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Kyer sucked air between his teeth. “Not exactly. Reave’s lower half didn’t take the invasion kindly, and unlike Markoth, they have the power to fight back. More than the Swarm was counting on. That smuggler you worked for, Kael? He took control of the district’s leaders, bringing them together to form a revolution. They want control of the city entirely, and they’re putting up a hell of a fight to do it.”

Lily’s body grew heavy, and she sat back on the log. “I started a war?”

“There’s no way to say yes without it hurting.”

The earlier panic sweeping through her chest returned. She knew Kyer was hiding things from her, but this was something she never imagined. I saved Luka’s life, but I put thousands more at risk.

They might rely on a way of life that others saw as unethical or unsustainable, but they were still people. They didn’t deserve this.

Gods… What about Reina? Xavier?

The sting of tears pressed behind her eyes. She couldn’t think about them. It was too much. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

“I know, kid. I know.” Kyer reached to hug her, and Lily let him. “Hearing it may not help you, but this does us a huge favor. It means Markoth isn’t the top priority. Their security for the orchards have tightened, but they can’t spare the numbers needed for a full blown siege of the town. It means we stand a chance here.”

Lily blinked away the unshed tears. The Wraith was fulfilling its purpose, and she didn’t have to lift a finger. There wasn’t anything she could do to take back what happened. All she could do now was try not to make anything worse.

“That’s why you’re doing this now.” She sat up, regaining her composure. “But what does that have to do with me getting the guns?”

“I have a few reasons. First, Kael’s primary distributor pushes the guns you used to help make to the rest of the continent out of Gridian. Caiven Caspen. Do you recognize the name?” Lily shook her head. “He lives on the outskirts of the city and keeps his collection there in an armory. Throwing a wrench in this operation not only gets us weapons, it exposes him to the Swarm, stopping it entirely and halting a bulk of the money funding Kael’s uprising. I thought you should be the one to accomplish that.”

“Why?”

“Amalia’s kept your absence hidden as much as she can, but there are some who know where you’ve been and look down on you for it. Your reputation as a competent Imordial has suffered. Helping Markoth is one thing, but ending a smuggling ring you helped sustain will procure more favor in your name. That sends a message you’re not going to put up with the use of souls for power. I want you returning as someone her circle can trust. Someone people believe in.”

Lily took it all in. If Amalia was sweeping her indiscretions under the rug, Lily would play along to keep the push back from the public minimal. “And the second reason?”

“Caiven is Diseased.”

Her anxiety flared again. “That I have heard. There were rumors Kael worked with one.”

“Oh? Did these rumors happen to mention how terrible of a man he is?”

They hadn’t, but she could tell where this was going. “You want me to kill him.”

“It sounds terrible, but he’s the perfect victim for the Wraith. He’s lived too long; he’s a menace, and killing Diseased vessels is… tricky. You’re the only one of us capable of doing it.”

“Let’s take a step back,” she said with a laugh. “How do you expect me to get into the armory or anywhere near Caiven in the first place?”

“I have a spy—a shape shifting fox—posing as one of his guards. He’ll help you get into the armory and Caiven’s estate.”

It wasn’t sounding any more difficult than tasks she used to do in Reave. The other half of Kyer’s request was the difficult bit. “And if I decide to kill Caiven, how do you expect me to go against a Diseased soul? Aren’t they extremely strong?”

“By sending one with you.”

Lily kept her displeasure in her lungs, but not enough to keep it from her expression.

Kyer snickered. “Jarek’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so might as well get used to it.”

Lily chewed on her tongue, considering everything Kyer was asking of her.

“Luka will stay here,” he said, trying to guess what she was thinking.

That was a given. As much as she didn’t want to leave him, he’d only be a hindrance in Gridian. She couldn’t take him with her to the estate, nor did she trust him alone to wait for her. What was actually on her mind was the result if successful. How could Kyer expect others to believe in her when she didn’t? Would this be enough to patch her reputation?

It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. If she were lucky, she could at least walk away with another ghosted rifle.

“Is there a reason I need to get into his estate?” she asked. “Can I accomplish both tasks in the armory?”