Alsace shook him awake when she returned. She had been particularly worried when she had heard the rumours circulating about the attack on the University. It hadn’t been difficult to connect the dots. She embraced him, muttering thanks under her breath. When she pulled away however, Jano recognised the anger underlying her features. Hiding beneath worry.

“So you used your power to break into the University to steal… what?” She was sitting on the other side of the bed, maybe a stride from him. She was still wearing her work clothes but she took the utmost pride in presenting herself.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t told and I didn’t see what she picked up.” He replied. “I basically just got us in there. I suspect it was pretty valuable given the fuss that is being made about it. You should have seen it though Alsace!” He was talking excitedly, but he kept his voice low.

“There was a room full of artefacts, books and rare weapons. Things from other cities in the Empire. Wealth like you can’t even imagine.” He prattled on, but the look on his wife’s face hadn’t disappeared.

She looked at the fullcoins and back at Jano. He felt strange explaining this to his wife. In the past when work was tight, when he had been forced to steal, he naturally kept it a secret. She had taken him as a husband with a bright future. She could have easily chosen someone else and she would probably be living a comfortable life in the Middle. Now, here he was, explaining full blown crime to her. Crimes that could get them both sent out of the City, or killed.

“Will there be anything else he wants you to do? We almost have a full season’s worth of earnings from the workhouse now.” She said, looking into his eyes.

“I don’t know. I have to go back and see him tomorrow. He called it a debrief or something. He also has something I think he wants to give me.” He had left out the bit about stealing the scythe. He didn’t want his wife to think of him as an opportunistic thief, true and proper.

She gave him a sympathetic look. “Look, I know what happened made you feel powerless. But I understand. It wasn’t your fault what happened, no matter what the Court said. They just wanted someone to blame. You don’t have to keep doing this sort of stuff if you don’t want to.”

“I know…” he said. He kept the fact that he wanted to himself.

She cut him off. “You didn’t mean to kill that man— it was an accident during construction. He shouldn’t have even been there and if he wasn’t a trainee Mage, you probably wouldn’t have even faced prosecution!” She paused for a breath, staring at Jano.

“How could you have known that was even a possibility! I know it feels good to have your power back, but it’s not all you are. I still love you. If you’re able to keep sharing the Mage’s magic, we could build something again. If not, we will work it out. You don’t have to keep doing this stuff.” She said, there was a brief pause before she added, “not for me.”

Jano listened to his wife but as she talked, he felt a growing pain inside. Like a punch to the stomach which filtered out through his fingertips. He could feel it building, and then it sort of spilled out through words.

“You deserve so much more. We deserve so much more! But I’m not just doing it for you. Yes I want to get us out of this place. I want to feel like I matter again.” His head dropped as he said it. He had always told Alsace everything. But it felt as though he hadn’t been this honest with her for a while. Or even with himself. He stood up and looked at his wife.

“It’s demoralising walking into the Commercial District and hoping that there’s something there for me. A hard day of menial, hard but thoughtless work. For no recognition or security and basically no pay. It’s not enough to move forward, we can barely cover food, never mind change our circumstances. If you had seen what I have in the University, it’s… it’s just so unfair. I feel….. worthless.”

After a brief pause, his wife rushed to embrace him tight and they stood like that for what felt like an age. His heart was beating in his chest, almost as hard as it had been after the full night of running.

“You’re not worthless.” She kept saying over and over. She whispered it into his ear as she held him close. He brushed his cheek against her shoulder. Her clothes were wet and spongy. He hadn’t realised that he had been crying. He dried his eyes and kissed her on the cheek. “The fact that you’re willing to keep trying means you’ll get somewhere, even if you don’t know where it is yet.”

He walked into their other room. Alsace followed and grabbed some of the Plier wine they had bought. Cheap Slum bought wine. It was exactly what he wanted. She poured two glasses.

“I’m with you. Whatever happens.” She said.

He drained his glass and started preparing food. He could feel his stress slipping away as she poured another.

He looked at Alsace, her big brown eyes watching him close as he fumbled with some potatoes. Her dark chestnut hair tumbled down over her shoulders. She was too good for him and he knew it. Yet she stayed anyway. I’ll give you everything I possibly can, he thought.

He hadn’t even long been awake, but he still felt exhausted. He had been bottling things up for an age and he hadn’t even really realised. The wine had definitely helped.

——

That night, they ate more than they would have dared to a few weeks before. They drank a little too much and they talked for most of the night. Some of the talk was serious, most of it wasn’t. It was nights like those which made him hungry to provide more for his wife. To climb as high as possible, which until a few weeks ago, seemed impossible.

Nights like those had always been stunted over the dull reality of the next day. But this time, things felt a little different.

Alsace waved him goodbye as she walked a little slower than usual out of their home. Jano had a storming headache and he guzzled down as much water as possible. The water of the Slums tasted like metal, but it was desperately needed.

The sun was rising. He planned to get to the Middle before it was daylight proper, just in case things were still on high alert after the goings on at the University. He dressed in the clothes the Mage had provided, flung his cloak over his shoulders and bungled out of the door.

The dusty streets were busy once more. Hungry souls looking for work. They dragged their feet, but moved quickly. Knowing that anyone of those people by their sides could be a competitor. A rival in their hunt for their next meal and Jano was thankful that he wasn’t joining them.

He hurried out of the Slums. There were slightly fewer Guards at the exits than yesterday, but still a higher presence than normal. They didn’t stop him this time as part of the mass of Slummers hoping for work. He moved freely from dirt ground to stone pavements.

The throng of hopeful people started slowly thinning out as he made his way towards the Mage’s house. Most of the others took the immediate turn towards the Commercial District. Those who accompanied him towards the residential area of the Middle. Most likely to work in a house as servants.

He almost didn’t even realise when he arrived at the thick wooden door he had become so familiar with. He knocked and took a step back. Alsace had been right, they almost had a full season’s worth of earnings. He could maybe buy some tools and work once more. Assuming nobody investigated him too thoroughly.

He waited, but when there was no answer after a few moments. He tried again and took another step back. Still nothing. This was odd, usually the door was answered almost immediately. If not already open, waiting for his arrival. There was a pit opening in Jano’s stomach and it wasn’t from the wine.

‘What if’s’ started to circle in his mind as he thought about what he would do if he was now surplus to requirements. Would he take his power away? Would that be the only job he needed him for? He walked a little slower as he debated these questions back and forward in his mind.

He tried to peer through the small window, but it was slightly too high for him. He listened briefly against the door, but heard no movement whatsoever. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he knocked once more and waited. Still nothing. He looked at his wrist. The light purple, flickering writing still spelled out ‘VII’. He let out a deep exhale. Perhaps the Mage was just somewhere else, perhaps if he came back later, the door would be open and Darrel would be waiting for him. Something told him that wasn't likely.

He debated trying to find a small sheltered alcove and using his power to make his way in. He shook his head. He doubted the Mage would be particularly happy if he did that. It was also too bright and too obvious. The Guard were also already on high alert.

That set his mind roaring. He hadn't heard that anyone had been caught. Surely there would have been more fanfare if a Mage had been caught for the incident at the University. He checked for any approaching Guards, just in case. There was nothing. Nobody.

He waited for a few more moments. He knocked one final time. Slummers weren’t expected to linger on the streets, so he couldn’t stay too much longer. He remembered the disappointed look on Darrel’s face when he said he wouldn’t return that same evening. Perhaps he knew then.

No one’s coming, he thought.