Hogg met them outside of a tall and ornate building right in the busy part of downtown. Despite being seven stories tall, it was apparently the primary residence of the Zemutre family, a nominal ally of Lumina's. They were hosting some kind of social event tonight, and Lumina thought it wise to be somewhere semi-public so that she'd have deniability in case Hogg and Brin got caught doing whatever it was Hogg had planned for tonight.He left the carriage and then Hogg and he departed on foot. They moved down a busy commercial street, and Brin was distracted by all the crowds, the sights of the storefronts, the clashing music seeping out from different buildings, and the glowing signs and posted advertisements. It was a mesmerizing and disorienting display, and after spending so long in absolute boredom, it was hard to keep up with.Marksi was just as excited at all the sights and sounds, and often dashed circles around an interesting person or chittered excitedly in the direction of a novelty he wanted Brin to explain to him.Brin wasn't so distracted that he missed Hogg's cue--when Hogg gave the signal it meant that no one was paying them any attention, so Brin disguised his face with illusions. He didn't move it too far, just covered his scars and altered his nose and mouth a bit so that no one would recognize him as the same person.Marksi understood the cue as well and zipped away into the crowd. Marksi would stay nearby, but they wouldn't see him again tonight, not unless Marksi wanted to be seen. Once in a while Brin could spot Marksi out in the wild if he sprayed lasers everywhere, but he doubted he'd be able to manage it here in the city.They walked on, towards a nicer street. Still commercial, but less crowded, these stores all had glass displays in the front lit by either gaslamp or magic, showing off dresses or devices that ordinary people could never afford but that everyone could gaze at from outside. They turned a corner (...)