Only Skeletons Remain

Chapter 39: Snowfall

December 2018

Harper walked through the Inner Circle with Lyra right beside her. Harper was finally taken off duty watching Tyler, but the two had grown remarkably close. The weather had grown colder, and Harper wasn't acclimated at all. She had grown up with the coldest temperature being 70º. She pulled her coat closer to her body as they walked past the Academy where they trained. 

"How is your training?" Harper asked Lyra as they walked to the Outer Circle. "When will you become Lorekeeper?"

"It's going great!" Lyra replied. "Nico says I'm getting close, which I'm super excited about." She added.

"I'm glad for you!" Harper replied with a smile as she turned to the different merchants. That's what she was here for. Lisden wanted to talk to a certain merchant. She had gotten bulkier, especially with all of the training, and now she could speak English better. Things were looking up. 

"What about you? Any talk of being a bishop yet?" Lyra asked. "You've been Lisden's right hand woman."

Harper shrugged. "Nothing yet, but I'm hoping it'll be soon." She glanced over to see her brothers haggling with another merchant in the Circle. They had all gotten good at English, but Micah was still struggling with the change. He never was good with it.

A snowflake drifted lazily down, landing on the sleeve of Harper's coat. Harper blinked at it, her dark eyes wide, as another flake followed, then another. Soon, the air was filled with the soft flurry of falling snow, gentle and quiet, painting the worn cobblestones of the district white. Harper froze, her breath catching in her throat as she reached out her hand to catch a snowflake on her palm.

Harper stared down at her sleeves. What was this? She furrowed her brow. "It's cold and soft." She said, looking at Lyra.

Lyra laughed, stepping back to stand beside her. "Yeah, that's snow! I thought you'd never seen it."

Harper shook her head slowly, her gaze never leaving the sky as it darkened, the snow falling faster now. "Never." She let the flakes fall against her skin, her dark hair speckled with white. There was something magical about it, something peaceful. "I saw it in books... but this... it's different." Harper's voice was soft, almost reverent.

Lyra smiled, watching her. "It gets better when there's more. Just wait until we get a proper snowfall. You can make snow angels and snowballs... all kinds of fun stuff."

Harper glanced at her, a flicker of curiosity lighting her eyes. "Snow... angels?"

Lyra nodded eagerly. "Yeah! You lay down in it and make wings. It sounds silly, but trust me, it's fun."

Harper raised an eyebrow but smiled slightly, the snow already starting to cling to her hair and eyelashes. She held out her hands, catching more flakes, feeling their cold bite as they melted against her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the quietness of it all. For the first time in a long while, she felt a strange sense of peace, like the weight she carried with her had lightened, just for a moment.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, opening her eyes to look at Lyra.

Lyra nodded, her smile softening. "Yeah. It is. I'm glad you're here to see it."

They stood there in silence for a few moments, the snow slowly blanketing the district, turning the world around them white. Harper turned to face the sprawling Artisan District, now transformed under the snowfall.

"Let's go," Lyra said finally, her voice full of quiet joy. "Before we freeze out here."

Harper chuckled, shaking the snow from her coat. As they started walking again, she couldn't help but glance back at the Artisan District, watching the snow continue to fall. The two of them made their way towards a tent where a man saw them and took off into the tent. Harper narrowed her eyes, quickening her pace.