The Hanging City (26)

Righting myself, I push the door closed. “Who are you talking about?”

Unach’s brow tightens. “I told you to rest.”

“I am much rested and obliged to make your dinner,” I protest, noticing that there are no dishes, or even a fire, to suggest they’ve had their supper.

Unach shifts her weight onto one foot. “His name is Colson. I had an investigation done, and Perg validated. He’s to be cast to the darkness.”

My joints freeze. “Cast to the darkness?”

“Over the edge,” Azmar murmurs, “into the depths of the canyon.”

Mouth agape, I would slide to the floor if I trusted my legs to push me up again. I lean against the wall instead. “Please don’t have him killed.”

Unach stares at me, incredulous. Surprise warps Azmar’s features.

I push off the wall and cross to Unach, knowing I overstep my bounds. I try not to limp, to show as much warrior prowess as I can muster. I square my shoulders and put on a brave face, despite the bruises that mottle it. “I beg you to spare him. It was a misunderstanding.”

Unach’s fury is palpable. “He would have killed you.”

No, he wouldn’t have. Even without my ability, even without Perg, I do not think he would have. Though I might be in far worse shape than I am now.

All I ever wanted was a place where I could be accepted and not feared. I do not want Colson to die. I do not want the few others of my kind in this dark city to despise me, like so many others have.

“It’s me he hurt,” I try, mentally scrolling through every persuasive tactic my father taught me, even if it was unknowingly, “and I forgive him.”

Unach barks a mirthless laugh. “He has committed a crime, and he will pay the price.”

“Please, Unach.” I raise my clasped hands and stumble, unable to hide my wincing. “If he were a troll, would you not consider—”

“That,” she interrupts, her voice dark as cinders, “is too far.”

“But—”

“Go.” She turns her back to me. “Rest, before I beat you myself.”

My lip and hands tremble. My situation is so precarious I dare not argue with her further. Were this my father’s house, I would use my hateful talent, bending Unach as though she were the human and I the troll. But I have no desire to cow her. I’ve never wanted to cow anyone, despite all the times I have.

“As you wish,” I whisper, and hand to the wall, I limp back into the corridor, alone.



For all my struggle yesterday, I still didn’t manage to retrieve my things, so I brave Unach’s temper in the morning and knock on the door before her shift starts. She wrenches it open violently, her hair damp, clothed but without her leather armor. Before I can explain my presence, she releases the door and walks away, as much of an invitation as I’ll get from her.

Water heats over a dying fire. I cross the apartment to my pallet and kneel down, rubbing my back. After setting my bag aside, I roll up the blanket, then find one of my shirts hanging in the little laundering closet. Blanket under my arm, bag over my shoulder, I stir the fire with a poker, coercing the flames.

When I turn around, Unach and Azmar are staring at me. For lumbering giants, they’re certainly light on their feet.

Unach grumbles. “You’re not ready. Go back to bed.”

Realizing I’m hunched like an old woman, I straighten. “I really am fine.” It warms me that she notices. That she cares.

Bristling, she snaps, “I said go to—”

“I need to be useful, don’t I?” I keep my voice calm, but it’s the truth. “I know about the task force. I’ll manage.”

Unach’s green lips pinch together.

“She can help me in Engineering today.”

Both Unach and I turn toward Azmar.

He offers a half-hearted shrug. “She’s good with math, and we’re struggling with designing the council’s extension. She can sit on a stool.”

Unach guffaws. “And you’ll, what, carry her over your shoulder the whole way down? I’d love to see that.”

Despite my embarrassment, I pinch down a smile. I envy the way Unach and Azmar speak to each other. So candidly. There’s a depth behind every remark, gesture, and glance. A depth that makes me wish I’d tried harder with my own siblings, though my parents kept us separated.

I could have tried harder.

“I-I can walk.” I’m fairly certain I can, if I use the lifts and not the stairs or ladders. “Thank you.” Admittedly, I’ve been curious about Engineering. This may be a silver lining to my predicament.

Azmar gives his sister a look I can’t identify and heads into the small kitchen nook.

Frowning, Unach looks over the mess of the floor. “At least eat something so you’re not a burden.”

I smile, but it fades. “Unach, how do I get water? And cook?”

“You’ll have to get water from the market. And your food has to be precooked.” She must notice my down-turned face, for she groans. “Ugh. If only to prevent me from having to carry it for you while you’re being delicate, you can use the pump up here. And the fire, but only if you cook for us, too.” Then, as an afterthought, “And clean.”

Relief cools me. “Thank you. I don’t mind at all.”