Hue and Cry (short story)

Hue and Cry was the first story in the anthology True Stories.

Plot
Benny is on a dig on Xarva funded by the University of Qiyos-Yartha, excavating the Sky Pyramid of Xarva which the Ainiri arrived in before conquering the indigenous P'ir Iqanae. The mission is complicated by the Ainiri not wanting to risk contradicting their religious doctrine and the P'ir Iqanae not wanted to desecrate a grave. Using copper wire supplied by Callie, Benny tries to reactivate a Stone Demon and is shown by Gilly, a QYU student, to her secret art studio. There, Gilly shows her a diary marked "Property of Bare Knees Summerfield".

Benny is called away by Oba'ye and told that the Ainiri and P'ir Iqanae are both protesting. Later, she returns with Callie and sees Bright Violet, an almost magical living pigment, leak from the Pyramid and bring the Stone Demons to life when it starts raining. They warn Oba'ye and the soldiers are able to destroy them. The dig is shut down and Gilly admits to Benny that she was a spy for QYU, sent to put artefacts aside for them, and wanted to write a thesis on Bright Violet.

Characters

 * Bernice Summerfield
 * Gilly
 * Andrea McAllister
 * Ackerman
 * Boyd
 * Oba'ye

Worldbuilding

 * Gilly plays the ukelele.
 * Benny sang "Anarchy in the UK" whilst drunk.
 * Gilly is a Qiyotian from the Qiyos Archipelago.
 * Gilly uses a voxbox.
 * Benny takes rehydration powder to cure her hangover.
 * Gilly attends the University of Qiyos-Yartha, or QYU.
 * The P'ir Iqanae are the indigenous species of Xarva.
 * Xarva was conquered by the Ainiri.
 * Ackerman has syrup with his pancakes.
 * Boyd is a soil specialist.
 * Ackerman jokes about giving Gilly a caudectomy.
 * Qiyotians worship water.

Continuity

 * Benny would return to Xarva some months later. (PROSE: Never the Way)