A Harvest of Ripe Figs by Shira Glassman

Author:Shira Glassman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian, violin, bbw, ff, transgender, musicians, torquere press, shira glassman, prizm books, same sex parenting
Publisher: Torquere Press [email protected]

Chapter 12: The Rat Who Wore a Dragon's Skin

The sweet, sensual aroma of oil filled Aviva's kitchen-house, marrying with the chopped garlic she'd set to frying in it. On the table was the dish of raw eggplant she'd sliced earlier, and she set the pan into the coals briefly so that she could retrieve it.

"Did you pick out this eggplant for tonight so you could match it to my new outfit?" Shulamit admired the brilliant lilac streaked with white.

"A complete accident," Aviva corrected her, "but I could buy violet vegetables any day and still stand a good chance to match what you're wearing." The eggplant slices went into the pan with a sizzle.

Naomi, sitting on Shulamit's lap, banged on the table and then made an ecstatic face at the noise she'd created. "Aaa!"

"Yes, little princess, you made a very good noise," said Shulamit, her nose buried in Naomi's hair. "Like Captain Riv with his metal drum."

Rivka, who was sitting on the other side of the table with Isaac waiting for their intimate family dinner, lifted an eyebrow. The corner of the mask rose and Shulamit could tell she was smirking.

"I want to run this by you," said the queen, changing gears. "What if our two cases are related?"

"What do you mean?" Rivka asked.

"Well, we've pretty much decided that if Gershom did steal the design, which I think we all think is what happened, then he must have used magic," said Shulamit. "Somebody else's magic, either for invisibility or shapeshifting or mind control."

Riv nodded.

Isaac opened his mouth as if to say something, but he must have changed his mind and waited patiently for Shulamit to finish.

"So, think about it. If someone connected to the Singing Hands case also bought one of the same potions or magic amulets or whatever," Shulamit continued, "then that would explain why the old ladies and the rabbi only saw Esther go into her room. And in that case, I don't think we're dealing with mind control, because all three of them plus everyone in the party would have had to be bewitched, and—can you even do anything that powerful with borrowed magic?"

"That's what I was going to say." Isaac beamed at his protégée. "If they are connected, then we're down to invisibility or shifting."

Shulamit grinned, feeling smart.

"Not that it matters between the two," Rivka grunted, "since selling either one is illegal." In Perach, magic was permitted, but certain kinds of magic that could easily be used for untoward pursuits were not allowed to be sold to those who had not spent years learning the magic themselves.

"And this is precisely why," said Shulamit. "The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it was the same cheat. I mean—no one saw anybody but Esther go into that room. Barring the suggestion that she hid it herself to get publicity, which isn't likely given her level of genuine panic, no matter who else took it, it looks like a disguise is the only way it could have happened.

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