Kaiyen

Morning, fifth day of the journey. The cart with gridded sides creaks along the road: behind is Velkhafen, ahead — the markets in Kreomore. Four are chained together by a common chain to a ring in the floor. Behind, on a lagging supply wagon, two overseers ride — and their conversation reaches through the grate.

— ...we'll take another one at the fork, arriving with a convoy from Keldvik. Also for sale. You should see her, hot blood — she'll go for a high price, maybe we'll make up for the rest.

Rzhevig is the first to stop laughing.

— A girl. For sale. On the same road as us.

(Keldvik — no one comes out alive from there. So she’s strong if they brought her here. That means she’ll be standing on the platform next to us. Bad. Very bad.)

Tenlis opens his eyes — all at once, without drowsiness.

— The fork is two posts ahead. A convoy coming towards us, so we need to know in advance.

(If they lock her up nearby — count five. If they sell her off in another direction — the fifth count closes forever. We need to figure out who she is before the hammer falls.)

Piirl smiles — for the first time today genuinely, and that’s worse than any snarl.

— How touching. They’ll have a newcomer. I hope she’s unruly.

(There are no fairies among Keldvik girls. So she’s just a little human. That means she’ll be scared. That means she’ll start asking questions first — and that’s useful.)

Kaiyen is silent. He only slowly turns his head towards the fork, still unseen around the bend.

— Hot blood — burns faster in the pit. We’ll see.

(A new variable. Nine times four — now maybe five. The chains hold me. But who held her — that’s the question.)