She thought about Sky—maybe she could give Fifer some guidance. Sky was always steady and calming during a crisis. And she’d been there for Fifer when they went to Warbler to collect Queen Eagala’s things. Which reminded her that those materials were still in the skiff, anchored just offshore. Fifer would have to fetch them and bring them in for Thisbe. Though a tiny part of her didn’t feel like doing anything generous for her sister at the moment.

Fifer got dressed and brushed her hair. She slipped the robe on over her clothes and vest and tiptoed out of the bedroom, pausing for a moment in the living quarters when she noticed a new note on the blackboard. Desdemona had put up a congratulations card for Fifer, signed by all the other blackboards in Artimé. It gave Fifer mixed feelings, bringing a sentimental tear to her eye alongside a chill of worry. But it also reminded her that there was so much to accomplish today. And that sending a general blackboard message to everyone in Artimé was probably something she should do to ease some of the questions people might have. She’d talk to Florence about what to say.

Perhaps that note could wait until after Fifer started releasing dissenters, if that was what she decided she ought to do.… She was still conflicted about how to punish them. She went out into the hallway and saw Sky exiting a room down the hall. Fifer waited for her.

“Hi,” said Fifer, feeling a bit awkward in the conspicuous robe.

Sky smiled and came up to Fifer, giving her a warm embrace. “How are you?”

Fifer gripped Sky tightly, almost as if holding on for dear life. When Sky tried to pull away, Fifer didn’t let go.

“Oh, Fifer,” said Sky, hugging Fifer again and patting her back. “This has been rough, hasn’t it?”

Fifer kept her face pressed into Sky’s shoulder. She couldn’t speak for a moment. But then she took a deep breath. “I’m struggling with some stuff.”

“Tell me,” said Sky.

Fifer released the embrace and pressed her lips together, lifting her eyes to meet Sky’s encouraging gaze. “There’s this voice in my head… my conscience or whatever. It keeps reminding me that I killed a fellow Unwanted. I feel terrible about it, and I can’t seem to tune it out.”

Sky turned, and the two started walking down the hallway toward the balcony. “I can imagine that must feel very strange,” she said. “But let’s explain the facts to your conscience. From what I heard, you weren’t even close to figuring out Mr. Today’s clue. Do you know how long it took me and Alex to figure out how to bring the world back the first time with one of Mr. Today’s little clues?”

Fifer looked up. “How long?”

“Days,” said Sky. “Many days. If you’d stuck to the route of figuring out this clue and it also took you days, guess what?”

“Aaron would be dead.”