The fall of night brings with it a cool breeze that carries the song of intoxicated commune. The lights of the drinking blocks fold over the sandy streets of Willo, while traders young and old laugh and sing, bringing an end to yet another day of labour. Among those leaning against the bar, Togee, a tall muscular man, with a long, black and fiery red beard, turns his eyes towards the barman. The barman nods at Togee and pours two drinks into tall tankards. Togee nods back before sliding them off the bar. As he strides over to a table in the far corner of the room, Kohln lifts his head and looks upon his brother as he sits down. Togee slides one of the drinks over to Kohln.

“For the mercy of the gods,” says Kohln.

“For the mercy of the gods,” says Togee, before they tap their tankards together and begin gulping down the cold, froth laden Kadacia water.

As a small band of musicians brighten the dank, warm air with music and song, Togee and Kohln watch silently, as the townspeople dance and celebrate. Kohln turns his head.

“What is it brother?” asks Togee, before he looks up to see a small hooded man shuffling towards them. The man sits down on the stool opposite, removes his hood, and leans across the table.

“I don’t know how you found us,” says Togee, “But you had better lose us just as fast.”

“Please, hear me out, you must help us,” whispers the old man, sliding his hand across the table.

“Help who do what?” asks Togee.

“Help the huido, help us regain what was taken from us.”

Togee leans forward and presses his finger against his lips, “You say that word one more time and I promise I will reach out and take from you something you can never regain!”

“You cannot deny what you are!” says the old man.

“We are not in denial, we simply ensure the safety of those around us by staying away from people like you!” says Togee.

“But you don’t understand, if we don’t work together they will destroy us.”

“Not us,” says Togee as he stands. “There is no, us. Please don’t get up.”

Kohln stands up and follows his brother out of the block. As he tries to turn his head to watch them leave, the old man’s body is held fast in his seat, unable to so much as take a breath.

Outside the drinking block, Togee and Kohln climb inside a motor cart. As Togee slams the door shut, Kohln places a small disc onto the initiator and the motor begins to whirr, rattling the cart slightly as it speeds up.

“I thought I was the reckless one?” says Togee.

Kohln slowly turns his head toward his brother, a stern expression upon his shrouded face.

“Vassa,” says Togee.

“What?” asks a petulant voice from behind the back seats.

“Any contact?”

“A couple asked me if I could paint their picture, apart from them, no, nobody knows I’m here!”

Togee turns to his brother and chuckles, but Kohln’s stern expression remains fixed upon the road ahead as he steps on the accelerator and the cart speeds away down the street.

The back seat clicks and folds forward before Vassa climbs through, closing it behind her. She sits back, tightening her sash and straightening her robes. The heavy fabric catches on the small protrusions that extend from Vassa’s joints as she attempts to untangle herself.

“Must I continue to wear these inane robes if I’m going to hide back there?” she asks.

“In the event of your discovery, those robes provide our only contingency,” says Kohln.

Vassa lets out a short strong sigh, “I’m sick of them catching on my frame. Is this not a job I can at least observe?”

“No,” says Kohln softly.

“And why not? What’s the danger?”

“We go in blind on this one, Vassa,” says Togee, hanging his huge forearm over the back of his seat, looking over his shoulder at Vassa. “We may need to come out back to back, we can’t afford to hang you up, understand?”

“Then why can’t I ghost?”

“Vassa,” says Kohln, “Even if I thought you could, successfully, ghosting on this job is an unnecessary risk that would provide little or no advantage.”

“You’re lying,” says Vassa.

Togee widens his eyes and tightens his lips at Vassa before glancing at his brother. “Of course he is, he is trying to keep you safe. Look, if you came with us, we’d have no way of knowing who or what you might come up against if you were found. Then, even after we managed to get you, we’d have to eliminate all who saw you. And we’d have no way of knowing who did. Am I right brother?”

Kohln’s expression is unmoved.

“See,” says Togee, “He agrees with me, now let’s all agree to agree, okay.” 

What was or what could have been, passes by like a cloud in the summer winds. At least, through the yearning eyes of a fifteen year old, all but the life she now knows remains to appear way beyond her reaching heart. Vassa slides down in her seat, pulling her robes tightly around her chest. Her eyes follow a quarrelling family as they walk by the cart and stride out of sight. Turning her attention back to the street ahead, Vassa’s mind drifts blindly, colliding with sporadic yet vivid moments of recollected despair. 

A bang on the cart door violently pulls Vassa from her trance before she turns towards an elderly trader who lifts his wrinkled face up to the window.

“Sweet and delicious macca,” says the trader, “Five pieces, only two units.”

Vassa lets out a deep breath, and slumps back down in her seat. She quickly shakes her head at the old man and turns back to the empty street. The man grunts at Vassa, flicking his hand in disgust before hobbling away, his large goods crate swaying on his back.

The night holds still the crisp cool air that hangs above the town of Willo. The warmth that rises from the cracked, baked sand lifts a light mist into the air. Vassa can barely see beyond the crossroads up ahead. She needn’t, as those she awaits walk above, high up on the eighth floor of a private block to her right. Vassa grimaces as she wriggles angrily, seeking comfort in the rigid and worn seats. She removes her dagger from her robes and rests it softly on her chest, closing her eyes before letting out another deep breath.

High up inside the block, either side of a set of large doors, Togee and Kohln lean nonchalantly against the wall. Togee, the largest of the two, peers over at his brother who presses his ear against the wall.

“Is it happening?” asks Togee.

Kohln raises his hand, squinting his eyes slightly as he listens to muffled voices.

“You were right, they have it,” says Kohln.

Togee smiles, “So partisans deal directly with Mardern.”

“The partisans have no idea who or what they’re dealing with,” says Kohln.

“Is that of concern to you?” asks Togee.

“Only because they may well lose what we stand to gain from them. If they’ve found it, they’ll hand it over without hesitation.”

“True. Then it must be ours.”

Kohln  points two fingers at the doors before his broad shouldered brother steps in front of them.

Vassa remains unmoved until her eye lids flicker. She turns her head towards the windshield before opening her eyes and sitting up slowly, placing her dagger on the seat behind her. As she peers down the street, a small boy emerges from the mist. A faint whimper creeps through the gap in the open window above Vassa’s feet. She narrows her gaze as the boy draws near. The street lights glisten in the streams of tears that roll down his cheeks. His shoulders judder as he whimpers uncontrollably. Vassa leans forward slightly as the boy stops and walks over to the side of the street. He leans back against the block, then slides down to the ground, wrapping his arms around his knees.

Vassa slides over the seat and places her right hand on the door handle. She pauses for a moment, watching the boy before scouring the width of the street in search of company. Vassa turns the handle, the crack of the door echoes across the street. She steps down onto the sandy stone, leaving the door open behind her. The boy continues to cry, his head buried in his arms as Vassa slowly and quietly approaches. 

“Hey,” says Vassa, crouching down a few feet from the boy. “What’s the matter little prince, are you lost?”

The boy lifts his head and immediately stops crying. He looks at Vassa and frowns before burying his head once more. “Go away!”

“I don’t know if I should,” says Vassa, “You’re a little young to be on your own out here.”

The boy remains still and silent. Vassa stands, unsure of a suitable course of action, she turns to scour the street once more.

“Tremae! Tremae!” shouts a voice from beyond the blocks across the street.

“Tremae? Is that your name?” asks Vassa, but still she is left wanting.

“What are you doing?” 

Vassa turns to see a woman marching out of a side street towards them. 

“Tremae? Get away from him, don’t touch him!” The woman pushes Vassa to one side as she storms past and takes hold of the boy. She pulls him to his feet and looks angrily over her shoulder at Vassa.

“He was out here on his own, I came over to make sure he wasn’t hurt.”

“He is fine,” snaps the woman, “Now stay away from him.”

Vassa’s mouth hangs open as she watches the woman pull the boy down the street by his arm. 

“Don’t you ever do that again, you will face your mother for this insolence mark my words.”

Vassa chuckles silently, recognising a familiar scene to which she is now quite fond. For the care of a mother, or anything close, she holds in the highest regard. Vassa turns to make her way back to the cart only to be interrupted by a loud bang. She flinches, reaching back for her dagger, startled by its absence. Vassa’s body stiffens as a loud thud resonates through her as the large body of a man crashes heavily against the ground. His body cracks and pops like broken pod fruit, violently spilling long, straight lines of blood onto the road. Small shards of glass follow, raining down onto them both before Vassa looks up to the broken window, high up on the eighth floor of the block.

“Haddah,” says Vassa turning sharply towards the cart. But before she can even begin to sprint towards it, the huge figure of Togee lands in front of her. As he turns around, the tall, muscular man turns his palms towards the sky, rolling his eyes.

“I’m sorry brother,” says Vassa, clasping her hands together before her chest.

“It doesn’t matter,” says Kohln as he lands beside his brother. “You, drive,” says Kohln, widening his eyes at Vassa before turning to scowl into his brothers eyes with an assured yet regretful satisfaction.

They rush over to the cart as the rumble of angry voices begin to pour out of the block into the street.

“Do you know how much you’re costing me?” asks Togee as they climb on board. Vassa slams her foot on the pedal and the cart wheels spin, skidding on the sandy road. As the cart races away from the block, men dressed in dark coloured, decorated robes, rush out into the street behind them.

“Why must you always leave the cart?” asks Kohln, removing his hood and his mask.

“I was only out there a few seconds, there was a young boy…”

“There’s always a boy, girl, or wounded creature. Just stay in the cart!”

Vassa turns an apologetic eye towards Kohln, who attentively folds his mask in his lap.

“Look out!” cries Togee, leaning forward in the back seat. 

Vassa quickly returns her attention to the road ahead, but it’s too late. She slams her foot against the brake pedal, but the wheels continue to turn as the cart shudders as it attempts to stop. Only a second ahead of them, a woman stands beside a stationary cart, her face contorts as she recoils in shock as Vassa hurtles towards her. Vassa heaves the steering wheel and the cart skids over to the right side of the road before leaning over and flipping onto its side. They skid to a stop in a cloud of dust while the men from the block race up the street towards them.

Togee and Kohln quickly climb out of the window and leap down onto the road. They lift the car back onto its wheels  and quickly climb back inside.

“Go go go,” says Togee urgently.

The woman across the road breathes deeply, her hand pressed against her chest as she watches Vassa drive away. The closest man to the cart stops running and kneels. Almost immediately after, another man arrives and leans over the kneeling man’s back. He removes a device from his belt and aims it at the cart.

“Why brother?” asks Kohln, “Why would you do that?”

“He insulted mother,” says Togee.

“What mother?”

Togee grunts before folding his huge arms across his chest. “A man should protect the honour of his elders.”

“The man you threw out of the window was your elder,” says Kohln, casting a stern look over his shoulder.

Togee turns his eyes towards his brother and then looks away. “He insulted mother.”

Kohln sighs and turns around shaking his head softly.

Faster than the common eye can see, Togee turns to his left and reaches out. Just as a small spear pierces through the back of the cart, he clutches onto a small metal rod. Kohln turns to witness a second rod continue forward, exiting the first. He reaches behind the seat to grasp it, only to witness a third spear exit that one. Kohln looks at Vassa in despair as she flinches in pain. 

“A Dengall weapon,” says Togee, glancing at his brother. “Why would partisan have a Dengall weapon?”

Vassa turns towards Kohln before her eyes roll back and she collapses over the steering wheel. Kohln pulls her over onto his seat. “Drive.”

Togee climbs over into the drivers seat. 

As the cart speeds away into the night, a young, hooded man watches from the roof of a tall block, his eyes narrowed with curious intensity. The cart disappears behind the blocks of the outer ring before the man turns and scurries across the rooftop towards the open roof hatch. 

“Is she breathing?” asks Togee urgently.

“Just,” says Kohln, holding Vassa’s head carefully in his hand.

Togee turns the steering wheel hard and the cart skids off the road and races into the dark desert.

“What are you doing?” asks Kohln.

“We have to help her, now!” says Togee, slamming his foot against the break, bringing the cart skidding to a stop.

Quickly Togee leaps out of the cart and rushes around to the other side. He opens the door and Pulls Vassa off Kohln’s lap. Kohln climbs out, while Togee lays Vassa down on the ground and kneels beside her.

“You have to help her!” says Togee.

“You know I’m not a healer,” says Kohln.

“You are as good as! Do it!” says Togee, growling through gritted teeth.

“Do what?” asks Kohln.

“What you did for me!”

“No,” says Kohln, shaking his head.

Togee stands and takes hold of Kohln’s robes in one hand. “Do it!”

“And if she dies?”

“She won’t,” says Togee, his mouth turned down in desperate determination.

“You did,” says Kohln.

“And yet here I stand. She is stronger than I was.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” says Kohln, taking hold of his brothers wrist.

Togee lets go of Kohln’s robes and watches anxiously as his brother kneels beside Vassa. Kohln loosens Vassa’s sash and pulls her robes to one side. “Brother!”

Togee teens over and looks closely at the exposed skin on Vassa’s stomach. Just above her hip, the skin is pulled tight between two bio frame joints that exit above and below her pelvis.

“That can wait,” says Togee, “Just do it!”

Kohln nods his head and places his right hand on Vassa’s belly. He inhales deeply, then exhales for a few seconds before holding his breath. Kohln closes his eyes while a glittering, cool, black mist begins to rise from Vassa’s belly, swirling around Kohln’s fingers before flowing into the skin above his wrist. 

Togee turns to look the other way. “Be strong, little sister.” 

Kohln’s arm begins to quiver, he presses his teeth together, turning his head slightly.

“Is it working?” asks Togee, “Keep going brother!”

Kohln grunts and flinches, clenching the fist of his other hand. Togee turns to see the black mist slow down until it begins to flow in the opposite direction.

“Yes, that’s it, fight!” says Togee.

Kohln opens his eyes, the white of his eyes now a deep black with no visible iris or pupil. He inhales sharply then grimaces once more, leaning slightly towards Vassa, pushing the black mist towards her.

“Yes, that’s it, you’re doing it brother!” says Togee before Vassa’s body spasms. Again she spasms, and again, until suddenly, Vassa inhales deeply and her eyes snap open. Kohln pulls his hand away from Vassa. Breathing heavily, he rubs his hand, flexing his fingers as his nerves begin to function once more. The blackness fades from Kohln’s eyes. Togee leans over Vassa, placing a hand softly on the side of her face. “Vassa? Say something.”

Vassa begins to breath heavily, blinking her eyes and lifting her head out of the sand. “That, really, hurt.”

Togee looks over at Kohln who looks back at him, still catching his breath.

“Thank you, brother,” says Togee.

“You owe me no thanks,” says Kohln, before he stands and dusts himself down and  begins walking back towards the cart.

Vassa sits on the passenger seat of the cart, her feet resting on the step. Togee leans on the cart while Kohln kneels in the sand in the distance, looking out towards the road.

“What was that?” asks Vassa.

“A Dead-pin, a poisoned dart,” says Togee, “a weapon only used by Dengall warriors, until now.”

“No, not that,” says Vassa. “What did he do?”

Togee looks Vassa in the eyes, then turns to look over at his brother. “That is something only Kohln can explain.”

“It wasn’t huido, was it?”

Togee turns to Face Vassa, reaches out and pulls her robes to one side, revealing the frame wound in her shoulder. The wound is stretched, like the one across her hip. “That’s not important,” says Togee.

Vassa pulls her robes over her shoulder, covering her wound. 

“Why would you hide this from us?” asks Togee.

“It’s nothing, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Vassa, you’ve grown. You’ve abandoned your practice. And now, your frame is pulling you apart.”

“Then remove it,” says Vassa.

“Is that why you did this?” asks Togee. “You know he won’t let me do that.”

“No? Then it’s not your problem,” says Vassa, swinging her legs into the cart and climbing into the back seat. Togee leans into the cart.

“He’s already seen it,” says Togee.

“Then I’m sure he’s already made up his mind,” says Vassa.

Togee nods, while in the distance, Kohln stands and begins walking towards them both. As his brother draws near, Togee can just about make out the disgruntled look upon his face.

“What is it?” asks Togee.

Kohln tosses a stone into the air as he walks past. Togee catches it and lifts it towards his face, struggling to inspect it in the dark.

“It’s fake,” says Kohln.