Mya suppressed the urge to whirl and lash out. Even when she knew he was going to show up, she hadn’t heard the gnome’s approach. She turned casually and put the little jade carving of a duck back on the shelf. “I’ve been waiting for ten minutes. How could I be late?” The gnome squinted up at her from under his cap and wrinkled his prodigious nose. “Hand me down that bag ’o cherry wood blend, would ye?” “Sure.” She retrieved the bag of tobacco and handed it down. “Must be challenging being so short.” “Only when I’m in a shop run by one ’o ye longlegs.” He picked a pipe off a lower shelf, examined its workmanship, and sniffed the bowl. “Follow me, but keep yer distance.” “All right.” She picked the jade duck off the shelf and strolled to the front of the smoke shop while the gnome paid for his pipe and tobacco. At the counter, the shopkeeper greeted her with a smile. “Half a crown. Would you like that wrapped up?” “No, thank you.” Mya paid for the little carving and left the shop, duck in hand.
