“I understand,” Thalias said.

“Still, it gives us a chance to talk in private,” Thrawn continued. “How are you finding your job as caregiver?”

“It’s challenging,” Thalias admitted, a quiet warning bell going off in the back of her mind. Thrawn could have called her into his office at any point since leaving the Ascendancy if he just wanted to talk in private.

Did he know about that last-minute conversation with Thurfian, and the deal the syndic had forced on her? “Che’ri’s pretty easy to live with, but there are some things every sky-walker deals with that can be difficult.”

“Nightmares?”

“And headaches and occasional mood swings,” Thalias said. “Along with just being a nine-year-old.”

“Especially one who’s vital to the functioning of the ship and knows it?”

“Right—the horror stories of sky-walker arrogance and demands,” Thalias said scornfully. “Pure ice-cap legend. I’ve never met anyone who’s actually seen that happen. Every sky-walker I’ve known has gone the opposite direction.”

“Feelings of inadequacy,” Thrawn said. “The fear that she won’t measure up to what her captain and ship require of her.”

Thalias nodded. Like the nightmares, those were feelings she remembered all too well. “Sky-walkers are always worried that they’ll get the ship lost or do something else wrong.”

“Though the record indicates very few such incidents,” Thrawn said. “And most of the affected ships eventually returned safely via jump-by-jump.” He paused. “I presume Che’ri isn’t facing any challenges that you yourself didn’t also have to overcome?”

“No,” Thalias said with a quiet sigh. She really hadn’t expected Thrawn to let her aboard without checking up on her, but she’d still sort of hoped he’d somehow miss the fact that she’d once been a sky-walker. “Aside from the whole flying-into-possible-danger part.”

“Danger is an implicit part of what we do.”

“Except that you all volunteered for this life,” Thalias said. “We sky-walkers weren’t given that choice.”

Thrawn was silent a moment. “You’re right, of course,” he said. “The greater good of the Ascendancy is the rationale. Also the truth, of course. But the fact remains.”

“It does,” Thalias said. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think any of us begrudges our service. I mean, aside from the fears and nightmares and all. And the Ascendancy does need us.”

“Perhaps,” Thrawn said.

She frowned at him. “Just perhaps?”

“A conversation for another day,” Thrawn said. “Display Four. Do you see it?”

She turned her attention to the control panel in front of them. Display Four…that one.

Centered in the display was a small heat source. A heat source coming from an orbital position near the system’s inhabited planet.

A heat source the computer calculated was coming directly toward them.

“They’ve spotted us,” she breathed, her heart suddenly thudding in her throat.