“Ah, but you can’t have one of such good quality, surely?” The vendor had noted the tattoo on my wrist.

“Probably not,” I agreed, and set it down. “Unfortunately, I don’t really need a bag, and—”

“Thirty set.”

Celane was already at the end of the street. “No, thank you.”

“Come on, you’re with the Order. It’s not like you can’t afford it.” There was a mean glint in the man’s eye. He held out the bag. “Hard times are coming. Some of us are going to struggle more than others.”

I wavered, and he saw my weakness.

“Thirty set, Sister,” he repeated.

“I’m only an Acolyte,” I said. “I don’t earn much.”

“Ah, but that’s all relative, isn’t it?”

Celane had disappeared, but I might be able to catch up to her if I was quick. “I’m sorry, I really am. But I can’t justify it.”

“Twenty-five set, then, but only because I like you.”

It was as if I was talking to a brick wall. I shook my head and turned away. “No, thank you.”

“You think that you won’t need the goodwill, girl?” he said, louder. “Think you’re better than the rest of us? You’ll see.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smirked. “Buy the bag, and you never need to find out.”

“She said ‘no thank you.’”

Finn rested his hand against the small of my back. I started; I had not heard him approach.

“And while she might not be a high-ranking member of the Order,” he continued pleasantly, “she does have the power to revoke your trading licence.”

Oh Eater. “I won’t!”

The vendor sized Finn up, suddenly guarded. “Who are you?”

“Finn Vidar. Come on, El, you were supposed to buy me a drink.”

I let him steer me away from the stall. I could feel the vendor’s eyes raking my spine.

“Since when do you let people bully you?” he asked under his breath.

“It was a misunderstanding.” I was acutely aware that he still had his hand on my back. “Since when do you threaten civilians on my behalf?”

“He was trying to take advantage of you.”

“He was trying to make a sale. Finn, wait.” We had reached the outskirts of the market and stood in the shadows of the Gardens once more. I pulled him through the gate and up the stairs to the Chequered Garden so that we could talk without being overheard. “Listen, tonight was a bad idea. I know I crossed a line earlier, and I’m sorry. Let’s just go home.”

“He was manipulating you.” Finn’s voice was harsh. “He knew that if he could make you feel guilty or scared enough, you would fold.”

“I wasn’t scared. He’s just a merchant; it really isn’t a big deal.”

“Until it happens tomorrow. And the next day. Over and over again.”

“So what?”

“It gets to you!” He jerked his arm free and came to a stop at the top of the stairs. “And you accept it, all of it. You don’t even try to find a way out, because you are ashamed.”