You know what you have to say.

Worn ramparts jutted across the sky this deep on the Basin side. They clashed with rooftops and cast long shadows on the streets below. Amidst the crowd their umbrage pulled the dark of crossed alleys together. Plenty of room for secrets beneath the rampart’s shade.

Daniel strode through the disparate masses that dotted the cobbled road, struggling to put his thoughts together. I know what to say, he thought to himself. Just lay out the facts to her. ‘The riot was a calculated risk.’ ‘The extra security proved something was off.’ ‘You know this was our last chance.’ He let out a long sigh.

Yeah, this is gonna be rough.

Shops and homes were crammed together in square buildings along the road. All pretense of space was gone. Whole lives were crammed into draconian racks here. Those not connected by ramparts were strung together with clotheslines, each one draped in culture and color. Garments hung alongside tapestries of varying size, made with earth tones, bright yellows, and reds. Amarian designs were always intricate, though Daniel rarely knew what they meant. Whole scenes from their culture were woven into the threads. Images of their people raising their hands toward the sun. A bird made of fire rising before the mountain’s peak. Sunlight filtered through the fabrics into a colorful array that caught within the chasms of looming old stone.

There was a reason Daniel barely came here. This was a whole other world, and he was never really sure if he was welcome. He stopped and looked ahead. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

Before him the stretch of square buildings had a slight gap, or really more like a dip. A pair of two-story buildings had a stone and plaster shack between them. Where its second floor would’ve been a rampart cut across instead. It connected the two taller buildings, though most of it was obscured inside the smaller shack. The part that Daniel could see jutted out like a patio, with a couple tables set before the stone parapets.

A few Amarians were hanging around outside the building. Idling. Chatting. Watching. A thousand eyes and a city to protect you, Daniel thought to himself. Can’t beat security like that.

As he came closer the throngs of idlers gave him a blend of suspicious looks and contempt. If he was new, they might have stopped him. Thankfully it wasn’t his first time. The pungent scent of meats and spices wafted out from the humble establishment. I don’t know how Saadya gets anything done, Daniel thought as he cleared his throat. I can feel the heat in my nose from here. He dropped his hood and stepped inside.

The space was hardly anything special, save for the rampart jutting overhead. A few round tables were set before an L-shaped countertop. The stone walkway took up most of the ceiling’s view, but towards the rear of the room the other side was exposed, and a spiral staircase led up to it.

Of course, everyone inside was Amarian. An old man sat alone by a window to the left, sipping tea out of a clay cup. Two middle-aged women with headscarves and kinky afros took up the table across from him. They chatted softly amongst themselves, but shot him curious glances as he approached.

Dekar sat scowling at the table behind the old man, the one closest to the counter. He was dressed in the same garb as earlier in the day. His right eye was swollen and black. Three others were seated at the table with him, and they all shared his contemptuous glare.

That didn’t bruise well, Daniel thought as he made his way over. And they all seem angry. He turned his gaze toward the head of the table. Especially her.

Saadya sat facing him, with a poised and careful look. Her umber brown skin was glowing. Her eyes gleamed with wisdom and strength. She kept her long graying dreads tied back in a bun, save for a few loose ones tucked behind her ear. Her full lips and nose suited her angular face. Her expression oozed confidence and control; but the few lines in her face were ones earned by regret, and her glare said she wouldn’t stand for anymore.

Her group had an assortment of dishes before them. Clay bowls filled with sizzling brown and green stews, sliced then slow-cooked vegetables, and a red paste that looked like it was made with fire itself.

He’d reached the table now, yet aside from glances he remained unacknowledged. Dekar ripped off a piece of charred flatbread and used it to scoop up some stew. Daniel thought about speaking but, I’d better just wait. Eventually, Saadya cleared her throat.

“Daniel,” she said, as she laced her fingers over the table. “I thought you might be stopping by. Should Malachi get you some tajine? These pots are fresh off the coals.” She motioned over to the man sitting to her right. He was older too, with a shaved head, thick brows, and wrinkles from a life of laughter and scowls. A red bandana around his forehead obscured aged scars and the blemishes of sun-worn skin, while an old wound left an x on his cheek. He had ‘stoic’ down to an art form. He might as well have been made of stone.

“No,” Daniel said, still waiting for him to blink. “Smells a little too spicy for me.”

Dekar snorted at that.

“Then let’s get right to it,” she said. “What happened today?”

Daniel cleared his throat. Just lay out the facts. “We—”

“Actually,” Saadya said. “I already know.” She leaned into the table and pointed over at him. “You overplayed your hand.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“It’s complicated,” Daniel said. “There were a lot of contingencies—”

“And now I have dozens of my best injured or locked in the Coves, guards pouring into the Basin with a grudge, and apparently nothing to show for it.” She reached for a small pendant hanging from her neck. It was half a golden disk, engraved with an Amarian sun. “Why do I keep protecting your people from the military, when all you’ve done is cause me trouble and fail?”

Daniel groaned at that. “Jibral wasn’t a failure.”

Saadya gave him a trying look. “I asked you to bring me something, and I still don’t have it yet. That’s what made it a failure, and that’s why you failed now.”

“Let’s be fair,” Dekar said from his seat to her left. He pointed to his eye. “They did give me one thing today.”

“Of course,” Saadya said. “You let Dekar take home a souvenir, right before you pissed off half the Amarians in Dargas.” She looked back over at Dekar. “Did I miss anything?”

We gotta get past this, Daniel thought. But I’ll try not to piss off the whole room. “I’m… sorry for what it cost,” Daniel said, “but we did find something.”

Saadya raised a brow. “So you have the ledger then?”

“No.”

“You find anything on who took David?”

“Nothing conclusive.”

“So, it sounds like you didn’t find something after all,”Saadya said. Malachi smirked at that. Dekar huffed as he went for another bite.

“That’s just it,” Daniel said. “Too many things went wrong. Conveniently wrong. I think there’s a leak.”

Saadya chuckled then shook her head. “A bold accusation,” she said at last.

“That’s why I’m making it in person,” Daniel said. “Gad knew something was off.”

“Because there were a few more guards?”

“Because there were Warriors,” he said. “And there’s more…” Just get it out. You need her help. “I think he called in an arbiter.”

Now the table was silent. Saadya leaned over toward Malachi as he whispered something in her ear. “And what would possibly make you think that?” She asked.

Let’s make sure this sounds good. “We have a source with the guard,” Daniel said. “And a possible lead on one of their victims.”

“Someone was showing signs?”

“That’s what we heard. We’re looking into it now.”

She leaned over towards Malachi as he whispered in her ear again. “Ok,” she said, sitting up. “While we’re on the topic of newcomers, why don’t we talk about yours?”

The group’s gaze snapped back toward the front, as they heard the door open again. A moment later Clergy and Naki walked in but, what happened to them?

They were covered in ash and scratches. Naki’s cheek was bruised and swollen. It hasn’t even been a call, and he already looks worse than before. Daniel couldn’t shake the harrowing look in their eyes though. What did they see at that fire?

“That’s him,” Dekar said suddenly, as he nodded over to Clergy.

“Ah,” she said. “So that’s the new one.” She eyed Clergy for a moment. Then she looked back toward Daniel. “Then there’s no need for this conversation.” She whispered in Malachi’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.”

What? Daniel thought. “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.

Guess that’s as good as I’m gonna get. Daniel nodded and together they walked over toward the door. He gave Clergy a look as he passed. Don’t do anything stupid. He kept on heading toward the door, but as he did Naki started to march toward Saadya.

“Where’s Malachi going?” She asked, but Daniel didn’t wait for the rebuttal. He headed out the door with Dekar in tow.

As they walked out past the idlers in front Dekar grabbed his arm. “You’re really not gonna let this go?”

Daniel eyed him for a moment. “Of course not,” he said, pulling his arm back to his side. “We need to know how Gad’s staying ahead of us, especially if an arbiter is involved.”

“And you’re sure you didn’t just fuck up?” Dekar asked, as he folded his arms.

Daniel gave him a trying look.

“Fine,” Dekar said. “I can ask around. See if anyone else has seen the signs.” Then he stepped in closer. “Any word on the pendant?”

“No,” Daniel said, shaking his head. “After Durai died most of his records were lost. I still haven’t found who took it after we were detained—”

“After you lost it,” Dekar said. “Don’t play semantics with me. Jibral was a failure—”

“And don’t shift the blame with me either!” Daniel snapped. “What happened there was both our faults. And we both need to fix it. Cause I bet you haven’t had any luck either.”

Dekar glared at him for a moment. “No,” he said at last. “No luck. I’m starting to think the military doesn’t have it.”

“Someone does,” Daniel said, “and we’re going to find it.”

“We better,” Dekar said. “Saadya can’t make a move without it, and that’s bad for both of us.”

“I know,” Daniel said, then he threw on his hood. “I’ve got something I need to look into. Let me know if you find anything.”

Dekar nodded and headed back inside. Daniel started to walk away.

Everything he’d done had been to survive. Gad ordered his father’s death in Jibral, so he started the raids to avenge him and kick Gad out. Now his whole group was on the run, their only ally on the Council was dead, and it was just a matter of time before the military caught up to them. He sucked his teeth.

Gad deserved to die for what he’d done, but Daniel knew that was just the beginning. The only real way he’d get the Generals and the guards off his back was if he gave them a bigger target. And she’ll make the perfect one. Saadya had to make a comeback, and he would ensure she did.