I wasn’t sure how to tell Eishen and Lucien about the towers being linked to the lights. They had stayed inside the inn - I wasn’t even entirely sure if they had realised the lights were unusual. 

The moment I saw them through the window, it was clear that they knew something was wrong. Elizabeth was being unusually silent, her hands reaching out to her boyfriend and her cousin. I returned inside, keeping attention to any lights. Another flickered down the road, only staying lit a second or two. Another gasp from the audience. 

I sank back into my spot next to Eishen, finishing my drink before speaking to anyone. I could feel the three staring at me; for what, I have no idea. 

“They’re lights that can be turned on and off from a distance. Candles that need no oil or flame. There’s another down the road, and likely some more further still. Who knows, they may be all over the city.” 

Eishen gasped. “Do you think these lights will all be on at the same time? Everywhere?” 

Lucien swore under his breath at the mere possibility. “If anything, that’s an effective way to subdue us.” He locked eyes with Eishen. “Do you think that’s what this is?” 

“No, no it must be more of all that technology being invented, right? Like how they turned smoke and steam into something that could make machines run some years ago?” Elizabeth offered. “It’s just an invention. Not all inventions stay useful.” 

Eishen bit their lip. “I… I know I’m drunk so this might not make sense all the way but… they had the oil lamps. They had the shadehands. We can make light if we need to. I think Lucien’s right but I don’t like that Lucien’s maybe right.” They let out a scoff, a sound I knew well from when they thought that their situation felt like it was from a story. “They made us start living underground over twenty years ago, like we were a shame to Leylen, now they’re trying to make us useless.” 

“At least you can heal people, Eish, that must count for something.” Elizabeth was truly trying her best to make her cousin smile. 

I didn’t need to look at Eishen to feel them glance at my scar. Almost fifteen years later, they were still the only ones who knew what had happened the night he had gotten it. 

“The lifewell is easiest to see in the dark. Creating light is easiest in the dark. Using shadows can only happen in the dark. If there’s lights at night, everywhere, there’s not much dark left. It’ll be like the day, only all the time. Or a full moon, at best.” Eishen took my second drink and started sipping at it, the bitterness not bothering them that time. 

“The full moon, ugh, imagine always being that lethargic.” Lucien bemoaned. “Slow down, Eish, you’re going to have trouble getting home.” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll get him home safely,” I promised. “His mother won’t be happy, I wonder if she already knows about the lights.” 

“She must know, right?” Elizabeth asked. 

“Probably.” Eishen’s mother - Alla Kerr - was the closest thing the Shadehands had to royalty. While she lived simply, she had a natural charm and strength that made people respect her. She didn’t need a throne for people to turn to her in times of trouble. 

If anyone had more information about the lights and how they may relate to the Shadehands, it would be her. 

“We should all go home,” I suggested. Eishen’s head was heavy on my shoulder, Lucien’s and was grasping Elizabeth’s. “You two stay safe, yeah? Who knows what kind of panic is going on in the streets.” 

“Of course,” Lucien promised. He and Elizabeth shared a small dwelling deep in the city, while Eishen lived with the rest of their family. Not being a Shadehand, I had moved into a single room right above the underground where the Kerr family resided, two floors above where my mother lived. I was lucky to have found the room, boarded up long ago after a fire had ravaged the city. But with the chaos, mother and I would likely be staying with the Kerrs. 

Mother helped Alla Kerr. I helped Eishen. Traditionally, this ‘help’ was servant-like, back when Shadehands were close to godly. Generations later, the title was little more than honorary. I was simply to make sure Eishen was safe, comfortable, or even happy. 

If they got hurt because of the lights… 

I carefully woke them up. Eishen was barley conscious enough to sit up straight, so I took their arm to start walking them home. Good moonshadow, they did not handle drinking well. 

An electric light was on in front of the door that led to the Kerr domain. 

Shadehands were lining up at the door. 

“Hmmm too many people…” Muttered Eishen. 

“F*ck. Too many people, indeed.”