The Final Strife

We have increased patrols in the area in case other Ghostings take it upon themselves to try to avoid their penance.

—Missive from the imir of Jin-Dinil

Sylah could smell the iron in the air. There had been a ripping. Hassa was on Sylah’s heels as they searched the streets for Anoor.

The square had cleared, but the stains of blue blood marred the podium. The body, what remained of it, would have been taken by the family. The night’s tidewind would remove the rest.

Sylah hawked in the back of her throat and spat, the globule landing where the officer would have stood.

Hassa came up behind her, her shaved head glistening in the noonday heat. Is that her?

Sylah dragged her gaze to where Hassa’s limb pointed. Anoor was crumpled in a heap on the ground, a mound of vomit by her feet.

Sylah ran over. “Anoor? Are you okay?”

Her eyes were puffy, and it took her a while to focus them on Sylah’s face. “Sylah?”

“How’s it hurting?” Sylah crossed her legs and sat down next to her.

Anoor smiled lightly and inclined her head to the vomit. “Not bad. You?” Tears still flowed freely down her face.

“So you saw a ripping.”

A small caw escaped her lips as she nodded.

“Not very nice, huh.”

She shook her head. A pause. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, this? This is Hassa. Say hello, Hassa.”

Hassa waved, a shy smile on her face.

“Is she going to help us get into the library?”

Sylah groaned. “I haven’t actually managed to ask her yet.”

What is she talking about?

“Oh.” Anoor perked up. “Will you help us get into the warden library?”

“Stop. Talking.” Sylah looked around for any listeners.

Why do you want to get into the library?Hassa’s jaw was clenched.

“I thought that was the whole point, to ask her?” Anoor, so innocent, still sitting by her pool of vomit.

“Because what we’re doing could be seen as treason,” Sylah hissed quietly, ignoring Hassa, who was signing frantically in the corner of her vision.

“Well, it’s not like she could tell anyone.”

“I don’t want the Gummers hearing this. Plus, there are still officers on patrol.”

Anoor shuddered, clearly thinking back to the ripping.

Hassa slapped Sylah on the arm with her wrist and signed, Stop ignoring me.

“Okay, okay, let’s go walk back to the Ember Quarter where we can talk.”