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Most of the photos are of Emissary Bradshaw, a fat-cheeked, red-faced man who oversees the Doious state and the best position for any Eiven We stayed with him last year ere evacuated fros go They’re not all like my mother; some of them have compassion, such as Emissary Vincent froal for children under twelve to work in factories
"I take it you want to be the Emissary of the Dominion State?" I tease
Day’s cheeks turn rose red "Well, I certainly don’t want to be Eh That job’s a poisoned chalice All the Emissaries who have been sent to the Barren Lands have been killed within a year, either by Wraths or the outlaho live there It’s a very wild place, and the citizens aren’tpunished
There’s not much else in Day’s room except a pile of books by her bed A photo pokes out of one of the novels, and I take it out The snapshot’s of her when she was about eight years old She’s standing outside the church I saw earlier--Ash’s home--with her arm looped over Beetle’s shoulder
"You were friends with Beetle?" I ask, taken aback
"We were an item for a while We all met at Minister Fisher’s church"
"You’re not with him now?" I ask
She shakes her head "I just use that old photo as a bookmark"
"What happened?" I ask
"Ash happened," she says bitterly, then adds, "Beetle’s parents were killed in the air raids last year He was crushed, as you’d iine He went to live with his aunt, a Huerous--neverback on the subject "Beetle spent a lotfor soood terms with Ash, but they became best friends There was no room for me anymore"
"So you don’t speak to Beetle because he’s close friends with a twin-blood Darkling?"
"No, I’ot hier to me He used to be so a to Centrued when he becaetting high He skipped school, lost interest in his appearance He even cheated on " She mutters the last bit
"I’m so sorry," I say quietly "Someone I cared about cheated on ives ive hiain, but he told s over me So that was that"
A door slareet everyone
"We’re hoo back into the kitchen, where Day’sdinner over the open fire in the hearth She’s changed out of her work uniforth bustle dress, with intricate beadwork over the corset The dress is clearly old, probably an heirloom, and somewhat over-the-top for a fareaseproof paper on the table, then kisses his wife
"You look beautiful," he says to her
"Not now, Michael We have a guest," she says, shooing him away
Michael looks at me with inquisitive, bespectacled eyes He doesn’t seem particularly impressed that I’m here He’s quite handsome for a dad, with skin the color of the blackest Cinderstone, a broad nose and a war boy, who looks a lot like his father, except his spine is all curved over, like an old man’s I think of Polly when I look at hiain, I haven’t mentioned my sister
Day wraps her arly at ive people when they see Polly’s scars, daring theo over to hiht with each other Everyone in the roooes silent
"My name’s Natalie What’s yours?" I ask
He sham"
I hold out my hand "It’s a pleasure to or Day’s father, Michael Senior, laughs heartily
"Let her go, MJ, before you take her aro
Sumrina puts a pile of potatoes on the table
"You lot peel those spuds"
They each grab a potato I sit where I am
Michael Senior looks at uests"
"Dada, you’re eritted teeth
"It’s okay" I pick up a knife and a potato, wanting to help, but quickly realize I don’t knohat to do I’ve never so e in ets it for me
Day shows etable at her brother, who sticks his tongue out at her Everyone chats and laughs, and I sit back and watch them So this is what a normal family feels like? It’s nice
MJ reaches out for another potato, then groans Michael Senior is by his side in a flash He soothingly rubs his son’s bent back Suet any painkillers at the market?" she asks
Michael shakes his head "I didn’t have any coins left after I bought the fish"
"What’s wrong with your brother?" I whisper to Day
"He has kyphosis, curvature of the spine He gets really bad back pain soet you some painkillers," I say
They all turn and look at me, dumbfounded I bite my lip Is it really such a surprise that a Sentry would offer to help them?
"I have access to a laboratory We have lots of medicines; no one would miss a few painkillers," I explain
"No, thank you We don’t want you getting into any trouble, not for us," Michael Senior says, hat he really means is "we don’t want your charity"