Back at the barracks now. Keep my head down, and I should be fine. It looks pretty quiet at the moment, and I wonder where everyone is. Who cares? Fewer people to think about what I am doing.

Head downstairs to the mouldy hole known as our office. I still love the soft glowing globes; they are more beautiful than gaslights or candles. Gives the impression of a mysterious aura surrounding everyone. Feels like you can see them as their true selves, or maybe they are just some trippy lights—oh well.

Why are they so pissed off about what I did? It is not like I killed anyone or accused someone of a crime they did not do. And it is not like I planned to do it. I just acted. That is what my army Sarge drilled into me: ‘Act, don’t think; you’ll live longer.’ So was it wrong for me to save someone?

All I am doing is going round and round in my head, questioning something I guess I do not comprehend. No point worrying about this anymore. Hopefully, they are over this, and we can get back to finding out about those linked crimes.

Great, they are here. Stillwater calls out, “So you have the all-clear?”

I reply, “Yes, they said I could go back to work. I feel fine, so nothing to worry about.”

And here goes bloody Gunnar with his sarcastic comments. “Like we were worried. You are still the stupidest, ugliest human I have ever had the unlucky chance to encounter.”

Did I say sarcastically? I meant outright insulting.

“From your dumbstruck expression, I can see I need to be more obvious. You know how much paperwork we had to fill out? The foam bomb use in public; the report on your stupid, dumb-arse, bloody 'hero' event?”

I look at Gunnar, Stillwater, and WayWocket. Well, at least WayWocket is not looking at me; he is too busy doing some weird magic-like thing. I am starting to see how this relationship works between Stillwater and Gunnar. Both are harsh, insulting, and angry, but Gunnar is the hammer, while Stillwater is the hand. I hate my life sometimes.

“Yes, Gunnar, I am sorry that you had to do your job. But I am not going to apologise for anything—”

“I completely agree with you, Lone Solo!”

No, no, no! Why me? After those exact words, why does Zlata need to walk in?

Zlata continues, “You should be praising this brave individual! With his heroic act, he saved a precious child from a horrid death. I guess it’s lucky that I needed to talk to you, Stillwater, so I can also pass along the Count's congratulations to you, Solo, and invite you all to the award ceremony during the Duke's visit. A great honour ... Stillwater, a word.”

Stillwater looks at me; her expression is not anger or rage, just resignation. On the other hand, if looks could kill, I would be dead twenty times over from Gunnar’s glare. Sometimes I wish I was like WayWocket; he is altogether oblivious to this whole scene.

As Stillwater and Zlata did not move far, I can hear their whole conversation. Zlata is not very subtle. None of it sounds or looks good. I can see Stillwater is putting on a brave face to a barrage of finger-pointing, yelling, and worst of all, being stripped of her rank—from sergeant back down to, wow, corporal! I choose not to really listen to the whole thing, but it is very hard not to feel sorry for her and the Rejects.

As Zlata turns to leave, she says, “And if I see, hear, or even dream of your team down at the warehouse district, not only will I have your commission, I will personally have you prosecuted by our highest law—and hanged!”

Zlata then turns to me, smiles, and says, “Thank you again, Solo—for everything.” And with that, she leaves. I really do not want to be here now. I feel a spot in the middle of my shoulders about to have a stabbing pain. I hear Gunnar’s sharp intake of breath; I assume that he will either threaten or insult me. Either way, I am boned.

Stillwater looks at me and smiles. What? She turns, looks at Gunnar, and says, “No, Gunnar, he doesn't deserve you berating him about all of this.” I cannot believe this. What is happening here? She turns back to me. “I have said thank you for risking your life for Lana. I know her parents, and they are so very grateful for what you did. Pushing aside what Commander Zlata said, as it was very laudable, we should be proud of your medal and achievement.”

“What? Sorry, you were just chewed out by that snake Zlata for nothing? I mean, I am sorry that you have been put in this predicament.”

Gunnar starts to yell, “You should be—”

“Gunnar, enough!” Stillwater commands. “The damage is done. There is nothing we can do about it. We are the ones at fault for being so worried about making waves that we forgot why we were here—to protect people!”

I am trying to hide my smugness from Gunnar. He has been riding me since I was assigned to this squad. He notices anyway. “What are you smug about, you little—”

“What did I say, Gunnar?” Stillwater yells.

“But, boss, it doesn't excuse this piss-ant for being content with everything that just happened.” I see a small nod from Stillwater. Oh great! “Now look here, sieve-for-brains. Do you understand what this means?”

“Sure I do! Well, sort of.” They stare at me. Now, who is on trial? “Okay, okay, no, I do not, except the part about me getting a medal.”

“Congratu-fricking-lations, you are getting a lump of metal. But, unfortunately, you also allowed one of the most corrupt individuals in the Watch into a permanent position of power!” Gunnar yells.

I do not understand. “What? I know Zlata's reputation, but how does that affect Stillwater?”

This is when I found out more than I wanted to know about politics within the Watch. Next, Stillwater says a whole lot of stuff. Something, something Zlata—bitch. Blah, blah, commander posts something. Blah was one of three officers, something, something.

Brain, please pay attention. This is important.

“—with my demotion, that only leaves Zlata and that spineless Denis for the permanent position of commander if Axel doesn't recover,” Stillwater explains.

Gunnar continues. “We can keep a low profile, white-bred, so long as we only show results in forgotten cases. But then you go and do something like this, so we—by Jara’s hammer!”

Stillwater nods. “Yes, Gunnar, your overzealousness is the reason we are in this predicament. If we had just patted him on the back, Zlata wouldn't have heard anything about it and wouldn’t have been given an excuse to demote me. Now that I think about it, she was probably going to forbid us to investigate those cold cases anyway; the ones possibly linked to the grain stores.”

My brain hurts. “Okay, let me understand this. So this whole situation was just an opportunity for Zlata to screw you over, Stillwater? And it is all Gunnar's fault?”

And what we need right now is ... WayWocket. “Yes, clear all of this is! Zlata's plans are now right now, instead of behind now.” Yep, good old WayWocket. “Simple. Adding two and two make six. Plans woven within other probabilities, only grasping it gains the last two. The warehouse will have the answers we seek. Stillwater, we must go!”

“I agree with you, Way. That is where we need to be. The answers will be in those grain sheds. Gunnar, gather what we need. Way, make sure we have subtle items, nothing too big. And Solo, you stay here. You don't need to risk yourself; this is not your fight.”

As the others jump at her orders, I ask quietly, “Stillwater ...?”

“Call me Joan. After tonight, I won't be an officer in the Watch.”

“Okay, Joan. I am not sure I quite understand what is happening here. Zlata said if you or your squad goes down there, you will be hanged. Why risk yourself? I thought you did not want to make waves.”

She looks at me in silence for a few moments; it sorts of weirds me out. I am not into women who have more muscles than men. “Lone, can I call you Lone?” Sure, not like anyone cares what my real name is. I nod. “Yes, Lone, we don't like getting involved in the politics of the Watch, but Zlata confirmed one thing; something is happening down there, and I intend to find out what it is!”

This is wrong. I just do not know what to do. “You don’t want me to go with you. Why?”

“Simple. You’re the hero of the hour, and if you aren't involved with this, you’ll still be a Watchman tomorrow. Besides, you are still healing.” She looks at me and gives me a tiny smile. Well, if you could call it a smile. It looked like a shrug of her lips. “Look, if this goes astray, you will be in with the Count and maybe have an audience with the Duke too. We will try to get the information to you somehow, and you can expose the whole affair to someone important if we don’t make it.”

“You have too much faith in me. I am a no-one. I am just trying to survive, that is all,” I tell her. Even I do not believe me right now.

“Sure you are.” She turns and removes her tabard, belt, sword and gathers her shield. “Go home, Lone. You did good work today. That is my last order. Just agree and head off.”

And that is it. No more talk, no more anything. Gunnar glares at me but gives a stiff nod. WayWocket smiles, stops and stares intently up at me. Then, as the other two starts climbing the stairs, he passes me a stone and says, “You’ll know when ...”

Gunnar yells out, “Hurry up, Way. Leave that self-serving white-bred to himself!”

WayWocket winks at me before he hurries to join the others.

I am left alone now, down in their office. Wonder what this stone is about; it looks like some rock you can pick up near the river. I put it in my pocket to study it later. I guess I will head off; nothing to do here. Oh well, I am receiving a medal! I am the most awesome person ever!

Guess I should head back to Pela's. Great, I forgot to ask Bertude about getting her a job. Have to do that before I head home.