Millie ignored her brother. She offered me a hand and pulled me to my feet. “How was the Haunt hunt?”

“What Haunt?”

“Yes, very convincing. Daje and Hanna should be in the Gardens already. Maybe you can save the details for them?”

“You know I won’t tell you anything about the incident, right?”

“She says now.” Millie looped her arm through mine. Her skin was sun-warmed, and she was wearing perfume, something light and feminine and sweet. “Sounds like a challenge.”

The Central Gardens were only a few blocks away. They formed a belt of lush greenery between the eastern and western sides of the city. Huge stepped terraces jutted up from the Major Quadrants, and a maze of stairs, ladders, and bridges connected the different levels. At the base of the Gardens were the city greenhouses, row upon row of glass rectangles packed with ripening vegetation. Food Management had plans to build more to decrease the Sisterhood’s dependence on the farms. It was one of Reverend Somme’s more ambitious projects, and an ongoing headache for me.

“… want to see the Moult perform. I hear they’ve planned an act for Moon Tide.” Millie had been talking for some time.

“Are they the illusionists?” I asked.

“Yeah. Daje saw one of their performances a few months ago.” She squeezed my arm. “You seem distracted. Something on your mind?”

“Sorry. I was thinking about Sisterhood problems.”

“Ah.” She smiled. “Should have known.”

We reached the Iron Gate, the main entrance to the Gardens in Minor West. A few people milled around the shaded path and an Enforcer leaned against the fence, an expression of extreme boredom plastered across her face. A labourer read a book in the sunshine.

“Over here.”

Hanna waved from a little way up the path. She was a short woman with a heart-shaped face and multiple piercings. Although the two of us feigned friendliness for Millie’s sake, our relationship was civil at best. The coolness between us was probably my fault.

“You took a while, sunshine. I was getting bored.” Hanna kissed Millie’s cheek and nodded to me in greeting.

“Hello,” I said, perhaps a shade too cheerfully.

The Gardens were busy, with civilians making the best of the cooler weather. Children played tag along the walkways, and the elderly practised stretching exercises beneath broad trellises. A trio of Sisters from the Department of Water and Sanitation sat on a bench in the shade, engrossed in conversation. I had heard that the department was in a state of turmoil ahead of Reverend Kisme’s martyrdom. Reverend Belia Verje was set to replace her next month, and rumours suggested that the new Head intended to reshuffle the entire Department.

Hanna led us across the dry lawns to a smaller path through the trees. She had linked arms with Millie, and the two of them were discussing people I did not know. I fell back to give them space.

Finn caught my eye.

“Something the matter?” he asked quietly.