Maya hurried forward and saw Sarah’s eyes widen in recognition. Crossbows and blasters tracked her as she came forward, and the tall woman retreated a step, but Sarah held her ground. Maya’s voice was low and urgent.

“Please. Don’t do anything rash. I need to talk to you.”

“He’s got a haken!” one of the men said from behind her. “They’re plaguing centarchs!”

Weapons were raised all around.

“Everyone, please stay calm!” Maya said. “Tanax, you too!”

“You didn’t tell me everything,” Sarah murmured. She looked up at the tall woman, who kept her eyes on Maya.

“What is going on here?” the woman said. “Sarah, you know these two?”

“Just this one,” Sarah said. “I figured her for an Order scout. Apparently I wasn’t thinking big enough.”

“And were you planning on informing the rest of us?” the woman said, her hand tightening on her spear.

“My name is Maya,” Maya said.

“And this is Yora,” Sarah said. “She’s in charge.”

“Please listen,” Maya said. “We don’t have long. Nobody has to get killed here.”

“Not if you get out of the way,” Yora said. “Centarch or not, we’re taking the Core Analytica.”

“The Analytica’s not here,” Maya said urgently. “This is a trap. Raskos wants Tanax and me to bring you in.”

Yora’s face hardened, and Sarah paled.

“I knew something was wrong,” Sarah said. “Halfmask—”

“Quiet,” Yora said.

“Maya!” Tanax said, a dangerous edge in his voice. “What’s going on?”

“We’re discussing the terms of surrender,” Maya said, loud enough for him to hear.

“We’re doing nothing of the kind,” Yora said.

“Please,” Maya said. “Listen to me. Sarah said your grievance is with Raskos, and this is your chance to prove it. I can guarantee your fair treatment. We’ll send to the Forge for a centarch to investigate. You can present your evidence.”

“The Order has had a decade to curb Raskos’ excesses,” Yora said. “If they cared, they would have done something before now.”

“The Order doesn’t know.” There had to be more to it than that, but Maya was running on instinct and didn’t want to complicate the case. “I swear that I will do everything I can to see that justice is done here.”

“Maya!” Tanax said again.

“Just shut up,” Maya shouted back. “Sarah, Yora, please.”

“Halfmask wouldn’t trust her,” Sarah said slowly.

“I told you to shut up about him,” Yora said.

“I was going to say I think he’d be wrong.” Sarah took a deep breath. “This might work.”

“I …” Yora’s eyes flicked from Maya to Tanax, then to the wagon and back again. For a moment, Maya saw mistrust and hope warring behind her eyes. “I’m not …”

Sarah went stiff, looking over Maya’s shoulder, then screamed a warning.

“Down!”