The soldiers were tense, waiting for something to happen-like is was a matter of when, not if. For our part, we did our best to steer clear of them, avoiding the main square, where a group of protestors yelled, voicing their thoughts on the public execution scheduled to happen in three bells time. The four of us stick to the roofs of the buildings that line the roads.

"Athira!" I look over my shoulder from the ledge I'm perched on. "You're going to get us caught. In the name of the Goddess, get over here!"

I roll my eyes, but climb off the ledge all the same. "I was keeping an eye on their rotations, I wouldn't have been seen." I cross my arms, the rough cloth and new leathers stiff along my shoulders.

Kai laughs and puts his arm on Graham's shoulder. "Trouble in paradise, my friend? You two have been at each other's throats all day!" Graham shakes Kai off then shoots a look towards me.

"We're fine." His voice is cold and he turns away from me. I clench my fists, what a-

I'm jerked to the side and my eyes find Jezebell's tall silhouette. "Ira, what's up with you two? You guys were happier than the Blessed Goddess herself yesterday. Now you can hardly look at each other!"

I carefully extract myself from her grasp. "I don't want to talk about it."

I start to walk away but Jez grabs my arm. "Ira, talk to me!"

This time, I rip my arm out of her hand. "I said, I don't want to talk about it!" There's fire in my eyes and Jez takes a step back.

"Fine."

"Kai, I want you and Athira to trade placements for the plan to move more smoothly." I whip around to look at Graham.

"Is that really the reason why? Or is it because you just don't trust me anymore?"

"Athira-"

"No, I've ran that position for the last three years and now that you know who I am, you have an issue with me?!"

"For the love of Rhaya! Of course I don't trust you anymore, you rich blooded snake!" Graham yells at me and I can sense the tension that builds between the four of us.

"We all knew that the others around us had their real lives and the reason they hate the upper class along with it. So now that you know who I am, you think me the enemy?!"

"Ira? What are you going on about?" I turn my back to Graham and look at my dearest friend.

"Graham saw me in my façade, yesterday. He saw me with my father, Meek Hessing, the richest man in the city." I hiss, the words tasting like poison.

"Ira, how could you-"

"How could I what? How could I hate the hand that feeds me? Because it was with that same hand that he killed my mother, just to further his reach in the city." With that, I walk away, heading in the direction of the same position I've taken for the past three years.