Chapter 30: The Ash Solstice: Book 1 - The Sun Curdled

Part 3:He looks so confident, so much like he belongs. Hardly anyone looked at me—not even my own aunt. All I earned was a passing judgement from the Captain. I see the nobles behind their private guard. We had just pushed past hundreds of people suffering and crying, daughters looking for their fathers... and there are so many people just standing and sitting here by the fire, eating...Vespar is sharing all the spots where we used to steal glances at each other, our own private little game of “who notices who first.” Now the military and the nobles own them, marking them on their map. No one has even asked whether there are places where those we locked out might go to hide and wait for help. The map holds only the Captain’s men and my aunt’s son—three charcoal marks.The Watch.Leo.No one asked where the bakers ran.Or the labourers.Or the children.I speak almost before I realize what I am saying. “...lowborn or highborn... couldn’t be trusted at a time like this.” That is bold of me... I need to go help the people down there.“I can’t just watch.”Only after the words leave my mouth do I realize they aren’t meant for him.