Scythe

Scythe Curie writes that she's never taken an apprentice, as she doesn't want to subject someone else to the scythes' way of life. She wonders what motivates other scythes, whether it's vanity, the fact that scythes can't have children, or to make sure that there's a scythe capable of replacing a mentor scythe when they self-glean. Curie suspects that if she takes an apprentice, it will be for other reasons.

Scythe Curie takes Citra to her home near the eastern edge of MidMerica. The house is called Falling Water. It was designed by a mortal age architect, bridges a river, and was in disrepair before she raised the money to restore it. Citra tries to not be impressed and asks if scythes aren't supposed to live simple lives. Curie points out that living here means the house can be preserved. She leads Citra to a bedroom on the third floor with a view of the forest. Citra asks why Curie took her on, since it's clear Curie doesn't like her. Curie says she has her reasons and leaves.

Citra wakes up hours later when Curie flips on the light in her room. Curie asks if Citra forgot about dinner and then lets Citra lead the way back down to the first floor through the maze-like hallways. Citra is prepared to cook as she did for Scythe Faraday, so she's surprised to find the table set with two plates of steaming food. Suspecting a trap, Citra asks why Curie cooked for her. Curie says that cooking is her hobby, and Citra is here and hungry. Citra wonders if Faraday had a secret hobby and thinks briefly of Rowan.

After blueberry pancakes the next morning, Curie and Citra go out gleaning. Curie drives an antique Porsche and explains that it was a gift from an antique car dealer whose father she gleaned. Citra is confused, especially when Curie says that the dealer appreciated the solace she provided after the gleaning. They drive to a small town and walk leisurely down the street, which makes Citra uncomfortable. Curie asks Citra to look around for someone who looks "ready to conclude" and "stagnant." Citra is irritated, but follows Curie as she starts to tail one tall man who she insists seems tired. Curie taps the man on the shoulder and as he turns, stabs him in the heart.

Citra shouts that Curie didn't give the man warning, and Curie angrily orders Citra to lie flat on the ground and apologize to her. Curie strides away, Citra in tow, and once they're back in the car, she calmly asks Citra to track down the man's family and invite them to her home. Confused, Citra asks if Curie is upset with her. Curie explains she disciplined Citra like that because she has to uphold an image, but she's merely annoyed. Citra understands and tracks down the man's current wife and three young children.

The family arrives at Curie's home that evening. Curie grants them immunity immediately and then she and Citra serve dinner. Curie asks the man's wife to tell her about her husband, and soon, the wife and the children are going on about the man as Curie listens. She then offers the woman a knife and offers to let the woman kill her with no consequences. The woman refuses. Later, Curie and Citra wash dishes and Curie says that when Citra is a scythe, she'll do things her own way. Citra asks why Curie took her on. Curie says that Scythe Goddard offered to take both Citra and Rowan, but she couldn't bear the thought of him pitting them against each other every day.

Citra understands, but thinks Curie's offer didn't do much good—she or Rowan will still have to glean the other. Citra then asks why Curie gleaned the man without warning. Curie explains that in the Age of Mortality, death came suddenly. She believes it's her job to kill quickly and in public, to remind people of what scythes do and why they have to do it. Citra asks how Curie got to this point after her noble youth, in which she gleaned the president and corrupt businessmen, but Curie refuses to answer.