Kerrigan tugged on her hood and glanced around nervously to see if anyone was watching. Loch was still illegal even if Clover smoked it for medicinal reasons.

She stamped out the smoke before they made it to the Square. People milled about the interior of the Square, making signs and chatting. For a Friday night, the Square was relatively empty. The traffic had been reduced by barricades that kept the horses and carriages out of the center.

“There are fewer people here than I thought,” Kerrigan said.

“Yeah. Thea can get people out for the secret meetings, but to actually stand up to the Society, that’s an entirely different thing.”

“Makes sense. No one wants to get in trouble.”

“We’re allowed to protest,” Clover said defensively. “It’s protected speech.”

“I know, but …”

Clover shrugged. “I get it. It’s stupid.”

Kerrigan agreed. But fear laced the protest. No one was approaching anyone else. None of the signs were being held high. The protesters were huddled together and looking around anxiously. Only a few people were doing much of anything, and Kerrigan instantly recognized Thea as one of them.

“Come on. Let’s say hi.”

Kerrigan followed her to where the leader of Rights For All was standing, speaking to a Fae male. Well, the man was arguing with Thea while she kept a perfectly level head.

“I understand, sir, and appreciate the information, but we actually are allowed to be out here today.”

“I’m going to call the Society Guard.”

“You may do so, but I have a permit from the Society for this demonstration,” she said cheerfully.

“No one wants your kind here,” the man said. “You’re going to lose us all our business.”

“I apologize for the loss of business. We do not want to harm you in any way. We would like to request the same from the Society and the city guard. We deserve to be heard.”

The man grumbled something and then turned and trekked back to the glass-blowing business he apparently owned.

“Need me to take care of that?” Clover asked defensively.

“Clover!” Thea said with a wide smile. She took Kerrigan’s hands in her own. “You made it.”

“Are many people talking to you like that?”

“Oh no,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “Nothing I can’t handle. Let’s get you set up somewhere in the Square.”

“Everyone seems afraid,” Kerrigan noticed.

Thea sighed. “I know. We gave them a pep talk, but it didn’t help. They believe in the cause, but they fear the consequences of being here. Despite the fact that this is sanctioned by the Society.”

“They don’t want to give us rights, but they’ll let us march for them,” Clover ground out.