That doesn’t sound good. Maya washed down the toast with more water. “Let me hear it.”

“Raskos is gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?”

“No one can find him, as of not long after Tanax put you under arrest. The palace is going mad. Rumor is that he’s fled the city because of what you found at the warehouse.”

“That plaguing rat,” Maya said. She wasn’t sure whether to be furious or relieved that she’d been proven right. “So now what?”

“The Forge is putting together a temporary governor and a Legion detachment to keep order.” Beq hesitated. “Their messenger said that your arrest stands, though. We’re all to report back there today.”

“I imagine it will take the Council a while to sort out what happened,” Maya said, forcing a note of confidence.

“I hope so,” Beq said. She lowered her voice and leaned forward. “There’s something strange going on. Varo says that Tanax got a message from the Forge before you went to the ambush. He saw him going down to the Gate chamber. But Tanax didn’t mention it to anyone.”

“He is the senior agathios,” Maya said. She leaned back, head spinning a little. “No doubt he has many secrets.”

“Maybe.” Beq glanced around, then shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.”

“Is everything all right?”

“Fine.” Beq swallowed. “Well. They’ve got Sarah in the cells.”

“Is she going to live?”

“Maybe. They had to take off her arm.” Beq shuddered. “I just … I don’t know.”

“What happened in the tunnel is on Raskos’ head,” Maya said. It has to be. When she closed her eyes, she saw the rebel burning away into ashes and bones. “And he’ll get what he has coming to him.”

“What about Nicomidi?” Beq said, very quietly. “If he’s involved …”

“The Council will sort it out,” Maya said firmly.

Beq gave a weak smile and got to her feet. “Finish your breakfast,” she said. “Tanax will send for you before long. It’s time to go home.”

*

The Forge had never been home, not for Maya, but she couldn’t say she was sorry to be seeing the last of Deepfire. The knowledge that Gyre was still out there, somewhere, only made it worse.

When I’m a centarch, maybe I can find him. She could come back here on her own, with no one to question her authority. Though I don’t think Jaedia would approve.

No point in visiting the farm, though. Maya probed at that thought as she waited, pack at the ready, for Tanax to summon her. Mom and Dad … Thinking about them tugged at something in her chest, but it felt distant, as though it belonged to another life. Does that make me horrible? My parents are dead. Have been dead, for years, and I didn’t know. She felt like she should feel more.

Maya shivered and wiped sweat from her forehead. The Thing itched, and she rubbed at it with the heel of her palm.