Page 105 of In Her Own Rite

“What are you, writing a book report?” he asks.

“I’ve just been doing some reading after our last council meeting. Hang on, I’ll clear the table.”

“No, wait.” He puts out his hand, stopping me. “Can I look?”

“Sure. Honestly, I’ve had a hard time getting through it. This stuff was always more your and Seb’s deal.”

He tilts his head as he opens a folder and looks at the scans inside. “The Nayakka petitions?”

“Yeah. There’s four of them, going back six years.”

He nods slowly, reading over a random page. “Man. This stuff is rough. I never felt right about what we do with their islands.”

“I never thought about it,” I say, sitting down. “But yeah. Meeting someone from there, it feels different. I picked up some books on old Fakari history. Did you know in the old days, all the islands were consideredpakka? Even the south.”

He nods again. “Yeah, I did.”

“That girl, Thalia,” I say, “the one who broke your leg. She’s been asking to meet with me almost every day.”

“And? Have you seen her?”

“Not since the first time. The council’s against it. They don’t want me talking to her unless we can come to an agreement about what kind of deal we’d make. And now that it seems we’ve caught everyone…”

He shakes his head dismissively. “They would never have made a decision, anyway. I know sitting in on council meetings is newer for you, but honestly, they can never get a majority on anything. It’s good you’re able to vote now. We need more young people on council who are willing to actuallydosomething.”

“I feel you,” I say, thinking back on the last few meetings we’ve had. “It’s already driving me crazy. We can’t decide anything, and everything undecided is following us home. I haven’t had an evening not talkingaboutthe Remnant in weeks. And at the same time, we aren’t doing shit.”

“So we should do something,” he says, looking up.

“Like what?”

“Talk to the Nayakka girl. She’s asking for you.”

I shake my head. “The council decided against. I can’t go directly against a decision, they could take my council seat.”

A smile spreads across his face. “They didn’t forbidme, though, right? And she brokemyleg. Maybe I just want to get an apology. And you’re there for moral support.”

I raise my eyebrows. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

He sets his jaw, looking down at the papers again. “I’ve been sitting on my ass all winter. I’m sick of the bickering, and I don’t like my mom using what happened to me as a reason to vote for something I’m against. Maybe it’s time for something to change.”

Gabe callsIvo just after lunch, and we make our way down to the marshal’s office about an hour later. Thalia’s already there, sitting in the same wooden chair across from Sigur’s desk. I’m expecting a sardonic “About time”, but when we come in, she’s quiet, her head bowed over.

“Heij,” I say, walking in.

She looks up, and I can see she has a black eye. The silver-gray of her irises seems even brighter in contrast.

“Agaayit. Did one of us do this?” I think immediately of Viggo, who said they’d find a way to get the information from the people we’ve caught.

She shakes her head. “They let us see the sun yesterday, and Blaise attacked me. They barely trusted me and Nomi to start with, but I guess they heard I’ve been asking to speak to you.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head.

She shrugs noncommittally. “It’s life. Most people cannot keep their violent instincts contained.”

I swallow and head for Sigur’s chair to sit, but realize Gabe is still on his feet, and gesture for him to take it. He limps over and lowers himself into the chair.

“This is Gabe,” I say.

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