Heyem slept next to Alexand, guarding her sister, waking occasionally to check she was still breathing. It’s nearly dawn, and the sun is appearing on the horizon, a faint sliver of light peers through the curtain, and Heyem feels something sticky.

The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Alexand’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. The nature of her illness is cyclical, and degenerative, and her doctor has given her the maximum dose of Katherine’s inhibitor, to try to stabilise her.
Jarad had helped Alexand to walk away from Lord Anderson’s tomb, and heavily disguised, the two of them caught the train home, towards the village they grew up in. After leaving the train, Alex is finding it harder to walk, but she is too stubborn to let Jarad carry her. The village is a mile away, and Jarad is getting nervous.
Katherine has been in a self induced coma for five days, and in all that time, the Guild Master’s General has made sure he watches over her, guarding her from Amanojuko agents.
A few days have passed since Abouna Panak approached Katherine in her laboratory. She has increased the dose of inhibitor, to attempt to prevent her body from deteriorating any more than it has already. She has made the decision to rest inside the sickbay alongside the other patients, as the long trek from laboratory to her apartment is too much of a strain on her body.
Katherine woke up the day after her birthday, and made her way down to her laboratory to continue with her analysis of Juba Apfvarzian’s blood. When she arrived there, all of the samples had gone. There was no trace of her findings, and her research over the past few weeks has vanished.
Ajeeta Kothari attempts to convince Katherine that she has changed her allegiance.
Katherine has decided to undergo a scan to determine how much time she has left.
Alex attempts to disguise her illness from her troops, as she leads them towards Tibet.
Alexand has returned from the bedroom after kissing goodnight to a very sick Katherine. She joins her siblings, hoping that they can support her at this difficult time. This episode is dedicated to David Prosser, who asked me a few weeks ago if the next issue could be “a bit more hopeful.” CLICK HERE for next chronological story.