Allies

She trusts the route, the seal, and about four people. These are the four — plus the voice on the wire.

Fictional characters

Bram — the sorter

Lanky, patched cloak, runs the parcel wall at Ferry Dock Nine. Sorts by weight and instinct in equal measure. The only person who can tell Mia a route is wrong and be believed. Owes her a life; she claims he doesn’t.

Old Halloway — the mender

Grey-streaked hair, needle-scarred fingers, mends satchels and jackets at Ashline Gate. The only person Mia sits still for. Knows more about Mia’s gear than Mia admits knowing about herself.

Pip — the runner

Young, fast, too brave. Mia teaches by walking and corrects by example. Waited an extra hour at Ashline Gate once so Pip wouldn’t cross alone — and denied it to everyone, including Pip.

The Dispatcher — the voice on the wire

Never met, only heard: route assignments over the wire, handwriting on chalkboards. Might be one person, might be three. Mia takes the assignments and asks nothing — the closest thing she has to faith.

Moth — the signal keeper

Keeps the Cinder Steps lanterns lit. Trades lamp oil for news. Mia always stops, always pays double, never says why. Moth never asks — which is why Mia stops.

Sable — the Hollow Market fence

Sells everything, guarantees nothing. Mia buys rope and silence from Sable. Their friendship is a long argument conducted entirely in fair prices.

The Wire Choir — the rooftop runners

Not one ally but a crew: the runners who work the Rooftop Wire. They think Mia is too serious. She thinks they’re too loud. They cover each other’s spans anyway.

Joss — the retired courier

Lost a leg on the Salt Flats, keeps the station log at Cinder Steps landing. The only person alive who remembers Mia arriving at the Relay — and Joss won’t say from where.

World notes

All allies are fictional characters in Mia Rowan’s fictional world — not real people. All artwork is AI-generated dramatization art. See About This World.