Spend a Season With Me in SkelderheimTHE BOOK IS OUT NOW!

I'm Azaya, and I'm eight winters old. I live in a steppe city called Skelderheim and I run these streets every day.

In the morning, the bakery downstairs is going before I get my boots on. That's how I know what time it is. Then it's a quick bite, whatever coffee I can get, and off to work.

I run messages for coin. Five copper for a standard Merchant's Ward run, more if it's Operator's work. I have a coat with six pockets, a notebook for job details, and the satchel Finch gave me that fits what I need.

Merchant's Ward is my home ward. Mayah's produce tent is right across from our door — zahara fruits, needle berries, bonica. Three blocks down, Emittah sells satchel bags and trinkets and is holding a special eight-pocket waxed canvas bag for me until I have enough coin.

At the docks, Bhun's Bun Shack sells pulled yak, pinafish, and bacon buns with msata sauce. Todd eats them without a fork, which is wrong. Charles brings a knife and fork from East Bay, which is also wrong but in a different way.