9
Aunio reached the top of the wall first, launching himself up the ladder with hard pulls on the rungs. Trina arrived a few moments later, along with a few town guards and some useless hangers-on who had followed the frantic Pure girl through the streets.
If Evie’s right, those “useless hangers-on” might be all that stand between us and death.
“Thank you for the reminder.” The landscape was quiet enough, a Midland summer’s haze of blocky strand and patches of greenery. No signs of whatever had spooked the girl.
“Reminder of what?” Trina said, only half paying attention.
“Nothing. Any network activity?”
Trina shook her head. “The town net is quiet. No signs the strand here is expecting an attack.” She turned to the guardsman on duty, a tall, pockmarked man with strand laced in his ey
