Enlil's simmering silence maintained for the next few days. He spoke nothing more than what was polite and in response to Master Anu's questions. Anything and everything Tia or Mommu attempted was met with an indecipherable look.

Tia kept an eye out on the boy. At the same time, she also kept an ear out for any more news of Gwent, but she was disappointed to find not a single hint of any war-related news, much as she'd eavesdropped in the dining area. Enlil's silence made her uneasy. She knew he was plotting something and, perhaps too late, she regretted challenging his words and encouraging him to take action. Mommu was right... as usual.

Master Anu did not appear relaxed, either. Tia had no idea if he had heard about the impending invasion – he must have, surely? – but it was evident he intend to travel on to Capital as quickly as possible. His lined face appeared older every evening when he returned, and Master Mami's initial critical features were also replaced by worry.  Tia did not trust aloof, quiet Ki enough to ask her about the war, and the older girl made a point of not socialising with the other trainees even during their training sessions, keeping herself busy with her magic.

One day Tia was awoken by Mommu as he barged into the room the three shared in Lady Ishtar's Arms. The flimsy wooden door nearly flew off its hinges as the plump boy gasped, bending over and hands gripping his knees.

"What is wrong, Mommu?" she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

"It is Enlil!" the apprentice choked out, trying to catch his breath. "I cannot find him anywhere!"

She was wide awake at once and swung her legs out of the stiff, wooden bed that the inn had provided.

"Are you sure he is not in the tavern?" She flapped her hands at him. He turned around and she slipped into her tunic and leggings. "He is not in the stable, the dining area, the outhouse...?"

"I have checked!" Mommu's voice was rising in pitch. She shoved her legs into her boots and reached for her cerulean cloak, before changing her mind and swinging her travelling cloak around her shoulders.

The sun had barely risen; its rays struggled to peep through the heavy smoke that permanently sat above Hume. Despite the early hour, the streets were already filled with slaves moving to and from their working areas. The two struggled their way through the crowded streets, avoiding the swinging of heavy sacks of grains on the slaves' shoulders and the wheels of the carts stacked high with wooden boxes. They did not know the streets of Hume well, but by following the flow of people, they could guess their general direction of journey.

When they were exhausted, they stopped, sweaty and sticky, hungry and thirsty, perspiration dripping down their faces and their hair plastered to their foreheads. At extreme ends of the day, the sun's rays were blocked by the high buildings but at its highest point in the sky, the heat bore down unrelentingly, burning their heads and their skins, making their motions even more sluggish and reluctant.

They had gone to every single warehouse, shoemaker's shop, blacksmith's, woodcutters' store and more, yet the boy was nowhere to be found. Panic had settled in Tia's chest. Enlil could be anywhere, for all they know. He could have run away – out of Hume and anywhere beyond by now. He could have been arrested for assault if he saw a master punishing his slave and the boy did not control his anger. He could have been killed for treason if he was heard proclaiming his thoughts of overthrowing the king and liberating the slaves.

Liberating the slaves.

Something clicked in Tia's mind.

"Mommu!" She grabbed the boy's arm. "What if Enlil was going to speak to the slaves about his plan?"

"What if he was?" he asked, confused.

"Think! If Enlil wanted to get a message across to every slave to support his cause, where would he go? Where do all the slaves gather when they are not labouring?"

"The square?" Mommu's brows knitted together. The square was the small, open space she had seen on the first day not far from the bustling main street. Unofficially recognised as a slaves' area, it was where they took breaks in the shades created by the tall buildings. Civilians avoided it, partially out of acknowledgement for the slaves' own haven and partially because the lack of ventilation made it an undesirable place to linger. It was still sweltering hot, but out of direct sunlight, where they spoke to fellow slaves in their native tongues; it was a place many congregated.

Tia took Mommu down one of the side streets they had passed on the first day of arriving in the steamy city. Following the narrow alleyway past several corners, they emerged into an open area, bathed almost entirely in the shades by the tall stone buildings standing proudly at the perimeters.

Slaves stood, sat, lay everywhere. They converged in little groups, talking in their snappy native tongues, laughing and joking despite the stifling temperature around them. Their shiny, shaved heads were covered in sweat, their bulging muscular limbs scarred and their skin tanned and rough with use.

In the centre was a statue of King Ea and Lady Ishtar, the royal couple standing illustriously upon a decorated stone base, their gazes fixed into the distance and a gentle smile curving at their lips.

Tia used to feel in awe of the king, but now, seeing the plump monarch with his double-chin and bulbous nose, she couldn't help a feeling of resentment and disdain fluttering in her chest, knowing that the people of Kiramone badly needed help and the king had the means to assist, but did not.

I always thought a king must live for the people, for without the people there is no king. She shook her head. The bards always seem to be singing such high praises for the king back in Mooncliffe and Kiramone. And yet I am having doubts, who–

"Enlil!" Tia's thoughts were interrupted by Mommu's sudden shout. She jumped. He took off at a run towards one of the benches, where a familiar, tall figure sat slumped and bent over his knees, head bowed.

Enlil showed no signs that he had heard. Indeed, he remained perfectly still in his defeated position.

Tia touched his shoulder gingerly. He didn't move.

"Enlil?" she said in a quiet voice. She squatted in front of him so that she could look up into his face, buried in his hands. "What is wrong? Where have you been?"

He made a strangled noise.

"It is about your plan, is it not?" Mommu said in a soft tone, kneeling down also. "Tell us, Enlil."

He sat up slowly. His pale eyes were red with engorged blood vessels as though he had been crying. His cheeks were red and his lip had little teeth marks on them. His clenched fists shook as he gathered his thoughts.

"The slaves here are... content with the situation," he muttered, staring at the ground. "I cannot even entice their interest in standing up for their rights. They are unconcerned that they cannot vote or marry; they have no qualms that they are second-class citizens, and they rebuffed my suggestions..."

"What... what were those suggestions?"

He gritted his teeth. "That we storm the ministers and threaten restoration of all the rights; else the slaves boycott every job. Hume will fall to its knees."

"Of course they said no," came a dry voice. They stiffened. "You are very foolish to think the slaves of Hume would even consider that idiotic plan."

Standing behind them, her cerulean cloak attracting the stares of the slaves lounging all around, she stood with her hands on her hips and an unimpressed expression on her long face.

"What do you want, Ki?" Tia said as rudely as she dared. She didn't care to respect Ki, even if she had years' of talent under her belt.  Ki ignored her and spoke directly to the slave, who looked bewildered.

"If you have come here to relieve the destitute condition of slaves, Hume is the last place you want to start your rallies." Her voice dripped with disdain. "Master Mami has already done decades of improving their conditions and rights. I am surprised you did not notice that they are all very happy with enough food and water and a roof over their head every single night. No slave has starved to death in at least ten years. We do not need some ignorant brat like you trying to mess up the improvement Master Mami has spent so long achieving."

She swept her arm out; her cloak billowed.

"Look at them! They all have jobs, full bellies and medicines if they fall ill. Oh, do not get me wrong, they may still remain second-class, but that is in name only. Compared to the poverty-stricken conditions that befall even our own in other cities, these may be slaves, but they are very happy, content, fulfilled individuals. So you can take your trouble-making elsewhere, we do not need the likes of you!"

Tia was at a loss for words. She didn't like Enlil's seemingly rather violent and extreme way of restoring rights, and Ki appeared to have a point. Not that Tia would ever admit that.

Ki's dark brown eyes burned with anger and her lank hair appeared to crackle with emotions. At the sight of the boy continuing to look so shocked, her face softened.

"Your quest is not unfounded. Slaves' conditions really need to be rectified in other places, particularly in Capital. It is just that Hume is one of the best cities for slaves to be at in the whole of Dernexes." She paused as though her mind were occupied by a sudden thought. "Come with me this evening to the building just behind the city hall. I have something to show you all."