The Shifter by Janice Hardy Page A

that man and for yourself. You’re lucky I gave you anything at all.” They stomped out of the building and slammed the door shut behind them.
    Jeatar frowned in disgust. “They should have paid you double,” he muttered.
    “I have to get out of here.” My shirt suddenly felt too small, keeping me from taking more than tiny, shallow breaths. I pocketed my coins quickly, not wanting to touch them longer than necessary. “Find me the instant you hear something about Tali.”
    “Where will you be?”
    I hesitated. I had no home anymore. Would he even keep his promise, or would he trick me like the Baseeri had? “I’ll find you. I’ll come back every day.”
    He glanced again at the door to the fancy rooms. “No, don’t come back here. Send in a note and I’ll meet you somewhere. You pick.”
    “I will. I need to go.”
    “You should rest longer.”
    “I can’t stay here.”
    Zertanik appeared as I started for the front door. “Well, dear, your attitude was certainly uncalled for. Those people offered a fair price for a service only you can provide, and you treated them most terribly. I hope that doesn’t happen next time.”
    Jeatar cleared his throat. “Sir, I don’t think we should—”
    “Nonsense, she’s a natural.”
    My heart banged against my chest. “I’m not doing this ever again.”
    “Think of all the money you could make.”
    “Yeah, ten whole oppas.” Papa used to say principles were a bargain at any price, and I’d sold mine for cheap.
    He frowned and smoothed his sleeves. “Well, they were a bit stingy there at the end when you refused to help. If you’d been more agreeable, I’m sure they would have paid more.”
    I grabbed the front door latch, but he snatched my arm and stopped me.
    “We have other clients willing to pay dearly for this service.”
    “No.”
    “You’d never go hungry again. You could get a place with your own washroom.”
    My old house flashed through my mind. A room of my own, two washrooms, rooms for eating and cooking and sitting by the fire reading. A yard out back, small but ours. Without Tali, without family? Meaningless.
    How had I been stupid enough to think this was real healing? Real healers didn’t hurt people. Ever. Blood rushed in my ears, but not loud enough to drown out the screams in my head. “I’m not doing this ever, ever again.”
    “Oh, I’m certain you will, my dear. Not a doubt in my mind.” He smiled like a man who knew things I didn’t.
    I yanked my hand away and pushed out the door, running as fast as my quivering legs would go.

SEVEN
    I got as far as the bridge before I stumbled against a wall. The street swirled around me, and I sagged to the ground.
    Something cold touched my head. I looked up, and the usual afternoon rain tapped my forehead. Just a drizzle. Saint Saea’s crocodile tears.
    What if the fisherman couldn’t handle the pain until more pynvium arrived? What if he died? What if I’d murdered him? I couldn’t breathe.
    I squeezed my eyes shut. He had begged me to do it. He knew the risks, and he was willing to take them to save his family.
    You didn’t argue all that hard.
    I clamped my hands over my ears. I had argued. I said it was wrong. I said no. They didn’t listen. And he begged me!
    Was it worth it?
    To find Tali? Yes! I sniffled, wiped my nose on a damp sleeve. Jeatar insisted the new pynvium shipment was on its way. The fisherman would be fine once it got here. Everyone got what they wanted. No one was forced to do anything.
    Is having no choice the same as choosing?
    I shook the thought away. He begged me. They begged me.
    Cold washed over me, then hot, then blackness. Cold again, and hardness, rough against my hip and shoulder. I opened my eyes. The world had shifted sideways.
    No, I was slumped over. Fainted? I’d never fainted before, not even from hunger. I sat up, my body sore, my skin clammy. It stung a little as the rain dripped on it.
    People looked at me as they walked by, some in