Belldandy's distraction tactic worked like a charm. Urd's hopeless vanity had been pinged -- she placed her hand on her hip and tossed her hair back. "I am! You've missed a lot, sis. It's been up to me to make sure the visitors in this city get what they need, now that our new mayor has effectively banned us. Look, look!"

She moved quickly to her counter, where she retrieved a portrait of Marcus Praetoris, the mayor in question. Black ink had been scrawled over it in rebellious graffiti, including a thick unibrow and devil horns. Laughing, Urd held it up. "Isn't this great? The gypsies gave me a copy."