Sasha recovered her senses, and felt a bit of anger at Marigold’s words. “I don’t appreciate you saying those things,” she said. “The men here are good and brave and, a–” Sasha’s voice caught. It broke, just a little. Marigold saw and heard her doubt. The other woman didn’t laugh, like Sasha expected. In fact, her smile fell away. Marigold looked at her with something like pity.

“I know you don’t believe that,” she said.

Sasha closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. Then she replied, “No men are perfect, just as no women are perfect. But everyone here in the Kingdom tries, every day, to abide by the Lord’s will. That’s what elevates us above–”

Marigold interrupted, “Does your Lord say women don’t get last names?”

“We don’t use last names in the Kingdom because they distract us. We can’t afford connec–”

“The men keep their surnames. Don’t they?”

That was true. Sasha hadn’t thought about it much, what with everything else that was going on. But Dr. Brandt went by his last name, didn’t he? And Alexander had a surname too. She’s trying to weaken your faith in the Kingdom. Don’t give in to the doubts of the serpent.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sasha said, and immediately regretted it. Any response would surely just egg Marigold on. And sure enough–

“Oh, it doesn’t? Then why is that the rule?”

“Well, it’s obviously because we need some way to tell families apart from one another.”

“Yes,” Marigold smirked now, “and the only lineage that matters is the man’s, isn’t it? Women are just appendages in your belief system.”

“I AM NOT AN APPENDAGE!” Sasha shouted, surprised at her own anger. She heard shuffling feet, and a second later the guard had one hand on the door and another on his rifle.

“Is everything alright, miss?” he asked.

“Y-yes,” Sasha called back to him over her shoulder, “I’m fine. Sorry. She’s just…” Sasha fixed Marigold with a withering glare. “She’s very frustrating.”

Marigold smirked at that. Then she held out the test. Sasha hesitated for just a second before taking the strip from the other woman. Marigold smirked at that, too.

“You’re pregnant,” Sasha said.

“Ayep,” Marigold nodded.

“Congratulations,” Sasha tried to sound genuine. Marigold’s eyeroll didn’t help that cause.

“Oh yeah,” the other woman said, “this is a real joyous moment for me. I hope your people let me live long enough to know whether or not my kid’ll deserve a last name.”

“You know,” Sasha said in growing anger, “this place isn’t perfect, but if you got to know the people here you’d understand. They are the best people I’ve ever met. I wish you could have seen the welcome I received. I’ve never felt so–”