“ONE SILVER,” Cheril squealed. One silver was a lot. It was a year or two’s pay for Nira, who got sent up more often than her friends; for the other women, it was a lot more.

“Dear, you shouldn’t spend all the money that you earned and that Odilia left for you on just one thing. If you save it and get five silver coins, then you can buy your freedom, just like Odilia did,” Milda said. Nira knew Milda was making an effort to be kind to her. Throwing away one silver on a trinket was ridiculous. None of the other women would ever do so, even if they ever had the means. But Nira couldn’t let go of her dream.

“I know it’s a lot, but it would feel great having a way to remember my past life, and this chance may only come now, and plus, as I am getting older, they will be sending me up more and more, so I should be able to earn extra and make up the money I spend on this,” Nira rambled, trying desperately to make them understand why this was important to her.

They went back and forth for a while, the women desperately trying to help Nira cope with her loss, but eventually, the dinner cheering-up effort ended and cynical reality returned. The group got up and deposited their dishes in the washing area, where a few women had already begun washing the dishes as part of their chores. The washing area was near the later end of the water canal. The water came out of one small hole in the wall and went out another, and the earlier portions of the canal were reserved for drinking while the later portions were for cleaning. Once the water reached the divot at the end of the canal, it fell through grates into the sewers. The women often joked that it was the king and queen’s bath water that they got. If it was, maybe then the women could get powers like they had.

Before Nira could leave to queue with the few other lucky women, Cheril, Ja, and Milda turned to Nira to begin their tradition.

“Alright dear, stay safe up there. Don’t get rash or mad like you usually do. Remember, deep breaths,” Milda spoke with her signature comforting and gentle voice, “And don’t be worried about the copper. Whether you get it or you don’t, try not to worry about things not in your control.”

“Yup, don’t worry about it. And let's do something fun together when you come back tomorrow, like cards or dice,” Cheril added.

Ja didn’t say anything. Instead, she just smiled and gave Nira a strong pat on the back and went to start her evening sweeping chore.

Cheril and Milda gave Nira one last embrace and then headed back to their rooms.

It was time. Nira walked to the cell door, but right as she was going to ask the guard to let her out, a strong hand yanked on her shoulder. With a firm pull, it spun her around and Nira came face to face with a very serious Ja looking down at her.

“Alright youngin, there is a way for ya to earn tha money. Milda and Tirbitha made me swore never to tell ya or Cheril, but I think now it might be time,” Ja spoke quietly and sternly. “Most women think there is only one way to earn tha money from a client. You have sex with them, and they give ya some gift or money. Right?”

“Mm-hmm”

“Well, there might be another way to make money, though it is very, very dangerous. I am not saying this as a joke. Ya know what it is?”

“No...”

“It’s because us women are meant to be sex tools for the scooners, that’s it. As long as we stay that way, we are fine. If we do anything other than that, they get worried. So, we have to kno-”

“-the way please, Ja?” Nira interrupted, “Sorry, but I really don’t have time for a lesson. I have to go soon.”

Ja chuckled. “Ya youngins are always in tha hurry. Here, I will be quick. The idea is to spy for tha king. A secret watcher. The man you are seeing is a diplomat, right?”

“He is,” Nira spoke. She was intrigued. There were rumors that some women did such things, but Nira hadn’t known there was any substance behind those rumors.

“Then it should be easy money. If he has any information that ya think tha king might want, then take it and tell Sir Bucken or some other inbred noble. That is, as long as that diplomat doesn’t catch ya. Or ya don’t find information that is too important...”

“I think he does have something interesting, but why would me finding information that is too important be bad?”

“Same reason why every woman here doesn’t tell any other woman where they hide their coin. Tha king prefers his information to be contained. And Nira, remember what I said earlier, We are tools. Tools can be replaced.”

“ALL WOMEN WHO HAVE CLIENTS TONIGHT, REPORT AT THE GATE,” Sir Bucken boomed.

“Why? Why are you helping me?”

“I see it in your eyes, your voice, that ya want this wooden toy, and if ya say it as it is, this might be your only chance. So... I didn’t want to spend the rest of my time with ya moaning and groaning about how ya didn’t get it. Remember tha one time that Cheril didn’t find that Avicenna book in tha library ya kept pestering her about? Ya still haven’t stopped bothering her to ‘check one more time’, so I just didn’t want to be on the same wagon,” Ja jested. But then she sighed, and took on a more serious and reserved tone. “Milda and Odilia didn’t want me to tell ya for a reason. A good reason. We lost somebody because of this,” Ja said with a remorseful look. There was a lot of pain in her voice. Nira wasn’t sure if Ja already regretted telling her.

Ja gave Nira a big hug. Ja was usually tough and strong with her hugs - and most other things - but this time, Ja was unusually gentle.

“LADIES, REPORT NOW!” Sir Bucken screamed, louder than before.

Ja slowly released Nira.

As she walked to Sir Bucken’s roll call, she heard Ja whisper, “Love you to the moon, and be careful...”