A woman was banging on the gaol door, shouting. Not an uncommon occurrence. Cora would have moved on, until they recognised her. Cora walked down the steps, swearing to every god they could think of that if they were re-arrested because of Marie, they would never speak to her again. Marie swung around, registering the guard’s uniform. Cora would forever treasure the look of utter shock on Marie’s face. It wasn’t often they could render her speechless. 

“You’ve made a commotion. People are watching us. I am going to lead you away now.” Cora took Marie by the arm, trying to look menacing. They pulled her into a side street and kept walking, using their mental map of every alleyway in the city. Only when they were absolutely sure they hadn’t been followed did Cora start laughing. It hurt their sides and their throat and each one of their bones. Marie joined them. 

“How the hell did you get out?”
“I’m an alchemist, remember?”

Marie stumbled and then swung around to point at them. “I know! It’s those tattoos!”
“How did you figure that out?” Cora was a little put out; they liked their secrets. Marie giggled.

“You pulled your sleeves down to cover them when I asked the question.” She kissed Cora on the cheek in her over-the-top theatre way, and Cora smelled liquor on her breath. “I can read you like a book, you wonderful…person.” 

Cora shed the distinctive uniform jacket, relishing their anonymity. The newspapers had moved on a few days (although they were still talking about the Duke of D-). In those few days, Marie had jettisoned any last outward signs of her grief; apart from the distracted way she talked.
“So, what did you get arrested for? No, wait, don’t tell me. I have to guess. Disseminating revolutionary pamphlets? Jewel theft? Assault on a-”
“I tried to find the Sea. I found it. No closer to finding the killer.” Marie’s brow furrowed. For a moment, her brilliant poker face slipped and each one of her emotions could be read.
“I thought you had given up.”
“I wanted to give up, because it was impossible. Turns out it’s possible, but it can’t- it’s too much for the human mind to take. I passed out and fell back to earth, and I woke up in a cell.” Marie slipped her hand into theirs and held on, as though they were sweethearts. Her hand was warm and soft (she wore gloves for any activity that risked a callus). Her rose-smell was overpowering. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“I didn’t prove anything. Except that transforming into a dove hurts.” Cora had put themself in a mental state wherein becoming a dove was entirely normal. They were surprised when Marie gasped.

“Doing what hurts?”
“Birds can get glimpses of the Sea. So I became a bird, briefly.” Marie picked up a newspaper from a nearby stand, and hit Cora over the head with it. Cora threw a penny to the outraged newspaper-vendor.
“And you didn’t think to mention this earlier. Hello Marie, I escaped from prison and by the way I can transform into a bird.”

“It was surprising to me too. While, alchemically, it’s a difficult process, the ingredients are pretty common. There’s some good research in there, when I have the time.” A tantalising world of experiments opened in their mind. They closed it firmly; one thing at a time.

“I’m done. You’re not my friend anymore. I’m not speaking to you.” Marie made an exaggerated show of ignoring Cora, holding onto their hand the whole time. “Turning into a bird. My sensible best friend. Ridiculous.” Cora convinced themself that the giddiness was lack of sleep. 

Cora circled the shop, picking things up and putting them back again. It was warm from the fire, but not too warm. No papers had been knocked over, and there was a little tea left in the cupboards. They wanted to make another circuit, but Marie was grinning. “Shall I make you some tea?” Cora filed away an important piece of information - if they wanted Marie to make a pot of tea, all they had to do was turn into a bird, nearly die and get arrested. 

They sat in their chair, feeling the ache all over their body lessen by a fraction. They treasured the moment of peace, knowing that there wouldn’t be many in the coming weeks. Their eyes were about to fall shut when they heard Marie scream.