The tailor squinted at him, running a hand across his beard as he eyed the strange boy standing in his shop. "Two days," he finally said. "That's the soonest I can do it."
Zane blinked. "Two days?" His voice dropped flat. "That's two days too long."
The man started to wave him off, but Zane reached into his pocket and flicked something onto the counter. A coin spun across the wood, catching the faint lanternlight until it came to a stop—gleaming gold.
The tailor froze.
Zane leaned forward, resting his chin lazily on his palm. "What about… now?"
The man's throat bobbed as he snatched up the coin like it might vanish. His whole posture shifted in an instant. "One moment."
He slipped into the backroom, barking orders the second the door closed.
"Drop the wedding dress—new priority! Full team on this one, make it dark, hooded, lined in blue. Perfect stitches, nothing sloppy. It's for that boy."
Murmurs of confusion rippled among the workers until the tailor hissed, "You see that coin? That's a month's pay for all of us. Move!"
The sound of fabric being unrolled and scissors slicing filled the air.
Back in the shop, Zane leaned against the counter, a crooked grin on his face. His shadow writhed faintly at his feet, hungry and impatient, but quiet for now.
"Guess money does buy time," Zane muttered.