out of the Glasscoaster. She careened her head to look at an elegant glass and metal arch that soared above her head and crossed the narrow passage of water to the next island over. She was finally in Stone Over Moon Waters at the entrance of the largest city she had ever seen in her life.

There was something about knowing that Stone Over Moon Waters had been built over thirty-eight islands and the colleges from her father's essays and experiencing how every breeze set off a song and everything shone brilliant in the noon light.

The city had been built to demonstrate the arts and it showed. None of the builders were mere squares rising up but curves and colors and shine that made it feel like she had entered the fairy realm in Haladin's _Towers of Diamond_.

She smiled broadly and closed her eyes, just to feel as the ocean wind blew through the city and strummed along decorations designed to turn wind into horns, strings, and drums. It was disharmonious in many ways, chaotic in others, but there remained a rhythm of music that could not be escaped.

Miska chuckled as she crawled out. "I think she found love. Sorry, Brook, Linsan just had her heart stolen by another."

Linsan wanted to pull out her violin and play. The city demanded it but so did her quest. She took a long deep and finally caught the salty scent of the ocean blowing past her.

Brook rested her hand on Linsan's shoulder. "You okay?"

Linsan nodded and smiled. "I always dreamed of coming here when I grew up. This is where music grows, the center of my family's life."

"Hasn't your family always been in Cobbler's End?"

Linsan rolled her eyes and playfully bumped Brook with her hip. "Yes, but my mother has sung here so many times and she would come back with so many amazing stories that sounded... amazing. But just this little bit," she gestured to the courtyard with a dozen cars and two dozen horses that marked the entrance to the city, "is so much different than home. How could I really understand?"

Brook's eyes softened and she nodded before turning away.

With guilt plucked like the wind-blown sculptures, Linsan tore her attention away from the beauty and focused on her two friends next to the Glasscoaster. "Okay, I'm done for now."

Miska grinned.

Brook settled next to her, her light blue dress rippling along Miska's shorts and stained top. She looked at the city but it wasn't joy that painted her face. "We have two days before the sale."

Miska laughed. "You drove like a spring fury which is why we have so much time. If we're lucky, we beat them here. Too bad this city has so many ways to sneak in."

Stone Over Moon Waters was officially built over forty-three islands with bridges and constructions linking them together but it also filled a bay and there were as many boats as horses, pedestrians, and vehicles pouring into the city.

A smile almost showed up on Brook's face.

Linsan returned to the buggy and leaned opposite of them. "So, we have time before Palisis. I hope that gives us enough time to catch Tabil. We need a place to stay and start asking questions, right? Brook, do you still want to find an inn to stay at?"

Brook ducked her head and shook her head. Her dark curls bounced off the roof of the Glasscoaster. "N-No... I can't."

Unsaid was the pain of being banned from her father's bank and the access to her wealth. She confined that she only had about a thousand cukdins left.

Miska hugged her. "I'll go with you. For moral support."

She looked up with a pained expression. "T-Thank you, but... you probably shouldn't. Remember the last stop?"

Miska's eyes darkened.

Linsan cringed. The event at the village was an uncomfortable reminder that they were only three women traveling alone and Miska was far out of her comfort area. She shook her head as she thought. Then, she remembered a play. "How about as a servant?"

"What!?" explained Brook and Miska.

"Look," Linsan held up her hands. "It was in the play---"

"No!" Brook said pointing. "Do not tell me the name!"

Miska smirked.

"Or the history. Or the writer."

Linsan sheepishly said, "Playwrights. There were two---"

"No. Just tell us the idea."

"Fine. This 'completely random idea in my head' was to dress Miska up as your servant. That would be something these people would do, right? We find a good inn, something that a lady," she pointed to Brook, "would have and then get a room."

Miska frowned. "But that will eat up most of our money."

"About a hundred cuks for a day to get a suite if we stick to the outside of the city," Brook said.

Linsan winced as she watched Brook carefully. "There will be a Ralonix branch here. I can stop by there. My parents said they would leave me some money, it might be a hundred or more, but that would give us more time."

Her friend rested her head against the Glasscoaster but said nothing.

"We know we only need a few days. I might be able to busk or we can figure out how to get more money while we're here. But having Miska as your servant would also protect her from being attacked for being tribal or banned from entering buildings because she would serving her lady, even if it would be considered uncouth."

Miska made a face. Then she took a deep breath and then grinned. "Fine, but after this, I want Princess to be my servant for a week."

Brook's head snapped up as she stared at Miska. At the blonde's playful grin, a blush darkened her cheeks. In a matter of seconds, her entire face was red.

Miska turned to Linsan. "Works for me," she announced with a grin.

Linsan looked to Brook. "Could you do it?"

Brook gulped. "Y-Yeah... but a problem."

"What?"

"A lady wouldn't be seen with a servant looking liking her."

Miska smile dropped.

Then a sly smile came from Brook. "She has to wear a dress if she's going to be my servant."

A low growl rose from Miska.

"A pretty one that matches mine."

Miska's shoulders slumped.

"Along with a proper hat, gloves, and shoes. That would be the lady-like thing to do."

"I changed my mind," Miska said with mock annoyance. "This is a terrible idea."

Linsan grinned. "I'm sorry, just an idea."

"No, no," Miska said holding up her hands. "It's a good idea. But never tell me which play it game from or who wrote it."

Linsan held up her hand. "Deal."

"So, dress up Miska, get an inn. You'll go... to the bank and get more money. Try to find out what you can and meet us at the inn?"

"Plan," Linsan said.

Brook sighed and then straightened. She tugged on her dress to make sure it was smooth and then headed toward the entrance of a building with a "Welcome" sign on it. The center would have maps of the city along with places to stay and their prices. "Come along, servant."

Miska followed while making obscene gestures to Brook's backside.