Florence paused, then went on. “I’m not sure why this is happening now—perhaps the Revinir scare uncovered some insecurities and brought back the memories of our past battles. It could be that the thought of fighting the Revinir and potentially losing loved ones after years of peace was too much for some of them to handle, so they’re grasping at what seems to them a better option. We’re all still traumatized from the last time things went wrong. So I have empathy. For some of them.”

Fifer nodded. “I refuse to believe that all of those people have fully turned against the world that saved them when the people of Quill sent them away.”

“I agree,” said Lani. “I believe some are making a mistake, and they’ll see it soon enough. We just have to figure out how to show them.”

Aaron kept his eyes on the ground.

Samheed glanced at him and shifted uneasily. “I hope you’re right, Lani. But I’m equally sure that some people refuse to see the truth even when it’s right in front of them.” His voice held a weight that seemed to imply he wasn’t just talking about Frieda Stubbs and the dissenters.

Sensing it, Aaron turned and saw Samheed staring at him. Aaron’s face flushed, and he looked hastily away. “Despite the current state of mind of the dissenters,” he said, “and the fact that they are mostly Unwanteds too, we can’t just do nothing. We have to try. We won’t walk away from Artimé.”

“What do you mean?” Florence pressed. “Do you think we should go in and fight for the mansion? Against all of those people?”

Aaron lifted his gaze and saw that Florence was sincerely asking his opinion. “If we don’t go after Frieda Stubbs forcefully and immediately, her power will only grow, and her support will strengthen. The unsure members of her party will assume they’re doing right if no one opposes them, and they’ll become more confident in their decision to join her. Right now Frieda has free rein to say and do whatever she wants without anyone contradicting her. And, knowing her, she’ll take every opportunity to do so as long as she is not being challenged.” He paused, then muttered, “Believe me. I know how her mind works.”

Samheed’s eyes flickered. “Are you tempted—” He stopped abruptly when Lani’s elbow sank into his flesh. “Ouch. Never mind.”

Aaron turned sharply. “Am I what?”

“Never mind, I said.”

Aaron studied Samheed with a highly skeptical expression. “Am I tempted to join forces with Frieda? Is that what you were going to say?”

“No! I—”

Lani frowned at Samheed. “Is it, Sam? I’d actually like to know too.”

“Lani, seriously. I don’t want to get jabbed in the ribs again.”

Lani glared at her husband. “You need to stop.”

“Stop what?” Samheed said, sounding exasperated.

“Get. Over. It,” said Lani.

“No. Please go on,” said Aaron haughtily. “You’ve held on to this… this undercurrent of distrust for me all these years, and it has come roaring back lately, though I don’t know what I’ve done to make you disapprove of me this time. So let’s just address this. Get it out so we can move on and be done with it.”