"Byproducts," she repeats. "Okay, what's your secret?"

"Whistle's the most masochistic masochist who ever masochisted. She makes them. Recreationally. She has no use for most of her coins so she gives them to me."

"You know, I suspected as much," Libby admits. "Although I didn't suspect that much."

"I am very lucky to have her," says Bella smugly. "She's mine. You can imagine why I'd be protective of the information. But you seem to have decided to be on my side despite having previously kidnapped Lazarus and spied on me, so."

"Elspeth was extremely convincing. And I was already considering you as a candidate, so I wa happy to find out that I was on the nose about your inclinations and lucky about your suitability."

[I am not sure how I feel about that,] says Lazarus.

"Yes you are," says Libby. "It's just about the only reason I would."

"Like I said, it was like that when I got here."

"How strange. Perhaps stars ate them." Bella shrugs. "Have you tried the declawing-stars technique yourself or only heard about it?"

"Tried it. Which in some ways was a waste of a six, because I don't think a seven could hit me anyway with Chris on the job, but at least now I know it works."

"Couldn't hit you. Is it smart enough to hit Chris instead?" shrugs Bella.

"Tricky, especially since I spent the seven on protecting her."

Bella laughs. "There you go. Now that we're being so very friendly - how do you make coins, or is that terribly personal for some reason?"

"Chris's protection is flexible on the definition of harm," she says. "Pain isn't harm when I am expecting and approve of it."

"Oh. Convenient," approves Bella. "Okay. It is time to figure out what order it is best to take over the world in, and how, and I need to be quick about it unless there are more potential obstacles between me and it? Potentially irritating ingots, non-mints who have coin stashes, other forms of magic... I'll start with making an improved globe. This coffee shop is not where I would like to put it. I should probably add you to the brainphone network, any objections?"

"No. I assume it does what it says on the tin? I could take you to my globe," she offers.

"Sure, sounds good," Bella says. "The brainphone's what it sounds like. It's very handy." Pentagon goes. [Voilá.]

[Why do I get the feeling Lazarus is also on this network?] she wonders. "Let's find somewhere a little less obvious to disappear from, then."

[He is. He already was when you kidnapped him and he told me everything you said in real time 'cause he likes me more than you. I don't suppose your interdimensional nexus is available? That sounds like the sort of place where no one would notice some teleportation.]

[I thought he seemed a little distracted. My interdimensional nexus operates on its own schedule and may or may not decide to scoop us up the next time we pass through a door. I've also never tried teleporting out of it. All in all, I'd prefer something more reliable.]

Bella shrugs. [Ladies' room?]

[Is your lair-or-whatever warded against people like me teleporting into it?]