Nix laughs. "Ede's only five foot two, and she likes t'carry her knives on her hip. She'll wind up trippin' over."

"Hey, Nix." The stall-holder is an enormous, tattooed white man with very long dark hair tied back, marbles doing duty as ear-stretchers in each earlobe, and an attractive grin. "See anything you like?" he asks, teasing, but his eyes are watchful, sizing Reid up.

"I've seen worse," she replies, half-laughing again, but her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. "We're Christmas shopping for Eden. Got any ideas?"

"Got some new stuff in she might like," he says, but he's still looking at Reid more than at her. Abruptly, "Who's the stranger?"

Nix gives him a warning glance, but her voice is still friendly. "A mate. Spencer, this is Tonnerre."