The distance from Quill Avenue, where Miss Louisa lived, to Dawn Square, where Dawn Church stood, was quite far. To avoid being late, Shade took a hired carriage at the intersection. He first sent Mia home, then headed to the church.
Tobesk in the height of summer was likewise shrouded in smoke. The scorching heat made the burnt smell in the air increasingly unbearable. On the way to the church, Shade tucked the leaf into the decorative pocket watch cover (Note), while gazing out the carriage window at the sights of this Steam Epoch.
The swiftly passing streetscape, respectable gentlemen and barefoot children, low walls overgrown with weeds and imposing noble estates, dense steam pipes and laborers carrying sacks—all of it showed Shade the balance and imbalance of this era.
But the Outlander knew that this was merely one stage in the development of civilization. For civilization, there had never been any absolute balance, only dynamic relative balance.
He was lost in such thoughts to the extent that, when he got out of the carriage, he nearly forgot to pay the coachman. Embarrassed, he gave two extra pence. The hunched middle-aged coachman did not mind at all and instead thanked him happily; two pence had value even to the poor of the lower class.
It was now Thursday of the second week of Thunder Month, and Saint Prayer Festival was drawing ever closer. The clergy of Dawn Church were becoming increasingly busy. Yet Priest Augustus still found time to welcome Shade at the church entrance and embraced him with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Remember to act injured."
That was the priest's quiet reminder during their embrace. Only afterward did he ask in a naturally concerned tone:
"Shade, are your injuries all right now?"
"Cough, cough."
Shade did not know what symptoms internal