Now she stood in the Gate chamber, going through her pack one more time as she waited for Beq. The three arched Gates were empty and silent, but she could still feel the potential of them, the power awaiting her commands through deiat. An armored centarch guarded the door, as always, with two Legionaries flanking him. Maya felt his eyes on her, though it was impossible to tell if under his helm he was really watching or not.

Focus. She touched the Thing, trying to calm herself, and looked down at her open pack. It was stuffed to bursting, tools and food fitted intricately into the available space in a way she’d never be able to replicate. Fortunately, as her supplies were used up, it made more space—

“Maya?”

Her head snapped up, adrenaline flooding into her veins at once. Tanax stood a little ways off, posture formal as always, his expression uncomfortable. He cleared his throat.

“My apologies,” he said. “Centarch Maya Burningblade, I should say.”

“Centarch Tanax Brokenedge.” Maya forced herself to meet his gaze. Her hand itched to go to her haken, which hung once again in its usual place on her hip. She kept it still with an effort. “I didn’t expect to see you before I left.”

“You’re certainly moving quickly. The tailors can’t keep up.” He gave a weak smile at the joke; they both still wore the uniforms they’d had as agathia. “I wanted to offer my congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Maya said stiffly. She hesitated for a moment and then forced herself to add, “And thank you for what you told the Council.”

“I only told them the truth.”

“I know,” Maya said. “But you didn’t have to.”

Tanax was silent, and Maya had no idea what to say.

“I would have killed you,” he began, haltingly. “On the arena floor. You came at me, and I knew your panoply was broken, and I would have killed you if I could. My master had told me … that I had to win. That you were a traitor.” He swallowed. “It was a lie. Everything he told me was a lie. He was …”

Maya felt a pang of sympathy. “You weren’t the only one he lied to.”

“I wish I’d had the chance to talk to him before he left. I just want to ask him …” Tanax shook his head. “Many things, I suppose. But I’m not sure what I expect him to say.”

“You were doing your duty as a centarch,” Maya said. “I don’t hold it against you.”

“I was doing as I was ordered,” Tanax said. “That is not the same as my duty.” He paused again, then spoke all in a rush. “I want to come with you.”

“To come with me?” Maya repeated, shocked. “Why?”