Thorns by Kate Avery Ellison

soldier’s gaze just as nerve-racking.
    The line crept forward a few inches as another villager received his allotment of salt, sugar, and other foodstuffs, and then scurried home. Ann and I shuffled forward with the rest.
    “How are Everiss and her family?” I kept my voice low as I eyed the Farther soldier standing guard beside the quota master. What did the Farthers think we were going to do, riot? These little shows of power disgusted me almost as much as they frightened me.
    Ann didn’t immediately reply. She seemed deep in thought, her eyes unfocused and her lips pressed together tightly. I nudged her, and she sighed, blinked, and gave me a tight little smile she’d learned from her father. “Another family took them in temporarily, although I don’t know what they’ll do. She has three younger sisters. But she won’t say much to me or anyone. She’s been keeping to herself. I heard the soldiers have been harassing her.”
    “What happened to their home?”
    Ann looked away. “Officer Raine uses it now. The Dyers were nicely situated.”
    The pieces fell into place. A manufactured story for a land grab. I bit my lip to keep from shouting, and I tasted blood. Ann put a hand on my arm.
    “Don’t,” she whispered. “It won’t help anything if you make a scene.”
    I shivered with rage, but stayed silent.
    My gaze cut to the soldier standing at the front of the line again. He was thin and sharp-faced, and his expression was mask-like as he stared at the villagers stepping past him to receive supplies. If I hadn’t already known other Farthers, kind ones like Gabe, I’d think every single one was a devil in human form.
    The line moved again. We were almost to the front of the yard now, and the platform loomed before us. The soldier at the front leered at Ann. “Too bad your quota isn’t keeping me company,” he called out.
    She ignored him, but two bright spots of color appeared on her cheeks. I simmered with silent rage, but Ann tugged me forward as the line moved again. I was next.
    The quota master was fumbling with his list, looking for my name. I tapped my foot on the ground. If I didn’t get out of here soon, I was going to explode.
    “Girl,” the soldier said again to Ann.
    She turned her head as if checking the sky for signs of snow. The Farther soldier didn’t like being ignored. He reached for Ann’s sleeve.
    I didn’t think, I exploded. I swung a fist at his face.
    “Lia!”
    Ann grabbed my arm. My hand stopped an inch before the Farther’s nose. The soldier drew his gun. The quota master was shouting something.
    The soldier grabbed me by the shoulders and threw me to the ground.
    I lay still, the icy dirt cutting into my cheek where I lay. My skin felt too hot, and my heart was pounding a call to war in my chest. My head ached from striking the ground.
    Ann was speaking low and fast above me, but I couldn’t make out the words. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the soldier holster his weapon. Ann crouched and pulled me up.
    “Just give the quota master your yarn and let’s go,” she said.
    I looked at the soldier. His eyes bore into mine, and they promised violence. Grabbing my sack, I handed it to the quota master and accepted the supplies in return. Shame burned like a hot coal against my skin. My lungs hurt. I struggled to draw breath.
    Ann put an arm around me and half-dragged me from the yard.
    “What is wrong with you?” she demanded as soon as we’d stepped into the street. “Are you insane?” Blood flushed her cheeks and made her eyes feverishly bright. She grabbed my arms and shook me. “He could have hurt you.”
    “He tried to grab you!” I exploded.
    “They’re all talk.”
    “How dare these Farthers come into our town, harass our people, steal our land and our houses—”
    “Lia,” Ann said sharply. “Let it go. If you get angry, you’ll become a target. You don’t want that. Now come on, let’s just go before he bothers us again.” She turned