Rhian

Being locked up in solitary felt a lot like being home.

The corner was still uncomfortable. The ceiling still had twenty-four stones. The “S” I’d scratched in almost every cell was still on the wall in that one. The only thing missing was Strauss. Right about then, I’d have shouted to see if he was awake. He’d have lied and said he’d been awake for hours. I’d tell stories, and he’d ask questions. Sometimes I’d answer. Most of the time it was nice enough just knowing he was around.

Back then, I’d only get a few days at a time for boring things like assault and insubordination. Strauss on the other hand, that poor bastard had it bad. All those years locked up for being born, but it was still better than the alternative. Rumour had it, the other mixed-breed kids were sent to the frozen wastes of Endica to die.

We’ll have to wait and see if that’s true or not.

So, the Chase. My kids kicked arse, and there were no casualties on our side. Random Man was dead, and I felt terrible about it. Not guilt, but sad. He seemed like a nice man, and a family friend by the sounds of things. But it was for the best. He was tired of being locked up, and I’d had a taste of what the Assembly had to offer as far as torture went. Merciless bastards. They’d have the Delphi putting pictures in people’s heads, making them see things that weren’t even there—things out of a goddess-be-damned nightmare. If that didn’t work, they’d have the Celestian try suffocating folks, freezing off limbs and whatnots. Bottom line: Random Man was dead, and it was for the best, but it was still sad.

Anyhow, I wasn’t locked up for killing Random Man. I was locked up for confessing to something I didn’t do. My trial with the Assembly was scheduled, but I wasn’t worried.

I had a plan.

Two days before the big day, I had a visitor. He was able to come straight inside my cell on account of it wasn't the first time he'd had to, and the man pulled a lot of weight.

“Rhian,” he said.

“Michael,” I said.

Michael had a thing about not shaving while away on duty—some kind of ritual. But he’d always clean up straightaway when he got back to Palisade. Seeing as he still looked like a man lost at sea, I reckoned he hadn’t been back for long.

Michael made himself uncomfortable in the opposite corner of the cell.

“So, why’d you do it?”

Good old Michael. He wasn’t even judging, he was just asking.

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“On account of the Assembly is cruel and I am merciful?”

“Okay, but why’d you actually do it?”

“On account of I needed wolves?”

“Rhian,” he said.

“Michael,” I said. “How was Endica?”

“Cold—don’t change the subject.”

I made a stink-face. Michael lowered his voice.

“You didn’t do it, did you?”

After all these years, I couldn’t put one past him. “In my defense, I was going to. On account of I needed—”

“—wolves. I get it. But if you didn’t do it, who did? Anyone you’d care enough to protect was gone at the time.”

“Are you saying I can’t make new friends?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Fair enough,” I said. “It was Blanchett.”

“Councilwoman Blanchett?”

“Six hells, Michael. No, not the Councilwoman—her kid. You’d like her. Also, she’s part of the reason why I’m not worried about the trial. I’m pretty sure I’ll have the votes.”

See, Councilwoman Hall was opposed to the asylum on account of it was cruel and unusual and whatnot. Imagine being an empath in a place full of crazies. She chose death for her own people. Hard to figure she’d feel any differently about anyone else.

As far as Councilwoman Faust was concerned, all those inmates were taking up our time, our food, and our space. We needed a few dead to make room for a few more. It was all inevitable and whatnot. I’ve stood enough trials to know how it’d go.

Councilwoman Kelly wasn’t allowed to vote on account of it’d be biased and all.

“You’ll have Faust and Hall on your side if we argue mercy killing and a practical use of costly resources,” Michael said.

I liked Michael. Hardly ever had to say what I was thinking.

“Aye, but what do you mean by ‘we’?”

“You haven’t asked someone else to speak for you, have you?”

“’Course not, but like I said, I’m not worried.”

“I know, but for old time’s sake? I really need things to feel normal right now.”

“Fair enough.” I had nothing more to say on the matter.

Michael shifted around a bit, doing what he could to make himself more comfortable on the floor. “Okay, we’ve got Faust and Hall in the bag. Number Two won’t be thrilled with the violence, and Councilwoman Oranen’s unpredictable. I don’t think we should even try appealing to either of them. That leaves us with Blanchett for the tiebreaker. No matter what you’ve done for her, that woman still really hates you, Rhian.”

“I know, but I didn’t spring the asylum.”

It took a minute, but there it was—the moment of realization.

“Do you think she confessed to her mother?”

“They’re not close, but it doesn’t matter anyhow. I’ll just think about it a lot when it’s her turn to interrogate me. She’s not gonna risk pissing me off when I can ruin her kid. Not that I would. Like I said, she's all right. You'd like her.”

“I don’t know if you’re a genius or really fucking lucky.”

“Lucky’s my middle name,” I said.

And it actually is.