Saiyun held the cup close to his face and gave it a little shake. A soggy rattle told him the biscuit had yet to fully dissolve. He sighed and leaned against the railing, looking around at the crew gathered around the crackling little fire. Batro and Cai were playing a game of Safe Harbor and judging by Cai's frown it wasn't going well for him. The rest of the crew sat close to the fire, dancing flames chasing away the chill of night. Even though only a few were missing, the ship felt empty. Saiyun and Yazwa had tried to coax Ji out of her hammock to come up and eat something, but she only said she wasn't hungry. Yazwa had advised him to leave her be and he followed her lead.

A tiny clatter from the other end of the ship caught his attention. Through the dim moonlight he could see Yazwa kneeling on the deck, hacking away at a chunk of obsidian. Saiyun pulled himself to his feet and shook the cup again. He took a swig and grimaced before setting off for the other end of the ship. "Hello, am I interrupting?" he asked as he climbed up on the foredeck.

"Hm?" Yazwa asked, glancing up with her glowing golden eyes.

"Do you need to be alone for this?" Saiyun asked, pointing at the tools in her hands.

Yazwa shook her head, looking back down at the sharp chunks of rock resting on the deck. "No, I'm just about done. It's easier to see Sharp when it's dark out."

"I see," Saiyun said, choking down a quick swig. "I wish we could figure out a way for you to join us."

Reaching down carefully, Yazwa plucked up a piece and held it up close to her face. "Unless you have a way to make light that doesn't need fire, we're out of luck. Don't worry. I'm used to it."

"We could ask Tsen," Saiyun suggested, taking a seat. "But if he had a way of making light, he probably wouldn't be using candles in his cabin.”

Yazwa dropped one of the flakes into an open leather pouch. "I said don't worry about it. Back home I couldn't use the stairs because I'd get too close to the hearthfire. The only way for me to get downstairs was to climb out a window."

Home. Even in Gray, the word hit Saiyun hard. He gripped his cup tight and took a deep breath as memories bubbled to the surface. Flying kites on windy days. His sister singing as she sewed. The smell of his mother’s cooking wafting out of the kitchen. He kept his breath slow and even until the memories drifted away as quickly as they came.

"What's wrong?" Yazwa asked, blinking the gold out of her eyes.

"Nothing," Saiyun said quickly. "No, that's a lie. I was thinking of home."

"Oh," Yazwa said as a silence stretched out. "You'll get back."

Saiyun opened her mouth to thank her for the empty words, but thought better of it. What else could she say? He took a swig of his grog and choked it down. "You know what the first thing I'm going to do when I get back is?" he asked, pointing the mug at her. "After I clear my name, I'm going to ask my mother to make me some Echa dumplings."

"What are those?" Yazwa asked as she gathered up the rest of the good flakes and tucked them into the bag. "Besides food."

"They're these little balls of dough about this big," Saiyun said, holding out his half closed palm. "She'd make them with different kinds of filling on holidays. You could buy them from street vendors, but hers always tasted better."

Yazwa scooped up the last pieces of obsidian and tossed them overboard. "What kind of fillings?" she asked.

A smile found its way onto Saiyun's face. "Nuts and berries and things like that. The best are the ones she makes in late summer with raspberries. You have to be careful how you eat them, or the filling goes everywhere. What about you?"

"What?" Yazwa asked.

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you get back home?" Saiyun asked, taking another swig. "Besides the obvious."

"I..." Yazwa said, tying the little leather pouch to her belt. "I don't know. I never really thought about it."

Saiyun blinked, squinting at her in the dim light. "How could you have never thought about it?"

"I've been busy," Yazwa said quickly. "Getting my staff made, training with it. There's been a lot on my mind. Especially now that we're here and waiting for Aven to get back. I've been thinking about that."

As Yazwa stumbled over her words, Saiyun nodded along. It was probably something private and it wasn't his place to press for answers. "A lot has happened," he replied. "Hopefully that means we're near the end of this journey."

"Yeah, hopefully," Yazwa replied, leaning back and looking up at the stars.

"To home," Saiyun said, raising his mug and finishing the grog on one gulp.

-

A beam of sunlight broke through the early morning clouds and shone right on Yazwa's face. She grimaced and spun around to lay on her stomach and the hammock swung gently back and forth. The mornings after a watch were always the hardest. Though no one was going to come get her out of bed, there was too much to do to sleep in. Batro preferred to spar in the early morning, since Cai usually roped him into a game in the afternoon. They always asked her to join, but afternoon was when she tended to whatever duties she had on the ship and practiced with her staff. There was still a lot between her and the Vathlanri that would cure her curse and laying around in bed wouldn't make her any stronger.

Yazwa turned and swung her legs out of the hammock, setting them down firmly on the floor so the hammock wouldn't fly out from under her. "Good morning," she said to Ji, leaning back to stretch.

"Morning," Ji mumbled, laying on her back and looking straight up at the ceiling.

Yazwa frowned. Ever since Aven left Ji had hardly left her hammock. She came up for her duties and to stand watch at night, but other than that she stayed behind the canvas curtain that kept their hammocks hidden. "You gotten anything to eat yet?"

Ji gently shook her head, eyes staying on the ceiling. "No. Do you think Aven will be back today?"

"I doubt it," Yazwa said, getting out of the hammock and stripping off her nightclothes. "It's still a few days from the earliest he said he'd be back. Batro and I are going to do some sparring after breakfast. Do you want to join? It'll help keep you sharp."

There was a long silence as Ji stared up. "No. I think I'll just try to get back to sleep. I kept waking up last night."

"Are you sure?" Yazwa asked as she pulled out her white and green dress. It had a few frayed seams and patches now, but it had held up remarkably well over her adventures. "You've been spending a lot of time down here."

Ji mumbled something in response and turned over, facing the wall.

Yazwa slipped on her dress and scratched her head. Ji hadn't eaten last night and she was pretty sure she had skipped breakfast the day before too. Which meant she probably hadn't eaten in over a day and that wasn't going to happen. "Come on, up. You need food," she said, grabbing the edge of the hammock and giving it a hard shove.

It swung high and dumped Ji out on the deck. She twisted in midair and managed to land in a crouch rather than on her face. "Hey!" she snapped, scowling up at Yazwa.

"Scowl at me all you want, but you still need to eat," Yazwa said, pointing at the flap in the curtains. "Get some clothes on and come up with me."

Ji sighed and grabbed the nearest set of clothes and put them on. Her tunic and pants were battered, but they looked better than Yazwa's. "Let's go."

Yazwa pulled the flap open and walked out behind her. She had hoped flipping her out of bed would get more of a response than that. At least it was something. Now maybe fresh air, sunlight and food would do her good. She followed Ji up the stairs onto the deck only to find Batro waiting.

"Ha!" Batro grinned, holding two bowls of stew. "She did come up, you owe me Cai!"

The old salt grumbled on the other side of the boat where he was ladling out stew to the rest of the crew from a huge pot.

Ji mumbled and pushed past Batro to get in line.

"What's wrong with her?" Batro asked, handing one of the bowls to Yazwa. "I don't think I've seen her since Bill and Aven left."

Yazwa took the bowl and put it to her lips. When she found it was cool enough she took a sip. "I think she's upset that the Akshi got away," Yazwa said.

"Or she's just going crazy being stuck in port. I know I am," Batro said, taking a sip. "Only fun I have is beating on you."

"Might not have so much fun today," Yazwa said fiercely. "I'm getting better."

"That's what you say right before you get your head handed to you," Batro laughed and looked over at the dock. "Although I think maybe our plans just got changed."

Zeidu climbed up the gangplank onto the ship, embroidered coat fluttering in the breeze. "Hello. I've got some people here looking for Bill."

A tall man with a big belly climbed aboard. Yazwa's stomach clenched when she recognized the pattern of his robes. He was an Achali, and one high-ranking in the church at that.

"Yes, I'd like to meet him so I can get out of this heat," he said in a deep voice while he waved a paper fan at himself.

Yazwa's eyes darted to the stairs that led below deck. If he recognized what she was, it would be like Ortan all over again. She tried to slowly, casually make her way below decks to get out of sight.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Just missed him," Cai said, stepping forward. "He only just left the harbor."

Zeidu cursed and threw up his hands. "How long before he comes back?"

"Three days at best, five at worst," replied Cai. "I'm running the ship until he gets back."

"My friend," the Achali said to Zeidu. "If you intend to take up five more days of my time you will find the price goes up considerably."

"Let's talk somewhere out of the sun," Cai said warmly, gesturing to Bill's cabin. "Yazwa, Saiyun, come on!"

Yazwa froze, almost through the door. "I was just going to-"

"Don't care, let's go!" Cai shouted, throwing the door open.

Saiyun walked past her, gently adjusting his shirt. "If this is about the Akshi, we'll both need to be there."

"Agori!" the Achali called. A young man ran up the gangplank, carrying a box with a handle. "With me!"

Yazwa grimaced as she recognized the patterns on his robes. He was an Achali too, if newer than the other man.

"You want a written invitation Yazwa? Let's go!" Cai shouted, banging on the door.

"I'll be right back Ji," Yazwa muttered, leaving her behind and trying not to sweat as she went into the cabin. Agori got there before she did, and just before he walked in, she caught a brief look of shock on his face. At first she thought he was looking at her, but then she realized it was Ji that caught his eye. Right, she had gotten so used to Ji that her tail didn't even register anymore. It would probably be a shock for someone seeing it for the first time.

"Thank the Chuxa, I'm out of that sun," the Achali said, sinking into Bill's chair and making it creak. "Agori, get me a cool drink."

"Right away, Achali Doros," he said, breaking open the box to reveal a multitude of bottles.

By the time Yazwa got to the table all the chairs were taken, so she decided to stand next to Saiyun. If she stood as still as possible, maybe no one would notice her.

"Zeidu, I wish you hadn't dragged me down to the docks for this. Litters are expensive, you know," he said, taking a fizzing glass from Agori and downing it all in one gulp. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

"None of us are," Cai said with a laugh Yazwa knew by now was fake. "You have something for us? If it's for Bill, specifically, you can leave it with me."

"If it will get me out of here faster," Doros wheezed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a cloth he handed off to Agori. "I've found your uhm, your pest, whatever it's called. At a brothel on Okyan Way. Been there since at least yesterday morning, so I doubt it's going to move."

"It's a real place, I've been there before," Zeidu nodded.

"Yes yes," Doros huffed. "So have I. Now that you know, can I have my money?"

Yazwa blinked. What was an Elder Achali doing hanging around a brothel? She caught a grimace flash across Agori's face, maybe he didn't approve either. At least no one was trying to ask her anything.

Cai raised his hands and smiled. "As glad as I am to hear that, how do we know it hasn't left since you last laid eyes on it? It's very important that we find this pest."

"If I was that stupid, Zeidu wouldn't have come to me for help," Doros sighed, fanning himself again. I have one of my apprentices watching it now. Once you make contact with her, she'll go about your business and leave the brothel to you."

"Where in this brothel is it?" Cai pressed.

"Your friend has a nasty, suspicious mind. You know that, don't you Zeidu?" said Doros.

Zeidu nodded. "Probably how he got so old."

A laugh rumbled out of Doros. "Most likely. To answer your question, it tends to stay on the top floor on the right side of the building. Couldn't tell you what's up there, I do all my business on the ground floor."

"I have a question," Saiyun said, clearing his throat. "Have you ever seen it stretch out very long? Or does it stay in a small cloud?"

Yazwa glanced down at Saiyun, puzzled. Then she remembered how the Akshi looked when it was taking on a new host. He was trying to figure out if it had jumped to a new body.

"I never saw it do anything like that. What about you, Agori?" Doros asked, turning his fat neck to look at his assistant.

Agori took a moment to think. "No, whenever I had eyes on it, it always stayed small. Dyona never mentioned it changing shape either."

"There's your answer. Are we done here?" Doros asked, dabbing away more sweat.

"Maybe," Cai said, turning to Yazwa. "Will you be able to see that?"

Yazwa froze as all eyes turned to her. What was Cai doing?! He was outing her in front of an Elder Achali!

"I think," Saiyun said slowly as Yazwa failed to speak. "I think it sounds like where we found it before. The top floor of a tall building. It didn't give you any trouble before, right?"

"Well..." Yazwa said, throat drying out as she tried to think of a good lie...or of ANY lie. "What...I'm not..."

Doros threw his head back and let out a belly laugh. "Real babe in the woods you have here," he chortled. "You're not the only false Achali in Adoti. Don't give us a reason to notice you, and we won't. Now, can you find this pest or can't you?"

The Elder Achali brushing her off was almost as big a shock as Cai outing her. What was wrong with this place? Even if Doros didn't care, she could help but see the ugly look on Agori's face. She failed to find words, only managing a jerking nod.

"There," Doros said, gesturing at Yazwa. "She says she can do it. Can I have my money so I can go home?"

"Of course," Cai said warmly. "We'll leave it with your apprentice when we take over the watch for her."

"Nasty, suspicious mind," Doros grumbled, pushing himself out of the chair with a groan. "Agori, go with them. Make sure they get where they're going and that they pay. I know how much I'm owed, so no skimming."

"Of course," Agori said, handing the drinks box to Doros as he waddled out of the room.

Zeidu stood up with Doros. "Let me walk with you. I have a few more opportunities you might be interested in."

"I'm only interested in the ones that let me stay in the temple," Doros wheezed as he handed the drinks box to Zeidu and stepped out onto the deck.

The cabin was quiet as Agori shot wary looks at all three of them.

"Well," said Cai, clapping his hands together. "I don't think I have ever been less excited to go to a brothel."

"How far is this place?" Cai asked as he led them out onto the deck.

Yazwa blinked in the sunlight, letting her eyes adjust to the sudden brightness. Zeidu and Doros were taking their time making their way down the gangplank, leaving them to wait on deck. She glanced at Agori, trying to gauge his expression without catching his eye.

Agori looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's not on the north bank of the river, so if we don't have to wait for a litter it shouldn't take too long to get there. You'll certainly be back before dark."

"Good. Old men like me shouldn't be hanging out at brothels after dark," Cai laughed, clapping a very uncomfortable-looking Agori on the back. As the crew started to gather around them. "Once Zeidu and Doros are out of the way I'll get going. Yazwa, Saiyun, you're both coming with me. Everyone else, stay here and look natural."

"I will come with you," Ji said from the crowd. "I have fought the Akshi once already."

Batro raised his hand from the back of the crowd. "Me too, I need a change of scenery."

"No. You two stick out way too much," Cai said, slashing his hand through the air. "That thing has seen all of us. Yazwa and I can blend in with the crowd. So can Saiyun if we find him a hat."

"Maybe she should come," Agori said quickly, pointing at Ji. "If uh, if she has fought before, it would be a lot safer, wouldn't it?"

"I don't remember you joining this crew," Cai said. "Even if you did, I'm the one in charge. Ji and Batro stay. Now that Doros has been hauled away, let's get going."

Yazwa took up the rear of the group, flexing her hands and wishing Cai allowed her to bring her staff. Sure, it made her stand out, but if anything went wrong she was missing her only weapon. Agori led the way, leading them down a wide, stone road clogged with traffic. After months at sea the sound of the city had been a shock, but she was getting used to them again. The further they walked, the nicer the buildings that lined the road got. Warehouses and blacksmiths slowly changed to shops and then to sturdy houses surrounded by stone walls.

"Here we are," Agori said as they reached an intersection. One on corner stood a massive wooden building, ringed with covered porches on three floors. Towers rose above the third floor in places, likely making for a fantastic view of the harbor. It was surrounded by a white stone wall with two locked iron gates. "Dyona's over here."

"No way I can afford this place," Cai laughed, following Agori's lead.

"This is going to be harder than I thought," Saiyun whispered to Yazwa as they weaved through the crowd. "When he said brothel I was expecting a tattered hole in the wall, not something this grand."

"Uh...yes," Yazwa answered. She hadn't known what to expect. Back home brothels and gambling dens were all built in one neighborhood that she had never been allowed to go near.

"Dyona," Agori called as they reached a bakery across the street from the brothel.

A young woman wearing a simple, knee-length white robe sat in a small chair next to a sack of bread. She looked up from a small, leatherbound book as they approached her. "Is this them Agori?"

"It is. We're done," Agori said, glancing back and forth between Dyona and the rest of them. "We'll take the pay now."

"Not so fast," Cai said, patting the sack of coins on his belt. "We still need to lay eyes on it. Where is it?"

Dyona took a breath and blinked. It was hard to tell in the sunlight, but her eyes glowed a bright green as she looked up to the brothel. "It's right there in the tallest tower on the left. Hasn't moved."

"Good," Yazwa nodded.

After a moment of silence Cai cleared his throat and jerked his thumb at the brothel.

Yazwa grimaced. Of course. Let's just announce what she was to everyone they met from the church. After a few calming breaths she blinked on her sight and the world fell away to muted, gray colors. Except for the one, bright patch of pink up on top of the Brothel. The same pink she had seen on the ship and in the apartment where they tracked down the Akshi. It was there. "I see it."

"Excellent," Cai said, tossing the bag of coins at Agori. "Give your teacher our thanks."

Agori caught it and whispered something to Dyona. Her eyes went wide with shock and she sent a quick glance at Yazwa.

"We will," Dyona said, grabbing Agori's arm and hurrying him away, casting another look at them over her shoulder before the pair disappeared around a corner.

Great. Doros might not have cared if she was a false Achali, but what if Agori and Dyona told someone who did? She shook her head, trying to push the dark thoughts out of her mind. It didn't matter. At least not right now. "What do we do now?" she asked, leaning against the building.

"What Bill said to do," Cai said in a low voice as a pair of watchmen marched by. "Keep our eyes on it. Think you can get your crawling thing in there Saiyun? And by that I mean your new summon."

"Ha ha," Saiyun said, lifting the brim of his hat. "At night, maybe. If it stays in that room on top of the tower, I can have Kotack on the roof listening in for hours. Should we try to send someone in to learn the layout of the place? Jeweled Fist recommends that you walk the hallways of any building twice before you make an attempt to sneak in."

"Not until we get a better idea of how that thing moves around," Cai said, rubbing his bald head. "It knows all our faces. One look is all it needs to run for it again. Right now we just need to make sure it stays in one place. Yazwa, you stay here until nightfall and keep your eyes on it. After dark Saiyun and I will come back and see if we can get the centipede in."

"I have to stay here all day?" Yazwa asked. "Won't that look suspicious?"

Cai shrugged. "Move around now and then. Wish Aven hadn't left. We could use him right now."

"Well we don't, so we'll just have to make do. I'll review what Jeweled Fist has to say about brothels," said Saiyun with a weary sigh. "Which might take some time."

"You're an odd one, you know that?" Cai said as the pair walked away down the street.

Yazwa sighed, taking a quick look at the tower again. The smudge of color was still there in the exact same place it was before. Until dark it would be just her, a brothel and the demon hiding inside. Bill and Aven couldn't get back soon enough.