#Chapter 46 Questioned Merit

Ember As the days pass I throw myself into a routine. Reports, logs, research fill my days, and I handle each task carefully, without delay. Despite the new rhythm I find myself in I can’t help but feel that there is something amiss. People look longer than they used to. Some are just curious. Others seem like they are waiting for me to do something wrong, to fail. Eyes narrow when I walk into a room, conversations stop. Being the only female guard had already placed a target on my back, and my new promotion makes those same dissenters uneasy. Nara watches closely, worried about those who would prefer to see me fail. “You need to be careful. People want to see you fall.” Not everyone. Some are just noticing the new rank. "You’ve received two notes. The handwriting is different. Do you think that’s a coincidence?" I reach for the drawer, but stop. The notes are gone, burned. It doesn’t matter, I don’t need to remember the warnings contained within. The handwriting wa