Page 37 of Claiming Sarah

Drift stayed aboard the ship—in case this was a violently short visit, we wanted to be ready to leave as soon as possible. Wave did, too, wanting nothing to do with the unclassed ghosts. I wondered if her ununited status was her motivation, or if it was merely her own snobbery. However, Omen joined us for the trip into the city. She was anxious to see the city that had been denied by Mother Portend.

She had changed from her conduit uniform to clothes similar to the other ghosts—usually whatever fatigues or uniforms they wore in life. Given the name of the city, being a representativeof the faith was a bad idea. Her clothes were a combination of browns and tans that did nothing for her dark skin. It was strange to see her so unfashionable.

Omen stared up at the massive gates with the rest of us, her expression awed. “Portend had always said Faithless was nothing. This is not nothing.”

The city gates were thirty meters tall and barred entry to a city whose walls were half as high. A line of guards, both living and ghost, stood in front of it, checking those who came and went through the gates. The city was loud—there must have been thousands behind the gate. Faithless was far bigger than I had imagined and that was concerning.

Dozens of skenthas were bound to each side of both doors—I assumed they pulled the heavy doors open and closed. I didn’t like seeing so many so close up. Forty-eight skenthas in total.

Moons above. How did Rex manage that feat?

“You have furry elephants on Halla?” Sarah asked, pointing to them, her eyes wide with amazement as she took them in.

“Skenthas,” I explained. “Yeah, they’re like elephants, but they arenotvegetarians.”

She continued to stare. “Their fur…is that the same gray fur that’s on Deacon’s bed?”

“Yes,” Deacon answered for himself as he walked up beside her. “That fur is from the first skentha I ever hunted.”

She glanced at him. “And since they’re not vegetarians, I’m guessing that was one hell of a hunt.”

Deacon chuckled. “It was a fair fight, if that is what you mean.”

“Do those things eat Ladrians?” she asked.

“Or anything else they want,” I interjected.

“But they’re using them like work animals,” she said, confused.

“I’m not sure how they’re doing it, either,” I admitted, and pressed my hand to her lower back. “Best we keep moving.”

As we came closer to the flowing foot traffic, several took note of Sarah. No other humans were in the crowd. They were rare enough on Orhon, but it seemed Halla was completely devoid of her kind. The ghosts could sense when someone was united, so they didn’t try anything with Sarah. I hoped they wouldn’t work their courage up to test her.

We made our way to the entry line, keeping to ourselves.

“You there,” the largest living guard shouted our way.

I met his glaring gaze with one of my own. “Yeah?”

But he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were on Leda. He walked straight up to her, ignoring the rest of us. “You were sent to your new master. Why are you back, Leda?”

“Crius,” she greeted the hulking guard. “We are here to seek an audience with Rex.”

He glanced at all of us. “Which one is your new master?”

“She is.” Leda pointed to Sarah. “This is the contra, Crius.”

He laughed heartily. “No, really.”

Sarah stepped forward before I could stop her. “I am the contra, Crius.”

“Humans have the strangest sense of humor.” He rolled his eyes. “No, really—”

Sarah swiftly withdrew the bone knife we’d given her for protection and stuck the tip against his gut, without stabbing him. Every muscle in my body locked tight, ready for an attack from the other guards. Deacon, being closer to her, had his hand on his knife’s handle, ready for a battle. Omen, too. Leda, on the other hand, was shaking.

Sarah growled a warning at Crius. “Do not doubt me again, boy.”

He appeared to struggle with his embarrassment at the fact that a tiny human had gotten the drop on him, but was smartenough not to move. “Fine, fine. You can put that away.” His thick jaw tightened. “My apologies, Contra.”

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