Xia Relays Negli's Findings (3rd month of Autumn, 26th day)

  Aya went on patrol in the evening and had ample time to think. Negli had departed early that morning, and instead, Xia had explained his findings to her. It was something about blood composition and bonds, but all Aya really understood was that Negli would now be testing her once a week or so. At the end of the conversation, Xia said something strange:

  "Also, be careful, Aya. Don't show off."

  "I won't. I mean — I don't. I never show off."

  "We all show off from time to time. Didn't you send Ixi to capture that bandit two days ago?"

  "I didn't tell her to do it. She thought she'd help since we were already chasing them. I didn't even expect it."

  "I see. But she risked her life. What if they'd zapped her? You should tell her to be more careful. Anyway, I'm asking you personally — don't show off. Negli said you have great potential. The time may come when your magic is stronger than anyone else's. Don't show your full power unless it's necessary. Don't be too eager to distinguish yourself."

  "Um... alright. But why?"

  "Because if you shine too brightly, people will become jealous and afraid. And you don't want people like Rasa to feel threatened."

  "Rasa? Threatened by me?" To Aya, it sounded like a joke.

  "Not yet, but it could happen. She's already a bit nervous and tends to downplay your talents. It's subtle, but I can tell. So here's my advice: be a good soldier, follow orders, but hide your strength and avoid standing out. And above all — stay alive."

  Now, riding across the moonlit plains, Aya thought of Xia's words. She had assured Aya that a closer alliance with Negli was a good thing, but something about her tone was too reserved. Aya knew by now what Xia's good mood sounded like — and this was definitely something else. From the tension in her voice alone, Aya sensed a looming danger. But she didn't feel endangered.

  In the moment, she was simply happy to ride through the plains — especially when galloping, with Ixi swooshing past her and tiny ice crystals stinging her face. Her body sang with the strain, with the heat building inside her and the biting wind cooling her off. And then there was the moon, caressing her with its gentle light, like a mother's face smiling down from the sky. She could almost lose herself in the feeling — but the chases never lasted. A sharp command from the sergeant, and they would slow down and continue their patrol, ever bound by the invisible border.

  Hide and Seek (3rd month of Autumn, 27th day)

  The next day Aya's training session was brief. Rasa was absent, and Rana, her training partner, complained of feeling unwell and quickly left. By noon, Aya had nothing to do, so she decided to visit the aviary. Ixi wasn't there, but Agvi was. He seemingly spent all his free time there.

  They chatted briefly about their magic training. Agvi struggled with strengthening, but Aya found it easy, so she couldn't offer much help.

  "I think it's just a matter of how often you use it. Maybe you should try running more often, like I did?"

  "I tried once, but the next day my muscles hurt so badly I could hardly walk. The sergeant scolded me for overstraining and said strengthening magic does that. Did you feel ruined after those laps?"

  Aya hadn't, and she couldn't explain why. They continued talking about magic training and even tried a few exercises.

  "Ixi doesn't come to see the ravens anymore?"

  "She comes in the morning, but then she runs off to play with the children. Ketirik sometimes follows her."

  "He plays with the children too?"

  "I'm not sure. We could ask them."

  "Let's go."

  They went in search of the children and soon saw a boy running past them. They followed him and found the whole gang of five. Ixi joined them shortly afterward, descending from a nearby roof.

  "What are you doing here?" Aya asked, as they were behind the stables in a narrow passage between the building and the outer wall.

  "Playing," said a girl shyly, half-hidden behind a boy who stood with a grim, defiant expression.

  After a few questions, the children began to warm up to them and grew more talkative. They were playing a game of hide and seek — with a twist. Ixi was the first one they had to find, and only then could they search for the raven. If they found Ixi, she would make faces that somehow hinted at the raven's location. The raven, it turned out, was Ketirik, who soon noticed the game had paused and perched above them on the wall, overseeing the group. The rules didn't entirely make sense to Aya, but she continued listening politely as the children explained.

  "But why do you always look for Ixi? Haven't you tried hiding yourselves?"

  "We tried, but Ixi is too good."

  "Yeah, she sees through walls!"

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  "It's no fun!"

  The fact that Ixi was a fairy seemed far less important to the children than her skills at hide and seek. That was a relief to Aya, who had worried whether Ixi could find common ground with other kids. If anything, it was the adults who seemed more wary.

  "She has a special talent for it," Aya said. "She found all of you in the village."

  "Will I grow wings?" a girl asked. "I want wings like hers."

  "No, she was born that way, most of us will never grow wings," said Aya.

  "Are you Ixi's dad?" another girl asked Agvi.

  He didn't quite understand at first, but then became flustered.

  "No, no. I just watch the ravens. I'm her friend."

  They talked a little more about what Agvi and Aya did, and about life in the mansion. For children who had recently lost their families, they were remarkably upbeat. They thought of Heija as their new "mother," which they all agreed was an assigned position.

  "It was nice talking to you, but we need to go. I wanted to ask you something. Ixi needs to learn more words, so speak to her more often," Aya said as they were leaving.

  "Yes! Yes! We will!" came the cheerful response from around her. Aya smiled at how little convincing it had taken. They waved goodbye and headed off to grab their dinner.

  Kemi's Interrogation (3rd month of Autumn, 27th day)

  Aya was walking down the corridor to fetch Ixi for the night when a man's voice called out from behind her.

  "Aya, I need you."

  She turned to see Kemi approaching. The house military commander hadn't spoken a word to her since her admission as a trainee.

  "Yes, Lord Kemi," she said.

  "Where's your fairy?" He was close now — tall and intimidating.

  "Ixi is outside, playing, my lord."

  "Don't 'my lord' me every time. I need you and her for a small task. But I'm not sure how well you can control her."

  "What kind of task?" Aya asked, her anxiety rising.

  "I need to interrogate a prisoner. I think he's lying, and I want to try something. Your task is simple: hold Ixi in your hands and just stare at him. Silently. Ideally, you both keep blank expressions. Can you manage that?"

  "I guess... I can't guarantee Ixi will stay quiet, though. I'll tell her, but she doesn't always listen."

  "Hmm... Still, let's try. Might even be better if she's aggressive. But don't let her loose. Keep her in your hands. Now, let's go find your Ixi."

  He gestured for her to move ahead.

  "Lord Kemi, if I may — I don't understand. Do I just stand there? How does that help with the interrogation?"

  "He's afraid of you. Thinks you're some kind of soul-eating necromancer. So you'll play the part. Just stand there and be ominous. Don't speak — it's scarier that way."

  "I... alright. I'll try."

  They went outside, and Ixi darted down from the sky into Aya's arms without being called. She eyed Kemi warily but didn't hiss. They walked a short distance, and Kemi pointed to a barn.

  "The prisoner's inside. Wait by the doors. When I clap twice — enter. Don't rush. Walk slowly, stop three paces from him, and just stare. Understood?"

  "Yes." She turned to Ixi. "Tsss, be quiet," she said, pressing a finger to her lips. "We're ready."

  "Good. Wait here."

  Kemi entered the barn with two guards. A magical light lit the interior. She heard the clink of chains. Kemi spoke, followed by more rattling. The guards led three pitiful, malnourished prisoners out and made them stand a few steps to the side of the barn doors. Inside, voices continued — Kemi questioning, the prisoner responding. Then she heard two claps.

  "Tss," she whispered to Ixi, and entered.

  The barn was filthy and reeked of wet hay and urine. Aya paused to orient herself. Then she saw the prisoner: standing in front of Kemi, wide-eyed and trembling. She walked slowly toward him, trying to keep her eyes fixed on his chest. Even so, she could see his fear.

  "I know you lied to me," Kemi said, his tone grave. "But perhaps you'd prefer speaking to my friend."

  The prisoner finally spoke, his voice shaky. "P-please, I've told you... I bought everything... I m-m-p-p..." He stumbled, unable to form coherent words.

  There was a pause — a long stretch of silence when no one spoke — and then Ixi hissed. This was an unusual hiss. By now, Aya knew three of her hisses: a startled short hiss, a half-hearted warning hiss, and an angry attack hiss. This was none of those. This hiss was long and rolling, with Ixi craning her neck toward the prisoner. The sound was sharp and cold — like a steel spike slowly being driven into the brain. The prisoner fainted before it ended.

  "What?" Kemi caught the prisoner's sagging body and laid him on the hay. "What did you do?"

  "Nothing," Aya replied. "We just hissed!"

  Kemi eyed her suspiciously, then pulled a small corked bottle from his pocket. He unsealed it and held it under the prisoner's nose. The man twitched, then opened his eyes — and immediately began to scream like he'd seen an undead. He thrashed, trying to retreat into the hay, but his chained hands kept him tethered.

  Kemi signaled for Aya to step back and moved to block her from view. "Hey! Hey! Look at me! She won't hurt you! Listen!"

  Gradually, the man calmed down. Tears streamed down his face.

  "I know... They told me... That man, Odli... He kept coming... work... pay..."

  Aya just stood in place. Through the sobs and gasps, she could barely make out the words. Kemi asked questions — about Odli, weapons, routes. The prisoner mumbled answers. Eventually, Kemi stood and signaled Aya to leave. She stepped out and stood by the doors.

  The first thing she saw was five pairs of frightened eyes — not only the chained prisoners, but even the guards looked disturbed. Whatever they were thinking, Aya chose to ignore it. She kept up the act: blank, staring, just as Kemi had instructed. Luckily, it was easy. A moment later, Kemi emerged. He nodded at the guards, who led the prisoners back inside.

  "What is going on here?" came a familiar voice.

  Xia approached from the mansion, a cloak hastily thrown over her shoulders.

  "Aya helped with an interrogation," Kemi replied briskly.

  "Are you using her for torture now?"

  "No, why? We just scared him. What's gotten into you, Xia? Is she my soldier or not?"

  Xia frowned and looked at Aya.

  "I didn't do anything. I just stood there," Aya said, feeling oddly defensive.

  Xia turned back to Kemi.

  "What exactly did you do?"

  "I told him the fairy would eat him alive and the necromancer would pickle his soul. The idiot believed it."

  "Oh, he did?"

  "He passed out cold, so yes, he believed. The girl's got talent, Xia. Presence. We should make her chief interrogator. Aren't you all for nurturing talent?"

  "Don't use her talent like that."

  "What, are you sheltering her now? You know we're on the brink of war. You think combat's going to be nice and clean?"

  Xia stared at him imperiously, but Kemi didn't back down.

  "I'll use her like any other soldier — unless Kedi says otherwise," he said coldly.

  "Are you done for the day?" Xia asked, equally cold.

  "Yes. She's all yours."

  Xia took Aya by the arm and led her back toward the mansion. Only once they were inside did she let go.

  "It wasn't bad, really. Don't worry," Aya began.

  Xia sighed.

  "Should I have refused?" Aya asked.

  "No. I was just worried Kemi had done something cruel. He sometimes goes too far."

  Aya stood awkwardly, unsure what to say.

  "Never mind, Aya. I was a bit scared, that's all. I'll talk to Kedi about risks — what you should and shouldn't be doing — and let you know. Until then, you're still under Kemi's command."

  She gave a small smile and headed toward her room, leaving Aya alone. Ixi watched silently.

  "You can speak now," Aya said.

  "Yaya slipa," the fairy replied.

  "Yes, it's bedtime. Let's go."