The copper tails of the beaded curtains slapped against Indra's back. 

There he went again, without sparing her as much as a glance. It was his day off, but that didn't matter. Since he had told him about the Queen's special mission, he rather spent his time at the base or in dodgy hookah lounges than at home.

Sci blew into her brew. Stupid Indra—if he wasn't going to argue with her like a real man, he should at least pretend he didn't hold a grudge. Not this silent treatment—it was a slap in the face.

It wasn't like she had deliberately tried to outdo him. In fact, until a week ago she had been right as low in the army's ranks as one could be. By all means, she was still a gate guard, and he a soldier. His wages were double hers.

Nana let out a soft groan as she sat down next to her. Grimacing, she rubbed her legs.  "You have to understand, child. Indra worked so hard to get where he is today."

Sci snorted. "Good to know you think I didn't."

"Of course, you did too," Nana was quick to say. She hesitated. "But... he's your older brother. Your parents' only son."

"I'm their only daughter."

"It's different from him." Nana put her hand just above Sci's knee. "He's a man."

"So then it's alright for him to worship the Goddess of Envy?"

"Not alright, but men are more prone to fall for the Goddess. The balance—"

"Yeah, the balance between virtue and sin. Don't talk to me about balance—the Wanderers made that very clear." An image of the lifeless body lying in a pool of its own blood flashed before Sci's eyes.

"The Wanderers of Pride are deranged. That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?" she asked harshly. "I'm going away for moons, on a mission that might cost me my life. Should I just accept my brother pretending I'm air?"

"You're air," Nana said. "Agile. Fierce like a storm when you have to be, then soothing like a cool sea breeze on a hot summer's day. Your brother is sturdy like the earth."

Sci raised an eyebrow. "Is Indra also a...?"

Nana smiled inconspicuously. "Talk to him."

"I tried. He doesn't want to."

"It takes a lot of wind to move the earth, blood of my blood."

Nana was right. Sci sighed. Nana was always right.

That evening, after her shift at the gate, she returned home to Ummi and Nana sitting on the roof, cutting beetroot. The chopping knives stopped momentarily as the two women greeted her, then the hacking, whacking noises continued along with their chattering about Hashan from the brewery who had burnt his hand that day.

Indra was nowhere to be seen.

Not interested, Sci turned on her heel. She'd lie in her hammock, dozing off, until dinner was ready or Indra came home—whichever came first.

"Just a second, Sci," Ummi called her. "A man from the palace came to the brewery today. More handsome than the Alafin—I swear—more rugged, but Gods, I wouldn't—"

"Ummi, I don't wanna know," Sci said with half a snort. "Get to the point."

"Well... He took me apart—said to tell you to come to Kayani's dock at the rise of midweek's day. Wear regular clothes."

"Midweek's day," Sci repeated to herself. "That's the day after tomorrow! I'm leaving in two days."

"Can't you tell these people to wait a few more days?" Ummi asked in all seriousness.

Sci raised an eyebrow, then blinked slowly. Ummi was unbelievable. "Yeah, I'll go and ask the Queen if she can postpone this mission."

"A caravan arrived from the south with a letter from your abah. He should arrive in Alburkhan by week's end. It would be so nice to share a meal—all five of us—before you leave. Be a family."

"Yeah, it would be nice." Sci thought more of Indra. "But I can't. This mission is the most important thing I'll ever do."

"She's right," Nana told Ummi. "it's of national importance."

"But why you?" Ummi asked. "You of all people, with that scar on your face."

"We all know how I got that," Sci scoffed. She wasn't going to miss Ummi's unnecessary, snarky comments.

Sci retreated to her hammock and stared at the ceiling. A single tear ran down her cheek, but mostly she felt like punching something... someone. Ummi had always been good at pretending. For the outside world, they were a happy family who lived in their Nana's home. Ummi and Indra with a steady income. Abah the hero who would put Scoria back on the map. Soon, her mother would spread the news across all of Alburkhan that her daughter—her own miracle—was serving the Queen.

Everything was a facade. A fake, gag-worthy smile. In reality, Ummi hated Abah for always leaving and spending the little savings she managed to put aside each moon. Indra didn't want to marry—not without another man in the house. As if Nana wasn't man enough to be worth two Indras. But she was a witch—grandmother as granddaughter. Two cursed souls under one roof.

If only Alburkhan knew that. They wouldn't be so perfect anymore.

The beads rattled.

An intense, sweet tobacco smell entered the house. Tottering footsteps resounded through the house. Hands clawed, as if looking for support. And failing. 

There came a thud.

Sci got up. She leant against the doorway, watching Indra slowly and clumsily crawling around the cushions on all fours.

"Hey." His voice sounded hollow.

She crossed her arms. "Had a good hookah?"

He formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger. Grinning like a madman, he brought it to his eye and peeked through it.

"You're high."

Slowly, he moved the circle to his lips. He started giggling like Esen's former arm candies. "I'm not low."

She rolled her eyes. "We need to talk."

"We do," Indra agreed. The earnest moment was short-lived. "Do-be-do-be-do," he sang.

"Then not."

She was ready to return to her hammock. In less than forty hours, she would be far away from her, accompanied by people who would value her for who she was. She didn't need Indra's approval.

"Sci..." 

Indra had barely risen to his feet. He stumbled over the carpet, right into her.

She grabbed him. Mostly to save herself from a hundred fifty pounds of man falling onto her.

"What is it, you goat?" she asked him.

"Baaa."  Indra boomed with laugher. His already big pupils dilated further.

"Seriously, Indra?" She pushed him against the doorframe. He clutched the wood for balance. "You should be ashamed. You've been avoiding me for days. And now you finally wanna talk to me—you're not even thinking straight. Go back to the lounge. Suck some more hookah—I don't care. You only have to stay there for one and half days. Then I'll be gone. All your problems solved."

He blinked slowly. "I... I don't want you to leave."

"Tough luck. I'm going."

He grabbed her by her wristband, his other hand still on the frame. Despite being more stoned than a rock, his grip was surprisingly strong. "Leave the city. Find Abah. Sail the southern seas with him until you're old and grey. These missions from the Queen... they're dangerous. Many of those who go never return."

"So what? I'm a soldier... it's part of the deal."

Indra giggled—what for she didn't know. He breathed in, his eyes twitching. "I don't want you to throw your life away like this."

"It's what I want."

He let go of her. He spoke softly. "How can you say?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Sci blew air through her nose. She concentrated. Upstairs, Ummi and Nana were chattering away.

"Come." She took Indra by his hand. Placed him on a cushion at the edge of the cushion round. Then she crouched by the copper pot that had been left on the extinguished coals. Whatever brew left had grown cold. She poured him a cup. "Drink up. I need you sane."

"Yes, Sayida Scirroco," Indra said.

She flicked him in the head. He deserved that.

She crawled next to him on a cushion, then waited for his eyes to twitch less. Halfway the cup, he was slumping down. She gave him a slap. "You're a goat."

"Baaa... I'm goat Indra." He smiled. No giggle. The cold brew was working.

He took another sip. "You're strict. I'll give you that."

"Nana says I'm agile. Swift to adapt to what the situation needs. I'd say that's what makes a good soldier."

"A good soldier follows orders."

"I can do that too," she said.

"When you're calm, yes. Not when you're..." His hand moved around her in circles. "... like this."

"So? I don't want to steal your thunder, Indra. I'm grateful for all you've done for me. It's time to let go. I'm more than the girl with the scar. The jondi who lost her ring. I want to accomplish something big."

"I want you to be my little sister."

"Don't be so envious."

"It has nothing to do with envy, Sci. That's what Nana thinks." He darted a look at the stairs. "I know she's everything to you but she's an old lady. They say the weirdest things."

"Nothing weirder than goat Indra."

He bumped his elbow into her side.

She bumped hers right back.

A splash of brew gushed down onto his lap.

He sniggered.

So did she. "Revenge."

He pulled her into a playful hold. "I'm proud of you, Sci."

"Pride is a sin, brother."

"Then let me live in sin. I'm glad you're my sister."

"And I'm glad you're my brother."