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.

I wish Jaedia was here.

Eventually, the door opened. Tanax had washed and changed as well, into his dress uniform instead of his traveling clothes, and he looked every inch the aristocratic young agathios. Maya drew herself up to attention.

“Agathios Maya,” he said.

“Agathios Tanax,” she replied with a slight bow.

He glanced over his shoulders at the pair of Legionaries, still standing at the ready. “We are returning to the Forge. You will accompany me and be given into the Council’s custody.”

“I understand,” Maya said. “I’m not planning to resist.”

“Good.” Tanax paused, as though on the point of saying something else, but quickly turned away. “Follow me.”

Out in the hall, Beq and Varo joined them, along with another pair of Legionaries. Varo gave Maya an encouraging smile and fell in beside her as they walked.

“Had a friend who was accused of treason once,” he said without preamble.

“Why do I feel like this isn’t going to be encouraging?”

“The centarch looked into it and found him innocent!” Varo protested. “Said he was free to go.”

“That’s something.”

“It’s just that the next night, he got so drunk celebrating that he fell in the swamp and got his—”

Beq sniggered, and Maya rolled her eyes. Even Varo, to everyone’s surprise, chuckled.

“I know this has been a … difficult conclusion to our assignment,” Tanax said without looking around. “But I have faith in the Council’s judgment. Perhaps we will be assigned to work together again someday.”

Maya didn’t know if he was talking about her, but she found herself thinking of Beq. This is the end of our assignment. Presumably, that meant Beq would go back to her workshop duties at the Forge, or be assigned another centarch or agathios to support. Either way, Maya wouldn’t see her again unless the duty roster happened to bring them together. That thought was more wrenching than she cared to admit.