Page 77 of Bannerless (The Bannerless Saga 1)

Ariana and Lee came to watch with her, standing a short distance away. Respectful, but out of reach. Neither wore their gray committee sashes and hadn’t since her first day in town. They probably only wore their sashes for hearings and the like, and this—they didn’t know what this was.

Philos did not come. Miran did, but not Kirk. A good number of folk from Pasadan watched from farther back. Not necessarily anyone who’d interacted with Tomas, and no one here really knew him. But it was likely they’d want to say they were there when the investigator died at Pasadan. That would make an excellent bit of gossip. A good story for the fireside. They were welcome to it, and Enid ignored them.

A familiar shape came to stand beside her as the flames did their work to the sound of cracking wood and the scent of ash. Dak, who didn’t make a move to touch her. She’d have liked to be held by someone just then, but she was thinking of Sam.

“You all right?” he asked.

“No, not really,” she said. “Eventually I will be.”

“You’re the strongest person I know, Enid,” he said, looking away and returning to stand by Ariana, who seemed to be fine with him there.

It was time, Enid decided. She wasn’t getting anything done standing here watching the fire. As soon as she finished this, she could go home, and she desperately wanted to go home. She thanked those tending the pyre one more time, then went to speak to Ariana and Lee.

Enid wished she still had Tomas looming at her shoulder. Would anyone listen to her, without him beside her?

Well, Dak had.

“I’d like to meet the committee at Sero’s homestead now,” she said to the pair. “Will you come with me?” Enid looked over the gathering again, just in case, but still no Philos.

Ariana stared. “You did it. You found out what happened.”

“I might have. But I need confirmation. Philos needs to be there, too.”

“I—I don’t know if he’ll come,” Lee said, wringing his hands. “Right now—he’s despondent. I think he’s aged a year just since last night.”

Enid felt no sympathy for the man. “I’ll

go get him myself, if you think it’ll help. And where’s Kirk?”

“Haven’t seen him,” Ariana said.

Enid hadn’t seen him since the day before yesterday. He wasn’t there when she and Tomas had uncovered the hoard at Bounty. Had the boy actually fled? And what did that say?

“Miran.” Enid turned to find her right there. Not eager. Her shawl was stretched tight across her shoulders, from hugging herself. Whatever happened, she would see it through. Braver than her beloved, she was. “You know where Kirk might go if he wanted to hide?”

She hesitated. “No. No, I don’t.”

Lying, Enid was sure. That was fine. “Right, then.”

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Enid felt like a magician, revealing wonders.

First, she went to Bounty to find out the state of things. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see that the entire place had burned to the ground. That Philos would turn out to be one of those types who would destroy what he’d built rather than see someone else knock it down. But the place was just as it had been yesterday, the pretty sign still standing, the buildings and gardens just as they should be. The door to the secret cellar and the honeysuckle vines had been put back to the way they were, all neat and innocuous.

The usual bustle of a busy household was absent—everything quiet. No one seemed to be working; the loom was still. The only sounds were the murmuring chickens.

“Where is everyone?” she asked Ariana.

“Common room, I think,” she said. “Are you sure this is necessary? I was hoping we could just leave Philos be.”

Enid turned on her, glaring. After all Philos had done, after he’d potentially undermined the entire community, she could still say that? Would she argue that Philos and his household should avoid punishment, too?

“Not angry at him anymore? I thought you wanted this.”

Anguish pulled at her face. “I didn’t think . . . I didn’t expect . . .” She gave a frustrated sigh. “It’s the whole town. I thought it would just be him and Bounty. But it’s spread out to the whole town.”

Enid stared. “It always does. That’s how it’s supposed to work.” She marched on. “Philos needs to see this.”

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