The Diary of a Chef

[knifey]

——

Nisah 23, 7789

It's here. The Sublime Bank.

Manijeh announced her new station at the head of The Office of Public Accounts, overseeing the re-established Sublime Bank. I'm glad to hear her voice over the bellows. I was beginning to worry.

I completed my application last night. Or was it this morning? Sometime before I could rouse myself fully. I slept all day again, I hope I filled it out correctly.

——

I don't feel as- [The pen ponders a thought.] hopeless today. As much as there are still those responsible for Grenth's murder, justice has been cast on the murderer. Soon enough the cowards and conspirators will be met with their own.

But today - there's hope. I've been thinking about my conversation with Witness Nox. What would Manta think, what would Grenth think - what would she think - if they saw me like this.

To honor them is to keep living, keep moving forward - to acknowledge their sacrifice, to embody their legacies, to inspire others - so that their memories can live on through me.

——

I saw Jan again. It was brief, he gave me an old pack of smokes from an old friend of his. The pack's stained with blood something. I feel bad taking them, but he just tossed me the pack. I think I'll just hold on to these ones for a while.

Still - everyone's still giving me cigarettes. Did I sound that desperate? Am I that desperate?

I talked to Witness Nox again. He asked if I worshiped any of the Spokes - I told him of my devotion to the Wyld. We talked about the other Spokes, the Wheel, the Synod. Talked of the other Speakers and things I won't writ-

I gave him an old Kulamet robe I'd found a few weeks back, a show of my gratitude for his wisdom. Though he's a Twindari, I thought he would appreciate a priest's robes. He was very grateful. But then he realized the boots he was wearing snagged the hem of the robe - he decided to forgo the boots. "For now" he said. I think he was just being polite.

Or maybe he wanted to walk with the Wyld for a time. I think he's going to be an important figure in the Synod soon.

Soon enough.

——

[Manic, frightened penmanship.]

Is it a threat?

Veiled knowledge of my suspicion.

Whispered but known.

Is it him?

A mangled, unrecognizable corpse.

Strewn and severed.

Is it an offering?

A trophy to be consumed.

A gift from The Murderer.

——