Burnt wood. Smoke. Ash. That was all of the house that remained. They’d watched the fire burn from the street, like much of the awe struck crowd.

The flames finished their work in minutes. Violet ate through the wooden frame like ravenous teeth, tearing through the plaster in a furious blaze before burning out just as fast.

Naki sat beside him on the cobbled road, watching the last of the dead wood burn. A piece of the top floor broke off and thundered to the ground.

“Oh no,” a woman’s voice called behind them. “Not Milo…”

The two of them turned towards it.

Tears were streaming down a woman’s face as she stepped out from the crowd. A bed of dark curls crowned her tan countenance. Her full lips and slender nose sat between flush cheeks, red from somber wails. Beauty marks and laugh lines showed she was always destined to age well, but the heartbreak in her eyes stole all that charm away.

Naki stood and faced her. “Shula,” she said, as she reached out to hold her, catching the sleeves of her white blouse while her brown dress trailed behind. “What’re you doing here? Don’t tell me—”

“A boy. Was there a little boy in there? Did someone get him out? Please I—”

Oh no, Clergy thought, as he started to stand too. He couldn’t even meet her gaze, but Naki was braver.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a moment. “There was a boy, but… he—”

Shula broke down into sobs. Clergy looked back over as Naki went to pull Shula close, but she was holding something in her hands. It was a small array of dainty purple flowers in a jar. She held onto the pot tight, and Naki stopped before she crushed it.

“What are those?” Naki asked.

Shula wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “Oh, these.” She paused. “These were from Milo.” She sobbed a moment more, but Naki rubbed her shoulder, and her composure soon returned. “All of Palti’s orphans had them. I wanted to show him how well—” grief struck her again.

Palti? Clergy thought to himself. Where have I heard that name before? He had to think about it for a moment, but soon it came to him. He’s on the Council, Clergy recalled. Then he thought about it again. Or at least he was. Didn’t Micah say he was dead?

“An orphan?” Naki asked. Then she took a step back as horror tainted her face. “No, no, no,” she said. “I was there the night of the fire. I saw the orphanage burn I—” she shuddered. “I moved those kids myself.” She stared into her hands then back up at the charred ruins. “None of them were supposed to be here…”

Shula placed the pot on the ground and stepped up to Naki. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It was too much for one family to watch them. We’ve had to start taking turns—”

“Why was he alone?!”

That’s not the question, Clergy thought to himself.

“Inas cleans homes near the Hall,” Shula said. “She must’ve gotten held up because of the riot.” She gave Naki a pained look as she held her close. “I’m sorry.”

Naki stood frozen in her grasp, and judging from the horrified look in her eyes she had the same thought as him. The real question was, why would someone kill an orphan? It made sense to get rid of witnesses, in a horrible morbid sort of way, but he let us go. And it wasn’t just anyone.

It was an arbiter.

An arbiter had let them go.

Naki backed away from Shula, shaking her head. “An arbi—” she shook her head again. “I-I have to go.” She walked off into the crowd.

Hang on she— Clergy quickly hurried after her. She knows what arbiters are. She couldn’t hide that slip. At this point all Clergy knew about them was their name, and that they could get into people’s dreams. Somehow. They brushed past the last shoulders in their way, and ended up in an alley connected to the neighboring street. He’d spent enough time in the dark. If he was being hunted, or watched, or whatever the hell was going on, then he needed to know more.

“Hey!” Clergy called out.

Naki spun around. “‘Hey’ what? We’re far enough now, tell me what happened when I was out.”

Clergy gawked. “What? You just walked off without me!”

“I knew you’d follow.”

“How?”

“You’re nosy.”

“I’m not—” he shook his head. “Whatever. What’s the last thing you remember?”

Naki’s face hardened into a scowl. “I went into the house, heard shouting in that far room, and when I got there that … man had Milo—”

“You mean the arbiter,” Clergy said. “I know you’ve heard of them.”

Naki looked him over for a moment. “Yeah I have,” she said at last. “Why have you?”

Clergy groaned. “Come on! Enough games!” He said. “If we’re gonna catch this guy I need to know what we’re up against—”

“Where have you heard of them?”

They glared at each other for a moment.

“It was a dream!” Clergy said with an exasperated sigh. “One of them showed up in my dream and said he was coming for me!”

Naki gave him a bewildered look. It was the first time she’d ever really seemed surprised. “Explain,” she said.

So, Clergy told her what happened. He told her about the conversation with Galahad, the violet gem, the arbiter’s scarred face—

“Nepis…” she muttered to herself, “and Galahad too.” She looked back up at Clergy. “You’re sure you saw his face?”

“The arbiter? Yeah, but you’re not answering my question—”

“Because I need to know what you saw. Did anything else happen?”

Clergy almost gawked at that. Really? That wasn’t enough? What’s she expecting to hear? “Well… yeah,” he said. “Actually, a lot happened before I got there—”

Naki perked up at that. “Tell me everything.”

Clergy gave her a curious look. What is she looking for? “Ok,” he said at last. Then he told her about the whole dream. He talked about being frozen in the ocean, it draining away and exploding into a forest. The fire entity saving him, calling him home, before turning into a bird and casting him into the conversation with Galahad. ‘Find me when you return’—

“Wait,” Naki said. “It was a bird made of fire? You’re sure?”

That’s the part she’s asking me about? “Yeah, I’m sure.” I’ll never forget that.

“And when you woke up? Anything weird happen?”

How does she— “yeah,” Clergy said. “A lot of weird things. I was hurt but then my chest glowed and suddenly I was healed—”

Naki’s eyes lit up at that.

“My tattoo started glowing and burning, and that’s before Am—”

“Tattoo?” She grabbed his hand and pulled it out of his cloak, revealing that strange tattoo on his forearm. An infinity symbol, with crosses of light jutting out from the arrowhead shaped ends. “A piety mark?” She asked, mostly to herself. Then she shook her head and looked up at him. “Were you… were you about to say Amos?”

What? How— “Yeah, he was the first person I met. I’ve seen him a couple times now actually—”

Naki grabbed his hand, her expression rocked by astonishment. “We have to go.”

“What? No! You still haven’t told me anything!”

“You’ll get your answers,” Naki said. “But we need to talk to Saadya. Right now.” She towed him along out the alley, and together they made their way deeper into the lower district side.

~ - ~

The streets here were nothing like those near the Hall. Ramparts jutted over rows of claustrophobic housing. Decorative quilts leaked out from windows like a flood of vibrant hues. Clergy kept a brisk pace through the wholly Amarian crowd, as Naki guided him along the street.

Eventually, they arrived at a small building sandwiched between two larger ones. The smaller structure had a rampart jutting out its roof, with tables placed around the outdoor space. Is this… a tavern or something? It certainly smelled good as they approached. If he didn’t choke on the heat.

There were a few Amarian men idling outside the tavern’s front door. As soon as they saw Naki they stepped over to her.

“Woah, woah, woah, what happened to you?” One of the men said as he put his hand out in front of her. He was somewhere in his twenties with tawny brown skin, a well groomed beard, and dark vibrant eyes. His curly hair peaked out from beneath his green bandana, and he had a look that said they’d had this conversation more than a few times.

Naki nodded past him. “I need to talk to Saadya—”

“You need to get that looked at,” the man said, nodding toward her eye. “I thought you weren’t at the Wall?”

“Please,” Naki said, as she waved his hand away. “I know I don’t need a chaperone.”

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The man laughed at that. “That’s not what Saadya says.” He glanced over at Clergy, then looked back at her with a raised brow. “And shit like this makes me think she’s right. You really want to go in there with a stray, looking like that? She told you to lay low for a while.”

Naki gave him a grating look. “Do you really want to try and stop me?”

They glared at each other for a moment before the man relented, sucking his teeth and stepping out the way.

Naki looked back toward Clergy. “Let’s go,” and a moment later they were heading in.

Judging from the inside ‘tavern’ was a pretty good guess. The stone walkway overhead made up most of the ceiling. Tables were arranged in the middle of the space before a long counter on the left side of the room. There were only a few patrons. An old man sitting near the left corner. Two women chatting on the right. The table with the most people was just before the counter and— that’s Daniel.

He was standing before three Amarians seated at the table, with a sizzling feast set before them. An older man was to Daniel’s left, while Dekar sat to his right. Clergy’s stomach sank as he eyed the black and blue around his eye. He must be furious. Clergy still had no idea what to say to him. How could he even begin to—

“That’s him,” Dekar said suddenly, as he nodded over toward Clergy. The final person at the table looked over at him, and Clergy knew who this was at once. That’s gotta be Saadya.

She had a poise that commanded authority, even in this quaint little room. Her graying dreads were tied back and long, proof of the wisdom gleaming from her dark brown eyes.

Like everyone else here her clothes were fairly plain. A brown tunic over a tawny long sleeved shirt, but her necklace did catch Clergy’s eye. He couldn’t quite make out what was on the gold medallion, but it seemed like it’d been broken in half.

“Ah,” she said. “So that’s the new one.” She eyed Clergy a moment more before turning her attention to Daniel. “Then there’s no need for this conversation.” She whispered in the older man’s ear and he nodded, stood up, and started heading for the door. “Thank you for the information, Daniel,” she said. “We’ll take it from here.”

Daniel didn’t seem to like that idea. “But I—”

“Need to do nothing else,” Saadya cut in. “We’re done for now.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Dekar said, before dabbing his mouth with a napkin. He stood and gave Daniel a look that said the conversation was over. I guess their talk went well.

Daniel nodded and the two of them started heading toward the door as well. Clergy couldn’t help but shy his gaze away as Dekar strode past, but as Daniel followed behind he gave Clergy a serious look. ‘Be careful,’ it said, or something like that.

Naki watched them both stride away, before turning her attention back to Saadya.

“Where’s Malachi going?” She asked. The front door closed behind them.

“The better question is where were you?” She nodded toward Naki’s eye. “You going to tell me you tripped and fell?”

Naki started walking up to the table. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me,” Saadya said. “And judging from the ash on your clothes it looks like you were at a fire.”

“There’s more important things going on then—”

“You think ignoring me’s gonna work?”

“I’m not abandoning these people!”

Saadya gave her a careful look. “No one’s asking you too.”

“But you are, aren't you?” Naki had reached the table now. ‘Keep my head down’. ‘Mind my business’. ‘Lie low’. It all means the same thing. Keep your nose out of people dying because it’s inconvenient right now—”

“Nakira!” Saadya’s tone drew stares from the whole room. She looked over at the others inside. “Give us a minute.”

The two women and the older man got up and headed for the door. Clergy was standing alone now. And I really don’t want to be. He started heading slowly over toward the table just as Dekar started walking back in.

“This is exactly why I told you to stay away from the fires,” Saadya said.

Naki scoffed. “Because I actually care?”

“Because you can’t control yourself! You let your emotions get the better of you and throw yourself into every fight without a second thought!”

“People are dying!” Naki said. “And someone still has to be brave enough to help them!”

“So, you snuck out again.” It was Dekar coming around to sit back in his chair. “I hope you’ve got something to show for it at least.”

Saadya sighed and gave him a trying look as he sat. “You know that’s not the point.”

“Well I do,” Naki said. “ I—” she glanced over at Clergy. “We know who started the fire. It was an arbiter.”

The news was met with silence, until Dekar and Saadya both glanced from her over to Clergy. Dekar sucked his teeth. “Really Naki?” He said. “You want to do this in front of the stray?”

“He already knows,” Naki said, then she reached back and pushed Clergy toward the table. “Tell them what you told me.”

Saadya raised her hand. “Why don’t you start by telling me your name,” she said.

Here we go again. “I’m… Clergy.” He straightened up as he said his name.

Dekar snorted, while Saadya gave a thin lipped smile. “Clergy?” She asked as she glanced over at Naki. For her part she kept a straight face.

“Ok,” Saadya said after a moment. “Clergy. Why do you know anything about that?”

“Well I—”

“He saw him in a dream,” Naki said. “He saw his face, and he was with Galahad.”

Saadya nearly gawked at that. “Galahad?” She looked back toward Clergy. “What else did you see?”

“He saw a phoenix,” Naki said. “It spoke to him.”

Saadya looked into Naki’s eyes like her glare would burn the bullshit away, but Naki held firm. “He saw…” Saadya’s words drifted off as her face filled with stunned disbelief.

“Go to the back,” she said to Dekar after a moment. “Get the Hikaya.”

Now he looked stunned. “Are you serious?”

“Go get it.”

Dekar looked over at Saadya and scoffed, but a moment later he got up, headed behind the counter, and kept going until he was out of sight.

Saadya looked back at Clergy. “You certainly seem to have Naki convinced of something,” she said. “But why are you here?”

That’s— “I… Naki told me you’d have answers,” Clergy said.

“And I might,” Saadya said. “But what will you do with them if I tell you?”

Well… I mean— what was the right answer to that? He wanted to stop hiding. To stop looking over his shoulder everyday waiting for someone to try and cut him down or snatch him away in his sleep. He just wanted to know who he was, and he wanted to live; but… he also couldn’t just walk away, not from the riot, not from the fires, and not from the truth. He took a breath.

“Someone’s after me and I need to know why, he said. “Before anyone else gets hurt because of me.” And somewhere along the way I’d like to know who I am.

Dekar returned from the back holding a worn scroll in his hand. What is that? Clergy thought as he watched him approach. Eventually he sat down and handed the parchment over to Saadya.

She looked at Clergy one last time, staring into his eyes with that deep burning glare. “I believe you,” she said at last. Then she unfurled the scroll a bit. “Is this what you saw in your dream?”

It was a rough drawing, but Clergy still recognized it at once. It was a bird made of flame spreading its wings and roaring as streaks of light flew off of its form. Just like what he saw in the dream.

“Yeah,” he said. “It is.” He stared a moment longer at the image before meeting Saadya’s eyes. “What does that mean?”

Saadya took a deep breath as she heard those words. A breath filled with such relief that it seemed like she hadn’t taken one in years. She rolled the scroll back up and set it on the table. “Tell me everything you saw.”

So that’s what he did. He told her about the ocean, the forest, the fire, and the arbiter. When he finished with that part Dekar’s face soured as he looked over at Naki. “He told you this and you brought him here? He’s gotta go—”

“None of them can make it work at this distance.”

Dekar paused on that for a moment, then shot up from his chair marching over toward Clergy.

Woah, woah, woah! Clergy thought. Control? What’s he talking about? He tried to back away, but Dekar grabbed his arm, revealing his tattoo. “Unless he’s marked,” Dekar spat. “I’m taking him outside. This was reckless, even for you.”

Naki grabbed Clergy’s other arm. “After he woke up his chest and mark were burned. It healed him.” She nodded down at the tattoo. “The mark’s not gonna work anymore, and that’s why I brought him.” She looked over toward Saadya. “This will work.”

“It might,” Saadya said. “Have a seat Dekar, we have one more thing to discuss.”

Dekar didn’t move. “That doesn’t mean it can’t work. We should still play it safe—”

“Do you really think he can hurt me?”

Dekar glared at Clergy a moment more before letting him go and returning to his seat.

“So, Clergy,” Saadya said. “Tell me what you know about arbiters.”

Naki let go of his arm and Clergy walked back to his place beside her. “Well, nothing honestly. That’s why I came. I need to know what I’m up against.”

Saadya let out a long sigh before meeting Clergy’s eyes again. “Child, you need to understand something. You’re not up against anything. That would imply that you have any option besides to run and hide.” She shook her head. “No, you are being hunted. Hunted by people who’ve been killing to bury secrets since this city began.”

“But I don’t know anything!” Clergy said. “I just woke up and suddenly all this weird shit keeps happening, and people started coming for me!”

Saadya leaned in and met his eyes. “That ‘weird shit,’” she said, “is a part of a natural power, like fire, or rain, or wind. The only difference is this one has been kept from you.” She tapped her hand on the scroll. “It’s one of the oldest secrets there is, yet somehow you stumbled into this.” She shook her head again. “That just can’t be…”

The front door swung open. “Sorry to interrupt.” It was the young man who’d stopped them outside earlier, stepping up into the doorway. “But guards are up the street asking questions. Someone broke out of the Coves and now they’re searching homes.”

“Then it’s time for you to leave,” Saadya said to Clergy, as the young man nodded and closed the door.

What? Clergy thought. “Hold on I—”

“If they weren’t watching you before, they’ll start if they find you in here.” She nodded over to Naki. “Take him out the back.”

Naki nodded and started towing Clergy away.

“Wait!” Clergy said. “But this doesn’t help me! What am I supposed to do?”

“I assume Daniel has some place for you to stay.”

“Yeah but—”

“Then stay there,” she said. “If nothing else Daniel knows how to keep a low profile, and there are… some things I need to take care of first. In a couple days we’ll find you, and then we’ll figure out what all this means.”

Clergy nodded, but Saadya held up her hand.

“But while you’re there,” she said. “I suggest you keep this conversation to yourself. The only thing Daniel will do with it is get himself, and you, into more trouble, and you’ve seen what that looks like firsthand.”

Can’t argue with that. “Ok,” Clergy said. “I will.”

Naki started to walk away again, until Saadya started to stand.

“But before you leave,” Saadya said, as she walked over to her. She held Naki’s arms and met her eyes. “Know that there’s more work to be done later, and I need you to be focused Nakira. We all do.”

The bitterness in Naki’s face wavered, then fell away. She sighed. “I know Saadya and I’m here. I’m with you.”

They gently brought their heads together before sharing a satisfied grin. “Go,” Saadya said. She started to back away, but Naki grabbed her arm as she did.

“Wait,” Naki said. “There’s one more thing.” She gave Saadya a serious look. “Amos is alive, and he’s here.”

That jarred Saadya a bit, but a moment later her smile returned. “I’ll take care of it.”

Naki nodded and a moment later she and Clergy were behind the counter and headed out the back.