“No.” Kiara opposed. “I don’t train. You know that.” The others would hate it.

  “We got intel on the upcoming Lustration.” Nahara continued. “They’re doubling the shipment.”

  “So you send me someone useless?” Ty scoffed, disregarding their swirling head. “I’m supposed to have her ready in two months?”

  “I know how to fight.” Leisha protested, “I’m not useless.”

  “Can you be a shadow?” Ty glared at her. “Quieter than a bug?” She drew a dagger from their thigh and brought it to Leisha’s throat. “Can you kill in a blink and be gone before the blood hits the ground?”

  “You can’t even do that.” Nahara groaned. “Please be nice. It’s already been decided. I’m your leader, and you must listen to me.”

  Ty studied Leisha’s frightened olive, cat-like eyes, her features soft, medium-high cheekbones and a rounded chin.

  She’s pretty. Zara seemed intrigued.

  We aren’t training her. Ty clenched their jaw.

  “Leisha, fetch us some water, please.” Nahara gently led her toward the door. “I told you, she’s the best.”

  “Sure.” Leisha’s voice quivered.

  Ty sheathed their dagger, crossing their arms and scowling as Leisha hastily left.

  Nahara closed the door and tsked. “Must you push away everyone, Ty?”

  Ty’s anger subsided as she chuckled. “You’re lucky we let you in. Don’t think we won’t disappear on you too.”

  Nahara smiled and shook her head. “Jayce and Kiara would let you abandon your promise? Your honor is everything to you guys.”

  “We don’t train, and you know why.” Ty refused to relent. “You know.”

  “She’s harmless.” Nahara attempted reassurance. “We’ve vetted her. She has a mom, dad, and two little sisters. Her parents are glassblowers in Gaj. She came to us a few months ago; she can’t return home until our mission has been completed.”

  “How long will that be?” Ty scoffed. “It’s an endless battle.”

  “So you have no hope then?” Naraha’s voice carried provocation. “You’ll just relinquish your lives to Bolidac?”

  “I’m not showing weakness in front of anyone,” Ty growled. “We can’t have someone else here.”

  “Your condition has improved greatly.” Nahara's ebony curls bounced with the wave of her hand. "When we first met, you would’ve been shaking on the floor, had someone broken into your place you’d be carvin’ ‘em up. Look now,” she gestured. "Your athame in your palm, ready to silently protect your identity, with the stance of a confident warrior.”

  “We’re safer away from people,” Ty argued. “We aren’t as stable as you think. No, Nahara.”

  “Well, you’re talking to me,” Nahara grinned. “Not something you used to do.”

  Let’s hear her out. Rin urged.

  Could be fun to make a new friend. Zara conveyed hope.

  “I said no!” Ty grasped their head, a crippling pound surfacing. Nahara crossed her arms. Her eyebrows furrowed as her gaze shifted into one concerned parent’s mustard.“Please don’t argue with each other.”

  I don’t want anyone around either, but we should hear Naha out. Jayce insisted. Let me talk.

  “We make decisions together.” Ty spat, head splitting. She gasped, spots filling their vision.

  “And are you letting the others have a say?” Nahara’s chestnut eyes bore into theirs.

  Their heart pounded as their body numbed. Ty felt impossibly frustrated. The others lingered weaker than her, always faltering with emotion. Why can’t any of them understand? The more we feel, the worse we get. Nahara can’t imagine how much this hurts.

  “Ty, if they have to force control, it will hurt,” Nahara delicately reminded, “so talk to me, or I really must insist on asking for a calmer participant." A coy smile curved her ochre lips. “Unless, of course, you want her to know.”

  The unwelcomed switch was jarring, fighting Ty was a daunting task, as she rarely relinquished, but he managed.

  Jayce loved Nahara, the guide they’d needed in a most vulnerable time. She never judged their condition and provided them with purpose. However, Jayce refused to tolerate threats from anyone. Through a wavered stance, he closed the gap between them.

  “It’s ours.” He snarled, “You can’t share our weaknesses with anyone. You promised.”

  Frown lines and slightly darkened eye bags exposed the years in her golden-sepia face. “Then I need you to do this for me.”

  Jayce backed away, sighing and lowering to the cot in the corner of the room. He played with the frills on the ends of the blanket to ground their turbulent mind. “Who checked her?”

  “I did,” Nahara answered. “She just wants her freedom without her family punished for who she is.”

  “Will they become a problem?” Families cause weakness.

  “We stay anonymous,” Nahara countered.

  “She’s young.” Jayce tried.

  “Five years older than y'all were when you started,” Nahara smirked.

  “I don’t know.” He fully collapsed onto the bed.

  “Jayce, guys, they could be bringing sixty for the Lustration. Imagine what we could do if we saved them all.”

  Jayce sprung up, positive he misheard. “We’ve never tried to save that many. You said it was too dangerous, and now you want to start with sixty?” Hoping this a cruel version of teasing, he stared at her; what he identified only confirmed his fears.

  “You and Leisha only have to worry about your part,” Nahara beamed. Her plans always succeeded. With her leadership concealed in the umbra, they’d successfully rescued five to ten every Lustration, though they’d often suspected Nahara of keeping them from larger liberations.

  It’s a numbers game, and we never have enough. So why is she smiling like that?

  “Then we have no choice.” Jayce relented. “You really won’t listen?”

  “I can’t give you a choice,” Nahara admitted. “Not if you want to save those people. Estimated, there’d be fifteen to twenty you’d need to save. You will die attempting to save that many alone. They’ll scatter. You’ll need a partner to guide them while you fight, and I don’t have anyone to spare. These operations will be repeated throughout Meyat.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Why send us after larger deliveries now? You’ve always implied we should build our team before potentially advancing our prowess.”

  “Our numbers have grown and will continue to do so with a statement.” Nahara leaned against the mantle. “Every year, double what we save is Lustrated. People are losing hope, and we need to make a stand. Though stretched thin, we can’t delay any further. Hundreds of potential fighters perish every month; it’s time we changed that. All performing Aid duties are receiving a partner; it’s not just you. Fewer and fewer people are turning to help; they need to see how strong we are.”

  A statement? Kiara shook, simultaneously hopeful and terrified.

  Eight years we’ve fought in secret; are we ready for this? Rin emitted nervous excitement.

  Nahara’s been fighting longer than us. If she says it’s time, then it’s time. Doesn’t mean we’ll be exposed, just means she wants improved morale. Ty opined.

  “She only needs finer points on sneaking.” Nahara intoned. “It’s her first run, and this mission is too important for any mishaps.”

  Leisha returned with a full pail of water. “Where should I place this?”

  Jayce poured the water into a large pot and secured it above the fire. “I have some tea; just let the water boil.”

  “Okay,” Leisha mumbled.

  “I assume my assignment has been altered, then?” Jayce indicated toward Nahara.

  “You and Leisha are to intercept the shipment from the eastern trail,” Nahara explained. “There should only be one cart that way. We’ll get finer details, but the guard should remain small. As always, it’d be best to snare the path and dispense of them silently. Once you’ve taken care of the Ketigaj, our rendezvous is in the Lideti mountains.”

  “The Lideti mountains…in winter?” He didn’t bother hiding his sarcasm.

  “They’re less likely to follow us to the mountains,” Nahara reasoned. “We’ll follow the mountains out of Lidac and into Aeti. Once there, you and Leisha will take your group to Cadíl. After that, we will see.”

  Cadil is a three-month journey with that many people. Jayce highly doubted the odds of survival.

  She wants us to be around how many people for three months? Fuck that. Ty cackled.

  We made a promise, guys. Kiara breathed. “Let’s do it.” She stated, confidently easing into control.

  A pleased smile lightened Nahara’s eyes. “Thank you. I will contact you with the finer details in the upcoming weeks.” She tossed her cloak around her shoulders. “Please prepare Leisha well.”

  “You don’t want some tea?” Kiara indicated toward the moderately bubbling pot.

  “No, thank you, dear.” Nahara gingerly tucked Kiara’s hair. “You are not the only one acquiring a learner this week.” She pivoted to Leisha, the green in her cloak shimmering as it twirled with her. “Listen well to everything Kiara says. Do NOT pester her. Trust that she will keep you safe; you must prove that you will do the same. Fight with all your heart, fierce Rikevra.”

  Leisha nodded. “May I ask, why are we taking them to Cadíl?”

  Nahara bore a devilish grin. “You’ll see.” Her boots thumped across the wooden floor, muffling as she stepped into the snow. In great Rikevra fashion, she became an instant shadow, the snow concealing her with the mystery of the night.

  Kiara latched the door, swiveling toward their new companion.

  Leisha shivered by the fire, attempting to warm her hands. The crimson flames reflected against her hair.

  A pet. Ty smirked.

  Be nice. Rin tsked.

  She’s beautiful. Zara breathed.

  No. Ty growled.

  What? I’m allowed to make an observation. Kiara fought Zara’s want to roll their eyes.

  She’s just a mission partner. Let’s stay focused. Jayce reminded.

  We have to at least pretend to be friendly, okay? We need members.

  “What kind of tea do you like?” Kiara retrieved her collection of herbs. “I have sage, chamomile, and ginger?”

  “Oh, uh,” She played with her skirt, “I don’t want to take from your rations.”

  “I grow these myself.” Kiara insisted. “And I trade what I can’t grow, plus Nahara ensures we’re well supplied. It’s no bother at all.”

  “Ginger then.” Leisha kept her head bowed. “Th..thank you.”

  Kiara spooned the steaming water into two cups. She filled one mini cloth bag with ginger leaves and another mixed sage and ginger. She deposited the bags in the cups and set them beside an oil lamp.

  “What made you join?” Kiara bluntly asked. She saw no reason to be awkward with someone who would be learning over the next few months.

  “My family’s in danger with me around.” Leisha was frank. “I don’t live a life that Bolidac’s light can reach.”

  “Why would you?” Subtle rage rouged their cheeks. “Why choose to be anything but yourself?”

  “I don’t want to die.” Leisha studied them, her dull eyes reflecting the dancing flames. “The only way to live is to pretend, but some people mess up. They get caught, and then they’re Lustrated.”

  “So why join?” Kiara asked. “If you’re afraid of dying? This isn’t a position of concealment. You will be risking your life for strangers—people who ‘messed up.’”

  “Because I’d eventually get caught. I can’t keep pretending.” Leisha fixated on her hands, clasped in her lap. “I’ve denied marriage seven times, and even the thought of kissing a man makes me want to vomit. People began asking questions,'' She admitted, exhaling a sorrowful sigh, “so I became Rikevran before they could take me too.”

  “And you can’t go back until their control is gone.” Kiara gulped, somewhat bitter, tea. “Will you miss home?”

  Leisha sipped her cup. Tears glistened in her cloudy olive eyes. “My existence puts them in danger.”

  She just wants this to be over. Does she fully grasp how long this will take?

  Everyone began energetic or spitefully motivated, exhilarated to believe they could be the final piece for change, and they naively believed the mission could be ended quickly. Everyone eventually came to realize there wasn’t an instant fix. Nearing a decade with nothing changed, even Kiara and the others had times of doubt.

  “It might take a while.” Kiara conceded. “Are you ready for that?”

  “As long as they’re safe,” Leisha said, placing her cup on the table. “What’s the story? Who are you, and who am I to you?”

  “I am Kita. My husband died last Dásni.” Kiara recited. “This paper says you’re my sister-in-law. Come to live with me while your husband travels to the Southern Isles for work service.”

  “My husband works in the mines.” Leisha effortlessly adapted the story. “He’ll return in Fovál but does not want me alone for the harsh winter. My name is Shay.”

  “Good.” Kiara encouraged. “If anyone ever asks, my fake husband worked and died on the Isles. I’ll get your cot ready.” She cleared clothes from the spare cot, stowing them in a bag. “I mostly scavenge and perform odd tasks. It’s nothing too difficult, but it can be exhausting.” They retrieved an extra blanket from a cabinet above the mantle and passed it to Leisha. “I promise, it’s not bad.”

  Leisha nodded, though her expression never wavered. She seemed lost in her own Meyat, gazing into the fire and sipping her tea, a blanket draped over her lap.

  They began settling in for the night, opting to change in the morning. They rinsed out their mouth, tied up their hair, and laid down. “Make sure to douse the lamp when you’re ready, but don’t stay up too late.”

  We haven’t shared a room in years. Kiara began drifting, somewhat eager.

  No attachments. Ty rejected.

  We won’t. Rin sighed. Just nice to finally have someone to talk to.

  We have each other. Ty was firm in her convictions.

  Kiara attempted to escape from the others, though exhaustion left her incapable.

  Oh yeah, we get along so well. Zara excreted sarcasm. We need friends, Ty. Someone who doesn’t live in our messed-up head.

  If Jayce and Kiara would stop making all the decis

  I WANT TO SLEEP! Their head hammered with the ferocity of a volcanic eruption. Ty, we’re stuck with Leisha, but you’re right; we’re never alone. Now shut up and sleep.