Barely an hour after Colonel Yaggar’s ping, Areg’s commlet buzzed again.

Etana winked at him. “You’re popular.”

She was able to sit up and even stand now and seemed less groggy than earlier in the evening.

Must be the colonel with some new intel, Areg thought.

Except the number on the commlet’s screen wasn’t Yaggar’s. It wasn’t Rhori’s, Aynu’s or Timm’s, either.

To Areg’s surprise, the caller—or, to be more exact, callers—were Geru Gokk, Duko and Atipoly.

“Is Etana alive?” Geru asked without a greeting. “Is she with you?”

“I am,” Etana said.

Letting out a loud, jagged sigh of relief, Geru explained how he’d found the Association through Marye. They put him in touch with Timm Itkis, who’d just received a fresh set of commlets.

“Marye as in Lady Marye Atiz?” Etana asked, incredulous.

Geru laughed. “Yes, the Bookworm. She’s a member.”

“What’s that whole ‘association’ business about, anyway?” Areg asked.

It was Atipoly who responded. “We’re a group of people—a fast-growing group, mind you—who heard your message. We’re menials and farmers, but also proficients and noble-borns. Lady Atiz is one of the Association’s founding members. She’s been pouring all of her considerable pin money into it. Geru has become active, too.”

“You’re taking a huge risk, all of you,” Areg said.

“That may be true,” Geru jumped in, “but what’s the alternative? How much longer can we let Ultek terrorize the realm? Should we allow Boggond to rig the Endorsement Vote? Should we suffer his tyranny until he dies?”

Atipoly spoke again, “The time is ripe. Many believe your escape was a miracle and a sign from Aheya. People are asking questions at temple prayers and town hall meetings. They want to see Ultek’s evidence against you. They’re saying you should’ve been given a trial.”

“Have you seen what was done to some of your wanted posters?” Duko asked. “Kids have crossed out ‘traitor’ and written ‘hero’ next to your name.”

“We want you to lead the Association,” Atipoly said.

Humbled and touched, it took Areg a long moment to muster the nerve for his response. “I’m sorry but I can’t do that.”

“You’re otherwise engaged trying to survive at the moment.” Duko chuckled. “We’re well aware of that. All we ask is that you think about it. It goes without saying we’re ready and waiting to help you in any way possible.”

“Thank you—I really appreciate it,” Areg said.

How could he tell them that he didn’t want to lead their Association? How could be explain he abhorred the idea of anyone making any more sacrifices for him?

If there was one thing the war had taught him, it was that he couldn’t cope with people getting killed on his account. He still hadn’t come to terms with Lou’s death.

“Think hard, and remember you can lead us from afar, from wherever in Eia you are now,” Atipoly said.

“There’s another reason we pinged you.” Geru’s voice sounded weird. “Can you convince Etana to return to Iltaqa?”

Worry gathered into a lump in Areg’s throat. “Is it Ultek? Did he come by to check on her?”

“Yesterday,” Geru said. “We gave him the pilgrimage story… He looked like he bought it. But he was livid when he realized Padefa had the watch.”

“Then perhaps it isn’t safe for her to return,” Areg said.

“Etana, are you still there?” There was desperation in Geru’s voice.

“Yes,” she said.

“Listen to me. You’ll be safer here than on the run. I’ll do anything… I will protect you.”

Yep. The boy’s in love.

“We’re waiting to hear from—” Etana began.

Areg pressed a finger to her mouth and shook his head. Geru, Atipoly and Duko were friends, he had no doubt about that. As he didn’t doubt the sincerity of Geru’s vow to do anything to protect Etana. And yet… Her safety—her life—was at stake here. You couldn’t be too careful.

“I’ll be back in Iltaqa very soon,” she said.

Atipoly spoke next. “Well, take care, both of you, and don’t let the news from Castya dampen your spirits.”

Areg and Etana exchanged perplexed looks.

“What news?” Areg asked.

“Ah, you haven’t heard yet.” Atipoly sighed. “The local authorities tried to clean it up, but the Iltaqa Gazette got there fast and published an article this morning.”

Areg’s chest clenched in anticipation. “What happened in Castya?”

“What’s Castya?” Etana asked Areg.

He swallowed. “A burg east of the Iltaqa highland, about twenty miles from the Frontier Zone. What happened?”

“Ultek’s men burned it to the ground,” Duko said. “People were given an ultimatum to rat on you or see their houses go up in flames. They pled no knowledge of your whereabouts. The police gave them three minutes to get out and then burned the village down.”

Areg’s hands balled into fists. “I haven’t been in or near Castya since the war. Ultek must’ve received bad intel.”

“The Gazette’s editor-in-chief who signed the article doesn’t believe there was any intel,” Atipoly said. “He believes Castya was picked randomly. He writes that it was an act of intimidation, a warning to anyone daring to help you or withhold information.”

“He’s a brave man to publish that article,” Etana said.

Atipoly grunted in agreement. “I hope he’ll join the Association.”

“Unless he’s found dead on his doorstep.” Areg had a hard time keeping the bitterness out of his voice. “Were there any victims?”

“Two dozen people were badly burned. Some had lingered inside to collect valuables, others had tried to rescue their cows or chickens,” Duko said. “Healer vestals are tending to them now. Two died from their burns.”

After they ended the transmission, Areg began to pace in front of the mouth of the cave, trying to contain the helpless rage in his chest.

Leaning on the rock wall, Etana watched him, a mixture of profound sympathy and concern on her face.

When he gained a measure of control, he halted before her. “Ultek is sending me a message. More atrocities will follow unless I turn myself in.”

Her eyes widened in terror. “You won’t!”

“No,” Areg said, smiling bitterly. “I won’t. The Iltaqa jail was… Let’s just say I’m not going back in there. Or on the scaffold.”

Her face relaxed somewhat. “If Colonel Yaggar manages to get us off Hente, you’ll be able to testify at the LOR, you’ll lobby the ambassadors and the superintendent, you’ll—”

“Do none of that,” Areg said. “If Colonel Yaggar gets me off Hente, it would be just to save my ass. I’ll have to stay under the radar. Remember what he said? Officially, he has no authorization to exfiltrate me.”

The crease between Etana’s brows deepened again.

Sweet darling. He’d caused her so much trouble and worry!

“What is it you’re planning to do, then? Will you try to instigate an armed rebellion?” she asked.

“And get more people killed?” He shook his head. “I made a vow to someone who meant a lot to me—my mentor—that I’ll dedicate my life to protecting good people. Instigating an armed rebellion is not how I envision protection.”

“Then what?” Her hands began to shake, as did her voice. “How will you stop Ultek from wrecking more villages and killing more people?”

There was no point prolonging her distress.

He sat down next to her. “By giving him what he wants—my dead body on a platter.”

She didn’t look surprised—just very, very sad.

On some level, she must’ve already known what he was going to say. All that remained for her to do now was come to terms with his decision. Etana was strong. Besides, he had a feeling she’d figured him out in the short time they’d spent together. Smart as she was, she knew he couldn’t lie low somewhere at the other end of the galaxy while here on Hente people died because of him. She’d respect his choice.

Etana gave him a hard stare. “I won’t let you.”

Right. Areg’s lips quirked. So much for respecting his choice.

“Sweet pea.” He took her hand. “I can’t let Ultek ruin more lives when it’s in my power to stop him from doing that.”

“He’s counting on you reacting like that.”

“Then he wins.”

Clenching her jaw, Etana turned away.

For a while, they sat there, gazing at Hente’s moons and the distant stars. If only he’d had the chance to get to know this woman before the war, Areg thought. If only he’d met her in those carefree days under Governor Iorasu when his parents were alive! When he vacillated between academia and a diplomatic career. When Nyssa went through her bad-girl phase, shaking up the family and entertaining the staff of the Sebi estate with outrageous statements and weekly eccentricities. Before he saw so much death, before he caused so much of it.

Things would have been different.

He would’ve loved Etana unreservedly, spoiled her silly and pampered her beyond measure. Whether it pleased Mother or not, he would’ve made her the Young Lady Sebi. He would’ve let her love him as passionately as she wanted to. And he would’ve savored her love. Oh, how he would’ve savored it!

“There has to be another way,” Etana said, her hand warm in his. “And I’m going to find it.”

The hopefulness of youth.

Physically, he was only ten older than her, but his soul… He felt as if his soul had centuries on hers. Etana’s hunger for life, for love, for him turned his head. They made him drunk on her, made him forget his fatal mistake, his burden.

Except…

The events in Castya reminded him that he wasn’t allowed to forget it.

On that fateful day in the third year of the war, Areg’s improvised recon expedition got ambushed. The two men with him were killed, and he was wounded and captured. An hour later, a squad led by his second-in-command, Lou Parrer, attacked the enemy detachment as they were transporting Areg to the Teteum commander. The squad managed to free Areg and get him to safety.

Nine of his men, including Lou, departed to Aheya’s Garden that day for no other reason than Areg’s mindless bravado. They had no taste for heroics, but they were dead because he, Areg Sebi, did. He was the one who took the unnecessary risk. He should’ve been the one in the grave now. Not them.

“So, here’s what I’m going to do,” Etana said, breaking him from his dark thoughts. “I’m going to stay here and use your blaster on me after you’re done killing yourself.”

He shook his head. “You won’t. You’re too young. You have your whole life—”

“Watch me,” she said before pinching her chin. “Oh. I just realized you won’t be able to watch, if you’re dead. I’ll kill myself first then.”

“Etana, sweet pea, please. You can’t do that to me!” He took her hand. “You must live. Promise me you’ll go with colonel—”

“I promise,” she cut in. “No, I swear by Aheya that I’ll hold my life exactly as dear as you hold yours. You die, I die.”

Stubborn girl!

He grabbed her shoulders. “You don’t understand. I should’ve died two years ago in the war. Except, my men died for me. Then, again, a week ago. But you saved me, putting yourself at risk.”

She let him say his piece without trying to interrupt him, without pulling back, without making a sound. Only a tiny wince made him aware of the force of his grip.

He let go of her. “You shouldn’t have, sweet pea. I’m not worthy of your sacrifice.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Her next words were heavy with an almost religious conviction. “The only way this ends with me trying to stay alive is if you promise you’ll do the same.”

“If Colonel Yaggar can’t take me along, will you go with him, anyway?”

She took a long moment before answering. “I will, if you make that promise.”

He pressed the balls of his palms to his eyes, held them there for a while, then interlinked his fingers over the top of his head. “You have my word that I won’t kill myself to appease Ultek.”

She nodded.

“If Colonel Yaggar doesn’t get the green light for an intervention,” he said, a sudden fatigue coming over him, “I’ll ask Rhori to accompany you to the Orogate Temple.”

“I thought the plan was I go back to Iltaqa?”

“It was, before we knew about Ultek’s visit.” He hesitated. “Not that I don’t trust Geru to look after you, but Ultek is devious. If he breaks his word, which he likely will—”

“I’ll be safer in Orogate, under Aynu’s protection, than in the Gokk House,” Etana finished his thought.

“Exactly.”

“I’ll be out of your hair tomorrow, whatever happens.” She gave him a sad little smile and took his hand. “There’s just… There’s one more thing I need to ask of you.”

He knit his brows. “I already promised you I won’t kill myself intentionally. Please don’t ask me to vow I’ll let Ultek take me alive.”

“That’s not what I was going to ask.” She pressed his hand to her chest, against her racing heart. “I was going to ask you to make love to me tonight.”