"That's what I thought, too." It's one of those times when being right doesn't please her at all. There's still a tension, even through the holiday planning and revelry; there's a guardedness at every party she's been to so far, and it's early in the season yet. And then, of course, she can't miss what she sees. Victor's conversations with both Ben and Elisha have been quiet and near tense lately.

There were always skirmishes between Outsiders and Deckborns, she thinks, but usually only near the Outposts. Rarely does it make its way to Town.

"Some people think that it's heading towards civil war," she says out loud. "Do you think so?"