Brynna

  Brynna nursed her mug of tea. She wasn’t entirely used to ordering hot drinks in bars yet but there was something comforting about it, especially in the muted light of this particular bar. Knowing that Thessaly would approve helped, but it was also a kind of armour.

  Jesse swept in with his usual swagger, but Brynna made a show of taking a sip. The tea was mild, weaker than she’d have brewed it on her own if she ever brewed tea at home. The gesture alone was enough to give the mobster pause as he waved to the barman for his regular.

  Still, it didn’t faze him for long. “Growing old, Miss Brynna?”

  Brynna gave him a look. “It’s good for my soul, dear.”

  “Suit yourself,” Jesse shrugged.

  Brynna did just that, taking another sip and holding the mug close to her face for a moment, breathing the steam. Then she faced Jesse. “Why did you call me here, dear? I’m ahead on my payments.”

  “That you are, Miss Brynna.” Jesse smiled and raised his glass in a sketch of a toast. “The boss is very happy with you.”

  Which did exactly nothing to set Brynna’s nerves at rest. The mobster’s message had been clear that this was a summons. “What is it then?”

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  Jesse took a long drink. “I happened to catch wind of something your Thessaly said in an interview a couple weeks back.” He paused and treated Brynna to a sidelong glance. “About young Phoebe Tenryuu.”

  Brynna’s blood went cold. She thought about drinking more tea, but didn’t trust her arm not to betray her all of a sudden.

  “Funny thing.” Jesse’s feigned nonchalance was infuriating. He loved these kinds of theatrics, loved to drag it out and watch Brynna squirm. “I didn’t know this when I heard it, but I keep an open ear, you know this, Miss Brynna, you have to in my line of work. Well, it turns out, young miss Tenryuu is known to the boss.”

  Feeling her face a frozen mask, Brynna glared at Jesse.

  “You didn’t know anything about this, Brynna?”

  “Not at all, dear.” Brynna held her tone.

  “Well, I had a word with the boss.” Jesse paused again, and Brynna could see him watching for her response. Apparently, this time, her poker face held, and he moved on briskly. “We see some business opportunities here. I want you to encourage Thessaly to pursue Phoebe.”

  “She doesn’t need much encouragement, dear. Try getting Phoebe to text her back sometime, she hasn’t heard from her in a couple weeks.”

  “Oh, that’s a terrible shame. I was going to say you’ll need to act quickly, since I hear another idol is interested in Miss Tenryuu too.”

  “Mynah Darling, you mean?”

  “That’s the one, Miss Brynna.”

  “I think that’s a publicity stunt, dear.”

  “That’s as maybe, Miss Brynna, but it’s worked. You do what you can to get your Thessaly seen with that dragon rider, Mr. Castelloro doesn’t want Phoebe poached away by some big PR firm from the other side of the continent. You never know whose fingers might be in that pie.”

  “As opposed to your fingers in this pie?”

  Jesse smiled. “Better the devil you know, right?”

  Friday: Phoebe - major update (1033 words)

  Saturday: DNN2 - supplement (621 words)

  Sunday: Adelie - supplement (916 words)

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  Seventh race: Buildup starts 5th August, race day 12th August

  Eighth race: Buildup starts 13th August, race day 18th August

  Ninth race: Buildup starts 19th August, race day 25th August

  Tenth race: Buildup starts 26th August, race day 1st September

  Mid-season break: 4th-8th September

  Eleventh race: Buildup starts 9th September, race day 15th September

  Twelfth race: Buildup starts 16th September, race day 22nd September

  Thirteenth race: Buildup starts 23rd September, race day 6th October

  Fourteenth race: Buildup starts 7th October, race day 13th October

  Fifteenth race: Buildup starts 14th October, race day 20th October

  Sixteenth race: Buildup starts 23rd October, race day 27th October

  Seventeenth race: Buildup starts 30th October, race day 10th November

  Final race: Buildup starts 11th November, race day tbd (likely 1st week in December)