For Darkness Shows the Stars

return for a raise in stature and Luddite rights for their children. But with . . . him—” Dee had the same problem calling Kai by his new name as Elliot did. The words Malakai Wentforth felt wrong in her mouth, though it was probably because she couldn’t connect the boy she knew to the person who now preferred that name.
    “With him, he would have nothing to gain by returning here,” Elliot finished. “And no interest in an estate.”
    Ro paused again on the trail. “Kai?” she asked hopefully.
    “He’s meeting us there,” Elliot replied, wishing it were true. But it made Ro smile. She adjusted her scarf and took off, half skipping and half running. Dee gestured to Jef to keep an eye on her, and he groaned and ran to catch up.
    Elliot was pleased to see that the Reduced had already switched to their winter clothes. A few years back, when they’d lost so many Posts, no one had been assigned to the duty, and as temperatures dropped, many of the laborers had fallen ill. One even lost a foot to frostbite after it was discovered she’d been wandering around all winter in her summer sandals. Elliot made sure it had never happened again.
    She’d learned a lot in four years. The mistakes she’d made at fifteen that had led to the bad time would not be repeated. The mistake she’d made this summer of not doing a better job hiding the wheat—that would never happen again either. Four years ago, she’d never have been able to cajole her father into renting out the Boatwright estate to the Fleet. Things would get better.
    They had to—otherwise, what had her sacrifice been worth?
    Elliot was tired of hiding from Kai, of turning down invitations to the Boatwright house for fear of seeing him. Tonight’s party would be large enough that she doubted they would be forced to cross paths. Elliot would stick close to Dee and the other North Posts, and leave Kai to spend time with the Fleet . . . or the Groves.
    As they arrived, Elliot saw that the space above the lawn of the Boatwright house had been strung with paper lanterns, though the light burning inside was too white and steady for candle flame. Sun-lamps, then. How many did they have, if they were able to work by night in the shipyard and still have dozens to string up on the lawn? More lights bedecked the porch, and there were blankets and colorful cushions strewn about the lawn for seating. The arrangement brightened up the browning winter landscape and made even Elliot’s careful decorations for the North estate’s harvest feast look dim and old-fashioned. What were a few candelabras and some jugs of fall leaves to compare to a patchwork of blankets in Post-bright colors and brilliant, sun-lamp–bedecked ribbons crisscrossed against the sky?
    The Groves’ wagon was parked at the perimeter, and Elliot wondered if Tatiana would regret not coming along. Her sister had said that she’d already attended the harvest festival for the North laborers, and that she’d had quite enough for one season of picnics and peasant food.
    “You go if you wish,” she’d told Elliot. “I’ll attend the next time the Innovations choose to throw a dinner party or something more civilized.”
    So much the better. She doubted the North Posts would be able to relax much if their mistress was present. And every North Post, from the housekeeper Mags to the youngest children, had turned out for the party. There were also more than a dozen Grove Posts milling about the cider kegs they’d brought in carts at the corners, and half a dozen more tending to a giant kettle of soup. It was a marvel to see so many Posts working in unison—it reminded her of the old days on the North estate.
    Was this what it was like in the Post enclaves? Was this what it would be like everywhere in a few generations?
    Felicia Innovation waved to Elliot from a cushion near the porch. She was surrounded by Olivia and Horatio Grove, both decked out in Post fashions, and Kai, who was reclining nearly in Olivia’s lap. Elliot grabbed onto Ro’s hand tightly as they approached.
    “Elliot,” Felicia said. “I’m so glad you could make our little party. Who is this you’ve brought?”
    “This is Ro,” Elliot said, as Ro buried her chin in her chest and drew back.
    “Ro!” Felicia waved at the girl. “I am Lee. Nice to meet you.” That was the Reduced name she was born with, the one she’d mentioned to Elliot on their horse ride. Elliot thought it suited her very well. She wondered