Diffraction

Chapter Sixteen: Beneath the Willow

"Accounts from the City revealed an unexpected concern for life when contrasted with reports of the battle. Your own description of the subject's actions in combat flies in the face of the kind comments of Aulivar's citizens. I initially dismissed these conflicting details. However, multiple individuals confirmed this aspect of the subject's character."

"That beggar," Josephine railed as she marched out of the Abbey, down its white steps, and into the street. Lyllithe rushed to keep up, a couple paces behind. "That one at the gate. I'm going to find him, and I'm going to pummel him into dust."

"What are you talking about?"

Josephine paused in the street. "I stopped by the Altar of Tsadek to offer a gift. We don't have huge cathedrals or organizations to fund our order. We just have an altar in each major city, and the gifts help equip and train new Soulforged for their duties. I went to give, and—"

She opened her palm and flashed Lyllithe the small dagger she'd been given. "Do you remember this guy? I'm pretty sure this is the dagger he used to cut loose my coinpurse."

Lyllithe sighed. "There are cutpurses and thieves everywhere, Jo. You can't possibly believe—"

"Oh, I don't believe. I know. He's the only one that so much as bumped into me before we reached the inn. I'm sure of this." She Marked Lyllithe, revealing a silver ribbon overlaid with a seven point star, etched onto the back of her hand. "I can sense it. I sensed something then, but didn't know what to make of it."

Before Lyllithe could reply, Josephine spun and continued toward the Sun Gate. Lyllithe rolled her eyes and trailed along.

The late afternoon sky shone in a mixture of orange and indigo. Street-merchants hawked goods to a steady stream of travelers and citizens. But the sight of a Soulforged on a mission sent the city-folk scurrying to make a path. Lyllithe traveled in Josephine's wake through the sea of humans and Elementals. Within minutes, they reached the gate.

Josephine scanned the crowd, then scoffed. "Found you," she growled. She shoved her way into the mix of bodies, and again they parted, though many showed annoyance at the disruption.

Lyllithe followed Josephine and spotted the beggar through the bustling crowd. The wrinkled man with curly salt-and-pepper hair and a bushy gray beard sat near the entryway of the Gate, cup in hand, calling for alms. He sprang to his feet, and the fear in his eyes told her that he'd seen Josephine. He fumbled with his coins, hiding them in the pockets of his worn clothes.

Josephine pointed at him and yelled. "That man is a thief! Take him into custody."

He bolted toward the walkways between the nearest homes before the guards at the gate could react to Josephine's accusation.

Josephine gave chase, and Lyllithe begrudgingly pursued them both.

In the narrow alleys and walkways of the cramped city, Lyllithe often lost sight of Josephine. But the Soulforged yelled and threatened the beggar enough times that Lyllithe was able to follow the sounds and get back on track.

She rounded a corner, panting, and found Josephine holding the man by the throat up against the inner wall of the city.

"How many others have you robbed, crook?" Josephine held the knife out, ready to strike. "How much gold is your filthy soul worth?"