“Amman oraske,” June said in greeting. May the Mothers bless you.

“Amman min oraske,” Aina replied, the familiar words sliding easily off her tongue and easing her nerves. These were some of the few words her parents had known in the old holy language, which had died out except for use among Inosen. Her parents had said these words in greeting to the Sacoren who had led the underground worship services. “You were a Sacoren, weren’t you?”

“I am a Sacoren, a proper one, not a twisted one like Verrain was, and I will be a Sacoren until the day I die and my soul returns to the Mothers,” June said. “Even if most of the people in this city have given up on their faith, I have not. The Mothers will protect me even while the city bleeds itself out.”

Aina fought down a grimace. June, like most Inosen, would likely believe the Mothers would always protect her—until, of course, there was a gun in her face with a Diamond Guard at the end of it. Maybe Aina would worship the Mothers if they could provide bulletproof shields.

After a short pause, Raurie whispered sheepishly, “You have to pay first.”

Aina elbowed Ryuu. He withdrew a box from his pocket, then opened it. Coins spilled out in front of June, gold glittering in the candlelight.

“My blood will be given willingly in service to you, through the Mothers’ blessing,” June began. “Raurie, if you will assist me.”

Raurie stepped to the side of the room and knelt in front of a chest. From it, she withdrew a small knife. She then plucked a diamond from the jar to the right and passed both objects to her aunt.

“Raurie tells me you would like to track someone. What is their name?”

Aina bit her lip for a moment, wondering how much she could trust this woman.

Then she remembered there wasn’t really a choice in the matter.

“Kouta Hirai.”

“So, he’s still alive?” June asked, tilting her head to the side. “Have you brought something to complete the spell’s connection? To perform a tracking spell, we will need the blood of the person performing the spell, the blood of the person receiving the vision, and some piece of the person you are tracking. Mine, yours, and … Mr. Hirai’s.”

Aina handed over a small glass vial with scrapings of Kouta’s dried blood from her dagger. June stared at it for a moment, turning the vial in her weathered hands so it caught the light. Weariness crossed her face, as if she’d seen so much blood that the mere sight of it exhausted her. She then looked at Aina, taking in her clothes and features.

“Dare I ask how a girl from the Stacks got the blood of one of the wealthiest men in the city? Unless, of course, she recently tried to kill him…”

The statement hung in the air, rife with tension. Aina partially rose, one hand trailing to a dagger, but Ryuu placed his hand on top of hers and answered June first.